Expert: Cynthia Bedell - 8/19/2008

Question
QUESTION: Hello,

  My name is Chris and I'd like to join the United States Marine Corps. I'm 21 years old, I dropped out of high school and got my GED (I know, bad move but I can't help what dumb mistakes I made when I was a kid) and now I'm trying to find direction. I tried college and it really isn't for me. I got 3 credits in "101" courses at a local college, but due to financial difficulties related to the economy I became homeless and jobless. I was forced to leave school withdrawing before going any further. Due to the sudden withdrawal I was denied financial aid when I tried to re-apply to school to get the rest of my credits for the corps. I am now a student at ITT-Tech, but I am worried my credits will not be accepted. So here is my question:
I want to be Field 03 (Infantry.)
I have a GED.
I have 3 college credits in "101 or higher" classes.
I am about to have 12 credits from ITT that may or may not count.
I scored an 87 on the ASVAB and have really high line scores in all areas.
Is there a way for me to get in the marine corps?
I am really at my ropes end here, this is all I have left. I can't afford to go to school after this semester and college really isn't the life for me, I want to make the marine corps career like many members of my family before me. Please Help! This is extremely important to me and I am willing to do just about anything to get in (except for anything fraudulent, of course.) Also, please do not tell me to join the army like many people on other question sites have resorted to doing. If I wanted to join the army, I would join the army. I want to be a marine. I refuse to accept anything less.

ANSWER: Dear Christian --

If you do not have a criminal record and are in good health it sounds like you could enlist in the Marines and get infantry as a specialty, as long as your ASVAB scores indicate likely success in that field.

I believe your ITT-Tech credits will count, since ITT-Tech is accredited to provide secondary education.  Your college credits are required for enlistment in the Marines because you have a GED.  

The only way to know for sure is to talk to a Marine recruiter, and get your physical exam.

There is a little information at this website:  http://www.marines.com/page/Combat-Arms.jsp

Or you can write to a Marine recruiter at this website:  http://www.marines.com/page/Lead-Form.jsp

Good luck to you with college and becoming a Marine.



---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Unfortunately I do have a misdemeanor on my record: Simple Possession of Marijuana and Paraphernalia(another dumb mistake from the same period of time I dropped out), I have completed Pre-Trial Intervention, though I realize it won't eliminate my record, I hope it shows a willingness to change. Does that make it even harder for me to successfully complete this?

Answer
Dear Chris --

Yes, this misdemeanor will make it more difficult to become a Marine.  You will require both sufficient college credits, and a morality waiver.  It is not impossible to enlist in the Marines under these circumstances, but it will be more difficult.

Good luck to you.