Signing up for the U.S Marines, need lung stanima, smoke, don't want to kill my self getting ready for boot
102688
Boot camp will build your stamina all on its own. Not everyone that joins the Corps will be in best form, you'll be fine.
887926
Sheesh, so what if she spells something wrong- even if it is very bad, I bet you would not like 10+ people flaming you and yelling at you about your spelling!\n\nNow, I am going to be a person who will answer her question-\n\nI'd recommend the marines- They have much "Funner" programs, without as much the risk as a the navy. The training is not as rigorous also. But, The decision is a big step- Would you be willing to leave your family, and have a chance at death? The salvation army, or things like that help your country. Maybe do a canned food drive for the soilders?
885582
I smoke, but you're not allowed to smoke in Basic Training or AIT.  The military only requires that you receive 4 hours of sleep a night.  You get really dirty, you eat MRE's and you rip holes in your clothes...I freakin' love it!
550895
Call or visit the nearest USAF Recruiting Office for help.  I'm sure they like us Army types will be more than happy to assist. Just remember, you are a civilian, never try to pass yourself off as someone else.  I caution you only because we are having trouble now with people who are doing that.  It's against the law to do that.  Admiring the jacket and wanting to be accurate however, is great!!  I wish you the best of luck.  LTC M, USA, RET
1041319
Since you have a year to prepare, you should be in good shape before you leave.  My advice is that you start doing physical training on your own now.  Push ups, sit ups, pull ups, running, weights, and anything else that you can think of to strengthen your body.  If you are physically prepared for Basic, then you will be more able to contend with the mental and emotional abuse that you will suffer.  I would also suggest that you familiarize yourself with firearms early.  Learn how they feel when they go off, how they sound, and most importantly, how different fire arms operate.  Learn to break them down and clean them properly.  If you have this info before you leave, then you will be more prepared when you begin this in basic.  \nLearn to eat fast, and prepare yourself for a three meal, no snack day.  If you are used to eating three meals and two snacks per day you will feel hungry all the time at basic.  If you usually skip breakfast, you will feel weighted down during the morning hours at basic, and find yourself lacking the energy to make it through till lunch.  I also suggest that you learn to eat standing up (the last ones in the lunch room earn kitchen detail), so you will want to go  (with your tray while eating) from the food line to the exit line.  \nNow, of everything that I have said, the most important is the physical aspect.  If you are physically unprepared, you will have a much harder time with basic...\nGood Luck\n\nK
682212
Just hold off until you're 18 and then go for it.\n\nTake the time until then to REALLY work on your physical fitness.  Work up to a 10-mile run every other day.  On the interleaving days, work on strength training, especially upper body strength.  Work on repetitions, not maximum weight. You want strength, not bulk. Bulk is an impedimnet to flexibility and you'll need flexibility as a Marine.\n\nDon't forget to exercise your mind as well.  A Marine must follow orders, of course, but leaders also think quickly under stess.\n\nRegardless of how fit you "think" you are, you're NEVER too fit for the Royal Marines.
789026
Don't join.  Every job from office clerk to mechanic can be sent to where the combat is.  Just because you aren't in an infantry unit doesn't mean the terrorists won't be trying to kill you.  Wearing the uniform isn't about looking good; it's about defending a way of life.  Don't feel bad if this is not for you.  There are other ways to be patriotic without fighting.  Just being a good citizen and not breaking the law shows that you want something better for your country.
883230
Pack light, be the first to get up and the first to get down, stay awake, learn order of rank and insignia asap (NCO's don't like to be called sir as they "work for a living"), eat fast, pay attention to details, only speak when spoken to and speak loudly, bring locks w/ keys (it's easy to forget your combo when your getting yelled at)....as I was informed at basic...only the USMC calls it boot camp....crawl under your rack to tighten up your sheets and dust cover, use foot powder, YOU DON'T HAVE TIME FOR CHICKS....I mean females.... AND THEY JUST GET YOU INTO TROUBLE....go to church even if you don't normally go (it's a nice break from the usual day)....the floor stripper cleans spray paint off the floor esp if there is already a thick coat of wax on the floor, drink lots of water, shallow breaths in the gas chamber, keep your weapon cleaned and oiled (don't forget to wipe off the buffer spring), they give you 2 pairs of boots make sure they are comfortable or it will tear up your feet, don't look around, take notes...it'll help keep you awake.....limit your caffine intake now
89527
Air Farce has better training opportunities, but if you're hard-headed and need a kick in the butt to get motivated you need the Marines. I'm Navy, wish I were AF.
699545
Friend - I cannot argue with what the others have said.  If you join right now, no question you will be deployed to Iraq.  If you still want to do it with that in mind then by all means, do it.  My son went through boot camp and his first deployment and current deployment with young women in his unit.  They were not giant weightlifters either, lol.  Best of luck to you.  GBU
286469
If you dont tell anyone you will be able to join if the docs at MEPS do not catch it.. However if they find out later that you have asthma you will have to say that you developed it while in service.. Otherwise you might get charged with fraudulent enlistment and thrown in front of court martial (doesnt happen that offen but its heard of)\n\nHowever you will be out either way if anyone finds out..\n\nMedical discharge or court martial..\n\nOne of my buddies just got the boot.. \n\nCpl. Howitzer
447234
Like everyone else has stated above, you do not get your first choice.  They give you options, but remember as a marine your first duty is a rifleman, you are a foot soldier and most likely will see some type and form of combat in a war time environment. The only way out is if you have some speak law degree and or super computer skills, but that is normally left to the Navy to do for us.  You much understand that the MARINES own you, you do not think for yourself, you do not plan for yourself. If the Marine Corps wanted you to have a wife you would have been issued one in boot camp.  So if you have a girl, drop her.  I can not tell you how many "Dear John" letters are out there that have made grown men cry.  In the end you get only what you want out of the Marines, nothing else.  It is a commitment of your body, sole and life for the Stars and bars.  You would be the first and last line of defense and will be required to do things that you never thought you would or could ever do.  This is the worst case, my brother never saw anything more than the underside of a HumVee (JUNK) give me an old MUTT any time.
996834
you will strat in pensicola, and probably go to corpis after that. all i know is, dont be bitchy officer, enlisted guys fix your plane. be good to them and they take care of you.
774402
try not to worry about anything straight away stress will only make you feel worse but you do need to go to the lung specialist and take it from there , im not going to tell you to give up the cigs because i smoke myself it would be good if we could all give up , but good luck i hope it goes well .
626585
you should not "go into battle" with all the soliders still in the sac. Try jerkin about 20 min beforehand.
750915
O.K. so you want to be a seal. here's whats going to happen\nafter you join the navy you then volunteer for the seals. if accepted get ready to spend the worst week of your life on the beach with hardly any sleep always soaking wet covered in sand\nwith a team of seal training officers yelling at you every step of the way physical fitness means nothing if you can't keep it together mentally. so that's what they do they stick you in a situation that is so awful physically that most people would last an hour at the most. but you are expected to stay like that for a week. and while you are suffering this physical torture they are doing everything they can to break you mentally.\nIf you survive and I mean this as no offense to you, Its a pretty big if that you will last out the week. but if you do. all you have done was prove you are worthy enough to be accepted into the the seals training course and that lasts I think a year.\nmy hats off to you for even considering to join. and if you do I hope you succeed.
589749
marine corps boot camp first. OORAHH!!!!!