National Guard or Marines, which would you choose and why?
356135
Well it depends, National Guard is only one weekend a month, 2 weeks in the summer while Marines is full tiem. If you already have a good job or are going to school then National Guard might be the way. If you're looking for full time work, healkth insurance, a place to live etc then Marines might be a better choice. This is the first time I've seen a question like this, usually its Army or Navy or Marines which is better etc? When comparing branches its a harder decision becuase they all offer the same benefits, but a choice between National Guard and active duty is pretty clear cut or should be. Oh also be aware that National Guard isn't as good about college tuition reimbursement as they make themselves out to be. I enlisted National Guard after I got out of the Army on the understanding that they would pay my college tuition and because of deadlines and paperwork snafus I ended up getting nothing as did 90% of the people in my unit.
811941
Go Coast Guard.  It's the best kept military secret.  If I could do it again, I would join the Coast Guard (CG).\n\nThe CG gets the same basic pay, retirement, and other benefits as the Army, Air Force, Navy, and Marine.\n\nThe CG has the best training and future civilian job advantages than any other service.  Also, the CG has the best quality of life (the Air Force is number 2).\n\nThe only major difference is that Coast Guard is under Homeland Security.  Whereas the other services is under the Defense Department.
1051279
If your intentions are to possibly leaned towards a career I would highly reccommend the choice you have already made. The Air Force is an excellent choice family wise also. If you like to spend months onboard a ship, then by all means join the Navy. If you like walking, marching or bouncing around in a vehicle, join the Army. If you think you are the macho type and enjoy running errands on a ship, plus like to march or strut around like a tin soldier and think your the badest ass in town, go with the Marines. It's as simple as that. There is no such thing as the best, we're all in this together and should act as such. To me there is no single hero, in my personal opinion anyone who puts on a uniform and serves his country (USA)honorably for a full tour of duty in any branch of the services deserves to be called a hero.
985738
Follow your heart, young man. Of course, give the choice plenty of thought and think about it from all angles. After you graduate, if it still looks like the right choice for you, by all means go for it. I would also suggest looking at the other services and comparing your options. \n\nMy parents made me do the same thing but it didn't matter to \nme. I knew by the time I was maybe 10 that I wanted to be a Marine. I enlisted and served proudly, and would do it again.
122197
national guard is under the command of their state's governor and government until called up to federal duty. NG get more humanitarian missions after natural disasters.
583913
Why? Why the Marines?\nAre you upset about them?\nWhat did they wrong?
981622
Honestly?\n\nAt this point, there's not much of a difference. NG's are mobilized for 18-24 months at a time, AD go for a year at a time...... \n\nActive, you have the continuity of benefits, and pay, while Nat'l Guard, you have the intermittent pay and benefits only while he's active.... \n\nIt all depends on what he (and you) are lookign for. Security, and stability is Active. Nat'l Guard is uncertain...... you never know when he'd be activated or for how long.\n\n\nADDED: Warrior Training is crash course basic, for those that don't need the whole thing agan. Like a Refresher course. He can see if there are any "STAR" MOSs available for him that he'd qualify for. Those are high demand jobs, that are currently seriously understrength.
3017
They're the "Grunts" .  The basic training is tougher than the other services and their job in the military is front line fighting while the other services are more specialized in other things.  The marines are actually a department of the Navy, and are used by the navy for frontline defense and guarding gates, etc.  They're the muscle.
1143028
If you can get in the Air Force then do it. The Army and Marines are more for the stronger American and the Air Force is for the smarter American. I am not saying that people in the Army and Marines are dumb because they are not at all. The mental strains of combat are some of the toughest a human can endure. \n\nNo offense please to any member of the military, I was in the so called National Guard and it was full of meat heads. Do not join the national guard  it was full of men who thought they were the toughest men on the planet but they didn't have the guts to join the real Army.  When that was over my thoughts towards the military were jaded. \n\nIf you are serious about this than the Air Force is the way to go,  You would be alot more comfortable in the Air Force than you would the Army.  The Army and Marines do more field work. \n\nI wouldn't even think about the Navy unless you are sick of looking at land and don't mind being out in the middle of the ocean for months at a time.
519223
Economically, it makes great sense.  You'll have to go to Basic Training (not a big deal) and then AIT (even easier, where you learn your job).  All you have to do is apply to a college and you'll be able to do them simultaneously.  You could try an ROTC scholorship and skip the Guard, but you can do both!  My buddy did that and had enough extra money during college to buy a car, I still had a bike.  The National Guard is cool because it's not just "go to Iraq and die" like uneducated people think, you get to help out your local community in times of crisis.  If you're willing to spend a couple of months learning to be a team player and shoot a rifle, it's worth it.
755024
that would be the Marines
505850
The National Guard, regardless of branch or state, all have the same benefits.  The "best" benefits come from living in a state that you have chosen to call home.
219636
Best for a future? the Air Force, best for pride? The Marine Corps. For me sir, it was the Marines...Semper Fi. As far as I am concerned, there is no other choice, but not everyone is cut out for life in my Corps. We are "the Few, The Proud" for a damn good reason. And I agree, whats up with the guy who asked, if your scores are high enough? What a jerk, quick history lesson for you, the United States Marine Corps is technically older than the United States Government, we were brought in to service November 10, 1775. We (the USA) formally declared independence in 1776. Without the USMC, there would be no Air Force.
852203
I'm in the army and have been around all the branches. If u like good clean living then go air force or Navy. I suggest though if u  r going to be an officer go army or marine. The air force has a huge respect issue and like u already experienced that buddy system is even worse when u join the air force. Army is probably the best for u if u want to be Intel (linguist). Also the army and marine...especially marine r tight knit groups for the part and the thing about the those two branches is u will laugh and cry and experience life with not just u but u will have 15 20 people around going though the same thing u r...it is truly a brotherhood...or if u have issue with that then a family and if u do go airforce
542354
There will always be a few people crazy enough to join the Marines. The Marines will take anyone. The only thing good about a Marine is they keep the prison guards employed.
919026
Marines.  Hands down.
239210
I thought the USCG was military, I always admired the Coasties, hell after getting out of the Marine Corps I tried to go USCG...it has to be, because I was ineligble because I would lose one rank coming back in and I had to many dependants as well...either way, the USCG is awsome, those guys work hard for the USA.