06-27-2003, 12:46 AM
Hi. I have decided to enlist in the Marine Corps this past week, a decision which I take immense pride in. I have always wanted to join the Marines because I live in a militaristic family (from Prussia). Both my great grandpa and great uncle attended West Point, my grandpas on both sides of my family served in the Vietnam War, and my cousin just enrolled in the Naval Academy. I want to take the even greater physical and mental challenges of the Marine Corps, serving as a cook.
After discussing my decision with my parents, I went to fill out my medical pre-screening papers on Tuesday and a good part of Wednesday. On Wednesday evening my recruiter took me to the local MEPS Liaison, where I took the ASVAB (Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery). Now let me say this about the test: It was definately a lot harder than I expected. The test was divided into ten categories of General Science, Arithmetic Reasoning, Word Knowledge, Paragraph Comprehension, Math Skills, Electronic, Automotive, Mechanical, Electrical, and Assembling Objects. Unlike the AFQT, this test took two hours and had questions much more in-depth than the qualifying test. I got through the test within my time limit, but the testers were hurried to get me out of there so they could go home. I did not get the chance to take a look at my results. After I had packed up my gear, a bus took a huge group of applicants to a very nice hotel where the military had paid for numerous Armed Services applicants' rooms. Being exhausted from all the testing and paperwork, I crashed at about 8:30 p.m. "Bright" and early the following morning, each applicant received a wake-up call at 3:30 a.m. I hurried to eat my provided breakfast and was soon crammed into a series of shuttle buses taking applicants back to the MEPS Liaison. Here, all applicants received a full physical, which took from about 5:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. After this taxing ordeal, I was finally told that I was medically qualified and sent to the Marines' Office. Here, the recruiters asked me one last time exactly what I wanted my job field to be, to which I responded, "Cook." At this point, I witnessed the recruiter blankly staring at some form I did not recognize while repeatedly flipping back to my job field application. He coldy asked me, "Why the hell do you want to be a damned cook? You got a 99 on the ASVAB test." At this statement I was utterly shocked. I knew I did decent on the test, but not perfect. With this score, he said that I could do any job I want as long as I passed the training school. However, I stuck with cook because my intention is to start out low and work my way up to be a Master Chef. After signing and swearing in as a Delayed Entry Enlistee, I was sent home with a shipping date of June 21, 2004 to San Diego.
Now I am just sitting here at home, dwelling on how far I can push myself in the Marines. I have the brains, strength, and unbreakable resolve to serve the United States. Now I just have to prove that to everyone else in boot camp, the 13 week and 2 day trip through hell. Any advice or tips to a future Marine would be greatly appreciated.
-ForceVoid
After discussing my decision with my parents, I went to fill out my medical pre-screening papers on Tuesday and a good part of Wednesday. On Wednesday evening my recruiter took me to the local MEPS Liaison, where I took the ASVAB (Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery). Now let me say this about the test: It was definately a lot harder than I expected. The test was divided into ten categories of General Science, Arithmetic Reasoning, Word Knowledge, Paragraph Comprehension, Math Skills, Electronic, Automotive, Mechanical, Electrical, and Assembling Objects. Unlike the AFQT, this test took two hours and had questions much more in-depth than the qualifying test. I got through the test within my time limit, but the testers were hurried to get me out of there so they could go home. I did not get the chance to take a look at my results. After I had packed up my gear, a bus took a huge group of applicants to a very nice hotel where the military had paid for numerous Armed Services applicants' rooms. Being exhausted from all the testing and paperwork, I crashed at about 8:30 p.m. "Bright" and early the following morning, each applicant received a wake-up call at 3:30 a.m. I hurried to eat my provided breakfast and was soon crammed into a series of shuttle buses taking applicants back to the MEPS Liaison. Here, all applicants received a full physical, which took from about 5:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. After this taxing ordeal, I was finally told that I was medically qualified and sent to the Marines' Office. Here, the recruiters asked me one last time exactly what I wanted my job field to be, to which I responded, "Cook." At this point, I witnessed the recruiter blankly staring at some form I did not recognize while repeatedly flipping back to my job field application. He coldy asked me, "Why the hell do you want to be a damned cook? You got a 99 on the ASVAB test." At this statement I was utterly shocked. I knew I did decent on the test, but not perfect. With this score, he said that I could do any job I want as long as I passed the training school. However, I stuck with cook because my intention is to start out low and work my way up to be a Master Chef. After signing and swearing in as a Delayed Entry Enlistee, I was sent home with a shipping date of June 21, 2004 to San Diego.
Now I am just sitting here at home, dwelling on how far I can push myself in the Marines. I have the brains, strength, and unbreakable resolve to serve the United States. Now I just have to prove that to everyone else in boot camp, the 13 week and 2 day trip through hell. Any advice or tips to a future Marine would be greatly appreciated.
-ForceVoid