Considering joining Marines to be USMC Sniper. Please Read

[BigCheese1]

Hey guys, Ive got a few questions.
I am really considering joining the marines with the goal to become a USMC Sniper. I have had an intense passion for firearms, shooting and hunting since I can first remember. When I was younger I became known among family and friends for being able to shoot cherry tomatoes and golf balls thrown in the air with my .22. This impressed everyone greatly but I know I'm capable of much more. I've been blessed with excellent hand eye coordination and a strong body. (The marine recruiters first question to me was if I bailed hay for a living...)
I have asked many dumb questions on this forum recently but I am just now getting back into it. For the last couple years I've been following my parents dream for my life which was to play college basketball on a scholarship and get a free education (despite growing up in the country and being a rodeo cowboy like my father for most of my childhood)... I got the scholarship then dropped it all after my first semester. I left school and moved out on my own quickly. I had grown to hate basketball.
I currently work 70+ hours a week. At my first job I deliver a lot of parts from San Diego (home and work) to los Angeles on a daily basis. Driving though Camp Pendleton gives me this strange feeling. I feel something inside of me is almost calling my name to enlist and wait my turn for a chance to be a sniper.
Maybe its what I'm supposed to do? I'm not sure but right now I need help and wisdom with putting together my rifle to practice with.
I have a Rem 700 LA that needs truing. Ive saved enough money to get most of the build done but I need suggestions on parts that will help me prepare best if I do get to sniper training.
Scope? I believe I need a Mil/Mil scope. I don't have Much money but I'll save up a little longer to get quality glass so I can learn how to properly adjust for elevation/ windage and estimating ranges with my reticle... basically everything that is required is what I need to practice with.
Stock? I'm in love with the XRL stock but I'm not sure if its practical enough since it seems that most snipers are using MacMillan style stocks.
Timney trigger? Whats a rugged and reliable trigger?

I am open to all suggestions, advice and criticism so don't be shy. I have a lot of .270 ammo and I was going to make it a .270. I figure it will give me extra practice it adjusting for windage vs using a .300 wm or .338. If there's a better more practical, easily found and affordable round then please let me know.
I am almost 20 years old so I have some time to practice and time to determine if this is really what I want to do with my life.

I apologize for the long post but I thank anyone who does take the time to read this and offer any wisdom and insight.
Thanks,
DW.

 

[Aimsmall55]

Good luck on your goal. I've got a vortex Viper pst 6x24x50 mrad I'll Sell you for $525. It's got a few scratches on it but other than that is perfectly fine. As a matter of fact I send them annually to vortex to get them inspected and just got it back. It's good to go.

 

[Aimsmall55]

I should mention the scratches are not on the glass ...on the body itself

 

[Bangin_steel]

Im by no means a sniper and not in the miltary. You sound like your really thinking about this so heres what I think fwiw. Being a sniper is a lot more then being able to shoot a rifle good or even great. Being a sniper is a metal thing. You must be able to handle the physical challenges mentaly if that makes sense. Shooting is never a bad skill to have and practicing is def a good thing. You must really think what being a sniper means and whats expected of you as a sniper. Only you can decide whether you can handle it or not, but remember if you join and dont make it through sniper school you still have a duty to serve this country for the rest of your contract. Good luck in your decisions and dont let anything hold you back from your dreams. This is the greatest country on earth thanks to our men and women of the armed forces. P.s. my neighbor is a usmc scout sniper and have spent many hours talking to him thats were my opinion comes from.

 

[ArmyJerry]

Learn land nav, patience, self control (discipline),then shooting,and start running, run a lot.

The fact that you can spell and put together a sentence tells me you are intellectually over qualified for the USMC, go to Sand Hill you will fit in better

 

[Graham]

Don't worry about rifles. Before you enlist:

1) Get an education: The war's over; don't get caught in the military without one.
2) Get in excellent basic/cardio shape: Running, pushups and sit-ups to a very high standard.
3) Learn basic infantry skills like map reading and land nav, learn to climb and learn to swim well.

If you want to learn to shoot a bolt gun, get a .308 and take a reputable course from someone who knows. Sell the .270. Spend the money on the course and borrow or rent the rifle.

 

[RyanScott]

Ruck, run, land nav and pull ups will be more important. Don't hurt yourself, but be in excellent shape. They will teach you how to shoot. Don't worry about that part.

An education is important but if you intend to be a one term Marine, it might be best to serve and then use the GI Bill for college.

 

[07zx6r]

Like everyone else above mentioned, don't worry so much about practicing shooting. I am in flight school right now for the Army. They didn't expect me to be a pilot before i got here.The same is true for the Marines. They won't expect you to already be an expert marksman. There is so much more to being a sniper than the shooting. Run, run, and then run some more. To be a Marine, even more so as a scout sniper requires extreme mental and physical conditioning. If this a true dream, stay persistent and do not take no as an answer. Oh, and I would probably get a 308 if I was gonna start training. Good luck

 

[308boltgun]

Read this book or listen to the audio book. It is on the psychology of killing. It is very good and I believe it is now required for all officers.

On Killing: The Psychological Cost of Learning to Kill in War and Society - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Then it is very important to understand that in basic training, they dont want ANYONE to stand out, to be better than the rest of them. Many years ago I was the coach for the state high junior high power team for the national rifle championships (camp perry). One of my young shooters went into the marines. He was good enough and wanted to break the marine boot camp shooting record. Somehow it leaked out what he wanted to do. Everything got stacked against him. He shot well but not enough to break the record. If I remember correctly, they claim he missed on one of his shots. So, if you are better than the others at shooting, dont talk about it, just do it. Dont TRY to stand out.

 

[Name Enough]

Congratulations on having an admirable goal. Serving our country in any capacity is laudable. We should be involved in endeavors we feel called to. I think the preceeding advise is excellent. I will add that your education is very important. There are a lot of very smart, hardworking folks in the service nowdays. In the service the cream rises to the top. You can continue your education in the service as I did thru correspondence courses. Back then they were offered by the University of Maryland.
If you indeed become a sniper, you may find shooting is one of your lesser challenges. Today's military is very technical and requires constant continuing education.

 

[Morgan321]

Bigcheese: if you want to join the military stop talking about it and do it. You'll learn all you need to know in no time.

You didnt ask a question about the military, but practicing shooting now is a waste of your time and money as far as joining the military goes.

 

[Sixfivesavage]

Not too much I can add to this other than this...1. Take the ASVAB and make sure you do damn well on it. If you do, it helps immensely and can open a lot of doors for you. 2. If you can't shoot well with irons, you will not make it to the point of shooting with a magnified optic. So don't get ahead of yourself here. If you have the natural talent, take it to the Corps and let them turn it into what they want. 3. The physical and mental game is more important than just shooting. I can't tell you how much to run, other than go until you are wore out, then keep going...4. Make sure you don't neglect your brain, intelligence is paramount. They can't teach you anything if you can't learn anything. Being quick with math is not something they are going to teach you, but is something that will be of great bennifit to you.

The most important thing I can say, and the only thing I can say with utmost certainty is that if you have any serious thoughts of taking on the challenge of becoming one of the few and the proud, much less the best of them, try. If you try and don't make it, you obviously will not be happy about it, but if you don't try and you never know what could have been...you will know the true feeling of disappointment for the rest of your life.

 

[SDmtnbkr]

A ton of great responses here! I can tell you I wanted to be sniper since before I could remember, actually I an remember... after I watched the movie sniper, lol! I graduated from High School early just to go to the Marines, but I wouldn't be 18 for almost a year and my parents wouldn't sign off on my enlistment unless I did something else, so I did my second love. I was a Helicopter Crewchief/Door Gunner.

I got out after 2 back to back tours to Iraq in 2005 at the age of 22, and never looked back.... until this last year. I can tell you I was pretty whimpy when I joined. I was barely 17. I now live with one of my best friends who is a SEAL and know a lot of his Team guy buds. Looking back now I do really wish I went special forces but I just don't see how I would have made it physically. I know I have the mental and heart but I'm kind of a late bloomer and didn't develop into a muscular man until around 27. So now I'm in the best shape of my life, shoot a ton and have to hear story after story of the cool shit all my friends are doing.

My roommate went through SEAL Sniper school, which i known for being different then the Scout school because of the way SEALs operate. But I can you this, he said that SEAL Sniper school is 3 parts and if you don't pass the first 2 parts (stalking and I'm forgetting the other) you don't even get to shoot one round! In my experience military snipers are among the smartest on the battlefield. They have to be able to detach 1 or 2 at a time and head to remote places or join other teams and be the spear point of assaults and intel gathering. Shooting solutions, thinking on the fly, stress.... trying doing the math on a shooting solution in your head while getting shot at by a moving target or worse, someone you're trying to protect getting shot at.

Train, train, train! You need to be in the best shape of your life physically to endure everything that's gonna come at you, even stress. Like others have said, RUN, a lot! I remember flying out on the outskirts of Fallujah in 2004 to pick up a 2 man sniper team way out in the black desert. When landed I spotted them sitting and I couldn't figure out what they were doing... then it hit me. Their packs were so big they sat down, strapped themselves in the packs and were kicking their legs over their heads just to get enough momentum to get up. They couldn't even sit in the Helo because their packs were so big. The packs were on there backs in the seats and they just sat in mid are still attached to them. They had been out for over a week i'm guessing.

If you really want to be a sniper, shooting should be the last thing on your mind. If you're only 19, I'd give yourself a year to train, get mentally/ physically in shape and get educated and then go for it!! You won't regret it, changed my life for sure!

 

[GBMaryland]

Join the Air Force?!

-grin-

I would make it a point of being in excellent condition physically.

If you can't run at least 5-10 miles, you'll have an issue. I'd also do some strength training, so you can prevent some of the common injuries people run into in basic.

Consider an associates degree, if you can't do a BA or BS.

The Corps does not have many slots; moving up in rank is not something that happens quickly in the Marines due to a lack of positions, as they can only have so many people of a given rank... So do some research and find out what types of education would help you in you selected field, and have a fallback plan.

 

[17874]

You have to join in the 0300 (infantry) field without any guarantees. Get through boot camp, SOI, and get assigned to a unit in the fleet. Then when they run an endoc you give it your all. If you make it you get assigned as a PIG. Once you are a PIG for a while and have proved yourself, they might send you through school. Then and only then you will be a Scout Sniper. Good luck.

 

[Mortarman0341]

Read this book or listen to the audio book. It is on the psychology of killing. It is very good and I believe it is now required for all officers.

On Killing: The Psychological Cost of Learning to Kill in War and Society - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Then it is very important to understand that in basic training, they dont want ANYONE to stand out, to be better than the rest of them. Many years ago I was the coach for the state high junior high power team for the national rifle championships (camp perry). One of my young shooters went into the marines. He was good enough and wanted to break the marine boot camp shooting record. Somehow it leaked out what he wanted to do. Everything got stacked against him. He shot well but not enough to break the record. If I remember correctly, they claim he missed on one of his shots. So, if you are better than the others at shooting, dont talk about it, just do it. Dont TRY to stand out.

I'm a Marine (0341/8151) ... I'm calling bull (not calling your a liar 308boltgun, but someone before you was confused) on this shooting record story... Boots are too worried about other stuff. Two or more people in the BUTTS pulling targets, privates don't keep their mouths shut, there is no way to keep it quiet.

Shooting isn't what will get you to or through Scout/Sniper school. Your attitude and actions plus your shooting score. I was invited, I turned it down. 308boltgun encouraged you to read "On Killing..." Do so.

Still go to boot camp (give till you puke), you will love it. And if you are the stuff that makes it you are going to have to prove yourself for a couple of years before you will even be able to try for a spot at school. There are openings at the Company level that don't require school that are pretty fun. Most of the self professed Scouts out there where this lower level sniper. Not to bash them but they didn't typically go to Scout/Sniper school. whoever everyone at Scout/Sniper school held this billet.

I don't care what a recruiter tells you, there is no way to go to S/S school till you have been in a couple of years. I would also suggest you don't go 0311 there are 100 of them for every 0341/0351, I don't care how good you are there are always better shooters. The high shooter we had in boot camp had never fired a gun before coming to Pendelton.

I love the Corps, I wouldn't trade the experience for anything, and I have been all over this great big blue marble wearing the Eagle Globe and Anchor, kickin' and smashin' and hookin' and jabbin', Too Fun!

Morgan 321 is right as well. Shooting is the least of your worries, Run Forrest Run!

Have Fun and shoot Straight!

Scott

 

[Graham]

Read this book or listen to the audio book. It is on the psychology of killing. It is very good and I believe it is now required for all officers.

On Killing: The Psychological Cost of Learning to Kill in War and Society - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

The main study relied on for his thesis is both dated and flawed, with the methods used proven to be unscientific. Moreover, the last ten years of war has shown a large part of the information in the book to be of limited use, if not completely incorrect.

 

[JB02]

Practically nothing is guaranteed when you join the military. I was selected to be a Navy pilot when I finished the Naval Academy but now I'm building and overhauling submarines.

It is helpful to look at entering the military from a 30,000 ft view. How long do you intend on staying? What opportunities do you want after your service? Define your end state and work backwards, but keep in mind that your journey will almost certainly and drastically diverge from what you originally intended.

As far as entering:
- Be in good shape. Marines run, run, and run some more. Your ultimate fitness goal before you go to boot camp or OCS should be 20 pull ups, 100 sit ups in two minutes, and 3 miles in 18 minutes.
- Prepare for the ASVAB and do well on it. You have more options available to you if you get good scores.
- Stay out of trouble.

If I wanted to learn "infantry/sniper stuff" before reporting, I would learn how to read a map and orienteering. I think Marines use 155s from a 308 (someone correct me if I'm wrong). Maybe it would be worth it to learn that system; at the very least, it's fun to go shoot!

 

[jcann]

I went through boot camp (San Diego "Hollywood Marine") when I was 21 years old and they called me gramps.

In boot camp attitude is everything.

Like everyone says, get in shape. You're going to run a lot; it seems like we ran 5 miles almost every day. Start doing push ups, set ups, leg lifts, mountain climbers, and bend and thrust. Do them until you can't do them anymore and then do some more. Don't stop until you have a nice puddle of sweat on the ground by your head. Get a pack, fill it with a ton of weight and walk/jog over the steepest mountains/hills you can find. Get an AR15 and press it above your head until you can't press that 7lbs any more. Get the Marines Guide Book before joining and memorize your general orders (be able to recite anyone of them on command) memorize all Marine Corps rank from Pvt. to General also memorize Navy officer rank from Ensign to Admiral. I don't know how to tell you to prepare for the mental side of boot camp.

I was fortunate to be platoon high shooter so I pulled squad bay fire watch while the rest of the platoon pulled mess duty for a week. I was assigned to watch a recruit from another platoon who was being processed out. The guy looked like he could bench press a round bale but all he would do during the day was cry and say he wanted to go home. All I can figure is the drill instructors had broken him.

Don't get noticed, don't get the platoon in trouble, don't go to sick bay if possible, and don't, repeat don't, piss off the Sr. Drill Instructor! The Jr. Drill Instructors will go ape crazy on all of you. Be prepared to do a task in 30sec. you can't possibly do and be prepared to do it over and over. The quicker you figure out it can't be done the better off you'll be. I called it learning to play the game. I think its really called DI time. You better not have a Marine tattoo of any kind before you're a Marine; you'll pay dearly everyday for it.

As far as shooting goes, the PMI, Primary Marksman Instructors will teach you a lot. You'll get tired of snapping in for a week aiming at little targets on barrels.

As has been said you'll have to have a MOS of 0300 (it might be 0311) I can't remember. You'll also need to be above average in intelligent. Go in with plan B as well.

As far as your rifle caliber, if it was me, I would ditch it and go with 308.

Good luck

 

[dangerdan87]

Learn to run, and run fast, and fun for very long distances very fast.

Marines seem to base a lot of what they do on how your PFT scores are. I got passed up on a squad leader position because a true idiot could run faster than me

 

[Ledzep]

The Marine Corps is getting really competitive without wars to fight and a shrinking budget. There's a lot more to it than even land nav, pt, and infantry skills etc. Lots of politics and you have to learn a whole new world of social interaction.

You're a little gear in the big machine and your goals aren't priority.

I'm not trying to discourage you, but don't expect to just show up and be a sniper. Going to be at least a year or two of bs and hard work beforehand.

Doing the whole sniper thing was my intention when I joined. Other duties got in the way. I could re enlist to do it still, and still like the actual infantry job, but at this point I'm burned out with the people. College and freedom bound after this upcoming meu.

Good luck.

 

[Redmanss]

I'm out now and contracting overseas, but I was a Marine Scout Sniper and also a recruiter while I was in. Here's what I say...

Get off the forum, grab your balls and walk into the local recruiter's office. You're a high school grad, got some college under your belt and since you played college ball, I'm sure you're already in decent enough shape (but work on pull-ups and running, you can never be fast or strong enough). Go join up and make sure you go infantry and only infantry.

You don't need to practice anything before hand, they'll teach you anything and everything you need to know. You can probably be in boot camp by the fall if not sooner. It's summer and they will have ship drops from the blow-toad food blisters that are graduating high school with an XBox workout routine and weed/Xanax/Doritos education, so those recruiters will love an office traffic grad that's ready to ship now.

If you got it, they'll take you and you'll make it. If not, well, it's the Marines and not everyone can be one. There's a reason for that.

Good luck.

 

[Sharpsman]

About 8 months back I sat at a table with a former Marine/Scout Sniper. He's now with the Louisiana State Police and a great guy. He went through the first war in Iraq. As we were sitting eating our lunch a young kid walks in and sat with us...about 19 years of age he was and he was the nephew of another guy that was sitting at our table. During the course of our conversation this kid mentions that he's thinking of joining the USMC and had a desire to be a Scout/Sniper. Well....for the next 45 minutes he got a very good and thorough education on just what entails being a Scout/Sniper in the USMC. The longer the state trooper talked....the wider this kids eyes got and when it was all over.....I think this 'kids' desires had somewhat abated!! It ain't Hollywood Dude! You're the first sumbeech in....and you're the last sumbeech out and everything you need for the duration of your mission you'll pack in on your back and then you'll pack it back out....if you get out!! And here's another thing you don't know! You'll train with a group of guys that will have a vote....as to whether or not you will become a member of their group and if for any reason....there is just one guy that thinks you can't cut the mustard....or one whom you've pizzed off.....that one vote against you will quash all your effort and hard work you've gone through! Like I said....it ain't HOLLYWOOD!! The best thing you can do for yourself right now is to get your young azz in school and get and education OR....some VOCATION at which you can make a living for yourself....and a future family!!

 

[JaysonF]

Run with a ruck, do pull ups, practice sleep deprivation while still functioning, do land nav, run without a ruck preferably 3 miles in 18 minutes or less, swim, and... Haze yourself. You will be hazed in bootcamp, you will be hazed in SOI and you will be hazed in the fleet. Once you are in the fleet, you will be hazed some more. Once that is through, decide whether or not you still want to be SS. Remember along your path, nothing will be more of a haze-fest than when you're a PIG. Good luck, and never give up. Remember, that people before you have done it, and you will survive.

 

[nchunter243]

I've skipped all the post so sorry if this is a repeated post but keep the 270 you'll want it to hunt with back (when you get the chance ) after the hours on the 308. Get in top physical shape..run, then run with a backpack full of sand/weights/something to make you cuss. Then learn land nav if possible. Scout/Sniper school is about 10% shooting and it is the easy part, crawling through the mud/swamp to break in that suit after the 10 mile hike at night is the hard part. Like most thinks in the military scout sniper school is far more education and mental stress then it is shooting. You will go as far as you allow yourself, given all this if i could train up again to enlist I'ld buy a cz .22 a shit ton of subsonic 22s and then spend the rest of the time working out and studying math and science as it will become far more beneficial to your career... The marines/army/navy will teach you to shoot however they cant teach you not to be stupid \. Also remember not all scout snipers get to be mark walburg a good amount go back to a platoon simply as the platoon sniper/rifle instructor...gov't loves to train you for duel roles . Edit - Get good at waiting, nothing in the military moves quickly especially not scout snipers

 

[jcslone]

An admirable goal, but an exceedingly challenging one to achieve. Don't let that dissuade you though.

Now there are no Scout Sniper contracts, the route to take would be to contract into an 03xx MOS (0311 Rifleman, 0321 Reconnaissance Man, etc). You will attend Recruit Training then the School of Infantry. From there you will be dropped to an infantry battalion and begin your training workup. Do not expect to be able to try out for Snipers unless you have done a deployment (not always a requirement) and an Expert Marksman.

It's good that you know how to shoot well right now but when you enlist and begin training you will be taught the Marine Corp's way of shooting and be expected to employ those fundamentals and build on them. The PMI's and other marksmanship instructors will be able to identify potential bad habits that you may have developed unconsciously. Have a teachable mindset and attitude.


Now I haven't done the SS screener myself but plenty of my peers have so I'll tell you what they told me and what I have observed:

1) Mental strength and endurance is 90% of the job. It is (literally) mind blowing what you can make your body do if you don't give up and you persevere.
2) You will run a mother****ton! In full gear, with pack, with weapons. Over some of the shittiest terrain imaginable for stupid long distances. Your feet will blister, they will bleed. You will roll your ankles, your knees, shoulders, and back will scream for you to quit. You can't. If you quit, you don't make it.
3) You will be expected to engage your targets with deadly precision AFTER having done the above and then some at varying distances and under various weather conditions.
4) If you don't eat/sleep/breath PT you're gonna have a bad time. You must always be pushing yourself harder and farther to become better.
5) Your mind needs to be as fit as your body. You need to be able to problem solve, analyze situations and make good snap decisions on the fly and adapt to constantly changing situations.
6) Thinking outside the proverbial box and being able to come up with solutions to seemingly impossible challenges is a necessity.

If you pass the Screener you will either be selected or you won't. Passing the Screener is not a guarantee of selection. If you are selected you will begin sniper training at your unit level (PIG, Professionally Instructed Gunman). If you're good, they'll send you to Snipers School where you will learn more advanced shooting, spotting, recon, stalking, and other necessary skills. If you graduate (the attrition rate is high), you will be a full fledged Scout Sniper, a HOG (Hunter of Gunmen).

Should you choose to pursue this career choice I wish you the best of luck and Godspeed on your endeavor. It will be the most rewarding experience of your life and will give you valuable life experience and you will learn things about yourself that you didn't know before. I've been a Grunt (0311) for almost 6 years now and while it hasn't always been easy (downright shitty at times) I have no regrets and I'd do it all over again. If you've got any questions feel free to shoot me a PM.

Semper Fi,

Josh
CPL, USMC
1/7 Animal Company

 

[fdkay]

Most of the advice given has been spot on.
If you are in shape now, join up.
Talk to the recruiter, you may have a delayed entry anyhow.
I don't know if you have continued with a fitness routine, most elite athletes don't just give up the lifestyle. As has been said, run. Run on the beach. Run up the hills or do bleachers, and learn to do lots of pull ups. (all been said already)

When you join the corps, they will teach you to shoot their way. Doesn't matter how good you are, they will teach you the Marine way, and it is an excellent way of doing the business.
If you want to build your own rifle, you can do a long action .308.
Send your barreled action off to one of many awesome smiths here on the hide or to Hart Barrels. By the time you graduate bootcamp, your rifle will be done.
For about 700 dollars you can get your action trued and a custom barrel installed. Install said barreled action in a B&C M40 long action stock (about 230 bucks), this is if you use the varmint contour. If you go heavy M40/M24 contour, spend the extra and get the HS Precision that is inletted for the heavier profile.
A 12x super sniper and one of several mounting kits available from SWFA will get you on the range with a very capable system.

 

[long range newbie]

patience is key you see, its a lot of mental, even more than physical since you have to be able to sit in uncomfortable place, with mosquitos biting you, soaking wet and that annoying itch, and still not move. trust me that would be mental. I'm not saying you would be in that kinda of scenario but remember, marksmanship isn't the only skill you need. Its all a mental game now, and you have to be able to pull the trigger when you need to. I have a person I know who told me a story about a kid who joined at a young age and who was on a a special kill team and the kid had killed 36 or 35 men I don't remember but he was only 19.5. I mean its all mental games and if you can't handle taking another mans life, then don't do it. its better not to ruin your home life. I do not have any experience in the army, but I do have family members who were and I just hope you make the right decision. remember, its YOUR life not anyone elses

 

[bogeybrown]

Only YOU can decide what's right for YOU, but I'm going to offer you one other avenue that I haven't seen mentioned and I'm probably going to get flamed for it: Look for a Reserve STA (Surveillance and Target Acquisistion) Platoon in your area and enlist into it.
You will still go through Boot Camp and SOI and will then report to your reserve ("Sniper") Unit. If you have the necessary pre-requisites (rifle qual, PT, swim qual, etc) you will eventually get your School slot.
The war is, for all practical purposes, over. I'm overseas contracting now and can attest to it, our guys are still getting killed but it's no longer in furtherance of a military goal, which is CRIMINAL. I served in the peacetime (Clinton era) Marine Corps and I can tell you, as Graham said, you don't want to get caught in the military, especially the Marines, without a war.
You have the beginnings of an education, you can still be a Marine, still deploy when the time comes, still get the schools etc, but it allows you to simultaneously live a life and advance your civilian career. There used to be options for going active duty for periods of time as well, but I don't known if you can still do that.
Just an option, but consider the Reserves and whether it better suits what you want to do.

S/F
Nelson

 

[mackdrvr]

Simply put.......go for it. If you never try you will look back and be sorry. Good luck.

 

[Greg Langelius *]

Don't expect to get slotted right away. Marine Snipers are not chosen from trainees, they are chosen from seasoned combat arms Marines with a proven ability to handle promotion, with proven proficiency and conduct track records of receiving, interpreting, and obedience to orders. This includes being assigned and serving at the Corps' convenience, whatever job they need you to do. About the only meaningful option/choice you can make early in your USMC career is to elect for Combat Arms.

There is no fast track.

This is no reason to reconsider, it's just a brief on what to expect. Facts are, our Corps wants you to be a stable and committed Marine before they entrust such responsibility. I would venture to say many Marines enter the Corps with intentions and expectations that gradually evolve in other directions over time, and this is perfectly OK, so long as it leads to a positive career experience. Remember that word, 'career'. For Marines, that's the main goal, and doing it successfully. The details will, should, change over time, and that's really the very best thing that could happen. Any goal you have now should be an intermediate one, the real object of Marines is to lead, and the best leaders come from combat backgrounds with broad areas of experience.

You will get the bulk of your infantry marksmanship training in Boot Camp. The less you know before you join, the less you'll need to unlearn in Boot Camp. Conflicting info, like, "Well, this is how we did it when...", will only drag you down. Infantry marksmanship, M16/M4/USGI Metallic Sights, is the only kind of marksmanship that will get you anywhere near Scout Sniper School. When/if you get there, the same advice about prior knowledge, as above, will still apply, only moreso. There are three ways; the right way, the wrong way, and the Marine Corps way. There is only one right choice, and if you need to guess which, you'll never qualify.

You've already read that you should not stand out in Boot Camp. Your object there is to meld with and help forge the group/unit. Your challenge is to help others reach the higher standard. Each contributes to the whole, and the reward is earned and bestowed at the group, and not individual, level. Your group's success is your success, there is no individual success. That comes later, well after boot Camp.

Marine snipers are Scout Snipers. Shooting isn't all of it, it's probably not even most of it. Scout Snipers train and operate in places and times most other servicemen wouldn't ever want to be near. That's a goodly part of what allows them to come back intact.

Just understand these sorts of things going in.

Never been a Scout Sniper, but I am a Marine, and things like this get seen and not forgotten. I know this may all be new to you, but it's not so new on this site. This question has come up on here often enough over the past decade or so that a lot of us could rattle off these answers in our sleep.

...and it's 'Marine', with a capital 'M'. Being a Marine in wartime is a sublime experience. In peacetime, I'd rather do some hard time in Hell...

Greg

 

[Killer Spade 13]

Have a "PLAN "B"" in case you wash out. High attrition rate, you know . . . . because once ya join, ya can't quit becaused you flunked out of a school.

 

[BigCheese1]

Wow. I am sincerely thankful for all of your responses. None of you know who I am so I could be some queer typing away on a computer who watches too many movies, but that it not true.
I am fully aware of the physical and mental toughness that is required. Physically, I know I can push my body beyond what most are capable above. I have proven this to myself time and again and I know how to make my body continue when it says it's done. I crave the burn and the pain of physical exhaustion. Being on the verge of collapsing but making my body do more is what I lived for.

In high school I was 6'1", 195-200 lbs with 12% bodyfat. I Could bench 250 and do 25-30 complete dead hang pull ups. I could bust out nearly 100 push-ups at a time. I had a good vertical jump that I worked hard far. I would regularly dunk all over guys at the gym. I could also run a mile in just over 5 minutes. (They clocked me at 5:29 in hell week at college if I remember correctly.) Absolutely none of that came without blood sweat and tears. (Especially the jumping because white guys cannot jump)

What I mean to say is that being is top physical shape is a passion for me and nothing new. If you knew me, you would know that.
Mentally, I know I can withstand discomfort and pain. I am my dads son, who may have been one of the toughest son's of bit*hes you've ever met. He preached to me my whole life that pain is nothing more than a feeling, just like any other feeling and that it can be ignored. I've watched him slam his finger under a hammer on an anvil and not say a word. I think I have had the proper upbringing in terms of not being a yuppie (as Phil would say if you watch Duck Dynasty). He taught me how to work long and hard and how to NEVER quit. My dad had NO quit in him and it is something I have tried to model my life after.

Guys, I am aware that this is NO joke. I am taking everything that all of you have said into serious consideration. I believe some soul searching is required right now.

Maybe I am just a lost, testosterone filled 19 year old with an intense passion for this country, and for guns which I have no proper outlet for. I am trying to find my way right now and driving through Pendelton every day really got me to thinking. Maybe I will finish Junior College and get my Associates or go do a trade.

My purpose of this post was to get your opinions and I sure did and sure am grateful for them. I will think long and hard about this. I have said none of this lightheartedly and mean no disrespect if I came off that way. It has been a serious consideration of mine and I also believe I am in a better place after reading your responses.

Thank you all very much.

 

[Morgan321]

STFU and go join today. Worst case is you have a good paying job for a few years and grow up, best case is you figure out what you want to do. Or you can keep driving through Pendleton every day and tell your buddies how you almost joined the marines but didn't because you liked your truck driving job better. Your choice.

Don't wait for college, you can do college for free down the road if you still want to.

I am trying to find my way right now and driving through Pendelton every day really got me to thinking. Maybe I will finish Junior College and get my Associates or go do a trade.

 

[Graham]

STFU and go join today. Worst case is you have a good paying job for a few years and grow up, best case is you figure out what you want to do. Or you can keep driving through Pendleton every day and tell your buddies how you almost joined the marines but didn't because you liked your truck driving job better. Your choice.

Don't wait for college, you can do college for free down the road if you still want to.

Free advice is worth what you pay for it. Never approach a big decision lightly.

 

[Morgan321]

Yeah, you should definately ask more strangers on the interweb and sleep on it for a few years. The longer you daydream about it the more likely you will be to decide. Or not.

Carpe diem quam minimum credula postero.
I had to google that shit, I'm just a dumb guy who quit college to join the military too!

Free advice is worth what you pay for it. Never approach a big decision lightly.

 

[lapua31]

I ran off to the CG after high school, best thing I ever did. While I only did 5 years, I'm still grateful for the time I spent.
If you never become a scout sniper, you can still say you were a fucking Marine! If you like pain, take yourself out of your comfort zone and enlist...pussy. Good luck!

 

[Pinecone]

One thing that was mentioned several times, but not pointed out specifically.

Until you GET to the school, all your shooting will be with an iron sighted or red dot type, AR. You will not shoot a .308 with nice scope until the school.

So, if you want to work on the shooting part, you need to be able to shoot the proper type of weapon to qualify well.

I would also endorse looking at a reserve unit. Best of all worlds, you get the same training, but you can also have a real job that actually pays some money.

I went this route. There is a downside. If you get into a reserve unit with someone above you that you do not get along with, you are stuck with them. In the actives, at least one or both of you will be transfered after a while.

 

[Graham]

I had to google that shit, I'm just a dumb guy who quit college to join the military too!

OP, you see the problem he is having with a lack of transferrable skills. Remember: Misery loves miserable company. If you want to enlist, now, and without an education, then pick a useful trade. Hauling things long distances by foot is a young man's game, and even it gets old quickly.

 

[Morgan321]

Quite the opposite, I joined the military relatively late in life after degrees and years working in the "real world" and wish I had joined sooner! I spent too much time thinking about it and not enough time doing it, just trying to help others avoid the same situation.

Remember: Misery loves miserable company.

 

[Archer762]

No one joins the military to be a "Sniper." There is no Sniper contract the recruiter can give you.

You have to prove yourself as an infantryman for several years first. Only the very best 1-2% will go on to scout/sniper type units. You will have to stand out as one of the most fit athletes and be accurate with an M-16/M-4 with iron sights. You have to show you are also a mental badass with good academic skills. They do not care at all if you shot a nice rifle at long range in the civilian world.

Since you daydream about it, instead of already going out and doing it, already shows you are not up for it. Take a civilian course for a few days to get your tacticool fix, or walk into a recruiter's office right now.

 

[George Az]

The issue is you don't have any skills at 19. The Marines will give them to you. Do as well as you can on the ASFAB, this and this alone will determine what happens to you. As a grunt with a high ASFAB score, worlds will open up to you. There is a lot to do in the Corps, you can learn languages and learn skills not in your MOS.

If you are really a good shooter, there are rifle team options even at battalion level. Some battalions will even use a PFC for competition at battalion level. It is a step. It can be fun.

Quit screwing around and do it. Go learn to jump out of helicopters, swim in the surf, blow stuff up and have some fun.

TAKE CARE OF YOURSELF. Keep your knees healthy. Sleep when you can. Keep yourself squared away. Pay attention. Do well on every test. Give 100% cause they are watching.

 

[Greg Langelius *]

Don't 'overtrain' your knees. Cartilage is a perishable resource.

Some day you could end up being like me, 67 with knees that complain every time you go up or down that flight of stairs. Every male member of my family ran Cross Country Track, served as Draftees, and every one of us has or probably will have knee replacements.

Study up on how to pick out a pair of shoes/boots that can help protect your knees from unnecessary wear and damage. Learn how to walk and run with attention to preserving your knee cartilage. That's the biggest favor you can do yourself for those days out yonder in that impossibly far distant future, when you'd really rather be out there, keeping up with your Grandkids.

I sure wish to high heaven somebody had told me about this stuff when I was 19, immortal, and starting out with Boot training. Actually the DI told us all, but we were all so young and confident, none of us paid any real attention.

Greg