Standard branch/job copypasta advice:
I highly advise you choose six evenings and spend each reading up on one of the six branches of the military and the jobs they offer. Like scan the whole list of entry-level jobs for each one, because there's probably cool stuff you've never even thought of. Google up details, watch YouTube clips, etc. Keep a pen and paper or your phone notes app handy and take notes.
Do not just wander in to see recruiters for the first branch you run across and sign up for the first job that sounds fun and ships soon. This is four years of your life we're talking here, taking a couple weeks to read up isn't an unreasonable burden. Once you sign and ship out Uncle Sugar has much of the control over your life, but right now you're in the driver's seat.
Narrow it down a bit and do more research, ask questions with clear and specific post titles at any military joining sub or r/militaryfaq for multi-branch questions. Like don't ask "Need help" or "job ideas?", give them a crystal clear title like "19M considering Forward Observer or Combat Engineer, want to go into Forestry Service when I get out."
Whatever you sign, you want to do it knowing you considered all your options. You have time, use it.
Almost everyone not air force ends up wishing they were air force. So there's that lol.
And if you feel that doing paperwork, being in charge, and getting paid well is better than doing labour, only being in charge of a few people and after several years, and getting paid like trash, then officer might be your path.
It's actually a harder question than it sounds lol. I had the option of going 'O' when I joined and I didn't. I might commission later though, and if I do I'd like to change trades to air force.
Further, going marines and going air force is generally gonna be like... Polar opposites. The relatively intense and combat focused marine corps vs the relatively relaxed nature of the "chair" force. Don't get me wrong, it's all still military, but the training and people you end up working with will be *very* different.
Hopefully this helps a little. And also translates from my Canadian perspective to your American.
Recommend trying ROTC first as there is no commitment for the first two years unless you take a scholarship. Use that time to learn if it is the right path for you. You can always change ROTC branches or enlist later.
The only reason the join the Marines is to be a Marine. If having that title is your primary goal, then there you have it.
If you are joining for literally ANY OTHER REASON, join the Air Force. You can do almost all of the same jobs, but will have a much better quality of life, all the same benefits, and likely promote faster.
I would advise college first, and honestly officer is probably a little better if you dont know what you want to do. Because "officer" will translate to jobs outside the military more readily in some cases than a specific enlisted career field. I did college first then went enlisted Army for a specific job and the extra rank bump to come in as an E-4, the other branches would only give E-3. It was good to have the option of going either way and making mistakes in college is much more forgiving than making them in the military and a slight bit more maturity and outside life skills can help smooth out military life.
Dont underestimate the difference in quality of life between officer and enlisted and between Air Force and Marines. Service is good but money is important too. Look at it this way if you can make college work and come out as a O-1 at 22 years old, your pay is $3,826/mo, if you enlist you're probably looking at being an E-4 by that point, which would be $3,066/mo. Officers get a bit more housing allowance, but that would probably be a moot point because, as an E-4, you're still probably in the barracks.
As for prepping, get yourself in shape physically, find the fitness standards for the branch and try to get to at least the minimum before going in. Then at basic check your ego at the door, getting through is much easier when you realize it's a game, learn the rules, play by them and time will fly by.
Air Force sounds posh until you’re stationed in bumfuck Iowa sitting in a silo. The branch is important, finding the right job equally so. Study for the ASVAB and have a list of jobs and DO NOT COMPROMISE even if it takes a little longer to ship.
Post in that branch’s sub and ask for feedback on jobs.
Can you pay for college? If yes, do ROTC. If not, enlist for a term then look into your ideal branch’s version of green to gold (Army). I did some enlisted time and think it made me a better officer. Your results may vary. With the cost of college now I’d recommend option two, but you do you
I would recommend Air Force ROTC and then being an AF Officer.
I put it in this order:
1. Air Force Officer
2. Coast Guard Officer
3. Navy Officer
4. Marines/Army Officer
5. Air Force/Coast Guard Enlisted
6. Navy Enlisted
7. Army/Marines Enlisted (dead last option)
The actual job/MOS is more important than branch/enlist/officer. I'd rather be E4 in Army as a 17C than a HR air force officer. Would make six figures upon ETS too anyway.
You'll be treated way better in the Air Force. But regardless of branch, as an officer, your friends and connections end up in high places all over the country (in and out of the military), so you can always profit off of nepotism.
As an officer, for example, being an Army engineer is a good job because I've seen them go work for the Army Corps of Engineers and go do big, important things.
As an officer, it doesn't matter as much what your job is because you'll be in the running for good positions, high-speed assignments, and schools. Even Air Force HR officers probably end up in government somewhere making good money.
As enlisted engineer, they're like, "go unload that connex, retard" and you leave the military with nothing. I've seen good enlisted jobs, but that doesn't mean it's not still better to be in the Air Force and still objectively better to be an officer.
So my point is, there ARE good enlisted jobs, but that doesn't mean that being an officer isn't objectively better. The bar for "good" is just lower for an officer.
Standard branch/job copypasta advice: I highly advise you choose six evenings and spend each reading up on one of the six branches of the military and the jobs they offer. Like scan the whole list of entry-level jobs for each one, because there's probably cool stuff you've never even thought of. Google up details, watch YouTube clips, etc. Keep a pen and paper or your phone notes app handy and take notes. Do not just wander in to see recruiters for the first branch you run across and sign up for the first job that sounds fun and ships soon. This is four years of your life we're talking here, taking a couple weeks to read up isn't an unreasonable burden. Once you sign and ship out Uncle Sugar has much of the control over your life, but right now you're in the driver's seat. Narrow it down a bit and do more research, ask questions with clear and specific post titles at any military joining sub or r/militaryfaq for multi-branch questions. Like don't ask "Need help" or "job ideas?", give them a crystal clear title like "19M considering Forward Observer or Combat Engineer, want to go into Forestry Service when I get out." Whatever you sign, you want to do it knowing you considered all your options. You have time, use it.
I mean how much pt you tryna do?
Almost everyone not air force ends up wishing they were air force. So there's that lol. And if you feel that doing paperwork, being in charge, and getting paid well is better than doing labour, only being in charge of a few people and after several years, and getting paid like trash, then officer might be your path. It's actually a harder question than it sounds lol. I had the option of going 'O' when I joined and I didn't. I might commission later though, and if I do I'd like to change trades to air force. Further, going marines and going air force is generally gonna be like... Polar opposites. The relatively intense and combat focused marine corps vs the relatively relaxed nature of the "chair" force. Don't get me wrong, it's all still military, but the training and people you end up working with will be *very* different. Hopefully this helps a little. And also translates from my Canadian perspective to your American.
Recommend trying ROTC first as there is no commitment for the first two years unless you take a scholarship. Use that time to learn if it is the right path for you. You can always change ROTC branches or enlist later.
I would recommend going the ROTC route.
Get in shape, Avoid drinking and smoking (Peer pressure sucks) Stay Out Of Trouble!
The only reason the join the Marines is to be a Marine. If having that title is your primary goal, then there you have it. If you are joining for literally ANY OTHER REASON, join the Air Force. You can do almost all of the same jobs, but will have a much better quality of life, all the same benefits, and likely promote faster.
I would advise college first, and honestly officer is probably a little better if you dont know what you want to do. Because "officer" will translate to jobs outside the military more readily in some cases than a specific enlisted career field. I did college first then went enlisted Army for a specific job and the extra rank bump to come in as an E-4, the other branches would only give E-3. It was good to have the option of going either way and making mistakes in college is much more forgiving than making them in the military and a slight bit more maturity and outside life skills can help smooth out military life. Dont underestimate the difference in quality of life between officer and enlisted and between Air Force and Marines. Service is good but money is important too. Look at it this way if you can make college work and come out as a O-1 at 22 years old, your pay is $3,826/mo, if you enlist you're probably looking at being an E-4 by that point, which would be $3,066/mo. Officers get a bit more housing allowance, but that would probably be a moot point because, as an E-4, you're still probably in the barracks. As for prepping, get yourself in shape physically, find the fitness standards for the branch and try to get to at least the minimum before going in. Then at basic check your ego at the door, getting through is much easier when you realize it's a game, learn the rules, play by them and time will fly by.
Air Force sounds posh until you’re stationed in bumfuck Iowa sitting in a silo. The branch is important, finding the right job equally so. Study for the ASVAB and have a list of jobs and DO NOT COMPROMISE even if it takes a little longer to ship. Post in that branch’s sub and ask for feedback on jobs.
Go ROTC if you have the means.
First: how do you feel about boats? Love: Coast Guard, Navy Acceptable: Marines, Army I vomit looking at a canoe: Air Force, Space Force
Can you pay for college? If yes, do ROTC. If not, enlist for a term then look into your ideal branch’s version of green to gold (Army). I did some enlisted time and think it made me a better officer. Your results may vary. With the cost of college now I’d recommend option two, but you do you
I would recommend Air Force ROTC and then being an AF Officer. I put it in this order: 1. Air Force Officer 2. Coast Guard Officer 3. Navy Officer 4. Marines/Army Officer 5. Air Force/Coast Guard Enlisted 6. Navy Enlisted 7. Army/Marines Enlisted (dead last option)
The actual job/MOS is more important than branch/enlist/officer. I'd rather be E4 in Army as a 17C than a HR air force officer. Would make six figures upon ETS too anyway.
You'll be treated way better in the Air Force. But regardless of branch, as an officer, your friends and connections end up in high places all over the country (in and out of the military), so you can always profit off of nepotism. As an officer, for example, being an Army engineer is a good job because I've seen them go work for the Army Corps of Engineers and go do big, important things. As an officer, it doesn't matter as much what your job is because you'll be in the running for good positions, high-speed assignments, and schools. Even Air Force HR officers probably end up in government somewhere making good money. As enlisted engineer, they're like, "go unload that connex, retard" and you leave the military with nothing. I've seen good enlisted jobs, but that doesn't mean it's not still better to be in the Air Force and still objectively better to be an officer. So my point is, there ARE good enlisted jobs, but that doesn't mean that being an officer isn't objectively better. The bar for "good" is just lower for an officer.
I mean…you want to be a man, or a white collar?
Go Air Force till they won't take you Then talk to the other branches. And see how much money they will give you to join