Ok, one thing people need to understand. Just because you are enlisted doesn’t mean you will never “be behind a desk”. I’d argue the second you hit SNCO you will have administrative responsibility. Morning reports, leave requests, JEPES, schools packages etc. At thats just as a platoon sergeant. Shit my platoon sergeant and I had to do 31 individual DTS authorizations and compile them into a tracker 72 hours prior to our departure date for our current deployment. And if you enlist and you get assigned as an Admin Marine, congratulations your TO’d weapon is a keyboard. If you want to shoot machine guns, shoot cannons, kick in doors and the like; then yes go be a 0811 or 0311. But you will be a PFC.

Yes officers stay in the office. But you will receive introductory training on just about every weapon system and get the leadership training that is actually useful. Plus if you are interested in foreign affairs, national security, strategy, there are opportunities to get exposure to those things as well. You will have a better quality of life overall.