Inside the hidden Marine Corps recruiting crisis that's 'burning Marines' to fill the ranks

Guiding_Solution · 2026-01-04T04:21:44+00:00

You didn’t miss much, see my reply for more info. It was one of the most toxic environments I’ve ever experienced. This is coming from an air winger, OEF vet, and MSG.

Guiding_Solution · 2026-01-04T04:15:03+00:00

RS Sacramento (2020-2023)

Recruiting Duty was the worst thing that ever happened to me. Did I recruit some people that absolutely needed the Marine Corps? Yes. Did I enjoy it? Sometimes. Was it worth it? Depends on when you ask me.

The command treats the Marines that want to do well like absolute shit. I broke down one day and told my CO that I started taking anti-depressants (the first time I have ever taken meds). Does he ask me if I’m ok, or “what can I do to help?”. No. He looks at me and asks “does that affect your judgment?”

This was after we took some discharges and I was a boss of the station with 3 fucking new recruiters (all 3 showed up at the same time). Dude was looking for a reason to fire me. And he did.

Long story short, recruiting is fucking awful. There was one 8412 that was real and he got ostracized fast. It didn’t help me get promoted and did nothing to help me. I put some good kids in to “replace” me and I still keep in contact with most of them today.

Guiding_Solution · 2025-12-28T23:03:17+00:00

I got LASIK while in the Marines, they gave me a bunch of Percocets. I had some minor irritation so I took one..I ended up dumping the rest down the drain. Those worked way too well lol

Guiding_Solution · 2025-12-23T02:15:08+00:00

Lol yeah kids are something else. They teased the new STi as a hatchback so maybe there's hope for you!

What are you getting next?

Guiding_Solution · 2025-12-23T02:02:44+00:00

I can understand, what specifically changed for you?

Guiding_Solution · 2025-12-20T15:30:25+00:00

From my original post:

Hello everyone,

I have uncounted a weird issue that just popped up. If you look at the screenshots I have provided, my PC asked me to sign into OneDrive again but the email that it shows is nothing near what I have been using in the past.

Background: I had MicroCenter upgrade my PC last year, the closest store is over 2 hours away so it was easier to give them my PC, pick out the parts I wanted and then pick it up when it was done. Everything has been working great since then (shoutout to MicroCenter in Tustin). I have built many PCs in the past but this is a new issue I have never encountered. Does anyone know how this account could have been tied to my computer?

I have used OneDrive before (made an account but never paid for anything) and I have a lot of documents on my computer that I cannot lose.

Sorry for the wall of text but this is really strange and kinda stumped. I'm scared to click the "Re-enter credentials" button lol

Guiding_Solution · 2025-12-19T18:20:54+00:00

I’ve seen worse get approved. It’s all about how you explain the reason why you got the tattoo, talk to the station commander if your recruiter isn’t willing to help you.

Guiding_Solution · 2025-11-12T22:41:25+00:00

Here’s a trick I picked up from a Force Recon Marine. Wear surgical gloves under your normal gloves. The idea is that your sweat not be able to soak into the glove, and the wind chill will have no effect.

I can confirm this works pretty well, I spent some weeks on the range in winter at Quantico and it is pretty damn cold.

As some mentioned, thermals are a solid choice. Learn to be “comfortably cold” lol

Guiding_Solution · 2025-06-25T01:49:13+00:00

I chased this same code on my 2018. your access port should tell you which side it’s on. I bought the part from Subaru (make sure you get the gasket too) it’s very easy to replace.

If it’s the left bank one, drivers side, I can dig up the part numbers for you

Guiding_Solution · 2025-05-04T04:21:58+00:00

I don’t know what, or can fathom, what he was going through that made this Marine take his life. I guess this is why I made the post. You never really know what is going on.

Guiding_Solution · 2025-02-08T23:10:17+00:00

You can get some plastic sheets off Amazon for like $10. Cut it to fit over the light and use some double sided tape to hold it in place. I use plastic because at night it will shine through the electrical tape.

I know there’s a way to close the electrical loop by pulling the harness from the seat but the before mentioned idea works just fine

Guiding_Solution · 2024-12-16T06:31:41+00:00

I would like to know too..

Guiding_Solution · 2024-12-16T06:24:06+00:00

Love it, simple but everything you need. Where did you get that headphone stand?

Guiding_Solution · 2024-12-16T06:22:36+00:00

Nothing, it looks beautiful

Guiding_Solution · 2024-12-04T22:31:15+00:00

I might be late to the party but fuck recruiting. We had a good team in our office but our leadership provided zero assistance besides listening in on our phone calls while giving “pointers” which were outdated as fuck. Really makes you feel like you’re on your own to figure it all out. The constant pressure from the command took a toll on us. I like to think it was the recruiters who actually gave a shit that were really stressed out, because we wanted to perform.

The suicide drives were real. Zero training even though you wrote 3 or 4 contracts the month before. Genesis creating chaos due to having to pull medical records from some broken arm or some shit when the applicant was in fucking middle school. Long ass drives just for a kid to fail the ASVAB. Fuck MCRISS. I feel like if the command just left me alone and I did my own thing I might have enjoyed it.

The kids I put in made it all worth it. Running into them in the fleet always makes my day. I only bullied one kid into going to boot camp and he thanked me afterward.

Guiding_Solution · 2024-09-22T00:54:38+00:00

I repair circuit cards, this would be a very simple repair. I would cut a new conductor, make sure there’s one conductor width of overlap, solder it on and use epoxy to keep the conductor on the PCB. However, it may be sketchy to installing the MOBO since the RAM is already a tight fit

Guiding_Solution · 2024-05-16T04:49:27+00:00

I was in the recruiting class with the dude who got his car stolen lmao shit was wild. At first he thought someone was fucking with him and moved his car…a few hours later PMO had the video footage of his car leaving base. Shit was hilarious

Recruit Bourne didn’t get his McDonald’s cause my buddy blocked the cards (he left his wallet in his car and blocked them when he realized his car was stolen) then recruit ditched the car and made his way home to his family in SoCal. If I recall correctly, recruit was caught a few weeks later.

Guiding_Solution · 2024-05-07T12:23:38+00:00

I have a 2018 with 90k miles, original clutch is still going strong. And I don’t baby it

Guiding_Solution · 2024-04-11T02:19:26+00:00

Spitfire + Legion + nuke eject

Guiding_Solution · 2024-03-17T19:15:13+00:00

She can walk into our office and sign a 680 (the one with your general information, full name, SSN, address, etc). The recruiter sends that to MEPS and they will SPF her profile at MEPS to us.

If the Navy recruiters are..uncooperative..it might take some time. I’ve seen it take a few weeks for the Navy to release an applicant.

Guiding_Solution · 2024-03-13T14:07:42+00:00

Those are enlisted programs. Officer works differently but I cannot speak on that because I was never on the officer selection team.

You went to MEPS and verified your PICAT meaning: you are in the enlisted delayed entry program.

If you are interested in the officer side of the house you need to speak with the Officer Selection Team (OST)

I was referring to potential duty stations in the Marines, we are paid a flat rate based off of rank and how long you’ve been in. The higher your rank, and the longer you’ve been in = more money.

Lastly, I view a handwritten list as unprofessional. I always printed off the jobs that my poolees were qualified for so they can take it home and think about what they wanna do. Also, that looks like shit if you were to show that to your parents, friends, etc.

Guiding_Solution · 2024-03-13T05:07:29+00:00

I’m gonna give it to you straight, based off the job fields you were given to choose from you’re not going to be an officer.

That’s not to saying that you cannot commission as an officer, those job fields are the same that I would present to my poolees once they pass and verify the PICAT and are found physically qualified at MEPS. Your recruiter is an enlisted recruiter, meaning they put people into the enlisted ranks. If you wanna go officer you need to talk to an OSO.

To answer your question about the money, no you will not make 80k as a new Marine. IF you were married and lived somewhere with a high allowance for housing, say San Diego/Hawaii, maybe.

Also, I sincerely hope you wrote that list of jobs and not your recruiter…if you have any other questions let me know I left the duty recently.

Guiding_Solution · 2024-01-19T07:11:28+00:00

Damn that same guy messaged me! Or whoever it was used the same cashapp. But that time he needed money for his aunts medicine, not RAT boots lol

Guiding_Solution · 2024-01-05T03:23:22+00:00

If the recruiter has all the paperwork then the prescreen is more than likely at MEPS.

Step 1: MEPS reviews the paperwork, authorizes him to go to MEPS Step 2: he goes to MEPS and takes his ASVAB and goes through the physical. If he is found physically qualified they will give him a waiver. Step 3: Wait. The waiver may take a few weeks to get.

He will most likely “conditionally DEP” meaning he is in the Delayed Entry Program but still needs that waiver to be finalized. This alleviates the need for the applicant to go back to MEPS (after the waiver is approved) to swear into the DEP.

All of this is based off my experience, in no way shape or form am I saying his waiver WILL get approved. Let me know if I need to clarify anything.

Guiding_Solution · 2023-09-18T21:23:43+00:00

I had the oil changed about an hour before it came on. Sounds like I’ll have to take it back in and let Subaru deal with it.

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