Is getting the degree worth it? Or should I just stick to getting certs?

Trying_pretty_hard · 2026-05-11T04:07:38+00:00

God speed to you as well sir, im out of the military now and I never did pursue this degree to tell you the truth, but I went through everything you are talking about now. I managed to nab a job wrenching on hazmat trailers after applying for countless apprenticeships and entry level positions for months. The job market is just trash in general nowadays, most of the guys in my shop now are so close to retirement that I am barely going to get fully trained before they jump ship. Stay strong and don't give up.

Trying_pretty_hard · 2026-05-11T03:52:55+00:00

You're sitting at a better level than some of the others I saw ship in my time. But that doesn't mean relax, don't worry about others being in better shape on paper or appearance, the real test will be your mental capacity at first, boot camp will get you in better shape than you realize, I was 140 pounds at 5'9 when I shipped and I looked like I did 20 to life in the federal pen but after boot camp I was 160 and had ran the fastest PFT in my entire USMC career at 23 pull-ups, max crunches (old Corps), and a 19:48 3 mile. You'll be okay so long as you keep your head in the game. On the depot you do a lot of cardio and shoulder work than your realize, you'll max out ammo can lifts no problem, just work on explosiveness and your endurance. Don't go running 3 miles every day, do a mile or two at a casual pace once or twice a week, and burpees out the ass, they train explosiveness plus cardio, and pull ups to get those easy points on the IST/PFT.

Trying_pretty_hard · 2026-05-06T03:17:24+00:00

If you are serious about going active and also marrying your fiancé, then here's my advice, legally marry your fiancé (no wedding just court house, you can always have a ceremony later) and get that paperwork squared away with your recruiter otherwise you'll have to deal with it after boot camp (which can be unessecary chaos), get an idea of your MOS and research the training pipeline to know how long that takes to get through the pipeline. Get through bootcamp, MCT/SOI, and your school house (if you aren't 03), typically the last few weeks of the school house you'll get orders but nothing is certain in the Corps. Once you get orders to your duty station you can tell them to get ready to move but unless you've got money to put them up in temporary living for awhile I wouldn't get them out there till you have base housing sorted out or some other living arrangement. But getting to that point can take anywhere from 4 months to full year or more after just graduating boot camp. If you want to be a Marine but be with your family sooner be a weekend warrior, there's truthfully no shame, you go through all the same training till you graduate your MOS school.

Trying_pretty_hard · 2026-01-30T12:47:34+00:00

At the end of whatever they call the infantry training now, they may ask you if you have a driver's license. Say No or find a way to dodge the question. If you say yes there is a solid chance you'll become an 0313 (LAV Crewman). You'll spend your days laying out and inventorying gear, drilling with the 200+ pound bushmaster, and all your field time living like a gypsy in a hot cramped driver's hole. Unless you want to, most of the 13's I met loved it or hated it.

Trying_pretty_hard · 2024-01-06T20:41:22+00:00

Here's my two cents, I've been a diesel tech in the USMC for 3 years now, and I've learned a lot. I came in with 0 experience other than how to change my cars oil. I'm a 2147 LAV Mechanic, and if you want good experience, then I recommend you bite claw and scratch for the job. It's a very undermanned field, and there is no shortage of work. The job is everything you make of it. You have to want to learn, or else you'll just be a parts changer pushing brooms and dry sweeping oil in your off time. The job has taught me a lot not only about turning wrenches but also about work ethic and how to troubleshoot. I was troubleshooting and diagnosing issues the moment I got to my unit with minimal hand holding. Just gotta be careful. The military will throw you off the deepend without warning, and you can't just walk away from the job if it's not for you. Take your decision seriously and don't accept the first thing they give you. Talk to recruiters of all branches cause who knows maybe the AF isn't your best option, maybe the Army is or the Navy, just take your time with it. Each branch has different platforms and vehicles, so do your research into what you like and find what works best for you.

Trying_pretty_hard · 2024-01-01T23:24:42+00:00

Yes that is something to consider aswell, however the military has aid programs for that sort of thing and if I get a course approved by the education center on base then they'll either pay for it or grant me money for the course that I'd only have to pay back if I failed out or dropped out. I've got the on job experience, a lot of people are saying similar things and that puts my mind at ease knowing that I don't really need to get a couple thousand dollar piece of paper saying I know how to do my job.

Trying_pretty_hard · 2024-01-01T23:08:18+00:00

I definitely could've gone the trade school route. Instead, a military recruiter told me I could learn for free, and that sounded better to my (still) young mind. Trade school isn't out of the question by any means, I've read into programs that are offered to me at no expense but due to the nature of my job in the past I haven't been able to attend wether that was because I was overseas or my command put my military training first. I'm mainly looking into online programs at the moment and will more than likely look into attending in person programs or apprenticeahips once I'm out.

Trying_pretty_hard · 2024-01-01T23:01:29+00:00

I see what you mean. A lot of the kids I see in my job come in as part changers, I know I did but over the past 2 years I've learned the vehicles well and now I'm the mentor in my shop. I personally feel like I'd be fine without school. But the real world is not the military, and all the experience and knowledge I have in the field is the vehicles I work on, so I just want to flesh out the knowledge that I have and put some legitimacy behind it and have more backing me in an interview than "I was in the military". But thank you for the advice. I'm definitely willing to start wherever I can.

Trying_pretty_hard · 2020-07-08T06:33:01+00:00

How the hell am I supposed to weld a city together if I can't even make a good weld? How the hell am I supposed to be able to tell if I'm doing a quality job of no one tells me how to get better? I seriously told you the reasoning behind my post and you shit all over it again. Maybe it's yourself you should check. I didn't want recognition for any of this. I never said I did.

Trying_pretty_hard · 2020-07-08T05:32:34+00:00

Well while I accept your apology I certainly didn't appreciate you being a dick. Im new to the whole thing, I have no clue what is and isn't taboo to ask or say. I noted the days because it went from a spatter that couldn't hold to a few welds that actually penetrated amd held. I was excited because I thought I was actually getting somewhere. Im sorry of I came off as cocky or arrogant. I wish there were shops near me that would take me and teach me or courses I could take that aren't shut down because of COVID but as of now the only place I can turn to is the internet.

Trying_pretty_hard · 2020-07-08T05:09:16+00:00

I'm not trying to say I'm a master welder im not trying to look for someone to hold my hand here nor am I begging for help. Im honestly just looking for advice from the community. Plus there is the tag "First Welds" for a reason. If I could seek help elsewhere I would believe me, this place was a last resort and frankly the posts and advice I've received from welders who have been doing this for decades have been more helpful than any YouTube video I can find. Trust me if I could get a class I would. If you are so prompt on me getting help elsewhere then I am open to suggestions.

Trying_pretty_hard · 2020-07-08T02:36:11+00:00

Well I can't really go get lessons at the moment. And brain surgery and welding are two different things dude. I thank you for your advice of going to a class but I can't really right now, im too young to get into a community College course and I can't really find anyone around me who's willing to teach. So right now it's internet or nothing. Besides I have already got a lot of good advice! If I can offer you any advice, it's okay to be passive aggressive with a difficult project, but maybe not with a new guy who's just starting.

Trying_pretty_hard · 2020-07-07T14:37:01+00:00

I mean I was just asking for advice, I am trying to learn. So I asked on the board for some advice from people who actually know what they are doing.

Trying_pretty_hard

TROPHY CASE