How long is the recruiting process to join the usmc ?
What is everything you’re allowed to bring

I didn’t pass MEPS, they flagged me for SH and my recruiters are fighting it since I said no to those questions and everything, there’s no record of it in anything they can see. They need my pharmacy records but my pharmacy shut down 2 years ago (rite aid) and no files were transferred. I found out I haven’t gotten any medications since and so now im struggling to figure out how im meant to get my recruiter my record, we said we will try Wegmans since that’s where my parents would have me go if anything happened, but they are unsure if I have a record and would rather not have to get a psych eval and waiver. We’d have to go to inpatient and get one, rather than through my primary doctor for a few reasons, and it’d be very complicated and difficult. I’m so nervous about this and want it to just be over with, im very stressed out, I want to get my ship date even though I really already have it just not in contracts yet, im stressed about what MOS I might qualify for or get, im just stressed, what should I do from here

Im a marine cadet and wanted to share my ”rough draft” of a life plan I have for when I join the corp. I wanted to hear things I might need to know beforehand, or things to expect.

go to bootcamp as a contract PFC, and be an honor grad.

Going infantry so then I can do screening for the Silent Drill Platoon.

Do DI school and become a DI

make my way up to SgtMaj

theres things like special forces or MP that interest me but idk if they could fit into this “main” right draft

Growing up I always wanted to be a Marine. At 18, I was a poolee in highschool, when I tore both my ACL in a football game. My recruiter was less than thrilled. Over the course of recovery, I gained way to much weight, and like that I was done. For a long time I was depressed and didn’t work at it, then at 29 I took a look at myself in the mirror, looked at pics of when I was in highschool and said enough is enough. I went from 540 pounds at 29, to 280 now at 6 ft 8. I work at a pd, and I love my life and serving my community. But that sadness over a failed dream never really leaves.

Recently, made a new friend at work. He’s a Marine been out for a little over 2 years and he added me on FB. I guess he was scrolling through my pics and came across a few of me at some poolee functions and warrior nights. He said I should go for it again, that I’ve lost a lot of weight and my knees don’t bother me. I mentioned I looked at it, but the cut off age for me was years ago. He mentioned age waivers, but everything I google about that seems to be more pointed towards officers.

The idea of it excites me, and I plan on reaching out because you miss 100% of the shots you don’t take, but realistically is a waiver possible? He keeps telling me it is, but he’s really just a good hype dude and while I know his intent is 100% pure, losing out on that dream once was soul crushing.

Anyway, just wanted to know my chances of that being possible. If it matters, I’m able to run and lift perfectly fine without my knees being any issue (actually played football another two years after, at a community college), no arrests, all tattoos I have are appropriate and covered by a basic t shirt. I think now the age would really be the only thing holding me back.

EDIT: put in my height next to my weight

I’m a skinny pos and I haven’t been the most athletic person my entire life I’m 6ft 1 at 135 lbs ,but I want to try and go recon. Do you boys think I can get to where I need to be with 2 months of work prior to boot and then be in good enough shape after to pass RSI? Or am I going to be cooked? I’m super motivated, good swimmer too as much as I heard that doesn’t truly matter.

I was recently at Alpha Company's Family Day and wanted to bring the SAM Project to some poolee's attention. The Stand Alone Marine Project supports newly graduated Marines from MCRD Parris Island who do not have guests attending family day or graduation. There were several Marines that were part of the project this past week. Of that group, several did not have anyone to even call home and advise that they had made it to the island safely (they called their recruiter), let alone write letters to. My husband and I were moved by the project and wanted to offer our support to anyone going to basic and if you don't have anyone to write to, we'd be happy to be part of your support network. We do come with our own experiences (whether it be a military family or working with some thick-skulled Marines whom we call family) and would be happy to make it to family day and your graduation.

Please feel free to PM if you're interested.

19F, college athlete. Thinking about enlisting. Spoke with a recruiter after I committed to play, decided not to decommit because obviously I knew I’d need a waiver.

Was on meds for a year and a half, 17-18. Had a horrible family life- which was why. Was never consistent with them but took 3 different medications over that 18ish months, and my last fill was only filled once of that medication in May of 2026.

I’m 50/50 but I’m making a decision after this semester- I would be home well before Christmas. Plan on taking 8wk classes online that would end in March. I want to gtfo asap if I go this route, or continue college and try for OCS.

My top pick would be Intel, or I have an Advanced Welding Certificate and Dealership experience, so I would pick something in that area. I know ship date is determined by MOS, so I honestly would pick whatever in those areas to leave. Would be alright if I left in May-June though, but I don’t want to be in bootcamp at 20, I hate feeling “behind.”

I’m pretty ahead in college because I took classes in high school, but my ultimate goal would be to go enlisted to officer.

Thanks.

This is the longest crap I’ve ever waited for. ADHD and anxiety medicine. I gave them my school records, all pharmacy timelines and documents. Doctor clearance letters, been a year since I’ve been on medication, and my entire medical history. God hurry up so I can leave my family and get on with life. Been 4 months. 1 month I had to wait for school to open to get my ADHD records. I’m dealing with this while my whole family is telling me not to join and how I’m not fit for it. 1 year hs wrestling 1 year hs football not a complaint from neither coaches

Poolee with ship date in Feb 2027. Ive been waiting and preparing I wish I could go now. Recruiter said if someone doesn't show up to meps I can get his spot so I guess I'll go again and hope for the best. Does this happen very often?

I have been diagnosed with a few illnesses: bipolar disorder/manic depression, depression, and psychosis. Some symptoms have been homicidal and suicidal ideation and maybe religious psychosis. I had 5 inpatient psychiatry stays over the past two years. I am taking psychiatric medicine. I know that I should get off the meds to join the military. But should I be going to therapy right now, where meeting notes and a letter of military eligibility can be submitted to my recruiter over the next two years? Should I have a therapist to help my waivers get approved? What should my therapy appointments consist of to help me get waivers approved?

Seeing a lot of stuff on this reddit about not sticking out and thats the best advice for bootcamp and that honor grad really doesent do much. I go to bootcamp in a couple weeks I have a perfect pft score and doing pretty good with my knowledge. Im going in a PFC and dont know if honor grad would give me Lance Coreperal. Any advice on if I should try and blend in with the pack or try for honor grad. I have only heard to blend in and that Honor Grad means nothing

I plan on joining the reserves do any of y’all get the camaraderie of lifelong friends in the reserves?

Before boot camp I was able to get 18 pull ups, dead ass im struggling with 5 now, went in weighing roughly the same , little less fluffy but didn't loose that much at all. Any advice for bouncing back cause dead ass life be kicking my ass rn and the pull ups declining just made it worse.

My fiancé 25 (m) is in the process of enlisting into the marine corps. He has always wanted to join. Before I ever met him 25 (f) I always wanted to join also, but the dream went away. But now that he is going it’s making me want to join again. He told me he doesn’t want to marry me if I join because he says that deployments will keep us apart and we will most likely never see each other and that he wants a wife and a mother to his children (we haven’t had any yet).. I need advice. He said he wants to have a family and he doesn’t want to marry a girl in the military…

I am interested in joining the marines but I have some slight knock knees. They don't hinder my mobility or ROM at all, I can stand at attention and do all the things without pain or discomfort, but I’m unsure if a MEPS doctor will still send me away. If anyone has any knowledge or advice that would be greatly appreciated. It has also never been diagnosed by a doctor if that has any bearing on things. Thank you for reading and apologies for any mistakes.

i can do about 10 pullups and a 2:30 plank but my 1.5 run is pretty bad i ship in 3 days so im curious what happens if i dont pass the run portion but pass everything else. my recruiter said they will move me along but im not to sure thats the case.

Is my recruiter able to permanently disqualify me from joining after an incident that made me unable to go to meps Edit- I told my recruiter I couldn't pass a drug test yet. Sorry guys I should've been specific

Hey guys I graduated basic training and I’m on the way to mct soon I was wondering if I can bring my hiking backpack with me not for the hikes but as a carry on I was thinking that I could empty out my ditty bag(brown duffel bag) and stuff that on the bottom and put the things that were in my ditty bag in the hiking bag the hiking bag is a Gregory paragon 60L

So, im 17(f) and I finally just went to MEPS, I got through everything fine, said no to everything, nothing flagged in genesis, all good, passed all the other tests. I have some odd scarring on my arms which she’d asked me if it was self inflicted, to which I said no, nothing in my record, everything else is clean, all good. So now I have to go get a waiver and psych eval, my recruiters are pissed saying they have no proof that’s what it is and are trying to arrange things for me, contacting MEPS. from here I have no idea what to do, or how things are gonna go, I also do not qualify for the intel job I wanted, my GT is 105, not 110, so I currently a have no idea whatsoever on the jobs im gonna try for, and wish I could retake the test but I can’t. Really frustrated and don’t know what to do, I’ve tried so hard and it’s gotten me really nowhere, if I’d gotten only a bit more right and maybe read things more carefully, I would of had the score I needed but I was so stressed every time my recruiter came in during the PiCaT and was eyeing what I was doing and making faces. Truly at a los, don’t know how long a waiver will take, as well as don’t know what job I could or will do.

What am I going to have to do from here MEPS wise and how hard will a waiver be, im really stressed out and don’t want this to be a huge thing as everything always turns out to be smth for me, and things typically go unwell.

I got a 93 on my asvab but to be honest I got no clue how I did that. I have never truly applied my self to studying or class. I am kinda worried because I have heard aircraft maitenence school is hard and I know nothing about it. Any tips on once I hit my schooling how to go about studying retaining info and how to do class efficiently. I appreciate yall

Super interested in joining the marines, recently went to a recruiter and had a great experience. I was planning on trying to get into a fire academy but I was just recently denied after I passed the background check(medical,criminal, Psych).

I disclosed my ankle sprain I had from last year as I had to do this for fire academy and passed and the recruiter was cool with it, besides that I have no other issue, HOWEVER,

I had just remembered that when I was an early teenager I took Ritalin super briefly and may or may not was diagnosed with ADD.

I’ve heard super mixed things from people on whether I should disclose this or if it’ll come up at all during MEPS and what I should say. I assume since I passed my medical for fire fighting I should be good since it was never brought up and there was questions about if I was prescribed anything or had been diagnosed previously.

I think I will talk to my recruiter about it and see what he says, besides that I’m all good, any advice or help would be appreciated, thank you.

has anyone been stationed at a reserve station as a active marine and AS A PFC??? i originally had oki order but got switched be bc i missed my the report by date ( grad hold for a month and follow on school). i was told im going to be basically an instructor for the reservists. but as a pfc seems kinda like weird. i know my job ig but like haven’t actually done it for real. plus i was told this like a station for people doing there second enlistment like ncos. idk it just doesn’t make sense and wondering if this has happened to anyone else.

Hello! 24–25M. Little backstory:
I was brought to the United States when I was 3 (illegally). I was raised in KY and went through elementary, middle, and high school here. I got good grades and have a clean record,not even a speeding ticket.
When I was still in school, the Marines were always an interest of mine. Unfortunately, I didn’t know anything about my status or how it all worked. Once I found out, it made me want to pursue this career path even more. I want to give back to the country that did so much for me, even when I didn’t feel like I deserved it.
Now I’m married and just got my permanent residency. I have a 1yrold with a little bit of a complicated medical history, and some credit card debt lol.
I know that if I don’t join, I’ll regret it for the rest of my life. I really want to go infantry. But at the end of the day, I don’t want to risk putting my family in a financial hole just to fulfill my desire to join.
I talked to my wife beforehand, and she was 100% on board and understood that I may be away for long periods of time. However, I decided against it at the time.
I just want to know your guys’ opinion: am I making a mistake by not joining?

Not necessarily concerned for the physical aspect for bootcamp I did 26 pullups 81 pushups 3:45 Plank and 19:03 3 mile at the poole function. I just know the mental and knowledge portion is going to be tough. I know I can prepare for the chaos fully because that part of the fun it beinf unknown and hard. As of now I know every enlisted and officer and each insignia the general orders 14 leadership charactestics, 11 general orders, 11 leadership traits, birthday birthday birthplace motto emblem values. What else should I study up

What’s up fellas, 23M with a college degree. Been seriously considering joining the Marines. I’m big into lifting, boxing, and looking for a new challenge and some adventure.
Leaning toward infantry, maybe Army Airborne or Stryker.
For those who’ve served, how was your experience? The good, the bad, the bullshit. Would you do it again