my son is joining the usmc as an aircraft mechanic in june

[tom d. friedman]

thanks for the insight folks!! i'm going to have my son read this thread next time he visits. he'll get unbiased opinions that no recruiter could give him. all the recruiter does is tell a young impressionable kid what he wants to hear. i've gained real perspective as a parent of a future marine thus far, & more important my son will absorb more. question, where should the kid steer himself to further his career?? jets?? choppers?? avionics, ?? instrumentation?? engines?? just to name a few. it's a pretty broad field. i just want him to go in a category that will get him the mileage for the future. i have no clue if he will make a career of the usmc, or look elsewhere. i'm grateful to those who added their 2 cents to this thread as in many respects you have helped mentor my son in more ways than i could.

[APG85]

If I'm not mistaken, the Crew Chief on a Marine KC-130 flys as the Flight Engineer/Flight Mechanic...pretty neat.

[planenutti]

To the son, Congrats, and good luck.

Dad, His NCO's will watch over him and turn your fine young man into a great Marine and metal bender.

Bob
retired Avionics Senior Chief for Uncle Sam's canoe club

[marine air]

Congrats. I am sure he will do well. It sounds like he is on the delayed entry program. If he can get a buddy to sign up they will give him a stripe and he can go to boot camp as a private first class instead of just a private. He can also get meritoriuosly promoted out of bootcamp to PFC.
They promote the top 10% at graduation. Some ways to do that is be the highest scoring person on the physical fitness test. ANother is to be top scorer on the rifle range. Then the "scribe" and the "guide" plus a few others will get it.
In addition to doing two a days on the physical exercise, I would get a copy of the essential subjects handbook for Marines and learn your general orders, etc. Find someone that has gotten out in the last five years and pick their brain on how to prepare to excel in bootcamp.
They will retest your score on the ASVAB, so if there is an area he was weak on , bone up on that so you want lose your aviation guaranteed slot.
If you are going to Parris Island, don't even think about turning on the air conditioner between today and first day of bootcamp!
Semper Fi.!

[tom d. friedman]

Congrats. I am sure he will do well. It sounds like he is on the delayed entry program. If he can get a buddy to sign up they will give him a stripe and he can go to boot camp as a private first class instead of just a private. He can also get meritoriuosly promoted out of bootcamp to PFC.
They promote the top 10% at graduation. Some ways to do that is be the highest scoring person on the physical fitness test. ANother is to be top scorer on the rifle range. Then the "scribe" and the "guide" plus a few others will get it.
In addition to doing two a days on the physical exercise, I would get a copy of the essential subjects handbook for Marines and learn your general orders, etc. Find someone that has gotten out in the last five years and pick their brain on how to prepare to excel in bootcamp.
They will retest your score on the ASVAB, so if there is an area he was weak on , bone up on that so you want lose your aviation guaranteed slot.
If you are going to Parris Island, don't even think about turning on the air conditioner between today and first day of bootcamp!
Semper Fi.!

he is in the delayed entry program, & he did get a buddy to sign up with him.

[Shay]

They will retest your score on the ASVAB, so if there is an area he was weak on , bone up on that so you want lose your aviation guaranteed slot.

Never heard of that one (not saying it's not true). The first test I took when I got to boot was a "Whiz Quiz"...........I passed

I've been to 2 Boot Camps USAF and US NAVY and never retook the ASVAB. I did, towards the end of USAF boot, as a guinea pig test flight take a new version(computerized) of the ASVAB, but it had no impact on my career choice. It was just to assist in developing the next generation of ASVAB. Which I ended up taking a few years later when I swithced to NAVY.

One piece of advice that rings true since before I first joined:

Make sure everything you've been promised, i.e. Enlistment Bonus, College Fund, Career Field, etc etc is WRITTEN into your contract. Insist upon it. I don't care what you've been told or promised. If it's not actually in your contract then don't expect to get it.

Best of Luck

Shay
____________
Semper Fortis

[Canso42]

Congrats Dad. Tell him I said 'Thank you for serving."

Doug Ratchford, 'Canso42'

[Jack Cook]

[url]Never heard of that one (not saying it's not true). The first test I took when I got to boot was a "Whiz Quiz"...........I passed[/url]
I failed
Note to self...don't get bad ear infection the week before leaving for boot camp and really rally DON'T take the pain pills they give you in the ER
I got 98% on the ASVAB was a division award winner in BC got advanced to E-2. First in A school and got E-3 but also had to got drug counseling (I didn't know what weed was or looked like) on evenings and weekends (no liberty ) due to test only test I've ever failed!

[Shay]

Note to self...don't get bad ear infection the week before leaving for boot camp and really rally DON'T take the pain pills they give you in the ER

We had about 4 guys get yanked out of my Division and sent home in the 1st week because they partyed and smoked some weed before they left for Boot.

And of course I've seen people "pop" on the piss test outside of Boot Camp. One of which was a newly "Frocked" Master Chief of 26 or 28 years. Flushed away.

Chances are they're gonna catch you. I attended an "Open Mast" with 7 guys on trial. All were drug related except one which was Alcohol related.



Like I said, Keep your head screwed on straight and use good common sense and you do fine.


Shay
____________
Semper Fortis

[ffuries]

Guess he'll be getting a few briefs from my son. He's stationed at the Island doing Recruit Briefs. I'll tell junior to check up your son from time to time and give me reports. That way you can stay in the know. My boy came out a different person when it was all over.

Us at his Boot Graduation



Us at my Retirement



Mike in Florida
USAF Aircrew Life Support (Retired)
"Your Life Is Our Business"

[tom d. friedman]

much appreciated gesture. i'll more than take it & owe you 1 in the future. my son has has his crap together, but his old man will always worry about him. as fathers.... that's our job.

[tom d. friedman]

nice pics!! you should be mutually proud!!