Coast Gaurd or USMC?

The United States Coast Guard is an excellent choice. You can get college while serving and it is just as much a part of the United States Armed Forces as the Marines and the others.

ADDED:

"As for being seasick.. I live in Maine and I worked on a lobster boat for awhile. I don't get seasick easy, but on a small (26 foot) craft, In a storm, I get sick."

Very few people don't get seasick in a storm on a 25 footer. Heck I remember a friend who was on a destroyer in a nasty storm once, he said everyone and the captain turned green and that was no small boat.

"I should also add that If I join the Coast Guard I want to bust drug dealers in the Gulf of Mexico, if I join the Marines I would like to join as infantry so that I can advance rapidly."

In the military you can request duty, but regardless of the service, they assign and you go. The key to advancing as fast as possible is to do the job right, study for the promotion exams and put your time in grade. Be ready when each opportunity comes up.

One of the best things I can say about the Coast Guard is that in time of war, they fight the battles with the Marines, Navy, Army and Air Force, but they also have two other missions in war or peace. They save lives in maritime and boating accidents or coastal disaster (they were there when Katrina clobbered the coast). They also do drug enforcement on the coast and high seas. Now for being the smallest of the Armed forces, that is saying a heck of a lot because they put 200% effort in what they do.

As Jeff said, "Go see Kevin Costner's The Guardian movie" and you can get a real good idea of what adventure is really about.

If I were you, I would go for the Coast Guard. Coasties are not only great people, but also some of the most courageous people on this planet.

Check out their web site for comprehensive information: http://www.uscg.mil/

As a Marine I have to say that it is kinda scary that you are having trouble deciding either the Coast Guard or the Marines. To be honest with you, I would say if you aren't willing to go the distance and dedicate yourself giving all you have to be a Marine then you should go to the Coast Guard. Working a 40-60hr a week job as a Marine I still made the time to go to school, and be a husband and father, so I think you just arent willing to put forth the time and effort. It sounds harsh and I am in no way trying to look down on you, just telling you what I see as the hard facts.

If you don't have the time to take college classes (or the money, or neither), it seems like a fairly obvious decision to me.

That being said, you need to find out what military occupations they are offering you. Marine Corps doesn't have X-Ray techs, but the Navy does. Coast Guard might not offer that either, but they might offer you a different Military Occupational Specialty that you'd like instead. Whatever you do, be sure that you get your MOS guaranteed in your contract. Otherwise, you'll wind up driving tanks or doing something you really hate for four years.

Nothing agaist Marines. But I'm in the Coast Guard. I figured the marines go over and fight the war. Then when they come back they train and train and train for war. But the Coast Guard. Every day there is something going on. Everyday you do your skills you learn. Instead of just training. I also asked myself what do the Marines do when there not in the time of war? The Coast Guard there is always somthing going on. In time of war or not. They are also the smallest branch in the military. So you are more of a person then a number. You just need to weigh both branches. See which one suits you. Talk to both recruiters. They will be more the happy to tell you the down sides of the other.

Afroman sounds like the epitome of "educated idiot" doesn't he?

You sound like a potential "hard charger", go Marine Corps.

Don't let a few classes and inconvenience stop you from doing what you want to do. You have pulled yourself up out of your past and kept going this far, why stop now?

What you have done with your life so far is show your determination and motivation to better yourself regardless of your mistakes.

Just ask a little more of yourself. Complete the classes, and handle business.

I think you could become an excellent Marine. Your life experience will place you ahead of the majority of your peers once you are in.

Best wishes in whatever you do.

Well if u want to push ur self and u like labor, then i would join the Marines. The Coast Guard guards our shores, they have an important job to do. But by the looks of what ur sayin i think u mite be better sutted for the Corps. Im shure it aint that hard to take a class at the CC. Well Good luck with ur dection.

You can CLEP some classes. All it means is you sign up for a test, pay for it (mine were $85) and take it. There are study guides available for them and the whole process would be cheaper and much less time-consuming than taking the classes, and you still get the credits. You could probably CLEP all 15 hours. Talk to an academic advisor at a local CC or other college and see what they offer.

If you want to join the USMC, and you don't because it was 'too hard' to take some classes.....you would probably not make it in the Corps either.

Of course, if you then opt of the USCG you are probably not going to be happy b/c you are always going to think...what if?

Take a cut in your hours and take the courses you need.

You obviously have the smarts, add focus and dedication-then join the USMC.

My husband is an Army recruiter... make an apointment with an Army recruiter and see what they can do for you. They have some really great signing bonuses right now. If you have good ASVAB scores and your GED you whould probably be a great recruit, as long as you don't have more than one felony charge and as long as you don't use drugs.

Good luck. Find out all your options, you owe it to yourself to get the best for your service. Even if you're just looking tell the recruiter that you're just checking out all your options.

I say USMC, for the reason that you have to push yourself just a little further to get it, you will respect yourself more in the end. As far as the Coast Guard being for wimps, I say not true, I have a Veteran of the CG working for me, he tells story's that would make you rethink that...