Is he a college senior or graduate from a four-year college or university? If so, he could go the Officer Candidate Course route. It’s my understanding the recruiters are there to get people to enlist, so he’s not the guy to talk to about this. There’s a link at the bottom of this page:
Oh lovely.
Per my mom (who just got in a shouting match with him over it) he has not even investigated any other branches, and made the decision because some people he knows were in the marines. He has no idea what training or jobs are available.
This is not looking good.
Oh, and no, he only has a high school diploma - he’s taken a couple classes at the local city college but not much.
Wow.
He really needs to take a step back and explore his options first! What kind of job is he interested in doing? That’s really the biggest question he needs to answer for himself. He needs to decide what kind of job and training he’d like to have, and then he needs to decide if he is okay with enlisting with no guarantee of either. He also needs to think about what his plans are in the next 5 years or so. Does he have any particular goals in his life? How can the military help him achieve them. Does he see himself still in the military in 5 years, or does he picture himself back in the civilian workforce. If back as a civilian, what kind of job? Would he like to be trained to do that job and have some experience to bring to the table and add to his resume? Or does he just want to be a grunt?
All of the brances will help him take care of his family. They will all pay him extra money for his family and child to have a home when he is away at training and when they relocate. They will either live on base, or be paid extra to get a house/apartment. Every branch pays based on the Joint Federal Travel Regulations and standardized BAH/OHA rates, so there is no difference there. They all offer free medical coverage and cheap dental coverage for his entire family.
So there is nothing special about the Marines as far as taking care of his family which is what your OP says his purpose is. But how about a signing bonus? $15,000 cash–even after taxes–is a pretty good way to help take care of that family and get out of debt. (I’m assuming there is debt. Just about everyone that age is in debt)
Has he considered the Coast Gaurd, even? What do they offer? He would have all those benefits mentioned, plus I think he gets to pick where he wants to get stationed and they don’t get moved around a lot like other places.
I’m not trying to sell one branch over the other. I’m just trying to say that his reasons for joining the Marines don’t really make sense. The OP lists taking care of family and making more money… which The Marine Corps is pretty much at the bottom of both those lists.
I promised myself to not go into “recruiter mode” if I entered this thread. Thats why I didn’t mention the army bonus, occupational contract and all. Marines usually recruit on the idea of being a marine.
If the OPs brother got a 93 on the test it would behoove him to speak to every branch. I can’t speak for the other branches and I’m not a recruiter anymore, but the army would alomst certainly give him a bonus for signing up.
Very true.
I work as a contractor at an AFB. And can tell you first hand that enlisting in the Air Force + getting a college degree = good paying job the rest of your life. Once you retire from the military, you’ll be hired on as a civilian at an AFB, where the pay is very good…
Thirded. The Army gave me training and experience in the Intelligence field, for which I earn a 6-figure salary. I think I said it upthread, but I’ll repeat myself- for money and family stability, pick the Army or the Air Force.