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9 yrs active Marine Corps, 20yrs Air Force Nat'l Guard. For your family's sake, go AF. As mentioned, better locations/accommodations/opportunities. I've spent time on AF bases, Dover, Shepard, Kadena. The AF is going to take better care of your family.
Figure out what your passions are in life and see how that translates to the military. Marine Aviation will get you on an acft carrier.
I've heard them referred to as the Corps and the Core, and your comment wasn't necessary. Learn some respect.
I'm guessing the Marines might be a better fit for you and your attitude.
Marines are a lot of rah-rah, ain't-we-tough guys. You'd probably love it.
Air Force is more about quiet competence, getting the job done without a lot of chest thumping.
My favorite military photos from the last few years are the ones of the USAF air traffic controllers managing planes bringing relief supplies into Haiti. No big whoop-dee-do. Just getting the job done.
Well, first you need to know what the service is called before they will let you in.
It is the United States Marine Corps.
A personal observation from a Navy veteran who has a job that puts me in touch with many vets...when I meet veterans of the Army they say "I was in the Army", when I meet Navy veterans they say "I was in the Navy", Marines say "I'm was a Marine" or "I was in the Corps". The Air Force vets for the most part are not so quick to volunteer what branch they were in and you normally have to pry it out of them. It makes me wonder if they are not as proud of their service as the other branches or feel others will not appreciate their service?
At the American Legion you can always tell the Air Force vets because you have to specifically ask them what branch they were in because they don't advertise it or volunteer the information.
So I'm looking to join the military and I'm torn between these two branches. I want to be the best, and have the pride(Marines) but I do have a family and the Air Force apparently is better there. I have a son, and am about to marry my girlfriend so Inow I can enter. While there's more risk with the Marines, I feel the sense of pride jumps out at me and I also want my son to look up to his dad. Not sure which to do. Any advice?
Thanks
I'm Air Force but spent my last 10 years in joint units. When I was assigned to Pearl Harbor, my boss was a Marine colonel and I had soldiers, sailors, airmen, and Marines working for me.
I thoroughly enjoyed being a senior NCO among Marines--it was more satisfying that being a senior NCO among airmen, for sure. I have encouraged some young men to joint the Air Force, and some others to join the Marine Corps...and I'd place both in preference over the Army or Navy (even though nearly all the other men in my family were Army).
In your situation, however, I would point you to the Air Force. As great as Marines are, the Marine Corps is for single people until they reach staff NCO grades. Being junior enlisted in the Marine Corps is really not conducive to a happy family life.
Air Force life is much more amenable to a family in many different ways. If I were you, in fact, I'd follow my own strategy: Constantly request extended long overseas tours to keep your family together. Yeah, you'll spend a lot of time overseas (I spent more than half my 26-year career in the Far East), but it will be in family-friendly areas and you'll avoid remote tours (but may have some in-theater TDYs).
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