Thread: Back to School?

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I'll add this if anyone wants to read.
At 22, in 1974( Colorado kid ), I too joined the Marines, BUT researching / asking questions I found out what 'other job , ie Marine Occupational Speciality Code 4631- compat Photographer , '( other than the Marine job- Basic Infantryman,)...I wanted to do in the Corps.
(Remember, they are looking for warm bodies- every Marine is a Basic Infantryman no matter what else )

So I wrote in big letters on BOTH arm '4-6-3-1 '.
And every, EVERY piece of paper the Recuiter had me sign, HAD to have that # on it as an occupational speciality 4631 OR I refused to sign no matter WHAT WAS PROMISED or How many- Recuiters are great at bouble-timing, Marine Recuiter and FRESH RECUITE trying convince you JUST to sign " everything will work out ".. Beware.1

Long Story short- I spent 4 years as a 4631- Worked for all kinds of Generals, went to all kinds of ' schools -once in the Corps. When I was discharged 1978, I took my GI bill and enrolled at a Photographic school, 2 1/2 years later I had my BA, worked for another studio To learn the Business End of things and 30 years later i still shoot film, etc.
My only surprize was; meeting hundreds, I mean hundreds of Fellow Marines- doing misserable jobs- job that they were under qualfied for. But someone has to do those jobs..
That being all said I joined IN PEACE TIME- and with the advent of DIGITAL PHOTOGRAPHY, newspapers being IMBEDDED in the day to day operations of WAR. Who Knows what 20 years changes.
All being equal: I wouldn't have had the career & disipline I've enjoyed from 1974 till today WITHOUT those four years.
If I had a second choice, I'd choose the SEA BEES, lots of civilian crossover.
Good luck
JIM