I'm failing badly in my PhD studies and I'm thinking of enlisting in the military instead. Two years in, not one paper related to my thesis, I don't even find the topic interesting anymore and my advisors don't cared either if they ever did, not more than just for padding their resumes with more papers. Thinking of enlisting in either the US Army or US Marines. Although I have a college degree I can't go in as an officer since I'm not a US citizen, but with permanent residency I can at least enlist. I've been preparing myself physically for the rigors of boot camp and military life, running 3 miles every other day, lifting, hiking ~20 miles, kickboxing and getting up early at 6 (I realize that in the military you have to get up even earlier for 0500 formation). The reason for my selection of branches is that I don't want to have anything to do with developing technology for a while, I just want to be in the dirt, blowing shit up and shooting at people. What do you say?
>>29501303
>When all your hopes and dreams fail and you cant be successful in the real world:
>US Army
>>29501303
>What do you say?
You're a moron who romanticizes military duty
>>29501303
All you really need to do to get through basic/boot is just be fit enough to get above just passing, since they won't count all your reps for push ups/pull ups etc. And be able to just roll with the bs you will have to put up with.
>>29501335
I wouldn't say I romanticize it, I've been watching movies about recruit training like Black Friday: Dark Dawn and related documentaries for a while, reading up on the subject, preparing myself for the idiosyncrasies of the military lifestyle (sharing a room with two others, saluting for colors every day, working parties, duty, getting smoked, constant cleaning, field days), I don't think it's some kind of videogame. I'm trying to prepare myself for everything that's up ahead so that once I get there it's smooth sailing. I have 6 months to go. If it's really that bad once I get there I'll just kill myself, I figure I might as well try this first though.
>>29501343
I want to max out on my PT tests for dem dere cutting scores, also I don't want to be
>>29501379
last in my platoon*
>>29501329
Well they give convicts the choice between prison and the Marines so there's that.
>>29501303
Join, Get your citizenship and go to OCS.
When you're enlisted don't pick some combat arms bullshit. You won't have time to get your shit together for OCS, or other professional development. The once you're through with OCS try something like being an Engineer Officer rather than Infantry or Armor. That way you have far more opportunities and places to go.
>>29501329
>implying military service in the United States isn't just another job to some people
not many jobs are going to pay you to go to school and do what you want with your life once you're done.
>>29501422
But that's not true son
>>29501517
Thanks, that's solid advice. I have a background in Computer Science if there's an enlisted MOS that is aligned with that.
>>29501422
>Well they give convicts the choice between prison and the Marines so there's that.
Have you slipped through time or something? Marines or Prison has not been a thing since Vietnam.
Now instead of asking myself all the time "should I just kill myself?", I know what the answer is: "Nah, I'll join the Marine Corps!"
>>29501379
You'd be what, like an e2 or e3 in the army, or e2 in the marines by now do cutting scores aren't a huge priority to have yet.
>>29503051
I guess I'd be a specialist in the Army. I'm not sure how the promotion system works but I heard a lot of it is based on physical fitness so if I can get everything to max all the better, and I'll have an easier time in life in general.
>>29502278
It's not an ultimatum, it's basically a "I'm changing my ways so please have mercy on me," kind of thing. Basically the recruiter vouches for you, the judge shows leniency, and you join the service.
Source: My sister did that shit to get out of less than a year in jail over a possession charge, then failed the drug test at MEPS and went completely off the grid bouncing from crack house to crack house.
>>29503870
You don't have your bachelor's yet so you wouldn't be a specialist, you dumb fucking soon to be dropout
>>29502278
>Marines or Prison has not been a thing since Vietnam.
Holy shit it was a thing?
>>29503994
Learn to fucking read faggot, I said I'm dropping out of a PhD.
>>29501520
>once you're done
>done
>ever
Suuuuuure
>>29504019
Stop being a special snowflake bitch and use /meg/
>>29501303
How do you fail a PhD?
Isn't it all self-directed anyway?
>>29501303
You want to end up with 18 year olds and other assorted idiots, taking irrational orders from other idiots? You're going to be disappointed very quickly.
>>29503954
I can confirm I have seen this happen, generally only for juveniles or barely 18 year olds. Whenever I have seen it they were given a deferred prosecution and had to also complete HS or get a GED.
>>29501303
>PhD
>enlisted
ayy, enjoy taking shit from mouthbreathers
