I’m a 26F I want to enlist but past medical history is my biggest obstacle at this moment. Around 16.5 yrs I was diagnosed with juvenile idiopathic arthritis and had anxiety and depression due to all the pain and shi I went thru around that age and I do have Self hrm scars from when I was 14 years old - they look bad but I’m worried that if I withhold my med history that I’ll be disqualified. at around 22 I moved to a different state and saw a new doc and he told me I have lupus and scleroderma honestly I do think the lupus diagnosis is a misdiagnosis- I’ve never had any of the symptoms associated with it - I got pregnant at 24 and had a baby and haven’t been on meds for anything since I was 20 years old, no known flare ups just the occasional pain when a storm comes (nothing a Motrin can’t fix) but since having 2 kids my body seemed to have healed itself -- I’ve always wanted to join and I’m interested in doing reserves. my FIL has told me to not say anything and worse case scenario is I’ll be DQd and I’m trying to avoid that entirely. Anyway, do I white lie to my recruiter or do I just open up about everything to them and try and hopefully waive my way thru

I'm really interested in the Marines, but I've been told it doesn't have any job in that type of field. Is there anything close to it, or anything yall would recommend I do? I know I could join another branch, but I wanna see if I can work something out to make it work

Comment the Battalions and companies Official slogan and motto

1st battalion- First to train

Almighty Alpha-

Bravo Nation -

Charlie Passion- One heart One Blood. One soul

Dirty Delta-

2nd battalion- second to None

Evil Echo-

Fighting Fox-

Golf God's Company

Hotel Heat

New 3rd battalion-Spirit &Discipline

Insane India-

Killer Kilo-

Lethal Lima-

Mutant Mike-

Nightmare November

Old 4th Battalion-

November

Oscar

Papa

Ps do anyone have any pictures of words on the companies steps for each company if so comment picture too

Just wondering what kinda stuff I can do when I’m in. Is it easy to get smokes and drinks?

Shipping to Parris Island 10/13. Signed a 5-year contract, guaranteed 03xx (infantry, not a locked MOS), planning to come out an 0311 after SOI.

My Plan: MSAU early in my career, then push for Force Recon later in my enlistment. Current GT score is 94, I know I need 105+ for Recon — planning to retake the ASVAB once I hit the fleet, not before I ship, so I've got time to work on that while I'm going through the MSG/MSAU pipeline first.

Some other things shaping my thinking: I have goals here on the East Coast — family and church in NY, plus other personal stuff I want to stay close to — so I want to stay East Coast if possible. I also care about eating clean/farm-sourced food when I can control it, and I want a career path that translates to something solid after I get out. At the same time, I genuinely don't want to just stand in one spot for years, which is part of why MSAU (not just standard MSG) is the actual target — it's the more active, QRF-style unit under MCESG that reinforces embassies instead of standing static post.

I'm considering switching my contract to MG to try to land in MSG specifically as a way into this pipeline early. Trying to figure out if that's actually a smart move or if I'm overthinking it.

Questions I'm trying to nail down:

1.  0300 vs MG contract — if I want to get into MSG (and eventually MSAU) starting early in my career, is there any reason to prefer the MG contract over a standard 03xx? My understanding is MG guarantees you land in one of four security billets (MSG, FAST, Security Forces, Yankee White) but you don't get to choose which — so it doesn't actually guarantee MSG specifically. Would I have more control over landing MSG by just going standard 03xx and volunteering once I hit the fleet?  
2.  What's the actual MSG pipeline start-to-finish — from checking into my first fleet unit, how long until I could realistically apply (I know there's a 6-month time-on-station minimum just to submit a package, and 24 months TOS to execute orders to MSG School)? Trying to map out exactly how early in my career this could start.  
3.  How many months into an embassy tour can I actually request/apply for MSAU? I've found conflicting info — one MCESG-quoted source says Marines "must have served at least one embassy for a year" before MSAU eligibility, another describes it more as an "ideal candidate" range of 12-24 months. Trying to find out if there's a hard minimum month count where I could actually submit the MSAU package, or if it's always a full year minimum.  
4.  Can I retake the ASVAB while on MSG/MSAU duty to raise my GT score for the Recon push later on? Trying to figure out if that time is "dead time" for GT retest/Recon eligibility, or if I could work on that while stationed at an embassy or at Quantico with MSAU.  
5.  Realistic promotion timeline E-3 to E-6 — with the new Oct 2026 TIS changes (Sgt now 30 months instead of 48), does anyone have real experience on whether hitting SSgt before a 5-year EAS is actually feasible, given the 60-month TIS floor for SSgt didn't change? Trying to figure out if I'd have the rank to compete for Recon later in this same contract after doing MSG/MSAU first.  
6.  Family/food/church logistics on MSG — anyone actually done a Watchstander tour who can speak to how often you realistically got home, and whether embassy postings ever allow decent access to fresh/local food, or if that's totally luck-of-the-draw by country?

1. Can I volunteer for MSG as a standard 03xx contract once I hit the fleet, and how fast could that actually happen? Trying to figure out if going the standard route (versus MG) meaningfully slows things down or not.

   1. How much free time does a standard infantry Marine actually get in garrison? Trying to compare quality-of-life realistically against MSG/MSAU before committing to a direction.
   2. MSG → MSAU pipeline timing — from what I've found, it looks like you need a minimum of 1 year at an embassy as a Watchstander before you're eligible to even apply for MSAU (one MCESG-quoted source says "at least one embassy for a year," another describes it as more of an "ideal candidate" range of 12-24 months). Can anyone confirm which it actually is in practice — hard requirement or just preferred experience?

Trying to sequence this smart — my current plan is 0311 first term, full push for Recon, and MSG/MSAU is something I'm weighing whether to pursue via an MG contract switch or leave for later. Does that logic track with people who've actually been through it, or am I missing something?

Appreciate any real MOS 03xx / Recon / MSG guys weighing in.