Pros
If you're in the Marine Corps on the fence about transitioning, let me provide you the rundown of my own limited experience and perspective as a Marine that was once in your shoes. If you're in another branch or coming from the civilian side, I don't write this with the frame of mind meant to exclude your considerations, but am only admitting a familiarity with what I've addressed, and that I accept I am more uniquely qualified to pursue the satisfaction of those questions and concerns more effectively than those outside it. - Life Fulfillment I walked away from being a contract deadly illness for the Marine Corps (7-years) to now protecting socialites in the limelight, business moguls who've built massive empires of finance, and forerunners of the technology and industry moving the rest of mankind forward. As a collective, the peace of mind we provide in turn affords our clients the ability to impact the world with a range and breadth that I genuinely believe rivals the Marine Corps. And I get to see it with my own eyes and experience the same occupational prestige and "I'm doing something with my life"-satisfaction I felt while serving my beloved Corps. - Knowledge and Education They're literally going to pay you a baseline of 48-hours a week to better yourself -- not only through their own academy of trademark knowledge you wished you'd learned in the Corps, but additionally and on top of their pay, you can use (optionally) the GI Bill to pay you even more for subject matter you're actually invested in learning. (I've no desire to learn Algebra or Geometry just to get a degree in a field I'll never use either of the two.) The knowledge I've acquired, as a Protector, leader, and the pater familias, remains relevant to my every waking moment in life and to those I hold dear. - The Squad "Trash slips through the cracks at every rank." You've heard the phrase, yes? Note the amount of sour privates that fell by the wayside attempting membership into this elite club. The people you work with, should you be accepted, are all going to be hardworking, exceptionally screened for weakness, and will incite gratitude for their ability to be relied upon. "We're only as strong as our weakest link." That sandbagger that was the cause of all the company formations and freedom-draining policy doesn't quite exist here. They get rid of them. They're a quality-before-profit driven vehicle, and this goes a long way towards job satisfaction. - You will not find yourself playing as many games as Milton Bradley as you did in the Corps. 'Nuff said.
Cons
- "You don't have to think: Just show up at the right place, at the right time, in the right uniform." Public Figure Protection is a thinking man's game. There isn't going to be an authoritarian parental figure that dictates what's best for you and your career at every waking moment of your day. The onus is on you to perform; and changing from an environment that always gave you the answers to one that expects you to navigate the challenges the field presents can be overwhelming and insurmountable for some. Have an honest conversation with yourself; this path isn't the easy road, nor the one commonly walked and you'll feel it daily. - "Started from the bottom, now we here." (Back at the bottom) I chose to exchange being "Staff-Sergeant-Select" for a slice of the humble pie. All that hard work (or time and grade for some) that you put into being above the lowest rank will be forfeited and whatever that presents to you will be gone. In exchange, you'll be at the bottom of the totem pole; and while they will take into account your training and experience in the Corps, and supplement financially, there are those non-financial aspects to consider that only those who've been leaders in the Marine Corps will understand. Obviously this is not a plunge to be taken lightly, it requires formulating an accurate description of what you're weighing, and whether it truly is in alignment with who you are. - "The Marine Corps comes first -- before God, country, and family. All else is second." I'm not saying you've got to enjoy the prospect of being on a two-year deployment, but the mentality of "work first, life second" is what will separate the wheat from the chaff. That extends to your family and whoever your life pursuits are going to effect. This is a meritocracy, and for those that showcase an aptitude and resilience for our line of work are the ones who will benefit the most. If you find yourself being asked to work 60+ hours a week, take it as a sign that you're doing something right and that you're headed in the right direction. (Otherwise, why would they ask someone detrimental to work?) With experience comes proficiency, and with proficiency comes trust. That, in turn, leads to the rewards you seek.