I currently have a little over a year left on my contract,  and I'm looking for more info before I completely rule out reenlistment. I am a 1341 HE mech and I am looking at MK and GM ratings.   I understand that with GM i would have to boot camp as an e3, but if i wnet the MK route would I enlist in the same pay grade I leave the Marines in? When  I complete the initial training and go to my unit what are the chances I would actually go where I want?   After someone gets to their unit how easy is it to get on a journeyman course? How is barracks life? And the final one that I have for now I have 2 tattoos,  one is a viking ship on my chest, and the other is the eagle globe and anchor on my shoulder.  The eagle globe and anchor isn't visible from my sleeve . Am I correct in my reading of the order that this one is fine?  The one on my chest is a viking ship, nothing fancy or violent,  but when I wear a V neck shirt it has about 1/16 to 1/8 of an inch exposed when I stand still.  Is there a wavier available or would I have to get a little bit removed?  If the laser treatment left a little scaring visible would that dq me?

You should start talking to a recruiter now. A Rate Determination Package would have to be done to see if you meet the requirements to be a CG MK. I have no idea what a 1341 HE mech does, so I won't speculate on your odds. The odds of you going somewhere you want are the same as going somewhere you don't want. As far as a Journeyman Course are you talking about the USMAPP program? It's not very hard. The tattoos are fine.

The big hurdle is you'll need a discharge code of RE-1 to apply for enlistment, so stay out of trouble Devil Dog!