Am I Insane

[Derek Zeanah]

You decided to have children. Now you've got 'em.

That's your first priority. Going the military route means Daddy might die in a combat zone, Daddy won't be there as much as anyone in th family would like, Daddy won't be bringing home nearly as much pay, and Daddy's job might require the kids to move and change schools frequently.

Ask around about the home life people in the service are exposed to. It's a different world, and one you might not choose to raise a family in.

 

[sumpnz]

MikeIsaj - I appreciate your comments, but part of the problem of Internet forums is that a lot can be missed becuase we don't talk face to face.

I get the idea that you think you will apply for a specific position and have complete control over your service. You join the service to serve, not be served.

Not what I intended to say at all. While I would like one position over some others I fully understand that the services put you where they think they need you, not where you think they need you.

As an aside, my dad was enlisted '68-'71. It was either enlist or be drafted, and by enlisting he knew he'd have at least some say in his what his job was - IOW something other than infantry. Between that and being friends with the company clerk he managed to stay in MD the whole time and never had to go to Vietnam. Though, as he likes to say, not once was MD successfully invaded while he was there.

You appear to be looking at military service for what it can do for you.

Again, not what I inteded to put across. I have an education (and if I want more my company will pay for it) and a good career (I'm not looking at the military as a way to advance my career, if anything the time it would take would probably hinder it more than anything). I'm thinking about what I can give back, not what I can get.

 

[CAS700850]

I'm former Army. After 9/11, I heard the call of duty loudly. Very loudly. Loud enough I called up some old friends to inquire about putting the uniform back on. At the time I'd been married 3 years, had a 16 month old at home, and a secnd on the way. At that point, they told me that as a layer in his early 30's, I'd end up at a desk somehwere pushing papers, reviewing contracts, or handling courts martial. No chance of anything other than a lawyer job. At the same time, they recognized that as a prosecutor, I was actually serving my country by protecting the homefront, just in a different way.

You need to make your own decision, but realize that signing up may result in you're assignment to a job very similar to what you are doing now, but for a lot less pay, and with uniform requirements.

 

[Fly320s]

Sumpnz:

Fly320s - How do you like the Scairbus?

Sure beats working for a living.

My flying skills have gone to heck, but I can type 60 words a minute one-handed.

 

[sumpnz]

Fly320s - Let me know the next time you have an overnight in Phx. There's a pretty good brew-pub not tooo far from the airport.

 

[dolanp]

Every citizen who holds a job and follows the law is already serving their country. Your desire to join is admirable, and I can relate to it, but when your in basic, then more training, then your in Iraq, you haven't seen your family in months and your marriage starts to fall apart and that job is in jeopardy.... that's just masochism!