CDignition
Member
I overheard a Army Recruiter talking today at a store, he was saying they are offering $20K if you go to boot before end of Aug(something like that).
military worth it?
- Thread starter Bezoar
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stevelyn
Member
Another ex-Army vote here for the Air Force/Air Guard.
Better living conditions.
Better overall support and support facilities.
Better and professional treatment from supervisors and command structure.
Better opportunities for advancement.
Better opportunities AND encouragement for education.
Better and more job specialty opportunites.
Faster rotations in and out of combat zones.
Better living conditions.
Better overall support and support facilities.
Better and professional treatment from supervisors and command structure.
Better opportunities for advancement.
Better opportunities AND encouragement for education.
Better and more job specialty opportunites.
Faster rotations in and out of combat zones.
Yup, pretty much what they all said. I believe you have to do it for a reason and not, like they have said, a solution.
I have been married for 1 yr and 1 1/2 weeks, have a decent job (retail - nothing big), and am on scholarship to Baylor Univ. about to enter my Junior year of college, double majoring in Great Texts and English.
Yet, in less than two weeks I will ship out to Ft. Leonard Wood for Basic.
Joining the military has always been in my mind but most always on the back burner. I had the grades and all what-not to go to a good college and get a degree but, as I have matured and started to really get to know myself, found that this isn't really all that I have wanted, while the military, has always appealed. I scored a 98 on the ASVAB and will be in the Army Reserves so that I can finish my bachelor's degrees when I come back from basic, but I will most likely go active once that happens. And the reason is this, ever since enlisting, I felt as if my life had purpose now. I suppose it may be odd but that is what it feels like. Deploy me? Fine with me. It would give me a sense of having done something with my life and for my country.Too many people sit around and complain about liberals and all the problems with our country yet do nothing to try and change it. I have some liberal friends and relatives and what I am hoping is to show by example what it is to be truly American (not saying that you have to join the Armed Forces to be American) and hope that by doing so I can change some minds.
That is my reason, don't know if it's worth much to you, but take it for whatever it's worth, just don't join if you do it out of a whim or as a solution.
$0.02 in change
I have been married for 1 yr and 1 1/2 weeks, have a decent job (retail - nothing big), and am on scholarship to Baylor Univ. about to enter my Junior year of college, double majoring in Great Texts and English.
Yet, in less than two weeks I will ship out to Ft. Leonard Wood for Basic.
Joining the military has always been in my mind but most always on the back burner. I had the grades and all what-not to go to a good college and get a degree but, as I have matured and started to really get to know myself, found that this isn't really all that I have wanted, while the military, has always appealed. I scored a 98 on the ASVAB and will be in the Army Reserves so that I can finish my bachelor's degrees when I come back from basic, but I will most likely go active once that happens. And the reason is this, ever since enlisting, I felt as if my life had purpose now. I suppose it may be odd but that is what it feels like. Deploy me? Fine with me. It would give me a sense of having done something with my life and for my country.Too many people sit around and complain about liberals and all the problems with our country yet do nothing to try and change it. I have some liberal friends and relatives and what I am hoping is to show by example what it is to be truly American (not saying that you have to join the Armed Forces to be American) and hope that by doing so I can change some minds.
That is my reason, don't know if it's worth much to you, but take it for whatever it's worth, just don't join if you do it out of a whim or as a solution.
$0.02 in change
That bears repeating. If you are drafting and construction go Seabee. I think you can join to have a career, I've had a good one. Just remember, nowhere in that oath does it say " a great career with good pay and benefits" That is not what it is about. I shoot guns in my off time, I joined to be proud of myself and serve my country. It worked.
threefeathers
member
It is true, go in the Army this month and get an additional 20 G's. When yu are in your unit volunteer for the marksmanship teams. I did it for 24 years and made the All Army matches 9 times.
AlaskaErik
Member
I did six years active duty Marine Corps. Those six years provided me with a great foundation to build on. After that, I went with the Guard. I got to live where I wanted to and was still able to serve. The last 17 years of my career were spent as a C-130 loadmaster. Other posters have it right. When I was in the Marines, field time was spent in a tent. As aircrew in the Guard, I spent many nights in beachfront resorts and hotels and I got to travel all over the world. When I was in Afghanistan we had the best quarters the Air Force had and we did our time there in 65 day rotations. Compare that to an Army tour of 12 months extended to 15 months and living in a B hut.
The Coast Guard is also a great way to serve. In Alaska they have lots of respect because we get to see them in action all the time.
But the military is more than just a job. It's a commitment and a way of life. Join for the right reasons.
The Coast Guard is also a great way to serve. In Alaska they have lots of respect because we get to see them in action all the time.
But the military is more than just a job. It's a commitment and a way of life. Join for the right reasons.
TimboKhan
Member
Here is the thing: If your joining just to shoot, and yet want a desk job, your going to be sorely disappointed. I am not equating joining the military to a religious experience, but you do need to have something driving you to join other than unemployment and a desire to shoot machineguns. You need to have realistic expectations. I love the Marines, and I loved the time I spent as an active duty Marine. If I could go back and do it again, I would do so in less than a heartbeat. Because of that love, let me give you some some things you need to think about and a little advice. Maybe these will help you develop some realistic expectations as to what you will get out of service.
1. Willingness to work as a part of a team. If you can't work efficiently in a team environment, with people you may or may not personally like, your going to be miserable and everyone around you is going to be miserable.
2. Willingness to accept constant authority. I, like a lot of people, do not like being told what to do. In the military, you get told what to do from the moment you enlist until the moment you leave. I was able to adapt to it, but to be perfectly blunt, a lot of people can't. Again, if you can't, your going to be miserable.
3. An understanding that your quality of life is not particularly important to the overall mission. It's real simple. You may be extremely uncomfortable, you may get stuck on a base in a city or country you hate with all your soul, or you may be away from home for months at a time. You can either adapt to the situation and make the best of it, or you can whine and be miserable.
4. You must understand that the military-industrial complex, as a whole, is not concerned with your opinion on how things should be run. It's real simple: If your such a genius, why are you a PFC? If you have a by-god good idea, by all means share it. If not, keep your trap shut and your eyes and ears open.
5. Attitude is everything. This sounds like a bumper sticker, but it is the single most important piece of advice that I can share with you. If you cannot maintain a positive attitude, under any condition or situation, your screwed. It really is that simple. You absolutely have to be able to take on a challenge and keep a positive attitude, whether that challenge be rifle quals, guard duty, house to house combat or simply doing something that sucks. Attitude is perception, and if you percieve that everything sucks, everything will suck, and that becomes a self-perpetuating cycle of suckiness. No one wants that.
6. Have a sense of adventure I have been, literally, to the most horrible places on earth, and even though they were horrible, I managed to enjoy the adventure of it, if nothing else. Somalia is a bad, bad place and I personally can't imagine much that would be worse. Still, I can say that I have walked the streets of Mogadishu, and I can look back at all the things that I saw and did there and know that not a whole lot of people can say that they have had those experiences.
7. ALong with attitude and a sense of adventure, have an open mind. I had an extremely fun time in the Marine Corps because I had an open mind to doing stuff and a good attitude. I was a machinegunner by MOS, but after I got shot in Desert Storm, I ended up on light duty for about 9 months. Rather than sit around, I got placed with the admin unit in our battalion. I literally met everyone in the battalion, and I got to do a lot of cool stuff simply by asking. For example, I would walk down to the Communications shed on an errand, and I would just ask "Hey, how do you do this or that". Because I had that attitude where ever I went, I built a reputation as a guy that was interested in learning new things. As a result, I got a lot of really cool training and was always on the list of potential candidates when slots in different schools opened up. Maybe I wasn't super-interested in what the guys in the NBC shed were doing that day, but I still asked and not only would I learn something potentially useful, I built good relationships. I am not proud of it, but I got in trouble in the latter part of my time in the Marines for disobeying a direct order. It wasn't a big order I disobeyed, and I didn't even really do it on purpose, but it was still a serious offense. My reputation was the only thing that kept me from getting in hot water. Guys went to bat for me, and in the end all I got was a stern talking to and confinement to quarters for a weekend. An open mind and a good attitude are key to success in the military, and in life.
1. Willingness to work as a part of a team. If you can't work efficiently in a team environment, with people you may or may not personally like, your going to be miserable and everyone around you is going to be miserable.
2. Willingness to accept constant authority. I, like a lot of people, do not like being told what to do. In the military, you get told what to do from the moment you enlist until the moment you leave. I was able to adapt to it, but to be perfectly blunt, a lot of people can't. Again, if you can't, your going to be miserable.
3. An understanding that your quality of life is not particularly important to the overall mission. It's real simple. You may be extremely uncomfortable, you may get stuck on a base in a city or country you hate with all your soul, or you may be away from home for months at a time. You can either adapt to the situation and make the best of it, or you can whine and be miserable.
4. You must understand that the military-industrial complex, as a whole, is not concerned with your opinion on how things should be run. It's real simple: If your such a genius, why are you a PFC? If you have a by-god good idea, by all means share it. If not, keep your trap shut and your eyes and ears open.
5. Attitude is everything. This sounds like a bumper sticker, but it is the single most important piece of advice that I can share with you. If you cannot maintain a positive attitude, under any condition or situation, your screwed. It really is that simple. You absolutely have to be able to take on a challenge and keep a positive attitude, whether that challenge be rifle quals, guard duty, house to house combat or simply doing something that sucks. Attitude is perception, and if you percieve that everything sucks, everything will suck, and that becomes a self-perpetuating cycle of suckiness. No one wants that.
6. Have a sense of adventure I have been, literally, to the most horrible places on earth, and even though they were horrible, I managed to enjoy the adventure of it, if nothing else. Somalia is a bad, bad place and I personally can't imagine much that would be worse. Still, I can say that I have walked the streets of Mogadishu, and I can look back at all the things that I saw and did there and know that not a whole lot of people can say that they have had those experiences.
7. ALong with attitude and a sense of adventure, have an open mind. I had an extremely fun time in the Marine Corps because I had an open mind to doing stuff and a good attitude. I was a machinegunner by MOS, but after I got shot in Desert Storm, I ended up on light duty for about 9 months. Rather than sit around, I got placed with the admin unit in our battalion. I literally met everyone in the battalion, and I got to do a lot of cool stuff simply by asking. For example, I would walk down to the Communications shed on an errand, and I would just ask "Hey, how do you do this or that". Because I had that attitude where ever I went, I built a reputation as a guy that was interested in learning new things. As a result, I got a lot of really cool training and was always on the list of potential candidates when slots in different schools opened up. Maybe I wasn't super-interested in what the guys in the NBC shed were doing that day, but I still asked and not only would I learn something potentially useful, I built good relationships. I am not proud of it, but I got in trouble in the latter part of my time in the Marines for disobeying a direct order. It wasn't a big order I disobeyed, and I didn't even really do it on purpose, but it was still a serious offense. My reputation was the only thing that kept me from getting in hot water. Guys went to bat for me, and in the end all I got was a stern talking to and confinement to quarters for a weekend. An open mind and a good attitude are key to success in the military, and in life.
U.S.SFC_RET
Member
I went in joining the army and met up with a guy and asked him what he was going in for and he told me " driving a tank". Trust me in your case trigger time is a luxury now and a hobby. You will forget all about trigger time in the military. You will like "your trigger time alright" but if its trigger time you want then stay out of the military. I went in the army to learn a trade and to retire, the trigger time was icing on the cake
Phantom Warrior
Member
- Joined
- Mar 7, 2003
- Messages
- 1,073
TimboKhan gave you a lot of good advice. I strongly recommend rereading his post. A lot of good information has been put out, so I'll just chip in my few cents.
Check with a recruiter about your medical condition first. You may be able to get a waiver, depending on your branch, but that plate may prevent you from enlisting. Also, don't think your associates degrees mean ANYTHING. I have two bachelors degrees and I drive a HMMWV. That was my choice, but they didn't roll out the red carpet or anything because I had a degree. The only time a degree matters is if you are trying to become an officer (bachelor's degree required). The might bump you up a pay grade, depending on what branch you join. What job you are eligible for depends solely on your ASVAB scores though.
Don't join the military to shoot. If you do get a shooting job, you will be given a certain amount of ammunition to accomplish a certain mission (qualify, go through a MOUT lane, do a familiarization fire) and then you are DONE. You might get lucky if there is extra ammunition lying around, but you will never just go out w/ a bunch of ammo to shoot for fun. If you aren't at a range, your weapon will be locked up in the arms room. You won't be able to go get it to fondle it or play with it. As others have said, if you get a desk job, you will rarely even get a chance to go to a range.
MAKE YOUR PEACE WITH DEPLOYING! Don't join the military (esp the Army or the Marines) if you don't want to go to Iraq or Afghanistan or Kuwait. The Army and the Marines are bearing most of the weight of the deployments right now. But there are still plenty of support personnel from other branches over here. Joining the Navy might not put you out on a COP out in sector, but you might end up as an EWO on the FOB or working at the CASH in the IZ or doing customs in Kuwait. I know a guy that graduated from the Naval Academy, had a duty station lined up in Washington (state), and almost got sent to Afghanistan. Don't be one of those people that joins the military and then acts surprised when they are told they are deploying.
I'm going to repeat TimboKhan's second point, willingness to accept authority, as my closing thought. In the military you will do what you are told. You don't get to say, "I don't want to do that. I quit." I've stayed at work until 20:00 every night in garrison because no one will send us home. I've unloaded and reloaded our conex every day in Kuwait. In Iraq I (along w/ all the other guys that go off the FOB) get stuck with all the details because they don't want to disturb the TOC guys, who work 8 hours a day and don't go off the FOB.
The Army has been an interesting experience and has allowed me to save a lot of money. And I would always have wished I'd tried it if I hadn't signed up. But I've dealt with a LOT of stupid (mostly from field grades and senior NCOs) and a lot of suck during this deployment. Be prepared to take the good with the bad.
P.S. Sign up for three years. You still get the full G.I. Bill benefits and you will only lose $2000 or $3000 off your bonus. If you like the military you can always reenlist for longer. If you don't, three years goes by really quickly. DO NOT sign up for five or six years right away.
Check with a recruiter about your medical condition first. You may be able to get a waiver, depending on your branch, but that plate may prevent you from enlisting. Also, don't think your associates degrees mean ANYTHING. I have two bachelors degrees and I drive a HMMWV. That was my choice, but they didn't roll out the red carpet or anything because I had a degree. The only time a degree matters is if you are trying to become an officer (bachelor's degree required). The might bump you up a pay grade, depending on what branch you join. What job you are eligible for depends solely on your ASVAB scores though.
Don't join the military to shoot. If you do get a shooting job, you will be given a certain amount of ammunition to accomplish a certain mission (qualify, go through a MOUT lane, do a familiarization fire) and then you are DONE. You might get lucky if there is extra ammunition lying around, but you will never just go out w/ a bunch of ammo to shoot for fun. If you aren't at a range, your weapon will be locked up in the arms room. You won't be able to go get it to fondle it or play with it. As others have said, if you get a desk job, you will rarely even get a chance to go to a range.
MAKE YOUR PEACE WITH DEPLOYING! Don't join the military (esp the Army or the Marines) if you don't want to go to Iraq or Afghanistan or Kuwait. The Army and the Marines are bearing most of the weight of the deployments right now. But there are still plenty of support personnel from other branches over here. Joining the Navy might not put you out on a COP out in sector, but you might end up as an EWO on the FOB or working at the CASH in the IZ or doing customs in Kuwait. I know a guy that graduated from the Naval Academy, had a duty station lined up in Washington (state), and almost got sent to Afghanistan. Don't be one of those people that joins the military and then acts surprised when they are told they are deploying.
I'm going to repeat TimboKhan's second point, willingness to accept authority, as my closing thought. In the military you will do what you are told. You don't get to say, "I don't want to do that. I quit." I've stayed at work until 20:00 every night in garrison because no one will send us home. I've unloaded and reloaded our conex every day in Kuwait. In Iraq I (along w/ all the other guys that go off the FOB) get stuck with all the details because they don't want to disturb the TOC guys, who work 8 hours a day and don't go off the FOB.
The Army has been an interesting experience and has allowed me to save a lot of money. And I would always have wished I'd tried it if I hadn't signed up. But I've dealt with a LOT of stupid (mostly from field grades and senior NCOs) and a lot of suck during this deployment. Be prepared to take the good with the bad.
P.S. Sign up for three years. You still get the full G.I. Bill benefits and you will only lose $2000 or $3000 off your bonus. If you like the military you can always reenlist for longer. If you don't, three years goes by really quickly. DO NOT sign up for five or six years right away.
U.S.SFC_RET
Member
I cannot even begin to count the days that I worked 24 hours straight through. I have worked in 16 degree below zero turning wrenches. I Melted brake lines on a truck in croatia with a propane heater that I talked a Major out of. Tips of my fingers turned black on the hungarian flight line from working in 15 degrees all day. Working in 125 degree heat. Laying in the mud fixing vehicles. In foxholes freezing the family jewels. In the back of 2 1/2 trucks being transported in zero degree weather in blackout drive at night. Pulling duty constantly, Guard duty, Charge of Quarters, Staff Duty. The Army never sleeps. Being told what to do constantly.
I understand electricity and setting up Tactical command Centers and trying to convince Officers not to overload circuits and to quit plugging into 110 AC while standing in water or you will get eletricuted. (Ft Lewis).
You sign the dotted line, you get that fat bonus and you just gave your life to Uncle Sam. He will use you and your life as he sees fit. Leadership being pumped out of ROTC is getting promoted so fast that a lot of them are not as seasoned as they should be and they are making decisions that effect your life. Some of those leaders are losersMost of those leaders are average and a percentage are great leaders. Leaders are Made but in the meantime they can get you killed because they put you into a position that you can't get out of that you have no choice or voice in it yourself. There is a lot of responsibility is signing those documents to enlist. People call it serving your country Sometimes won't feel like doing so. You wave Your rights away signing the dotted line. I refuse to let my two kids go into the Army. The Army thinks that Every Army Retiree Sings and propagates the Army. BULLSNOT! It isn't the difficult duty, It is the sorry, inept leadership in the Army.
I understand electricity and setting up Tactical command Centers and trying to convince Officers not to overload circuits and to quit plugging into 110 AC while standing in water or you will get eletricuted. (Ft Lewis).
You sign the dotted line, you get that fat bonus and you just gave your life to Uncle Sam. He will use you and your life as he sees fit. Leadership being pumped out of ROTC is getting promoted so fast that a lot of them are not as seasoned as they should be and they are making decisions that effect your life. Some of those leaders are losersMost of those leaders are average and a percentage are great leaders. Leaders are Made but in the meantime they can get you killed because they put you into a position that you can't get out of that you have no choice or voice in it yourself. There is a lot of responsibility is signing those documents to enlist. People call it serving your country Sometimes won't feel like doing so. You wave Your rights away signing the dotted line. I refuse to let my two kids go into the Army. The Army thinks that Every Army Retiree Sings and propagates the Army. BULLSNOT! It isn't the difficult duty, It is the sorry, inept leadership in the Army.
unrealtrip
Member
My 2 cents...
You have entirely the wrong reasons in mind for joining the armed forces if your goal is to get a desk job and avoid ever seeing combat. Assuming they let you in, you will never be happy.
You have entirely the wrong reasons in mind for joining the armed forces if your goal is to get a desk job and avoid ever seeing combat. Assuming they let you in, you will never be happy.
The Deer Hunter
Member
From what I hear the Navy's got the best chow.
sterling180
Member
It depends on what you want out of life,so firstly you must consider the fact that:Is this is the life for you?.Now,firstly you must decide what section of the US Armed Forces you would want to join,then onwards with what trade you are interested in and if it suits you.
There is no point of being a clerk if you hate office work,or if you hated languages,being an intelligence soilder, or an airborne soilder of the 101-if you are afraid to jump out of planes or are afraid of breaking your legs,during a routine jump and I wouldn't blame you too because it is tough,unpleasant at times and you will feel that you had signed your life away,for nothing.
This is where you need to research on the internet about the US Armed Forces and what interests you,as a person and find your nearest recruitment center and ask the advisor or more appropriately the NCO's and ordinary's,what vacancies are available in various trades.Then tell them your strengths and weaknesses,etc,etc,then they will roughly see what careers suit you and what they think,in their own opinion,you have a natural aptitude for.A highly-intelligent 'wizz-kid' type of private would be encouraged to join either the Engineering,ICT or Admin departments,whereas a person not considered to be intelligent,etc but likes sport and driving might be told that combat,driving might be the key to their future.
Never put yourself down whilst you are looking for work or if you successfully join one part of the US Armed Forces-because other people aren't you and they don't know you.Intelligent people from the ranks are actively encouraged to become officers,by placing them on university courses,studying for progression in a particular department.I've done it,it was bloody tough but well worth the effort and it made me happier a person.
So you have all of these options available to you,but the draw back is; that you are expected to fight and even die for your country in battle,to protect it's freedoms and interests.All Im going to say to you,is: go for it,get a skilled trade if you can and make something good of your life,instead of heading down the path of being a deadbeat/layabout or a loser,but it might not be for you liking,so then local government or state employment,might be a better option for you and you would get a good state pension out of it too.Local government as employees invest alot of time and effort into their staff,so you could get a similar deal as the military,in terms of progression,if you didn't fancy the idea of risking being killed or seriously injured in Iraq.Local government certainly invest a great deal into their employees in the UK and UNISON and TGW unions are always monitoring them,too.
By the way,the military is a world within itself and you would be suprised at how closely run the military facilities are compared with the civillian ones,except there is always an atmostphere of rank,discipline and respect.
sturmgewehr
Member
Joining the Navy reserve to shoot small arms would be like joining the Peace Corps to fly F-18's. If you want to shoot machineguns and play with cool hardware, you're going to have to join either the Marines or the Army. In the Marines, no matter what your MOS is, you will learn to shoot and shoot well. The Marines have the philosophy that "every Marine is a rifleman".
But as previously noted, if you're joining just to play with weapons... you're going to hate your life. Remember, the military isn't a place to go for school money or to play with weapons... it's a deadly serious business especially during a time of war. Don't fool yourself thinking you can join any particular branch and not wind up getting deployed to the sandbox. If you can't live with that, then find a new hobby.
If you want to shoot weapons, make friends with people who have firearms.
But as previously noted, if you're joining just to play with weapons... you're going to hate your life. Remember, the military isn't a place to go for school money or to play with weapons... it's a deadly serious business especially during a time of war. Don't fool yourself thinking you can join any particular branch and not wind up getting deployed to the sandbox. If you can't live with that, then find a new hobby.
If you want to shoot weapons, make friends with people who have firearms.
leadcounsel
member
Loving guns has NOTHING to do with the military. I also love guns and am an officer in the Army.
I am very patriotic and believe in our cause in the Middle East.
I love my career in the Army and am honored to serve. It was a great decision for me. However, I've brought a lot to the table.
I caution people to seriously think about the decision. If you are going to join the Army and don't bring something to the table, like a good skill, you aren't going to be treated very well for the first couple of years. You will get yelled at a lot and treated very poorly (poor living conditions, high stress, poor food frequently, low pay, levels of danger ranging from low to very high, etc.). We definately need Joes, but it's probably the hardest most thankless job a person could ever have. I have the highest respect for Joe and you could count on feeling very accomplished if you do it.
And, honestly, your idea of having fun shooting guns is not the Army's idea. The weapon you are issued will be spotless all of the time. Count on spending hours cleaning it. The rifle range is not a particularly fun place to shoot. You only go when they tell you and it's highly regulated activity and not at all fun. First you must wear your body armor and helmet and other gear and only get to shoot when and what they tell you. And count on listening to range officers yell at you and others all day. You'll be mentally and physically exhausted from the Army range, trust me.
For me, I dred going to the range or "field operations." It's not like a fun day at the range or camping...
If you do join, take FULL advantage of the GI Bill and the bonus money and if you have college loan debt they will pay up to some $60,000 off.
There are many good reasons to join but shooting guns is not one of them.
I am very patriotic and believe in our cause in the Middle East.
I love my career in the Army and am honored to serve. It was a great decision for me. However, I've brought a lot to the table.
I caution people to seriously think about the decision. If you are going to join the Army and don't bring something to the table, like a good skill, you aren't going to be treated very well for the first couple of years. You will get yelled at a lot and treated very poorly (poor living conditions, high stress, poor food frequently, low pay, levels of danger ranging from low to very high, etc.). We definately need Joes, but it's probably the hardest most thankless job a person could ever have. I have the highest respect for Joe and you could count on feeling very accomplished if you do it.
And, honestly, your idea of having fun shooting guns is not the Army's idea. The weapon you are issued will be spotless all of the time. Count on spending hours cleaning it. The rifle range is not a particularly fun place to shoot. You only go when they tell you and it's highly regulated activity and not at all fun. First you must wear your body armor and helmet and other gear and only get to shoot when and what they tell you. And count on listening to range officers yell at you and others all day. You'll be mentally and physically exhausted from the Army range, trust me.
For me, I dred going to the range or "field operations." It's not like a fun day at the range or camping...
If you do join, take FULL advantage of the GI Bill and the bonus money and if you have college loan debt they will pay up to some $60,000 off.
There are many good reasons to join but shooting guns is not one of them.
Last edited:
Fred Fuller
Moderator Emeritus
There are lots of good reasons for joining the military. Wanting to get trigger time is not one of them.
Friend of mine, at that time the oldest active duty captain in the US Army, used to wear a T-shirt to PT that said, "If we could shoot, we wouldn't have to run." That's a clue... (also a clue as to why he was still a captain 8^).
lpl/nc
Friend of mine, at that time the oldest active duty captain in the US Army, used to wear a T-shirt to PT that said, "If we could shoot, we wouldn't have to run." That's a clue... (also a clue as to why he was still a captain 8^).
lpl/nc
ArfinGreebly
+100
AirForce at almost 10 in. (Time to make 10 or 20 decision)
I have been thinking alot about this myself.
First the plus side-
The Airforce has given me valuable carreer Skills(not just bowstaff skillz)
I now have a BA and no School loans to pay. (I will have my MBA before decision time and again with no school loans to pay off) not bad for a 28year old.
My first Assignment was to Ramstein AB Germany(Which subjected me to some of the best beer, food, and Girls on the Planet at the young age of 21)
I have seen exotic locals (some better than others)
The military takes care of their own, if you get sick, they'll pay for it. Same for your family.
Most of the people you meet are high energy, high motivation, intelligent people. (you meet idiots everywhere but most get drummed out of the service).
The AirForce will almost always be there to help you or your family if something unforseen happens(AirForce Aid).
Higher enlisted will look out for their guys. A shirt(First Sergeant) will jack someone up if they try to give you a raw deal. They will also step in front of a raging O-6 if you mess up. There is no other organization that will go as far to support their troops as the AirForce.
When you fall someone will be there to pick you up.
There are alot of vollunteer opportunities in the service.
You will work your Butt off, but then you'll play hard too.
When things are good, they're good
The down side.
If your looking to get rich.... You picked the wrong job.
When things are bad, they are really really bad. (like 5 guys in your unit are killed in a direct fire ambush or IED bad.)
There are a lot of stupid rules to follow. (how many rings you can wear(up to 3). Whether or not your socks can have emblems on them in PT gear(they can't). The color of the laces in your boots. (whether or not you can drink on deployment(depends on the base) Sex? (Little thing called General Order #1a,1b)
If you decide that you don't like your job... Too bad. You're stuck, until your contract is over (your contract may be extended with or without your consent in some cases) I am currently deployed with several IRR (individual Ready Reserves) or in laymans terms folks that got out, only to be re-absorbed involuntarily.
The few idiots you meet will make up for 10 in the real world (also they will likely outrank you, and probably write your evals.)
For all the goods and all the bads, if given a chance to do it over, I would probably do it again.
+100
AirForce at almost 10 in. (Time to make 10 or 20 decision)
I have been thinking alot about this myself.
First the plus side-
The Airforce has given me valuable carreer Skills(not just bowstaff skillz)
I now have a BA and no School loans to pay. (I will have my MBA before decision time and again with no school loans to pay off) not bad for a 28year old.
My first Assignment was to Ramstein AB Germany(Which subjected me to some of the best beer, food, and Girls on the Planet at the young age of 21)
I have seen exotic locals (some better than others)
The military takes care of their own, if you get sick, they'll pay for it. Same for your family.
Most of the people you meet are high energy, high motivation, intelligent people. (you meet idiots everywhere but most get drummed out of the service).
The AirForce will almost always be there to help you or your family if something unforseen happens(AirForce Aid).
Higher enlisted will look out for their guys. A shirt(First Sergeant) will jack someone up if they try to give you a raw deal. They will also step in front of a raging O-6 if you mess up. There is no other organization that will go as far to support their troops as the AirForce.
When you fall someone will be there to pick you up.
There are alot of vollunteer opportunities in the service.
You will work your Butt off, but then you'll play hard too.
When things are good, they're good
The down side.
If your looking to get rich.... You picked the wrong job.
When things are bad, they are really really bad. (like 5 guys in your unit are killed in a direct fire ambush or IED bad.)
There are a lot of stupid rules to follow. (how many rings you can wear(up to 3). Whether or not your socks can have emblems on them in PT gear(they can't). The color of the laces in your boots. (whether or not you can drink on deployment(depends on the base) Sex? (Little thing called General Order #1a,1b)
If you decide that you don't like your job... Too bad. You're stuck, until your contract is over (your contract may be extended with or without your consent in some cases) I am currently deployed with several IRR (individual Ready Reserves) or in laymans terms folks that got out, only to be re-absorbed involuntarily.
The few idiots you meet will make up for 10 in the real world (also they will likely outrank you, and probably write your evals.)
For all the goods and all the bads, if given a chance to do it over, I would probably do it again.
SSN Vet
Member
joining the military for what you can get out of the deal is, IMHO, becoming part of the problem....and will leave you disappointed.
once upon a time it was refered to as being in the service..
so if you join because you want to serve and make a contribution to something you deem to be worth while, then you can be part of the solution ....and find satisfaction.
once upon a time it was refered to as being in the service..
so if you join because you want to serve and make a contribution to something you deem to be worth while, then you can be part of the solution ....and find satisfaction.
IMO the military is not a good choice. It is not fun and games where you play with guns all day. Shooting and weapons has very little to do with it. It is about someone else controlling your life for years until your commitment is up. Please go find a regular job and don't listen to the recruiters who will say what you want to hear to get you to sign up because once you sign up THEY OWN YOU.
BADUNAME13
Member
The last Paycheck I got was June 8th... (They are bad about paying you on time) I just completed my final physical...
I can't even go into how many ways the Marines have screwed me over.
(I just got JAG involved)
From now on I will be the antirecruter.
I can't even go into how many ways the Marines have screwed me over.
(I just got JAG involved)
From now on I will be the antirecruter.
Sniper X
Member
You will MAYBE get to qualify once a year in an admin position. I used to be in charge of an arms room when I went to Ft. Ord to ETS. In the two and a half years at the end of my enlistment, I checked out arms to the finance company and admin company (shared arms rooms) three times. Yes that is 3 times! I went to the range once a week just to check out weapons...ha, check out weapons! Took the 1911s out for some fun, M16s for some rock and roll. and the M-60s for some real firepower. M203s for some boom, but the companies who actually used the arms used them about once a year. At least I got to take the weapons out. But that is what you get to do when your MOS is 18B and you get stuck in an admin company in charge of their arms room! I had a great late enlistment!
Black Adder LXX
Member
DON'T DO IT if you're looking at it as a way to shoot. There's a million other ways to go. DO IT if you want an experience that you'll look back on for the rest of your life with pride. The military is worth it, but only if you're going in for the experience of the military, not simply more trigger time.
sterling180
Member
Thats the whole point of the 'military'.This is why this guy must think long and hard about his career,because it will be one of the biggest challenges of his life.There are many benefits that the military offer,so it isn't all about square-bashing and being ordered around by a foul-mouthed jerk-off of an nco.The recruiters will use ploys to lure in unsuspecting people,but they are generally honest about conditions in the armed forces and anyone knows what to expect in the military anyway.I don't know about the US but in the UK they are mainly honest about the conditions,except for some living quarters,which are for enlisted personnel,but ncos and higher are exempt from.
Most recruiters will make an honest evaluation of you and I went to Chatham dockyard years ago and the Paras were there,with their maroon berets,recruiting.I asked them that I was keen to join them and they took one look at me and advised me to 'bulk up' and do some weight-training,because of the physical and mental torture involved in phase 1 training.They were concerned,that it might damage me.This was said by a RSM.
Now this is a fact and a true fact alone:Most if not all employers of all industries and from all levels(From the working-class to upper-class levels.)value ex-military personnel.I know an ex-green beret Royal Marine Commando
who left the service some years ago and he studied marketing and got his degree through Naval funding and he paid for his CIM(Chartered Institute Of Marketing.)exams himself,after he passed his degree exams.
Now within a week he was working up in London,for Tiscalli earning £50-£60k a year with bonuses and commissioning opportunities,for related work.Now thats a huge transfer indeed and he got the job,simply because employers value military or ex-military personnel for their ability to time-manage,multi-task,concentrate and time-keeping skills.So no regular deli-stops and coffee and doughnut times,for most of these people,which is what bosses love.
To put it in simple terms:An ex-military or part-time reserve secretary will more than likely concentrate more,especially if he or she was an nco or a warrant officer,who ran a military office-than that of the stereo-typical secretary,who would be chatting about this and that and generally waste time.
Oh and
Ohio Rifleman
Member
A little known fact of military service is, that when you sign up, one of the first things they do to you is tattoo "Property of Uncle Sam" on your forehead.
(Not true, I just made that up, so don't flame me! But that's kinda the impression I get from military service. I think I'll pass, and do what I can to help out here at home.)
(Not true, I just made that up, so don't flame me! But that's kinda the impression I get from military service. I think I'll pass, and do what I can to help out here at home.)
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