Which branch of the military?

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TheOtherOne

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Which one would you join? I've been seriously thinking about joining the Marines, but my dad says that if I'm going to join the military to join the Air Force. In the Korean War he was in the Army and said that those in the Air Force had things the best. I just like the idea of the Marines though. Which branch do you get to play with the most guns in?

Oh, and does anyone know the age cut-off before they'll stop accepting you?
 
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Semper Fi all the way .


I have tried three times to get in . High school drop out with out enough credits in colledge yet . To many tats. And now over the age . I was told cut off is 26 with out prior service .:(



If you want the easy life and best of stuff on your base go Air Force or Coast Guard . Just be prepared for the jokes from all he other branches .


Personaly I would go AF over CG .
 
Moparmike wrote:
I daresay that the Marines would provide the most gunplay, but I wouldnt go through the hell of Marine Boot just for that.
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Lately, since the active phase of the Iraq war was ended, we keep hearing about all the casualties we are taking. Um, when was the last time you heard it (the casualty) was a Marine?

(Now you Army types, can call it what you want, but we play with the most weapons, and we do it safely. :D )

Mike, with that attitude, you'd never make it through boot.

Semper Fi.
 
In the Navy, as a gunners mate you get to play with guns all day, AND you take your bed with you when you deploy!!
Jack
 
It realy depends on what specalty you enlist for.

I just re-enlisted in the army(just meaning 4 months ago) and I finally ship out tomorrow...

If you go infantry.... you can be damned sure you're not only going to learn small squad tactics... but you;ll have PLENTY of gunplay time.

If you enlist as a cook, however... Gunplay will be quite a bit less apparent.
 
I suppose I would probably join the Army since I'm a huge f'up.

I'm 24 now, so if I join I guess it would have to be in the next year or so.

I sure got alot of calls from Army and NG recruiters last year, but haven't heard a peep lately.

My eyesight is also very bad without my contacts. I don't want to wear Army glasses! Uncle Sam, wanna pay for my laser eye surgery?
 
Last time I checked (which is admittedly some time ago), the cut-off age was 32 or 34. That depends upon branch and job specialty, though. Besides, I can't picture being in my early 30's and trying to get through boot camp for the USMC.

I know when I was in basic training for the Navy (1/88) we had a guy in our company who was 32 or 33. We all called him "grandpa". :D

And then I turned 35 a few weeks ago... :rolleyes:
 
They also make age exceptions for certain jobs too. My mom had recruiters calling her clear up to the age of 40. Of course that was under Bush Sr's military.
 
Went into the Corps when I was 26. P.I. wasn't too bad... just a matter of mental toughness. Just remember: Roy Boehm went through UDT / BUD/S twice... once when he was a kid, then again when he was 40. Went for 0311... Mark 1 Mod 0 grunt. Some things got in the way. Oh, well...

If all you're looking for is trigger time, yeah, you'll get alot as an 03 in the Corps. You'll also recieve the finest marksmanship training in the history of the human race. 03 not a bad MOS... when you're not in the field or deployed, you're time's pretty much your own. At the time, you could sign out an M16 and some ammo and as long as it was clean and back in the Armory by 1730, life was good. You'll get to play with alot of other weapons as well.

That being said, the 03 billet isn't exactly great career training. Unless you stay in, the skills aren't that marketable. You can also go armorer, MP, Range Officer, or get to the point where you can qualify as a Primary Marksmanship Instructor... transferable skills. That's probably where the other services have it over the 03 / Corps.... alot more skills that'll be useful once you get out.

My advice FWIW: if you're looking ahead for career training, the other services have more billets that cover more areas. If you just want to play with guns AND join the Corps, go reserve. If you hate the life, you just have to suck it up for a couple weeks a year and one weekend a month... unless your unit deploys (then " you numbah one f#$ky f#$ky"). If you love it, you can go active and the world's your oyster.

Good luck with your decision.

Semper Fi!
S.
 
I choose The Army, But my opinion is biess since I am in the Army. My entire job is revolved around playing with guns but that is my paricular job or MOS (millitary ocupation specality) there are other jobs in the army were you will almost never use a weapon except for your semi annual qualifcation. Im sure the same applies to the maries. Naturally a Infantry mos for eiter Army or Mariens will use the most weapons one thing to consider is that if you desire to go to the other side (spec ops) The army has the most oportunitys. The AF has there CCT teams and dowend piolet recovery, not sure what they are called, Navy has the SEALS and the mariens Force recon just recently came under spec ops. The Army has a few different choices to try for. The Airforce from what I have seen dose give better conditions to there soilders than the army but it depends on what your looking for. As for Rank advancment for Enlisted and NCOs I believe that it is usually faster in the Army Particularly in your combat arms specailtys.
 
Mike, with that attitude, you'd never make it through boot.
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You know Al, I never said I would make it through boot. I also said that I wouldnt join a branch of the Armed Services for the sole purpose of gunplay.

I most certainly wouldnt join the Corps, because of the mind fornication and constant belittling of my worth. I went through that in government school, and I refuse to actively seek a worse example of it, especially without a damned good reason. Another branch of the service, maybe. Again, it has to be a good reason. And I would have to lose about 80lbs first.
 
Over time, I've noticed the following:

1. The Marines tend to have the best "Battle Focus" on actually being in combat.

2. The Air Force tends to treat its people well, both in terms of infrastructure and individually.

3. The Navy can take you away from home for 6 months at a stretch at regular intervals, and they treat their people not too well.

4. The Army. Ah, the Army. I've spent a few years in the Army, and outside of direct combat units, it has become a welfare agency. Battle-focussed training takes a back seat to touchy-feely equal opportunity training, safety training, sexual harassment training (as in NOT to do it). I can't tell you how many support units that couldn't deploy personnel because of pregnancy or, for the single parents, all of a sudden their family care plans don't work.

Observations 1-3 are from the outside looking in. If you want to play with guns and be a warrior, go USMC infantry. If you're looking for a trade or a skill, find which branch will offer the most.

Other considerations:
1. Where do you want to go? Navy bases seem to be near nice places. Army bases suck. AF bases are isolated, but very nice.
2. Do you have wife/kids? If so, how much do you want to see them?

Good luck with any decision you make.
 
In talking with vets from all services, I've seen that AF guys get the best in terms of food, billets etc. But if your main consideration in picking a branch is how good the food is you might wanna reconsider joining at all.

Me, I'm going into the USMC as an 03 (infantry). I know it's not great job training, but that's what the TAP (Tuition Assistance Program) and GI Bill are for.

TheOtherOne: if you really want to learn about the Corps, please PM me your name and phone number and I'll give it to my recruiter. If I refer one more person who enlists I'll go in as an E-2, and I can really use the money. :) And even if you don't enlist it looks good that I'm trying.
 
The army (aside from a few 'elite' units, like Rangers and Delta) is a semi-organized, undisciplined welfare housing project, with guns. Lots of guns. But that other poster was right, the one who said the army spends a lot of time on stupid stuff like sexual harassment training, and EO training. Every branch has to do that stuff, though, but I think the army does more than anyone else. Remember when in Bosnia, they sent one of the airborne units thru sensitivity training, because they were being too rough on the Bosnians? Gee, what a surprise...I mean, these people are only shooting at the soldiers, no reason to not be sensitive to their needs and concerns. :rolleyes:
 
I've been seriously thinking about joining the Marines
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Well then there's your answer. If you don't do it, you'll spend your whole life wondering if you could have.

Balog, don't set your goals too low. I left recruit training as a Lance Corporal. Never let anyone tell you it can't be done.
 
I have no clue what you all are talking about doing all the EO and sensitivity training. I was in the Army 8 years, 19K20, tanks. Our training was making big guns go boom and squashing everyone around us :D As for playing with guns, I had a side job after my knee when to heck as an armorer. Got to play with lots and lots of guns. If I had it to do all over agian, I would have joined the AF as a para-rescue or forward air controller or somthing similar, all the good treatment of the AF with the excitment every young man deserves. Just my opinion though.
 
The army (aside from a few 'elite' units, like Rangers and Delta) is a semi-organized, undisciplined welfare housing project
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I understand the sentiment, but that is patently false. I'm a Marine, so I can hardly be called a neutral observer. If anything, I should probably agree with you.
 
NOTE: I served in the Army '71 to '74 and the Navy '75 to '85. I grew up as a dependent of an Air force Bird Colonel. My oldest daughter served in the Marines for 4 years. My sister was a Captain in the Air Force before getting out and now programs Tomahawk missiles for the Navy. The only service I don't have any connection to is the Coast Guard - so please - no flames based on the opinions expressed below.

That said:
It Depends on why you're joining...

If you want to get training that will get you a job once you get out of the service then the Navy's best with the Air Force a close second.

If you wanna travel and see the world - Navy

If you wanna live off of Uncle Sam's nickle in the most comfort while doing the least amount of work possible - Air force

Wanna bust dopers and save lives - Coast Guard

Wanna serve your country as a real soldier - Marines

Wanna server your country as a real soldier but ain't tough enough to be a Marine - Army
 
Don't worry, gunplay isn't my sole reason... but if I'm going to join I might as well have as much fun with the weapons as possible. I was stuck at my last job that I absolutely hated for five years and finally started making enough money on the side to quit. I need a real career though and when my side job fizzles out, then I think I will try and join the Marines. I would probably regret it the second I got in, but I can stick things out once I start and I know it would be a good thing for me. I think being able to be on the "front lines" in Iraq or Afghanistan would be awesome too. It would be much more fulfilling then what I do now.

I didn't even think about eyesight issues. Mine isn't great either without contacts. Is that a disqualifying factor for the Marines?
 
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