Thinking about joining the military, need advice.

[Kaze]

Why? Well, i have been at this locally own pizza place for 8 and a half ******** years and barely any promotions...while all these teens and collage kids get promotions that are far better. for 7 of those years....after college(Associates degree in computer information systems), i have looking for a better job. But that turned into getting a job for my field to ANY JOB AT ALL. I don't have the money to go back to college and there is no guarantee that if i get a loan or something to further my education, that i will get a job in that field. Life has proven that so far. Hell, i barely have money for some leisure stuff like a used video game and i am still living at home with my Uncle. I am almost 26 and i can't afford the mandatory health insurance. I am so tired of being rejected all the time and i am getting depressed more and more and while washing(by hand) dishes at work on the slow day the other day, i started crying because of it....which was stupid. I feel that i need to join the military because that is the only option left. In the past i was very apposed to it because i thought it was all about going to war and killing people, but have have friends.....and some family who have been in there and they say that while it is tough, it is a good thing. I hope that if i do join i can make it because i am a rather small and skinny guy that only weighs 125lb.

If i do join, it will most likely be in the Navy or Air Force.

What do you guys think? If any of you are veterans, please give me advice because i am at the end of my rope here.

[Felicity]

Someone call Mael, he's the only army guy I know.

I've got a couple of friends joining the military and all I can really tell you is that they're enthusiastic about it. I'm also fairly sure there are more jobs than just shooting and such, with a computer qualification you may be put to other uses. Otherwise, if you feel like you have to, then go for it.

[Fuchsia]

Don't waste your life in the army unless you're really into something like that, don't join because you are scared and you don't know what to do with your life now, the pay usually isn't that great either.

[Personthing]

I'm no veteran, (I do however have an uncle who used to be in the American military) but I'd highly recommend being passionate about joining the military should you decide to apply. It's a hefty commitment, especially for the pay that you would get. If you're doing it because you feel like you have to rather than wanting to, it may end up being even worse for you than the situation you are currently in.

[Maelstrom]

Yeah, if you want to join the armed forces, go in this order: Air Force, Navy, Marines/Army.

And just don't go infantry if you have to go army or marines. The infantry equivalent in the air force and navy are kind of a joke, and really, who joins either of those to be infantry? If you know computers, you can join to be a commo guy and do a lot of what you already know. A lot of commo guys deal with radios and communication equipment, but just as many deal with computers and programs and all that.

And everybody gets treated better than infantry for some reason. Just don't do it. And special forces is an infantry recruitment trap, so don't go for that.

Seriously, go airforce. It's chill and has way more funds and just treats everybody well. It's the green grass on the other side. Truly. Promotion systems are *shrug*

if you have a degree, go officer, they get much much better pay, and don't have to do any of the heavy lifting or the menial work. It's just better in every way. Don't look back. I have a degree and regret going enlisted. It's stupid.

so yeah, that's from a guy who has 7 years army under his belt and deployed and done a lot of jobs within the army despite my specific MOS.

[Pixl]

Yeah, if you want to join the armed forces, go in this order: Air Force, Navy, Marines/Army.

And just don't go infantry if you have to go army or marines. The infantry equivalent in the air force and navy are kind of a joke, and really, who joins either of those to be infantry? If you know computers, you can join to be a commo guy and do a lot of what you already know. A lot of commo guys deal with radios and communication equipment, but just as many deal with computers and programs and all that.

And everybody gets treated better than infantry for some reason. Just don't do it. And special forces is an infantry recruitment trap, so don't go for that.

Seriously, go airforce. It's chill and has way more funds and just treats everybody well. It's the green grass on the other side. Truly. Promotion systems are *shrug*

if you have a degree, go officer, they get much much better pay, and don't have to do any of the heavy lifting or the menial work. It's just better in every way. Don't look back. I have a degree and regret going enlisted. It's stupid.

so yeah, that's from a guy who has 7 years army under his belt and deployed and done a lot of jobs within the army despite my specific MOS.

Pretty much. All I was going to say would have been to go officer. It's a way better life than starting enlisted. Air Force was my chosen route too, so we'll see how that works out, but that should be your first try. They have more money in general, and especially if you're CIS I'm sure you could find something.

[Kaze]

Thank you guys

[Maelstrom]

The army isn't that tough, tbh. Basic training will probably be the most fun you'll have in the army. The excitement is all downhill from there.

You could always go national guard. Try it out a bit before going full active duty. You work 2 days a month plus another 2 weeks out of the year, with full health and dental benefits. You get the GI Bill, which you can use in conjunction with Tuition Assistance to get paid to go to school full time while doing your national guard on the weekends. You could go Reserve, which is similar, but you can't double dip with GI bill and Tuition Assistance that way. National Guard can still deploy, but only with the state's approval and nowadays most deployments are for experienced leadership in guidance roles only anyways.

Be warned. Most people don't know that when you sign up for any armed forces contract (at least army, maybe not the others) the contract is really for 8 years. You might have the basic contract for 3 years active duty or guard/reserve, but you can still be called to duty for another 5 years after that. Again, that's mostly for specific job's and experience than for the average person. Those next 5 years, you show up once a year at an installation nearest you for a day and then it's done and over with.

As far as your degree, an associates isn't much to speak of (especially for certain areas and professions) and I think you need a 4 year degree to go in as an officer but you can do ROTC and stuff to go to school while fulfilling time for your contract.

Just don't be an officer that takes themselves too seriously. I'm older than most of the officers I see on a daily basis and I have a stronger degree and more time in the army to boot.

[Kaze]

My brother is doing the same thing, but with the Marine. he can take it though.

8 years of service, i can do that. but i am now split between Air Force and the National Guard now

[jamesw0102]

Why? Well, i have been at this locally own pizza place for 8 and a half ******** years and barely any promotions...while all these teens and collage kids get promotions that are far better. for 7 of those years....after college(Associates degree in computer information systems), i have looking for a better job. But that turned into getting a job for my field to ANY JOB AT ALL. I don't have the money to go back to college and there is no guarantee that if i get a loan or something to further my education, that i will get a job in that field. Life has proven that so far. Hell, i barely have money for some leisure stuff like a used video game and i am still living at home with my Uncle. I am almost 26 and i can't afford the mandatory health insurance. I am so tired of being rejected all the time and i am getting depressed more and more and while washing(by hand) dishes at work on the slow day the other day, i started crying because of it....which was stupid. I feel that i need to join the military because that is the only option left. In the past i was very apposed to it because i thought it was all about going to war and killing people, but have have friends.....and some family who have been in there and they say that while it is tough, it is a good thing. I hope that if i do join i can make it because i am a rather small and skinny guy that only weighs 125lb.

If i do join, it will most likely be in the Navy or Air Force.

What do you guys think? If any of you are veterans, please give me advice because i am at the end of my rope here.

You have to work a certain amount of years in the military I have a suggestine for you. You could join the military then after you get out after your certain amount of years become a police officer they don't make bad money plus if you probable join the military and get out you might have a better change becoming a police officer. They make much more then working at a restaurant

Oh by the way if you do marine you will have to do a lot of physical stuff like running push ups sit ups etc because my dad he was in the marine

Edited April 3, 2015 by jamesw0102

[Kaze]

The army isn't that tough, tbh. Basic training will probably be the most fun you'll have in the army. The excitement is all downhill from there.

You could always go national guard. Try it out a bit before going full active duty. You work 2 days a month plus another 2 weeks out of the year, with full health and dental benefits. You get the GI Bill, which you can use in conjunction with Tuition Assistance to get paid to go to school full time while doing your national guard on the weekends. You could go Reserve, which is similar, but you can't double dip with GI bill and Tuition Assistance that way. National Guard can still deploy, but only with the state's approval and nowadays most deployments are for experienced leadership in guidance roles only anyways.

Be warned. Most people don't know that when you sign up for any armed forces contract (at least army, maybe not the others) the contract is really for 8 years. You might have the basic contract for 3 years active duty or guard/reserve, but you can still be called to duty for another 5 years after that. Again, that's mostly for specific job's and experience than for the average person. Those next 5 years, you show up once a year at an installation nearest you for a day and then it's done and over with.

As far as your degree, an associates isn't much to speak of (especially for certain areas and professions) and I think you need a 4 year degree to go in as an officer but you can do ROTC and stuff to go to school while fulfilling time for your contract.

Just don't be an officer that takes themselves too seriously. I'm older than most of the officers I see on a daily basis and I have a stronger degree and more time in the army to boot.

How bad is Basic Training though? For Airforce or Navy? I am asking because i made the mistake of looking on Youtube.