Military?

[Sunkenkarma]

Anyone here in the Military? Im thinking about going to go talk to an Army recruiter in a few days. With the Economy the way it is, do you think its a good idea to get into the Armed Forces? Free Shelter and food, plus getting paid sounds fine to me. I just turned 20, and Havent had a job for like 10 months now :screwy:, so the Army is sounding really good to me right now, anyone have any good/bad Experience with the Army?

[redblackfan]

if you join, join because you want to not have to, army has a lot of people to try and keep track of, join a smaller branch, like marines or coast guard, army is great good louck in your choice

[dallasb84]

wait till you figure out your not entitled to anything and understand what a career and a great job is...... it will ensure you retirement and a great life.

armed forces ftw

[wannab20hatch]

army is a great option as long as you dont have a GED. Ive from a few different people their not taking ged's unless you have 15 credit hours in tech school. i can hook you up with a recruiter if you want. hes pretty cool.

[Sunkenkarma]

Yeah I talked to a recruiter yesterday and did alot of paperwork, They seemed pretty cool, But he said that they only have a certain amount of GED slots in a certain time slot, but they open up pretty quickly.

[bdydrpdmazda]

GO ARMY! I would recommend the military to anybody looking to start a life and make something of themselves, it has changed my life forever.

[civicsisedan]

Dont do it hahaha.. Just kidding.

I'm in the Army now at Ft. Benning, could answer some questions for ya from a non-recruiter stand point.

1. Dont believe all that a recruiter says, he has to make a quota.

2.Why the Army?

3. If your going to join the Military, heres my number one suggestion, pick a job that you can do something with outside of the Military when you get out. Most people dont spend the 20 years to retire. Get something out of the Military.

4. Marines would be out (you cant pick your job)

5. I would suggest the Air Force, shorter deployments, better living arrangements, same pay, and you can pick what you wanna do.

6. Army is alright, lower standard of living, longest deployments, but theres still some jobs out there that you can do something with when you get out.

7. Goto school while on active duty. Online classes.

8. It does not affect your G.I. Bill, every active soldier gets Tuition Assistance while serving on Active Duty every fiscal year. most don't know about it or take advantage of it, use it because if you dont it juts goes away.

Anything else.. Pm me

[Ty 2FLY]

IMO air force is the way to go...unless YOU do want to kick in doors but to me the airforce gives you better benifts and they take care of you better after you get out than the army does

[Bigt8aford]

I've had a brother or sister in every branch besides Army or Guard. I've been considering joining the Air Force myself. Serving my country would do a lot for me. But I'm just trying to see what I can do on my own first. Mainly cause my parents would love to see one of their 6 kids do something out side of the military. But good luck to you.

[G'd[UP]]

im in the navy and id say go navy or air force before the army or marines. my cousins in army and going to irag end of month, my friend is in the marines and goes to afghanistan next month...

[blaknoize]

I'm preferenced to the Air Force. I have spoke to many retirees and friends that are active and they enjoy their service. Good quality of life, decent pay, shorter deployments and the retirees speak highly of the assistance they receive. If and when I do go serve, I'm serving in the Air Force.

Plus, there are a great number of jobs in fields that exist OUTSIDE of military life in the USAF. Unlike some of the other branches. It would be wise to think of the future unless u plan to make a total career out of ur military life.

[slostang]

i plan on going to speak with a recruiter about the air force tomorrow myself.

[Master Shake]

if i was you, i'd go to school first and get some college hours. i think if you have like 40+ (don't hold me to it) you can go in ranked an E-3 over a civilian and getting ranked E-2 out of basic. only downside, it'll take longer to hit the next rank.

i leave in jan. i'm so ready to get it going.

[MachNU]

For those saying Air Force understand that its a 6 month ship out date. With the way the economy is alot of people went to the Air Force, and the Air Force has actually been turning people away since. Its very hard to get with them right now.

[Stuntman G]

Marine Corps is the way to go. I leave in September.

[jhadleyh]

AIR FORCE!!!!!!!



JUS SAYIN

[bdydrpdmazda]

all branches are turning folks away but all have the same benefits and pay, its all in what you want as far as a job goes.

[jhadleyh]

^^^^^^ this is true. When I was at Basic they were at Maximum capacity, they told me we were lucky that we got in.

[Truegiant]

You need to decide what kind of job you would like to do. There are pros and cons to each service. Figure out where you see yourself in 5-6 years as well.

AND FOR GODS SAKE =- TAKE THE SHORTEST ENLISTMENT POSSIBLE so incase you do not like the armed forces you can get out quickly! It will save your NCO's like myself alot of headache!

[BanginJimmy]

4. Marines would be out (you cant pick your job)

Since when? My cousin enlisted in the Corps less than a month ago and he picked his job.


5. I would suggest the Air Force, shorter deployments, better living arrangements, same pay, and you can pick what you wanna do.

I wont say that a/f is looked down on, but it isnt looked on as favorably as Navy or Marines because their jobs are so compartmentalized. Especially if you want to get into aviation, Navy is the way to go.

[skillzilla]

AND FOR GODS SAKE =- TAKE THE SHORTEST ENLISTMENT POSSIBLE so incase you do not like the armed forces you can get out quickly! It will save your NCO's like myself alot of headache!

hahah yeah this is good advice. Depending on the length of your AIT (job school) you will have a minimum enlistment period.

TAKE THE MINIMUM. Even if it means a lower enlistment bonus (if you even get one), take the shortest enlistment available.

If you like the military and re-enlist (getting a bonus in the process usually), you can do it sooner. If you dont like it and want to get out ASAP, you can do it sooner.

[BanginJimmy]

You need to decide what kind of job you would like to do. There are pros and cons to each service. Figure out where you see yourself in 5-6 years as well.

AND FOR GODS SAKE =- TAKE THE SHORTEST ENLISTMENT POSSIBLE so incase you do not like the armed forces you can get out quickly! It will save your NCO's like myself alot of headache!


Good advise, but to clarify, take the shortest enlistment for the job you want. Dont do just any job because it has a shorter enlistment.

[Truegiant]

Good advise, but to clarify, take the shortest enlistment for the job you want. Dont do just any job because it has a shorter enlistment.

Yeah thats what I meant. That way you can decide early in your career if you actually want to stay in or not. Plus you can request things like re-classing, moving to a different unit, requesting a military school, etc..

[TeG_Ur_it]

i say go air force, i just enlisted and will ship out january 26th for basic, had some college credit so i'll be an E-3, they have great opportunities for you and from what i hear you get promoted quicker, all branches met their quota's a while ago from what i've heard but the recruiters will still feed you bs, do some research and please do not let the bonus entice you. having a horrible job just for a bonus isn't worth it at all, good luck to you homie

[southside]

My brother just joined the Army and he likes it other than the dumbasses in Basic.......And He gets paid pretty good.

[One_Bad_SHO]

I'm in the Army National Guard. I think its a shame to join because you have nothing else going for you. You should join because you WANT to join, you WANT to do something for this country. If not, you're going to be like every other idiot that complains when they have to deploy or do something they don't want to, knowing full well that they signed up for it.

Nowadays recruiters can be picky. Just because you have nothing better to do doesn't mean they are going to take you. There are so many people trying to get in now that for the first time recruiters are turning people away and picking and choosing who they want to work with. So, needless to say, when/if you walk into a recruiting station... SELL YOURSELF. Its a job interview. Know what you want to do and be respectful (yes maam no maam).

Goodluck. :goodjob:

[boosted b]

i was in the airforce it was fun got to see the world just make sure u are doing the right thing i have seen alot of people regret there choice

[yeaiwonder88]

Look stay in school but if you are seriously interested in going in. Do a 2 year call to service. Trust me youll be alot happier with your life if you get a 4 or 2 year degree and then think about the armed forces.

[Bigt8aford]

I just needed to bump this thread. I'm going Tuesday to talk to an Air Force recruiter. I just feel like I've waited long enough and I'm ready for that change. If anyone has any more information please feel free to share.

[tjmhillz]

imo the military is a good career. Ive been in the reserves for 5yrs now.Take some of the info you get from the recruiter but dont listen to everything he has to say. All he is worried about is trying to get his numbers for that month. There are some recruiters that are straight up with you and cut the bs and tell you the real deal. There are some good perks being in the military as well. You get to travel the world and get to be at some cool duty stations. ive been to Belize, Dominican Republic, and hondorus for our annual training which is 2 weeks long. Ive also been deployed to Iraq. The reserves and national guard you drill one weekend a month and 2 weeks out of the year. Some ppl frown up about the ng and reserve and call them fake soldiers and wat not. but in the end we all do the same thing. believe it or not alot of the soldier that was in iraq and afgan was made up of ng and reserve units. If you talk to alot of ppl that was in the military and got out most of them are tryin to get back in. i say go for the military!

[Bigt8aford]

imo the military is a good career. Ive been in the reserves for 5yrs now.Take some of the info you get from the recruiter but dont listen to everything he has to say. All he is worried about is trying to get his numbers for that month. There are some recruiters that are straight up with you and cut the bs and tell you the real deal. There are some good perks being in the military as well. You get to travel the world and get to be at some cool duty stations. ive been to Belize, Dominican Republic, and hondorus for our annual training which is 2 weeks long. Ive also been deployed to Iraq. The reserves and national guard you drill one weekend a month and 2 weeks out of the year. Some ppl frown up about the ng and reserve and call them fake soldiers and wat not. but in the end we all do the same thing. believe it or not alot of the soldier that was in iraq and afgan was made up of ng and reserve units. If you talk to alot of ppl that was in the military and got out most of them are tryin to get back in. i say go for the military!


Alright, thanks. I'm for sure going tomorrow to talk to the Air Force. What career did you choose?

[tjmhillz]

im in the army reserves. you should talk to all of the branches and see which one you like the best out of all them. we can give you our input but it all comes down to what you want.

[1990wade]

good luck man...im goin to the air force

[Dietcoke]

I love the army. It pays well enough, you get to do and see cool shit all the time if you go into the right field.

SGT(p) right now, hope to make SSG this year.

[tjmhillz]

^^ are you doing any correspondance courses.. those also help when it comes time for promotions.

[Dietcoke]

I've been maxed on that shit since I was a pfc. In the real army, we actually have to work to get promoted :p

[blaknoize]

I've been maxed on that shit since I was a pfc. In the real army, we actually have to work to get promoted :p


Shut up fan boy. No one cares if ur working harder, u still get paid the same. Each person has a reasoning in why the joined. Why work harder than smarter? :thinking:

[BanginJimmy]

I've been maxed on that shit since I was a pfc. In the real army, we actually have to work to get promoted :p


I'm going to call BS on this one. Even if you joined at 17 and currently have years in you are already looking at Staff? I did 9 years in the Corps and was only in the promotion zone for Staff for the last year.


FYI, the only service that is harder to get promoted than the Marine Corps is the Coast Guard.

[Pickleteg]

^^You can get promoted really quick in the Army if you have the right MOS and are not a complete tool. I have been in almost 9 years and have made every promotion below the zone. I made Staff in under 6 years.....deployments do help LOL.

Now I am a Warrant doing Warrant things up here at Fort Campbell........good times.

[skillzilla]

I was an E5 in the Army in just over 5 years with no correspondence courses whatsoever. No deployments and minimal awards (lol). Maxed military education with language school and thats all I needed. Also, the E6 points were lower than the E5 points for me, so another year of TIS and I would have Primary zone for that also.

[tjmhillz]

I've been maxed on that shit since I was a pfc. In the real army, we actually have to work to get promoted :p

umm.. we still do the same shit and train the same way.

[tony]

Mostly good info here, some bad. Air Force, after E-4 it is not easy to gain rank.. even harder above E-5. Where you want to go totally depends on your motivation for joining, if you want to half ass it I'd say stay away from the military period. The worst attitude to me is the whole "I don't want to go to war cause I only signed up for the benefits" mentality, which is bullshit. Just my personal opinion, if you aren't willing to put your life on the line for the man or woman next to you (and I know some Sgt's that wouldn't do it) you need not be here.

I'm in the Air Force Reserves, if I could do it all over again I'd be a Marine.. but that is just me. I admire the discipline and the responsibility. I grew up in the Air Force, love anything dealing with aviation and I'm still in that stage where I crave deployments. The only branch I don't know much about is the Navy, but I hear their quality of life is similar to the Air Force.

[eklanta]

Become a United States Marine!!!

[tony]

The only branch I don't know much about is the Navy, but I hear their quality of life is similar to the Air Force.

lol Had to quote that cause its funny how quickly things change. I am taking the ASTB (Navy/Marine Officer's test) for the Navy in about a week and applying for Intel in the Navy this summer.

[Dietcoke]

I'm going to call BS on this one. Even if you joined at 17 and currently have years in you are already looking at Staff? I did 9 years in the Corps and was only in the promotion zone for Staff for the last year.


FYI, the only service that is harder to get promoted than the Marine Corps is the Coast Guard.

Minimum mandated req for staff is 46 months TIS/5 months TIG for board appearance and 48months TIS/7 months TIG for promotion. I'm maxed out in everything but civilian ed, and I'm very close in that. The army promotion system is very very easy (e1-6) if you can have any sort of formal education. I'm close to finishing my bachelors degree, max PT, max weapons, max awards, almost max civilian ed, max military ed, won nco of the quarter board for brigade, etc. Even secondary zone for my MOS is in the low 700s and I'm looking at roughly 765 points if I do decent on the board in june.

Of course, you can also be a specialist forever, really. Promotions are up to the individual.

[Dougk1401]

Im Heading to Ft Benning August 9th for 17 weeks Infantry Airborne. 10 Weeks basic, 3 weeks jump school and 4 for my AIT and I can't wait.. Never been happier, Going In E3 through a referral and dep training/rank test,military time test and a PT test

[Turbo Terrance]

Im Heading to Ft Benning August 9th for 17 weeks Infantry Airborne. 10 Weeks basic, 3 weeks jump school and 4 for my AIT and I can't wait.. Never been happier, Going In E3 through a referral and dep training/rank test,military time test and a PT test

goin to FT Sill June 29th!!! Field Artillery!!!

[Turbo Terrance]

For those saying Air Force understand that its a 6 month ship out date. With the way the economy is alot of people went to the Air Force, and the Air Force has actually been turning people away since. Its very hard to get with them right now.

my friends sister just left to the Air Force!! SHE WAS WAITING FOR 2 YRS TO SHIP TO BASIC!!!

[burnout1990]

Just hope you don't get stuck in a Ate up Unit like mine...Im begging my branch manager for a new assignment...damn MTOE is killing me....It's all good though I'll be out of Baghdad in 2 weeks....Signal Corps...IMO...The branch with a guarantee of work outside the Army...