Army Question

[Young Gun]

I havent gotten a chance to go talk with a recruiter yet cause of work, but I was hoping maybe somebody on here could help me out. How can I enlist for (read: shortest enlistment & longes). I have seen the 15 month accellerated, but they have you for 8 years with that. I would like to serve for 2 years if I can and then head off to college. Is this possible? Thanks for any help you can give me.

Colin

[MrQuick]

https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2005/12/popcorn-1.gif

[bigvegan]

How about ROTC? They pay for college before you go into the military full-time, and then you're an officer. You're in the service a little longer, but depending on what your professional goals are, having military officer on your resume could be pretty sweet.

(If you're looking to go enlisted get vocational training etc., your recruiter will have all the details. Check google and military.com to make sure he's not stretching any of the details.)

This may help:
http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20071210015301AA5rRVw&show=7

It looks like 8 years is more or less the minimum total commitment, with 15 months - 4 years of active duty with the remaining time in the inactive ready reserve, which means you can get "stop-lossed" or recalled and sent back in if you're doing something the government really needs.

Do your homework first.

[josht]

You can use the green to gold program for enlisted soldiers:
http://www.goarmy.com/rotc/enlisted_soldiers.jsp
http://www.goarmy.com/rotc/index.jsp?fl=false

You don't have the eight years but six?
You can retire after your second command as CPT if I remember correctly.

Do not sign up for 88M, 11B, 13 series or 31B unless you like deploying a lot.

The year required for MOS active service varies and you may need a MOS that has more than two years in order to be elgible for green to gold.

Enlisted Soldiers more often than not will serve in there MOS, while Officers is a whole other story. I know about OCS as I have researched that option as the green to gold for enlisted does not work for me.

[absintheisfun]

No matter how much time you serve in active duty, the US Government owns you for 8 years...

Many people (such as me) didn't learn this little bit of info until I was getting out of my four year tour with the Marine Corps.

The non-active portion means that you return to your world (go back to school, get married, find a job--whatever you want . . .but . . . you are still property of the US Military and are subject to a recall to active duty.

[BA.]

absinthe is correct. you sign up for 8 whether you want to or not.
I think most these days are 6 Active and 2 "inactive". Maybe 4x4 is still available, I'm not sure.

There's always the weekend warriors too man!

[ajjones44]

Young gun I am a CPT in the 82d Airborne Division. I just helped my brother and my wifes brother come in. Both are currently at Basic Training out in Fort Leonardwood MO. If you would like to talk so I can better understand what you want from the military (job, experience, education) and what your goals are (college, officer, etc) I can help you lay down the best path for you. PM me a number I can contact you at.

Andre

[gmjj13]

it is possible to do what you want to do, but you will have an 8 yr commitment no matter what anyone tells you. if you do 2 active, you will have 6 in the IRR(inactive ready reserve). which basically means that you can go back to school/work or whatever you want to do. but...if the army needs people with the job skills you were trained in, they can call you back on active. normally you won't have to worry about that, but there is always that slight chance. i've served 8yrs active, and am currently on a 6yr reserve commitment. you can get your education while your in, and the army will pay for it. its actually a pretty good deal. not to mention, alot of employers tend to look for ex-military personell.:usa:

[67 455 Bird ragtop]

My only advice is if you do decide to enlist pick a cpl of jobs you REALLY want to do then get them guaranteed when you enlist. They did this back in the day when I enlisted in the air force. YOu may have to wait a while for a slot but if that's what you really want to do in the service wait. If you don't get a guarantee you have no idea what rating/job you will get.

Just my .02

[dropit69]

yep happened to my brother..did his 2 years was out a year working in a factory then desert storm started and wham he had to get back into soldier mode..at least they have to hold your job for ya..think hard about it..

[motorheadmike]

Have you considered Full-time Reserve or the National Guard?

Army
Air Force
Navy

Are all very different animals, with different levels of expectations and hardships. Choose wisely.

Infantry is a bitch; but I love it. :D

[Damn True]

Why don't you let us know what you are interested in doing in the service and after. There are representatives of all 5 branches of the military Officer & Enlisted on this forum. I'm sure we can give you information to help you make a more educated decision.

[67 455 Bird ragtop]

Why don't you let us know what you are interested in doing in the service and after. There are representatives of all 5 branches of the military Officer & Enlisted on this forum. I'm sure we can give you information to help you make a more educated decision.

Excellent advise...

[Young Gun]

Thank you for all of the infomation so far guys.... I really want to be a light vehicle mechanic (63B), machinest (44E), or a metal worker (44B), I had wanted to go to AIT after my basic and do one of these. Is there any way that I can be guarenteed to get one of these?

I am really looking for the experience out of the army. I have been accepted to colleges, but I am not sure I really want to go right now. I think being apart of something like the army would be a really rewarding opportunity. My grandfather was a Colonel in the air force (career man) and my father also served as a Captain until he left, My uncle was a commander in the navy. My brother is also going into the navy when he graduates, he will be an intelligence officer, so I have military though my family, and I feel like it is something I would like to be apart of.

My father has suggested ROTC but I want to serve before I go off to school. I already know what I want to do once I graduate, so I want to serve first, get the experience, and then go to college.

[Damn True]

What do you intend to study in college and what are your intentions after you complete your education?

[ZoomieFoosh]

Young Gun,
From what you are saying, it seems like you want to do the military thing for some experience in the mechanics field, while serving the country for a little, then bounce off to college.
Here is what I would recommend: If you can, join the Air Force. Granted, I'm a little biased, being in the AF myself, but we have the best gig going. Deployments are decent. You'll generally be deployed for 4 - 6 months (15-ish with the Army) at some place that has a relatively nice dining facility/billeting. Yeah, we get our chops busted because we "have it easy" and comparatively we do. Overall, quality of life is pretty good. Don't get me wrong though, Uncle Sam makes you earn your paycheck. Everyone is getting ridden hard these days no matter what career field you choose. Maintainance (MX) works HARD. I know that they are out there constantly getting our jets up and running. With flying C-5's I KNOW that the MX is busting their asses, because we break more than you can imagine.
As far as being an officer or enlisted, it sounds like you want more of the "wrenching turner" job than a supervisor position. In that case, be enlisted. Granted, you start off at the bottom of the food chain, but that is where you can get your hands dirty instead of sitting infront of a computer all day. An idea that you might not have considered, is that if you go AF and work airplane MX that you can work yourself towards being a Flying Crew Chief. They ride along with the plane and make sure that it is kept running wherever you wind up. You can prettymuch see the world this way, depending on what airframe you're a chief on. The AF also has vehicle MX, I don't think as extensive as the Army or Marines do though.
If none of those ideas sound good to you, and you REALLY want to join the Army or Marines, then go for it! Lord knows we need those guys too. If you have anymore questions that you think I could help you out with feel free to PM me or just reply. Hope I helped out some and didn't throw too many options on your plate for you to consider now.

-Ryan Faucheux

[Young Gun]

I plan on a double major in Finance and Real Estate Development, I plan on pursuing real estate development.

[barno68]

Young Gun,
From what you are saying, it seems like you want to do the military thing for some experience in the mechanics field, while serving the country for a little, then bounce off to college.
Here is what I would recommend: If you can, join the Air Force. Granted, I'm a little biased, being in the AF myself, but we have the best gig going. Deployments are decent. You'll generally be deployed for 4 - 6 months (15-ish with the Army) at some place that has a relatively nice dining facility/billeting. Yeah, we get our chops busted because we "have it easy" and comparatively we do. Overall, quality of life is pretty good. Don't get me wrong though, Uncle Sam makes you earn your paycheck. Everyone is getting ridden hard these days no matter what career field you choose. Maintainance (MX) works HARD. I know that they are out there constantly getting our jets up and running. With flying C-5's I KNOW that the MX is busting their asses, because we break more than you can imagine.
As far as being an officer or enlisted, it sounds like you want more of the "wrenching turner" job than a supervisor position. In that case, be enlisted. Granted, you start off at the bottom of the food chain, but that is where you can get your hands dirty instead of sitting infront of a computer all day. An idea that you might not have considered, is that if you go AF and work airplane MX that you can work yourself towards being a Flying Crew Chief. They ride along with the plane and make sure that it is kept running wherever you wind up. You can prettymuch see the world this way, depending on what airframe you're a chief on. The AF also has vehicle MX, I don't think as extensive as the Army or Marines do though.
If none of those ideas sound good to you, and you REALLY want to join the Army or Marines, then go for it! Lord knows we need those guys too. If you have anymore questions that you think I could help you out with feel free to PM me or just reply. Hope I helped out some and didn't throw too many options on your plate for you to consider now.

-Ryan Faucheux

Young Gun,
Ryan has some good advice. I started out in the Navy and am now in the Army, there is a world of difference between the services. If you want to have fun and be engaged in your specialty for just a short commitment, stay on the enlisted side. I spent my first 14 years in the ranks and really miss the hands-on work, and to be frank, I had a lot more fun when I was still enlisted.

Also, if you are looking for college money, the best programs are given for short enlistment times because they are not spending a lot of time or money training you. The six year enlistment offer great training, but the services see the benefit in the training and sign on perks are smaller. Plus, it is six years...

As for the 8 year enlistment requirement; if you do 2 yrs and spend the next 6 in the IRR your chances of getting recalled is very slim unless you have a pretty special MOS. I seem to remembe on the Army side the we only recalled around 1500 soldiers for OIF out of the IIR and a lot of those were MI and such. Of course the service you pick will make a difference.

Ryan is right, the USAF deployments are the best time wise. Deploying with the Army is an experience, and it is definately a long tour unless you go with an organization like CENTCOM or DIA (shorter deployments). The Marines go in for shorter rotations also, but it is hard duty. When the Navy deploys in theater, they typically fall in with who they support. All of the sailors that have deployed from my center have gone for a year.

As many others have offered, if you have specific questions I would be glad to make a stab at an answer for you.