Join the Army??

[socalfandabodys]

I would like to hear from people with previous military experience. I am undecided if I should join the army or the coast guard. I am going tomorrow to take my test at the army entrance location in los angeles tomorrow. The question is what job do you think I should take. I was thinking light vehicle mechanic. attack helicopter mechanic, or military police. Please let me know if you have any suggestions. Also do you think the coast guard has a better program. Please let me know asap.

[derekf]

There's some pride that goes with being a member of a combat unit that you just don't get with a rear-echelon unit. Of course, the flip side of that is that in a combat unit you might - gasp - be exposed to combat.

If you went into the mechanic field, you'd have a useful skill after discharge (mechanicing). As an MP, you could move into MP-type fields. What do you want to do with your life?

[68BNUT]

MP's are up there in harms way if your in the right unit once the legs move thru who do you think holds the civilians in check?? Coast gaurd is tough goin though. No matter what you do in whatever service you join youll get a lot out of it just in life experience. Just remember basic is a game you win if you graduate and they win if you, well give up sounds silly but its true. THere just trying to teach how to stay alive. Pick what you want and just be proud to serve even if your a typewriter repairman!! 1/279inf 45th Brigade 8 years.

[Matt@RFR]

There's some pride that goes with being a member of a combat unit that you just don't get with a rear-echelon unit. Of course, the flip side of that is that in a combat unit you might - gasp - be exposed to combat.

I agree 100%, although it all depends on how much work you actually want to do. Being a grunt is tough, being a pencil pusher is...not so tough.

Don't worry about bootcamp. In or around 1997-8, mothers of america stepped in to make sure all our prescious little boys didn't get spoken to disrespectfully while in bootcamp. Just two years prior in '95, I was getting the sh*t beat out of me by my my drill instructors. That job still gets done (hopefully) once you reach your final destination in a platoon, just more descretely than in years past. Ofcourse, this applies, to my knowledge, only in infantry/combat units.

If you decide to be an MP, be prepared to be one of the most hated people on base. (Again, this only applies to my experience in a marine corps infantry unit.) I've also heard a lot of people talk about police departments not really being interested in former MP's, because MP terminology and rules are completely different than PD's, so they not only have to train them, but un-train them.

Being a mechanic-type in the military is the only thing I'm aware of that directly crosses into a civilian job.

I do agree that, across the board, the military is a helluva experience. You'll meet people from every religion and background, and probably be good friends with much of them. I'm still in contact with a few of my friends from the marine corps. It's a life altering experience, and you'll be a better man...nay, human being afterwords. I only wish I could send every single stereotypical rice boy through the marine corps and see how much more respectfull and grown up they are in 4 years.

[[email protected]]

are those your only two options? right now i'm serving my fourth year in the Air Force and i love it. never met anyone in the coast gaurd but it would be cool i guess. you do alot of anti drug missions and stuff. i wouldnt be a cop though unless you like standing by yoursef for hours and hours at a time. now cops will do cool missions but when your stateside thats all i've seen them do. i'd try do do something more mission based to see and do all the cool stuff. right now i work on the E4-B (plane in sum of all fears) and it's great. just the fact your on one of the most important jets in the world gives you that sence of pride and honor.

[socalfandabodys]

Thanks everyone. I just took my meps test and scored a 74 which I guess isnt bad. The more I think about the more I am interested in avianoics mechanic because I already know how to work on cars and want to experience new things. The avionics training is almost seven months while the othere training courses are all about 8 weeks. As for other options I think I will go check out the air force and marines also. Thanks for your input.

[TonyL]

welp as a former Air Force structural specialist for 8 years, let me reccomend the air force. NOT the army or coast guard.

my nephew is in the army for what he thought was a 4 year tour. and he is in Iraq right now on what he THOUGHT was a 12 month tour. Now its a 2 year tour. and they have back door drafted him to stay in longer. the man has a daughter he's seen once or twice for a week at a time. And a wife he never talks to.

as an airforce mechanic you may find yourself close to combat. but man, do we treat our people better. better quarters. Better training. even better food. Trust me. Take the advice that he didnt. If he had taken my advice he'd be spending christmas at home with his wife and daughter. Not laying in a tent (they just took his 2 man trailer away last week.) freezing his a$$ off in Iraq hating the army for lieing to him.

i could go on and on about how much the airforce is the best branch and so on. but wont. go check it out yourself.. and most importantly get your recruiter to take you on base and let you talk to someone doing the job you want. Never take his word for it. Find out what daily life would be like from someone living it right now.

[TonyL]

oh. one more thought. the army that you see on tv and in the movies, where there is some sargent screaming, marching, and "sir yes sirs" doesnt exist in the airforce. when tech school is over, its a job. Just like any other job. the stress level is entirely different. there is no 5 am PT or anything like that. Occasionally they will do exersizes where that happens buts its for 1 day a month or something.

[dennis68]

No offense Tony but maybe thats why all the AF and Navy guys I know are in such bad shape. Absolutely nothing wrong with 0500 PT.

Something wrong when you can graduate from basic combat training in a month, how well trained are you again?

[TonyL]

I'll admit that Airforce people are "softer" than grunts are. thats a given. The airforce isnt combat trained in the same way that those branches are. Our mission is totaly different. Compitence in one's job is more important and thats the training i mean. "real world OJT" actual training that translates into day to day life.

its not real often that one uses the skills learned in the army of how to fight in combat. We spend a very small time training on firearms a year. each guy gets checked out yearly. Depending on your job.

if, in the Airforce, your job is EOD, (explosive ordinace disposal) or security police or law enforcement, then yeah. those jobs get gobs of hardcore military style training. but, if like me, you become a carpenter. not so much. This is the vast majority of the airforce. theres like 1% of the airforce the rest of us jokeingly called "the real airforce" (read flight crew, loadmasters, ect) the rest of us had j.o.b.s
thats all. Sure, we could get deployed. but it was always to support the frontline guys. (tent cities are hard to maintain.) you get the jist of what im saying i hope.

to sum up all of my posts above, let me put it this way. so there is no confusion.
Join the Airforce for the cushiest of the military, if you join the army there is a very real chance that you will have to deal with one of the most challenging, hardest experiances in your life.

i am in no way baggin on the army or any other branch. if going into battle with a gun, in a humvee with no armor is your thing, go for it. If not, weigh your options. think about the future. will your job the military gives you transfer to real life?

**edit** i hope you werent referring to the exersizes 1 day a month thing. by exersizes i meant getting recalled at 2 am, getting on a plane building a tent city, getting simulated chem attacks, ect. not doing PT. you are expected to maintain yourself and if you get fat, they come down on you quick. you get put into the "weight management program" and someone rides you daily until you fit the requirement.

[TonyL]

oh god. let me make an attempt to steer this thread back on topic while im here.

from my knowledge, the airforce has 6 or 7 lines of motor vehicle maintenance you can get jobs in. one of the most interesting is auto body. they actually have people who do body work and paint cars. There is also welding and fabrication jobs as well. (all branches) do what interests you most. you'll likely be stuck doing it for a while, so try to find something you love.

i opologize for veering this thread off topic. any more ideas on jobs for him to ask for?

[dennis68]

Ditto on doing what you enjoy. One point I'd like to make is that I started as a mechaninic in the civilian world because I liked working onmy cars.....it's been 15 years now and I almost have to force myself to work on my own car, it's not fun anymore. I'd try to find something you enjoy that doesn't also double as a hobby.

[trapin]

You know it's funny.....when I was 18 or so I remember getting calls from all the armed forces recruiters and basically scoffing at any notion of joining them. Now that I'm 33 (approaching 34 in a couple of months) I really think I should have given the Air Force or Navy a try. I think it would have been cool to work on a nuclear powered attack submarine or an Air Force aircraft carrier. A chance to see the world, maybe some stories to tell my kids.

But nah....I guess I was just too busy street racing and wolfin down Burger King to bothered by it. Man was I stupid!

I don't know what to recommend you kid, but I wish you the best of luck in whatever you choose. And I commend you for your decison, I'm sure it'll be an experience you'll never forget.

[Tom Welch]

As a veteran of this great nation, a disabled one who took part in combat twice. I am intensely proud of my country and my military service. All of my troops made it home, Thank God. If one joins the military, regardless of branch, The reason shouldn't be how easy or how tough or even what educational opportunities are available. The reason is apparent when all the fluff is stripped away. The United States of America, and service to a higher purpose. All else is merely icing on the best cake in existence.

[[email protected]]

Thanks everyone. I just took my meps test and scored a 74 which I guess isnt bad. The more I think about the more I am interested in avianoics mechanic because I already know how to work on cars and want to experience new things. The avionics training is almost seven months while the othere training courses are all about 8 weeks. As for other options I think I will go check out the air force and marines also. Thanks for your input.

74 is not bad at all i think with that score you can join my field which is a 2e1x1 (satellite communications) you lean alot about being a maintainer while learning a good trade electroincs/communications school is about a year but after you get out you have 56 college credits. along with that you can go anywhere with anytype of mission for example i sat at a ground station for three years working a regular 9 to 5 job. it was to kush for me so i went to a flying squadron got my flight status and TS clearance and go TDY everyother week. in a year i go to korea and work with the U2. if thats not hard core enough you can always go to a spec forces squad working with the seals and delta as a comm guy. if you like to work on stuff and want lots of options 2E1 is where it's at. if your really interested i can get you much more info about the job. oh one more thing as a 2E in your school you'll go to ft gordon there you'll be glad you joined the AF i once wanted to join the army as well but after seeing what the army went through i'm glad i didnt. but whatever decision you make just remember one thing not only is the military a carrer but it's a honor. join the team and make the best of it that you can.

[ZoomieFoosh]

I'd definately say, go Air Force. Quality of life is much better than the other services. You should go talk to somone and see what opportunities are available. Flight Engineers, Loadmasters, and Crew Chiefs all have pretty interesting jobs, and rather rewarding too. But again, I think pretty much whatever you think of to do in the "civilian world", they have that job in the Air Force. If you want to see the world, but not necessarily live in a tent for a long time out in the world, aircrew is the way to go. I think you'd be suprised at some of the cool crap you could do. I am in the AF though, so my opinion is a little biased.

-Ryan Faucheux

[68LSS1]

Don't be a 63Bravo (Light wheel vehicle mechanic when I was in the Army Reserve). That sucks. You work on everything from generators to 5 ton vehicles. There is another classification for the 5 ton and up. Later I ended up in the Marines (active duty this time) and got a aircraft mechanic MOS. I would definitely recommend any aircraft maintenance MOS except for flight crew stuff. Being a load master or crew chief is fun because you get to fly but you don't get the experience you get in a actual maintenance MOS. Avionics would be a great field also. They usually get climate controlled work environments due to the nature of their work, even in the Marines. I'm still working on aircraft now (got out of the Marines in '96). I work on corporate jets for a manufacturer (Raytheon) and it's pretty good. Some companies that have in house maintenance pay top dollar for mechanics for their aircraft also. I have a few people I work with that are former Coat Guard people. From what I understand their basic training is pretty tough also. I can say Army basic was summer camp compared to the boot camp for the Marines. Yeah, I know I was a dumbsh!t for doing it twice. Of course I'm going to tell you take the extra step and join the Marines. Tear gas is your Friend.

[Flyboy]

I'd definately say, go Air Force. Quality of life is much better than the other services.

Amen Ryan! And howdy to another fellow boy in blue! Like the description of your 69 in your profile. Sounds like my 67 right now. I see you're getting stationed at Travis here soon. I'm at Nellis myself. Good to see all these other AF and military folks in here too.



As far as joining ANY branch of the military goes, i'd have to say my one big piece of advice would have to be NOT to be security forces (AF) or military police regardless of whatever branch you go in to. I've been in just a hair under 6 years now, and the one thing i've noticed about all SP/MP jobs is they get boned hard core, and the majority either generally dislike, or completey and utterly hate their jobs. 12-15 hour days by the time they do guard mount in the mornings to the time they do weapons turn in and debrief at the end of their shifts, long periods without days off because of being under manned.... I don't envy those guys AT ALL.

Ryan pretty much hit the nail on the head. If you like to travel (and not generally to go someplace to get shot at... unless that's your thing), go AF. My first assignment in `99 was to Kadena AB in Okinawa, Japan and I had a BLAST. Beautiful scuba diving, gorgeous scenery, good times. I just recently volunteered to deploy to Pakistan coming up in January (they were looking to fill a few more slots), so that should be fairly interesting to say the least. I'm a jet engine mechanic BTW. I've worked fighters the whole time i've been in. Haven't had the opportunity to work cargo aircraft... yet.

Another bit of advice I can give, regardless of branch, is to make sure you feel comfortable with your recruiter. Don't be afraid to raise the bulls**t flag and ask questions. Make sure he's giving you the good with the bad as much as possible. This is a major commitment you're making, regardless of what anyone might say. It could wind up being one of the best, or worst experiences of your life, depending on what you go in to it expecting. I was very lucky... my recruiter was awesome and was completely up front with me about everything (like not being a military cop ).

Let us know what it looks like your decision is going to be! Always good to see new people stepping up to help protect our country! Good luck!



EDIT: Also, to touch on the topic of fitness a little bit since I went back and read a few of the comments on page 1... the AF has made it mandatory now for all units to implement a fitness program that requires at a minimum that you participate in organized unit PT 3 times a week along with meeting regular yearly fitness standards. True, the AF's fitness program is a far cry from the daily PT programs the other branches participate in, but just figured he should know that we're not TOTALLY lazy.

[bookends]

I spent 4 years as a machinist and welder in the AirForce. I would definately recommend the AF over the Army. The living conditions are better. Either way you decide, thank you. It speaks tons about your Character to join during war time. Good luck and be safe.
Jon

[slck6t9]

I would have to agree with most everyone else in joining the Air Force. I am an Fighter aircraft crewchief with 16 years under my belt and can say I have enjoyed it all. I have been able to travel to all parts of this world and made some everlasting friends from it. I would have to say that in the Air Force you learn way more technical skills than in any of the other services. Plus for the same pay, life conditions are much better. As time grows closer to retirement and after participating in two wars I think you would benefit most by looking into the Air Force for your way of serving this country. But in the end it all comes down to what you want to do. Just my thought.

Scott