MILITARY: Yays Or Nays?

[Yelcamino]

Following high school in Phoenix, I did the typical construction jobs for a few years and finally realized a life of hard work under the AZ sun was not for me. I initially looked into the Marines but ended up in the Coast Guard. My original plan was to do four years and move on. The first job that caught my eye was aviation but the wait list for the initial A school was two years long so not wanting to wait that long, I went a completely different direction and become a Sonar Tech (ST). To get the ST school I had to extend a year which turned my original hitch into a fiver. True to my word though, I left the CG and went back to Phoenix at the end of my enlistment.

It was when I was back in Phoenix that my eyes were opened up to reality. Yes I had quality electronic training, but no college, no job lined up, no place to live. I quickly fell back into bouncing around at dead end jobs until one day I realized I actually missed being in the CG and what it was all about. With my head screwed on straight, I went down to the recruiting office and reenlisted and I've been in ever since. This month I’ll have 21 years of service. It would have been 22 had I not left after the first enlistment. My plan is to stay at least until 30 years.

Thanks to the CG I've been fortunate enough to see the east and west coast from Canada to Mexico, the Gulf, Columbia, Alaska, Hawaii, Guam, and a lot of places in between. I also had the opportunity to attend Officer Candidate School (OCS) w/o a degree and I've had my commission for over eight years. I’m an O-3E (the E is for prior enlisted) and next summer I’ll be in zone for O-4 (the E is dropped at that point).

Some of the finer points of being in the CG vs. the big four are: very rarely are you deployed overseas (overseas assignments are typically voluntary and you have to submit an application if you're interested), you get all the same pay/benefits, the CG, while a military service, its role is more humanitarian in nature, i.e. Search & Rescue, Marine Safety, Homeland Security, Aids to Navigation, Ice Patrol, etc. Another nice thing is when you first join you're not required to choose your MOS, or as we call it, your job rating, prior to boot camp (which BTW is eight weeks in Cape May, NJ). You can join unassigned and after you’ve been in and had the chance to see the different jobs in real life you can then make an informed decision and put your name on the school list of your choice. When your name comes up, orders are issued, and off to school you go (this is what I did). Another good thing is you can apply to OCS without a degree (I think the CG is the only service that allows this).



If you want more info about the CG, go to www.gocoastguard.com

[Tom Welch]

If you do raise your right hand and swear an oath to defend the Constitution of the United States of America against all enemies, foreign and domestic, then how can you go wrong? I did it for 91/2 years, medically discharged after suffering injury at the special warfare center and school at Ft Bragg. I would do it all again if I could. My oldest son graduated from Parris Island today, a newly minted Marine. I do love it so. I always did and always will, love my country and the God that created us all.

[para67camaro]

I will say this, if you do decide to go in. Pursue the Special ops community. It will benefit you a lot when it comes time to get out. Yes you deploy a lot more but it is for a lot less. 6 months is the longest deployment I have done. You travel a lot, not just to combat areas, and you get just about any school you would want, to include civilian schools. I have been in for 7 1/2 years and I have enjoyed it a lot. You also get to keep you hair longer, I do not know if this is a plus for you, it was for me.

[Jake616]

I am 23 years old and spent a few solid months when I first was thinking of joining right after a summer of working after high school. I didnt because I was with a girl I was wanting to spend the rest of my life with... Spent over 3 years with her and it ended...I could of almost been out by now! Not 1 regret though, I loved her more than anything and I guess we are still close so thats good.

I joined the Union in 06 as a Carpenter because thats what I did in vocational school in high school and liked it/the trades and was doing that until work seemed to die everywhere! Then went to working from warehouse work, to running a powdercoat shop,etc....

Ive just realized I need to think more about my future, because job hopping isnt what I want to be doing. The school poortunitys sound great in the military! Thats a huge plus, as is the traveling and skills learned. Thats why i started this thread I know its the military, so I am not gonna expect an easy path....just a rewarding one i hope.

I appreciate all the input so far! Keeo it coming if there is more you can provide!?



PATA67CAMARO- When you say special ops, do you mean like Army Rangers and Navy Seals?

[para67camaro]

I am in the ARMY so I mean Rangers/Special Forces/JSOC. That last one is joint so any branch can try out. Bare in mind that special ops also needs support, and those guys get pretty crazy tech schools for free.

[SatisTraction]

i spent 6 years in the navy as a nuclear machinist mate. I learned to operate a nuclear power plant on a submarine. 2 years of school and 4 years on the boat.

It has gave me a HUGE advantage in life.

Advice:
1. go in as an officer if you can.
2. if not an officer get the longest and most technical school that you can.
3. dont go infantry or MP (no disrespect meant). once you get out there are only so many security guard jobs and the pay sucks. Get a career while you are in there.

[TnBlkC230WZ]

Senior Master Sergeant, USAF Retired. I servered for 20 years and enjoyed every year. It truely is a way of life, but it is not for everyone. If you are a loner or unable to work as a team, you will be misserable. If you like a big family, get along with your siblings and respect your mother and father; you will thrive.

I must say, I am were I am today because of the military. I've got my training, management skills and two degrees in the Air Force.

Start with a short enlistment untill you know what you want to do. I strongly encourage everyone to work on a college degree while in. Even if you don't finish, you will have transferable classes.

[BAD68GTO]

NAVY=Never Again Volunteer Yourself

Was a Sea College participant in 87-90, crappy pay, treated like **** because it was a bad command and did NOT receive training. the Sea College program was designed to enhance the quality of individuals in the Navy based on the highest ASVAB scores. We were supposed to get the GI Bill of 1984 and a “kicker” for Sea College. They did NOT give any of us A Schools, but instead in their infinite wisdom, had us painting ships, doing supply and other not intellectually demanding tasks instead of working on complex algorithms doing cryptographic work or the like. I got out of the Navy in 1990 and went to college in 1996. I applied for my GI Bill and Sea College and was granted the GI Bill but not the Sea College money. When I asked why I was denied, they said it was I broke the contract of not doing the reserve time of 4 years afterward from my active duty time. When I said they were downsizing the military in 1990 and we were told we did not have to report and do the 4 years as they shed 1/3 of the military at that time, they said “do you have it in writing?” and my response was “no, they told us all that and none of us did the reserve time” and hence I was denied despite protests. I graduated Magna Cum Laude from The Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania with a double major in 2003 after 8 years of college. It ended up costing me $100K out of pocket even after getting academic scholarships and the GI Bill. With the VA/Navy cheating me out of the Sea College, the only reason I went in, is inexcusable as they released me from my obligation along with everyone else in the program. I also have hearing damage in both ears from my time and that too was dismissed despite it being very clear from when I got in and the week before I got out of the Navy. The VA I call Veterinary Assistance and I for one would not recommend the military for most folks. I now own a technology company in New Jersey, and with their brilliance they had me chipping paint and painting my ship for my tour alongside the other Sea College participants-some of the brightest guys in the entire Navy, because we were chosen for the highest test scores, and only 43 slots for each state-oh yes, GO NAVY-not.

[josht]

Having been an MP for 3+ years:

If you want a career in Law Enforcement when you are done or have a military career path such as in investigator then chose MP.

MP's don't all work the road, some work the equivalent of corrections stateside or deployed.

The deployment cycle is higher then some MOS's.

MP's are combat support not a combat MOS like infantry but with "more" firepower. MP are considered multipurpose because of the many missions missions we can perform.

[CarlC]

I have not been in the service, but have interviewed and hired many that were leaving it to join the civilian world.

I can't think of another field where someone can get as much experience and responsibility at such a young age using some of the most technologically advanced equipment in the world. Most all had very good resumes, and quite a few make me feel like I had failed miserably at some point in my life.

But what separated them? What made one of them more attractive than another? The most desirable candidates were not only very successful in the military, having risen through the ranks quickly, but they also have enthusiasm and people skills that make them great overall people. This may not sound too important now, but if you ever plan to join the civilian job market it makes a lot of sense to work on every skill in your logbook.

[cudaman]

Just as a point of illustration between the relative quality of life between the services:

While I was stationed at Ft. Rucker, AL, my brother, an infantry officer at Ft. Benning, GA, picked me up before heading to Panama City, FL. for the weekend. Before hitting the beaches there, we checked into a BEQ (enlisted quarters) at Tyndall Air Force Base because the BOQ (officers quarters) there were all full.

It should have come as no surprise that the AF enlisted rooms were equal to or better than the Army officer rooms. We rented a 17' Boston Whaler for the day for about $5 and took it out to the beach (not authorized, I'm told - inner harbor only) for the day. After much public relations work on behalf of the Armed Forces with the local female population, we returned the boat that evening to a Tech SGT whose job it was to man a tug boat, of all things. Who knew the AF had so many boats?

Moral of the story: If you want great technical training and to be catered to a little more, go into the AF. If you like the way that it sucks to be cold and tired, then go into the Army or Marines.

I remember a cartoon posted in the Flight Ops room:

It had four panels-

The first panel had a cartoon of a regular infantry soldier huddled down in a rain-filled, muddy foxhole. The caption said, "Man, this sucks."

The second panel had an Airborne soldier in the same conditions. Caption said, "I kinda like the way this sucks."

The third panel had a Ranger in identical surroundings. This one said, "I wish this would suck even more."

The fourth panel had an aircraft pilot looking out his window as he flew overhead. What do you think he said? "Man, it looks like it really sucks down there."

There are many jobs in the military and an infinite number of degrees of the aforementioned "suckiness" that accompany them. Determine what your personality is like and choose accordingly.

[para67camaro]

One last thing. While I was up for my reenlistment, I noticed that a lot of contract jobs, ie Northrop, Boeing and pretty much any corporation that has an affiliation with the US government, has a check box on their application for either SF or Ranger as one of your qualifications. A lot of guys that work for these companies served and really look out for each other once you get out. With that in mind be mindful of your Ranger buddies and they will remember you when you get out, who knows they might be the ones you are doing your interview with.

[OLDFLM]

Senior Master Sergeant, USAF Retired. I servered for 20 years and enjoyed every year. It truely is a way of life, but it is not for everyone. If you are a loner or unable to work as a team, you will be misserable. If you like a big family, get along with your siblings and respect your mother and father; you will thrive.

I must say, I am were I am today because of the military. I've got my training, management skills and two degrees in the Air Force.

Start with a short enlistment untill you know what you want to do. I strongly encourage everyone to work on a college degree while in. Even if you don't finish, you will have transferable classes.

I just re-enlisted again last month (7th time I've raised my right hand!) so I'm biased but I couldn't agree more! Again, I'm biased but for quality of life the Air Force just can't be beat... but if you want to be in the infantry or be a Marine you already know what you'd be signing up for... I think every young person should do at least one tour in our military. But that's coming from a guy with nearly 24 years on active duty who just signed up for 4 more. HTH

[317millhand]

I spent 4 years in the Marine Corps Infantry got out and spent 8 years in the Kentucky National Guard. I grew up lower class in a bad community full of people going nowhere. The Marine Corps made me grow up and let me see the world. After seeing the world you TRULY appreciate how well we have it here, and how much we take for granted. My advice would be to test the waters in the reserves if you are not sure if the military is for you. This way you only have to do it for a weekend every month after your initial training. The reserves and National Guard will pay for you to go to college as well. If you like the military life, the go active once your reserve tour is done and get a job that will transfer and pay well in the civilian world. Nuclear jobs in the Navy are priceless. It is also possible to transfer into active duty before your reserve obligation is done. I would also suggest doing time as enlisted before trying to be an officer. The best officers that I ever know were all prior enlisted. No disrespect to any officers on this site that were not prior enlisted, Im just giving my opinion. Good luck with whatever you decide.

[Scott Parkhurst]

I did 4 in the AF right out of high school. I use the lessons learned every single day. I was an aircraft flight control specialist- and was hoping for a career in commercial airline maintenance. I could have done that, but went into other things instead (hot rod-related, all good!). But, you learn things they don't tell you about in the brochures. Stuff like self-discipline, taking care of your own business, being on time for everything, building friendships and trust, learning to work with (and for) people you don't necessarily like, but whose abilities you respect...stuff like that.

I'd have to agree the AF treats their enlisted troops best. We had decent dorms, good food, and well-equipped bases. I spent plenty of time at the base hobby shop building hot cars, and got plenty of support from the staff there. It was a great experience and really prepared me for life in the professional world. I left right from home living with my parents, and when I got out I was fully capable of supporting myself on my own. Glad I went in; glad I got out with honor and good conduct, ready to take on the world.

I have recommended the experience to many others, and the key is to get some job skills you can use in the civilian world. Shooting guns and loading bombs might sound real cool, but when you get out, you want something solid to put on a resume.

They do play head games, of course. Play along but realize the reality. The same stuff happens at almost any job you'll ever have, so it pays to get used to it, and get good at it. LOL!!

[ANIMOSITY]

18 year Army. First 8 were as a Recon /scout. Loved the hell out of it. To this day never had a regret about dueing it. Been all over the world and done LOTS of cool ****. After the 8 year, I Got out due to now being married and haveing kids, But now Im in the Army Res. I hate it! It just suck. Sitting around all weekend long doing nothing just sucks. The only time I have fun is when Im mobbed to Iraq. I love my family, but DAM I loved being a scout.