John Lydon
Active member
I heard that if you choose to join the Corps, they let you spend a day at Sea World with R. Lee Ermey. Hoorah!!!
I want to join...but I'm scared.
Chief Bones
Forums Grumpy Old Man
Garfield ...
Just a few things to think about as you make your decision as to which service to join:
(1) The Air Force or Navy would be a better choice if you want to select a career path that is marketable in the civilian world after serving in either service. While the Army IS better than the Marines, it falls far short of the other two major militaries.
(2)With a career in the Air Force, you could find thousands of jobs or careers in the Aero industry (including the Space industry).
(3) With the selection of the Navy, it would open up a career path in the Merchant Marine and in thousands of selections and industries that are crossover jobs in the civilian market.
Just a few things to think about as you make your decision as to which service to join:
You seem to have zeroed in on being a ground pounder or a grunt for some reason ... and the Army or the Marines are good selections for carrying a gun and going nose-to-nose with the enemy
... but ...
(1) The Air Force or Navy would be a better choice if you want to select a career path that is marketable in the civilian world after serving in either service. While the Army IS better than the Marines, it falls far short of the other two major militaries.
(2)With a career in the Air Force, you could find thousands of jobs or careers in the Aero industry (including the Space industry).
(3) With the selection of the Navy, it would open up a career path in the Merchant Marine and in thousands of selections and industries that are crossover jobs in the civilian market.
(4) One major piece of info ... the job placement numbers for individuals coming out of the service, are the highest for former Navy officers AND enlisted specialists (since the unemployment numbers appear to have settled in pretty solidly and the picture for the future job market is pretty sour).
19kilo30K4
Active member
It's also worth noting that while the Air Force has a lower promotion rate than the Army, they have better duty assignments. They also have shorter deployments than the Army and a much higher quality of life (partly due to higher living standards). I usually recommend the Air Force to friends and family who are thinking about joining but for me, I need tanks so the Air Force is out.
19kilo30K4
Active member
Not so fast! The detatchment that they had patrolling the waters around oil rigs in the persian gulf was pretty hardcore. They served for a year at a time, just like the Army. I know it's not a huge force or anything, but they don't always get to go home at night. This has been their largest deployment abroad since Vietnam. They board suspicious craft in the Gulf and were using some 110ft Island class patrol boats and at least one cutter last I knew as part of CTG 158.1. I give much respect to the USCG.
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Although the Air force and Navy gives me more safety out their, and more opportunity in life, its just not really what I'm looking for. I really hate flying for one thing, and I know thats something I'm going to have to get over, but that's why I cant really see myself in the Air Force. And I know that in the Air Force flying isn't the only thing you can do.
But still, after reading everyones comments I still can't decide. I'm going to spend this coming up year getting back in shape, mentally prepare, and look more into all this. I'm really out of shape right now, not fat, just kinda lazy. I want to walk into this completely prepared.
implicature
Active member
Don't bother. I was 40 lbs over weight. Your initial training (boot or basic) will get you in shape whether you want it or not. Your main concern right now is meeting the minimum requirement. Unless you have already been through boot camp you can't be "completely prepared". Make your decision. Commit to it. Follow through.
Talk to a recruiter AFTER:
-you do your research (this counts as part of your research).
-finding a person in each branch you are considering and talk to them.
This forum answered most of my questions but it wasn't the sole source for my research. Getting in shape is almost impossible if you haven't already adopted it in your life and in many cases it is too late to do it on your own. Get someone to hold you accountable for your exercising (read: Workout Partner).
I don't know if these are up to date but it is a start.
Why do you want to take so long to go through with it? Sounds like you aren't being very productive by waiting a year and putting some thought in to it. It is either yes or no. Just pick a service, find the minimum requirements, meet them, ship to boot, don't look back.
Because I want to be in the action. I don't want to be in some air conditioned room reading out computer codes to the guy next to me. I want to be on the streets fighting for my life. So to answer your question, I don't really know why I want to be right in the fight, but what I do know is that do want to be there.
Implicature - Wow, thank you for all the information and what not. Id like to spend a year getting ready because I'm really out of shape, and honestly if I went to enlist right now I don't think I would be able to do half the **** on the course. I'm looking for a workout buddy, possibly someone who wants to join too, so that's that. I'm having trouble finding someone who served in the Army though, and I could only find one Marine....
Alot of my friends though are telling me "Know what you're getting in to..." and "There is better careers options for you other then the Army or Marines." Its like no-one is on my side on this one. The more I think about joining the more excited, pumped, thrilled I get. But deep inside I'm still scared as hell, and I know all people are like that, but I herd this somewhere and it has helped alot.
"It's not the fighting that is scaring everyone, you're mind is to preoccupied to worry about death during that time, it's the ride there that is going to get you the most."
and
"You're defending thousands of men, and they're all defending you."
19kilo30K4
Active member
There's some truth to those quotes. During the few shootouts I've been in, I felt no fear at all. I know a lot of people would call me stupid for that, but honestly, there was just so much going on that I fell back on my training and didn't really have time to think about it. I remember cycling my .50 cal when it had a stoppage, and I remember doing other stuff exactly as I'd been trained. Just action, no thinking and no fear. I think the only times I've been scared have been when receiving indirect fire, That scared the hell out of me, because there was nothing to do except take cover. There was no enemy to concentrate on. I've gotten scared a few times running up to a house that we're about to breach too. Once we're inside, there's too much going on to be afraid.
I'll echo what implicature said, you don't need to spend that much time prepping for this. The longer you wait and the more your friends try to talk you out of it, the more you are going to second guess your decision. Just make up your mind and either do it, or not. I know a lot of combat vets try to pass on the age old wisdom about how you may think you want to be in a firefight, and think you can kill someone, but you really don't. I never say that to anyone, because honestly you have to do it to know about it. Combat is a life altering experience, and I'm not going to say that it made me a better person but it did change me. As for people telling you to "know what you're getting in to".... you have to do it to know, so just do it. Or don't.
I'll echo what implicature said, you don't need to spend that much time prepping for this. The longer you wait and the more your friends try to talk you out of it, the more you are going to second guess your decision. Just make up your mind and either do it, or not. I know a lot of combat vets try to pass on the age old wisdom about how you may think you want to be in a firefight, and think you can kill someone, but you really don't. I never say that to anyone, because honestly you have to do it to know about it. Combat is a life altering experience, and I'm not going to say that it made me a better person but it did change me. As for people telling you to "know what you're getting in to".... you have to do it to know, so just do it. Or don't.
Yin717
Active member
Well you've got a fixed idea which is good. But there are many jobs that are in the fit of the fighting that still don't involve shooting people. Military Police, driver are just some to name.
I'm sure your friends probably do support you but like most people there just afraid of you getting hurt. My mother is exactly the same but she understands why I do it and is very supportive. So don't take it to seriously.
Another thing you should do is look at the benefits you will get from it. I'm not sure about America but in Britain the army is a very good career choice. It is very supportive of it's troops and their families and to have 'the army' on your CV is very beneficial. There are many other benefits the army can bring that are personal such as self esteem or as kilo said it can change you, for most cases the better. I think kilo also has a good point on the sign up straight away. I've had many people say exactly the same things and many times I have second guessed my decision but I am very solid on what I want. However I know not all people are like that and training will get you in shape very quick so I wouldn't worry so much.
Yin
I was hoping that if I did decide to join it would change me into a better/stronger person then I am. And I don't mean physically, but mentally and through my expressions, even though I wouldn't mind having some muscle, haha. And it sounds like that's how it is which is great. Anyway, yeah, driving wouldn't be to bad, so I wouldn't rule it out. But I'm aching for combat for some reason.
As of now I have my heart set on the Army, but I still want to talk to some more people about their experience in the war. Feel free to share everyone. I don't plan on waiting a year, but just until I'm ready which shouldn't be to long away.
DTop
Active member
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People come here to find factual information to help them reach life changing decisions. Second hand information, things you've looked up in the net or seen in a movie, something you overheard your friend's uncle say are the kinds of things left off this forum.
Further violations will result in infractions and/or immediate bans.
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So I talked to my friend Josh today about joining the military. Right off the bat he told me he was going to try and talk me out of it, and not because he doesn't think I can't do it, but because of some changes in the military these past few years that make it way more brutal. He suggested that I should look into the Navy or Airforce for many good reasons, but those don't really appeal to me. I don't want to be in a helicopter pointing out coordinates, I want to be on the ground fighting.
Anyways, we talked of plenty and it couldn't have gone better. He told me everything I needed to know and some of it scared the **** out of me. But honestly, in the end I think his message was,
"If you want to join, go for it, I'm not going to stop you. But realize there are other ways of achieving those goals besides the military."
And I couldn't agree more, but I don't know, I'm drawn to this, I can't stop thinking about it. I want to say goodbye and start my life. But for now, I'm going to sit at home and really think about this. I'm not scared about dieing, and I'm not scared about getting hurt...I'm scared of not being able to achieve what I set out to do and fail as a soldier and as a citizen.
Anyways, we talked of plenty and it couldn't have gone better. He told me everything I needed to know and some of it scared the **** out of me. But honestly, in the end I think his message was,
"If you want to join, go for it, I'm not going to stop you. But realize there are other ways of achieving those goals besides the military."
And I couldn't agree more, but I don't know, I'm drawn to this, I can't stop thinking about it. I want to say goodbye and start my life. But for now, I'm going to sit at home and really think about this. I'm not scared about dieing, and I'm not scared about getting hurt...I'm scared of not being able to achieve what I set out to do and fail as a soldier and as a citizen.
It's okay being scared, it'll keep you focused and don't forget you can die doing just about anything so you might as well spend your life doing something worthwhile, plus like other people have said there are a lot of jobs in the military that don't require combat and are very minimal risk.