Thinking about joining the ARMY

Glad you have some good NCO's , learn what you can from them.
We all have our opinions, I was only stating what I have observed. Not trying to slam anyone, stay safe and thanks for your service also....

 

Well said, especially the second paragraph.

 

Without a doubt......BE AN OFFICER FOR GODS SAKES!!!! You can get the same schools, you get a LOT more freedom, and it's a better quality of life. I'm 100% sure that is true for ANY branch. You will have higher pay and better benefits.

Look at all branches, and better yet look at ALL jobs. Treat enlisting like buying a car. Do your research, set your terms, and don't accept anything else. Don't be afraid to walk away, they will put you in. Look at the long term, you have some good advice here already.

As far as the family not supporting you.....I'm sorry about that, the military really is an individual effort though. JMHO. You will get back as much as you put in and are willing to sacrifice or let go of. Good luck to you.

 

I can't talk about deployments and whatnot (entering ROTC next semester so I'm just a noob. And I'm younger than you) but I've been talking about joining since I was a sophomore in the JROTC ( )
My dad went through the ROTC before going to medschool, and both my grandfathers served so I have his support.... But my mother is just like yours and figures there's other things to do and can't understand why I can't just focus on only school. On top of that, my bro and I have never seen eye to eye, and apparently jokes to his friends that:
"yeah, in the new house my parents'll have a room, there'll be a guest room, and my brother will be in a urn on the fireplace"
And has told me on many occasions that he'll enjoy giving my eulogy.
(in his mind, anyone who goes into the combat arms fields dies..and I'm planning on a 19series mos)

But if it's something you truly want to do, you'll have to find a way to make them understand that you're going to join, and even if they disagree it'll be nothing but a waste of time and energy for them not to support you...because youll do it anyways.
And for the asthma thing...unless it's serious and will stop you from doing things don't put it down. I had cataracts surgery a few years ago, and even though I have all supporting paperwork and a signed document from my opthamologist stating it "holds me to no restrictions whatsoever" it is a BITCH getting through the med process, of which I'm still working on (4months later..)

 

I was kind of in the same boat as you, although I wasn't about to fail college, I was just burnt out after my freshman year. I hated school actually, I need a break or something.

So, I decided to join the Marines in the fall of 1999, and I did, (against my parents best wishes) but I went reserve so I could still finnish school. It was a much needed break, and I think I learned a lot in boot camp, or grew up really. The training was tough, miserable at times, degrading too...but also fun, you had to have a good attitude about it! I loved the Marine Corps, and yes I did have to drop out of school and go to Iraq in February 2003, I was part of the invasion force. But I came back, unscathed, and finished my degree at Texas Tech.

All in all, the Marine Corps was great for me! I was unmotivated and didn't know what the hell I wanted to do before I joined; after boot camp and all the training I came back to college and it all seemed to come together. I graduated, and am now doing pretty well in my job and life. I contribute most of it to the Marine Corps, they really set me straight! And I had some awesome experiences and made some lifelong friends, especially while in Iraq.

I say go for it, whichever branch you like.

And I know you are on the fence about joining, so ask yourself this, in ten years will you look back and say I wish I did....

Nobody can answer that but you.

EDIT: By the way, you can always become an officer later after you graduate if you really love the military service, don't let a degree deter you now from joining. In fact, you will be a better officer in my opinion if you were enlisted first.

 

... ^^^ ... "Ditto" and also "double ditto" on being a "mustanger" in your edit.

But, any asthma problems will probably stop the OP at the door.

EDIT ... OP, you sound like a good candidate for the military .. and either enlisted or officer.

Perhaps you can go to another civilian doc and see if it really is "exercised induced asthma" ... that type is sometimes misdiagnosed ...
.

 

Swamppirate, I call bull shit. Your statement lacks sound judgement and merit. If you are AF and have worked with the Army I will assume it was either on an airfield or in a TOC. Are there leaders out there that micromanage? Yes, in fact there are in any organization. I could easily turnaround and say because you are AF and the general opinion is they are more like civilians working in an office environment that your NCO's are technical in nature and have little to no ability to lead Soldiers in a combat environment. FOR THE RECORD I AM NOT NOR DO I BELIEVE THAT TO BE TRUE ABOUT THE AF. I am simply stating a "hasty generalization" based off what is said about one branch from another (they all do it). The simple fact is if you are not or have never actually been in a certain branch you don't have the knowledge base to comment on how their Officers, NCO's or Soldiers are treated or act. I have worked alongside the USMC on several occasions but I would still not be able to realistically state what life in the USMC is like.

FYI it is the NCO's that run day to day operations in the Army. Officers pass orders, NCO's execute those orders. All that should be passed down (and usually is) is the commanders (Officer or NCO) intent. Any NCO's you have seen micromanage or use fear to lead is a prime example of an inexperienced and weak leader. We as an Army pride ourselves on executing with little to no guidance other then that intent.

OP you can have your thread back, point being there is a lot of great advice going around here but remember only those that have actually had a specific job or are currently in that specific job or branch can truly give you an honest opinion.

 

This is for the OP:

Sounds like you don't have that option and are disqualified.

Save yourself the public "should I or shouldn't I" drama and go find out if you are qualified.

If the recruiter tells you to hide your medical disqualification, walk out and PM me his name and station. Recruiters who do that should be bounced (and normally are).

If you fail the physical and can't get a waiver, oh well, you're in the majority. There are other qualifications you have to pass too.

If you fail the physical and can get a waiver, then go make a decision.

Otherwise, you're wasting time.

 

Even as a number in the Army the majority still have a better standard of living than us!!! Also OP I don't understand how you have exercise induced athesma but trail run and run half marathons. That's something that seems kind of odd, if it was diagnosed by a doctor how long ago was it and I am doubting his credentials. I'm deployed right now, yes with the Air Wing (I know theres haters out there!! ) but while working 14-15 hours a day I could take school classes but figured to wait til I get back stateside, where it's not as hectic. All I have to do is go talk to the educational officer after I get back and I will be set for the up coming semester.

Theres no way to know though unless you go talk to a recruiter and get things started!

 

ROTC!!!

I did 6 years active enlisted as a Apache Mechanic (2 deployments). I then got off of active duty, joined a Reserve unit and went to college. During my junior and senior year I did ROTC, commissioned and branched aviation. Not only am I making a lot more money than what I was (E-6), Im now a pilot.

I used my G.I Bill and Tuition Assistance while going to school. So not only was college free, I got paid just to be in class.

 

As an Army veteran - retired (21 years, 10 months and 9 days.....but who is counting) with 10 years enlisted, then "Mustanged" up through OCS to commissioned, my suggestion is to do your research and pick an MOS that has a comparable civilian job skill.........

Having said that, my suggestion is to check out Army Aviation........through the WOC (Warrant Officer Candidate) program, then flight school........have the government provide you a skill (rotary or fixed wing flight school, and training) that can be used in the civilian world. Flying for the FBI, DEA, US Customs, BLM, Forest Service, Medical Helicopters, TV News Stations............

If I had it to do over again, I would gladly have traded my commission for a warrant........

 

It is still possible to do all of that if the asthma is notthat severe. Shortly after my first deployment I developed exercise inducedallergies and recently developed asthma after my 3rd. I don’t know if it isburn pit or toxic dust related but point being I can still run half marathonsand such, it’s harder and I am a little slower than before. However it is defpossible.

Having said that, if you want to join the Army and if asthma is currently a disqualifier, a second opinion is a great idea. Just call a recruiter and ask if it is, and if so get a second opinion. Again best of luck to you, there has been several opinions in here.

The military is usually a "tight nit" group so I dont think I would be out of line saying to feel free to PM anyone if you have specific questions based off what they have done or suggested. Good luck!

 

After you get your rating and complete active service, maintain membership in the Guard or Reserve to get those retirement benefits......may not seem like much now, but will really pay off later!!!!!

Also, my recommendation is try and get on with US Customs........great opportunities and great aircraft!!!!!!

Here is an interesting link about an enlisted Marine that transitioned to a helicopter pilot:

http://tinyurl.com/65tnvmd

http://www.goarmy.com/about/service-options/enlisted-soldiers-and-officers/warrant-officers.html

 

You assume wrong. I have worked with the Army both in the TOC setting and operationally on missions. I have seen and witnessed my aforementioned statements.....Additionally, I have not only witnessed the behavior but lived it as I was a 13F for 6 years in the Army (no hasty generalization). So, I have been in the "branch".

Look, as I said before I am not trying to bash anyone. I am simply stating what I have seen, observed and lived first hand. I do so, so others can heed the advice (if they want) and maybe make a informed decision.
Watch what you call bullshit on....... Regards

 

It's not a matter of watching anything. Either you have had exceptionally bad NCO's or I have had exceptionally good. My 15 years of experience in the "Army" is one of a great NCO corps. I have had bad leaders but the good far out-weigh the bad. In fact several of those outstanding NCO's have even been artillerymen and FSO's within the INF BN's I have supported. I will not continue this on this forum and save the OP any additional comments on the subject. We can agree to disagree .

 

Good luck with whatever you choose. I went with the Navy... I knew A guy that I went to MEPS with made A 94 on the ASVAB and I only made A 60 ( i dont know what his line scores were) yet he qualified for the same rates as I. There aren't many jobs available due to so many people joining.
good luck

 

It was just last March when I talked to a respiratory specialist at my hospital. Steady state cardio I can do, its interval training, like what you would see during basic training, that kicks my ass. I usually push through it but I'm not really sure how far I can push it.

I've never had to use my inhaler though... Hmm...

My family wants me to enlist after college so that I can become an enlisted officer so my career, pay, overall army life would be better. I'm going to apply to another college as a physics major and continue to get my BS and see if they have an ROTC program at the university.

Thanks everyone for the advice. More is welcome!

 

Even if the college you attend does not have an ROTC program local to its campus, in the bigger cities there is usually a local campus you can go to for ROTC (i.e. the way some Harvard students attend ROTC).

 

Go SF man. There is a contract for it, called 18X. 18 is the SF series designator and X is just because they don't know yet which you'll be. Given your IQ, PT stats, you'd fit in just fine. Don't tell them about the asthma. I had a knee surgery and didn't tell them, made it to my team just fine. If you want it, nothing will stand in your way. I was also a college guy that decided it wasn't for me. SF was the best time of my life. If you decide you want to pursue the more money officer route, go to warrant school in SF, you'll be a CW3 in no time. In 5 years, I was E6 and had I reenlisted I would have been E7 on the 6th. All my friends that stayed in are currently E7.

Then you can get out and become a military contractor and make more than if you would have taken the college way.

Just realize, it's not just a "I want to do this". Of the guys I went through the Q with, I know of at least 8 that are gone. We usually lost 1 or 2 per deployment which doesn't sound like alot but when you only have 60 guys on the ground for a given amount of time, that's alot. Not to mention the ones who went home without limbs.

It's a life changing choice and once you make it you better be ready to give it your all. Your teammates will be your brothers in arms and lifelong friends.

Take some time and think about it.

Good luck in whatever you decide.