I WANNA JOIN THE MILITARY

I WANT TO JOIN AND DO SOMETHING FOR THIS COUNTRY. IVE THOUGH ABOUT JOINING THE AIR FORCE OR NATIONAL GUARD. WHAT WOULD BE THE BEST FOR ME AND GO INTO MY FAVOR.
*I WANT TO DO AROUND 6 YEARS
*GO TO COLLEGE
*I WANT TO DEPLOY

 

that's nice, i don't think anyone here can make the decision for you. best of luck

 

Hey Michael, I don't know why you are typing in all caps but I'll answer any questions you have about the National Guard. I am a 1LT and have around 6yrs of service in so far if that helps.

My biggest suggestion is don't sign up just to sign up. Make sure its a good choice for you and your family as a Military career is very time/life consuming. Also consider what job (MOS) you would like to have in the Military. If you are only doing 6 years, I would try to find an MOS that can apply to the civilian world as well. That way all the training you will be going through isn't a waste when you get out.

College funding is a big benefit to joining the Military. I am grateful that I was able to get my college education paid for by the tax payers and I owe them as much back.

 

Yes sir, i have been thinking about this for about 6 months but my parents are completely against it. I want to do something for the country, its just hard to make a decision when everyone tells me not to do it, but someone has to do it. I think that it will help me in life psychically and mentally, and sorry about caps didn't know it was on. I might decide to change it into a career or just do 6 years. I just want a different opinion than a recruiter

 

If you are wanting to join the the Air Force look into aircrew jobs. You will tdy and deploy A LOT. I would recommend Special mission aviation. It is a mixture of all the enlisted aircrew duties in one. (flight engineer load master and aerial gunner) depending on if you are assigned fixed wing or rotary. Stay away from Security forces. Not offense to anyone that might have this as their job but you will be standing at a gate checking ID's 12 hours a day for the first few years of your career. Maintenance jobs can translate into good jobs outside of the military but you will get shit on a lot. (long hours, hard & dirty work with little to no recognition) Ultimately its up to you and want interest you. If you have any particular questions feel free to PM me

 

Marines.

 

Do it... here's my thread I started years ago when before I enlisted, and now I get out in 2 months... wow how time flies. I ended up going US ARMY INFANTRY... ground pounding grunt and no regrets. Just a little back pain, hearing loss, and knee pain but the memories/times I had in combat are the worst/best times I ever had

http://www.tacomaworld.com/forum/military/99383-usaf-security-force.html

Edit - Additionally, Before you do 6 year contract, I highly recommend doing a 3 year contract especially if the 6 year contract has no bonus.

 

It can't hurt to take the ASVAB and see where you measure up. Don't let a recruiter be the only person you talk to; the internet can be your friend in getting info regarding scores, deployments, guard/reserve capabilities, post-military, etc.

I've got a friend who is a programmer in the AF. He likes what he does, and is in a good place to get a computer science degree when he gets out (while he's still in if he can). I had college classes with a guy who worked on F-15 engines and ended up going into aerospace engineering. Aircraft related jobs would be useful with aviation management. Ultimately, it comes down to with what you want to do. Two things not to do: 1) enter undesignated, 2) fail out of your pipeline.

 

I just read your whole thread, a lot of info.

I'm planning on going to the recruiters office here in a few months (after healing), looking at 11B.

I am dead set on joining, only downside is recently got ACL surgery so I might not get in... From what I've read it's case by case basis if you had ACL surgery.

 

Thanks for reading, Hit me up for any info.. I know a few people who joined with injuries, they just sucked it up during M.E.P.S (Military Entrance Processing Station) physical... They were pretty easy tests that I can remember. Drop to your knees from standing.. Crawl on your knees, etc.

 

I had a dual hernia surgery and I'm looking into joining soon. If I were you guys I'd make sure you talk to all the branches and former soldiers to see if it is for you. You can volunteer in other ways to serve our country. I mean you can be a part of a state defense force and even help veterans who are wounded with things they need.

 

I would assume the MEPS doctor would have me lay on my back and do different strength test and stability test on my knee, probably the same thing my Dr. did before and after my surgery.

I'll PM you here in the next few days.

 

Join the air force. A lot of younger military people boast their branch and that's a good thing to take pride in yourself, your branch and your accomplishments. But the reality is the Airforce is a good branch. No they aren't kicking doors in and all that all the time but they get the best of everything. Nicest bases, nicest living quarters nicest PX's and deff the nicest lady's.

I am proud of what I've done but honestly it was more bull$hit then I'd ever care to take again and am happy to be done. I missed out on college in my 20's because I was in a combat zone every other year and then some and I seriously regret that because I missed out on ALOT of fun. Yeah I had fun drinking and partying with fellow soldiers but we blew rediculas amounts of money, got into trouble and the only decree I came out with was how to maintain my sanity under extreme bull$hit.

So now I'm out and can do college on the Army but cannot at the same time because the military gets lonely despite all your comrades so guy and girls get married and have children like crazy then when it is time to get out and college is free, you gotta get right back to work and re adjust to civilian life which is not easy, ask any previous Active duty Vet. And you HAVE to provide for that family you acquired in the Military so school is more often than not a faint whisper in the wind.

Hope this provided a little insight.

 

Navy...you will get a better opportunity to visit places. I've done ship deployments and boots on ground. I'll take the ship any day...your bed comes with you, and you get to visit foreign ports. 27 countries my first three years...past 4yrs have been Afghanistan x4 and whatever countries it took me to fly through to get there. "Army/Marine/AF" style deployments.

You can come in enlisted, take advantage of the tuition assistance programs etc and then get out and use your Post 911 GI bill. Or just come in as an Officer if you are planning on making it a career or have the money to go to school before the military.

 

I agree with joining the Air Force, it is way more relaxed. There is a ton of Bullshizer that goes on in the Army such as weed picking and picking up trash around post.. :\. I'm glad I joined at 17 now I am getting out at 21 so I don't miss much college ''lyf''. No family = $$ for mods

Yup, AF/Navy seem the way to go...

 

OP, all these guys are telling you good stuff. And I may repeat some.

I've always heard good thing about how the Airforce treats it's people. I've heard that for many years across the ranks and branches.

I would encourage you to take some practice asvab test, see kinda where you're at, then if needed polish up on anything you might be lacking in. Then take the ASVAB.
Once you do that, you'll be able to see what jobs may be available for you. And that will help you start to get a better idea of your options. Then you can come back and ask us all about those jobs, and if it's Airforce those guys can help you better.

Don't let a recruiter suck you into something. Ask us first. You can get yourself stuck in some BS for years, and they'll be nothing you can do about it once you're in. ( Hearing people say "my recruiter told me" is something that's been said many times )

Also you mentioned you want to do 6 years, that's fine. But if I were you I would enlist for the minimum of whatever job you decide on requires and no more. The reason I say that is, you don't know what your getting yourself into. When you get in, then you can decide if you want to stay longer (by re-enlisting or possibly extending). There may be a bonus to sign up for more time up front, but there again you don't know what you're getting yourself into.
Wait money isn't everything, trust me.

And Navy, it's just like the rest.. There's good jobs, then there's the ones you'd probably never want to do.. Some guys say they'd rather be on a ship, some would disagree. It all depends on different things and varys from person to person. But being deployed on a US Navy ship isn't a pleasure cruise anyway you chop it up. And a lot of people think that. Most likely you would see a lot of places, but not always. And if you do, there's so many rules hung over your head and shoved up your butt, that it almost takes any enjoyment out of the experience. Mainly because of dumbass idiots who have screwed things up before or things I wont get into.

Last but not least, you can research everything down to a T, and hear everything possible.. But still not understand what it's like until you're in.

Best of luck.

 

Yes sir that gave me good info, im thinking of doing rotc

 

Thank you ive heard from a few just sign up for 4 and then extend your time if you want to.. the signing bonus isnt worth it i guess!

 

If you go in def look into a MOS that you can utilize if or when you get out. The AF job experience has opened many doors for me.

 

Those two post above ^ are good ideas/pointers too.

If you don't know what you're getting yourself into it isn't, whats a few thousand bucks if your stuck for an extra two years or so in something you hate, when you could be moving forward in a direction you want to go. Not saying you would hate it, but in the case you did. By not excepting a bonus, you haven't locked yourself in, and can then make a decision to stay once you know whats up.