Is the military for me?

I’m currently a senior in high school, I’m going through college application but the thought of joining the military has always been in the back of my head. How do I know what branch is right for me?

 

"
Is the military for me?"

No

 

To be fair if I could go back and do it all again I would have done at the most 4 years. The less time the better, that way you can dip out with your GI bill. Still even after that, I would have rather gone straight to college than deal with delusional people.

 

Air Force -> coast guard -> navy -> army -> marines

I served in the navy for 8 years and the above would be my updated order of preference.

 

Do you have no means for college or buying a home? Yes the military may be right for you.

Do you want to potentially die if you're shipped off somewhere and have to fight on behalf of this nation? No the military may not be right for you.

Are you smart enough, can score high enough, and crafty enough to join the military and get into a stateside job? Then maybe the military is for you.

All things considered. No. Don't join the .mil right now when things are absolutely insane politically wise.

 

If you are wondering about it now at 18, you will be wondering about it in 10 years when you are 28. I say go for it and if it sucks then get out after your 4 years and you will only benefit from the shitty experience. I did 4 in the Marine Corps. Done at 22yo. Then I did college for 5 years all paid for. Now i have a bachelors in construction. It’s been fun.

 

Just take a gamble and go for it.

 

The military is some of my fondest memories. By no means were they all pleasant at the time. But its nostalgic to think back on it. It was really a bunch of really shitty times with the best people.

 

I've gambled over a lot of things, but my life has never been one of them.

 

Oh yeah I forgot about the real possibility that you could die. My deployment went south early on so I accepted that I was going to die within my first week of being out there. Every day is a gift sort of thing.

OP you need to take this part serious.

 

There are a lot of jobs within all branches of the military where your chance of dying is no greater than driving to work. If that’s the only reason to not join, that’s a poor reason.

 

Should I sell my house and take out a loan on a small farm in SW Iowa? Hard to say...hard to say.

 

Anyone who has served will probably all agree even if they hated the service that they miss the people they served with.

 

Don't do it. Don't buy into the military propaganda machine, false hopes and promises. Yes the GI bill and va home loan is nice, but not worth fighting only for the rich to get richer in the name of "freedom and democracy" .just my .2 cents

 

When I went into the Air Force recruiters during lunch and they were not there, I stopped into the Army’s office. I was 17 and a senior in high school as well.... also dumb. If I was smart I would have realized the Air Force was not working during lunch but the Army was... I worked during a lot of “lunches” while in the Army.

Morale of the story, make sure to go talk to Air Force recruiters outside of lunch time and if you don’t want to work during lunch.

Also, while some jobs seem fun pick something that will turn into a career. I started in Aviation and and still working in aviation after almost 20 years...

Check them out, see what they offer. Having the MGI Bill and the VA loans have been great. Without those two things I would not have a masters degree or a nice house (VA loan needs 0% down). Either way, good luck!

 

He did ask about the military, so without any interests from the OP, you might want to revise---marines/army->navy->coast guard/air force.

 

If you have to ask then well....

Don’t be that guy that goes around telling everybody how close you were to joining when everybody on Tacomaworld told how you shouldn’t.

oh and definitely avoid whatever @kairo is smoking because they won’t let you in with that stuff in your system anyway.

 

Do you think I can get that 0% on a small farm in SW Iowa?

 

If you qualify and it’s your main home and will be a home it should, more to it but that’s the basics. Best bet is to call USAA or Navy Federal and see what they can tell you. They’ll have people that know all the ins and outs.

 

Told my brothers and cousins when they all enlisted pick a military specialty that will teach you a trade.