Is the military for me?

33 years for me... can't imagine I would have made this much of myself doing anything else. There are also a lot of less obvious benefits to consider, like medical care. A couple of weeks ago, I developed a massive abscess in my jaw. I reported for sick parade at 0730; by 10.45 I had seen a dental officer, a periodontist, had periodontal surgery to clean the abscess, and walked out with a shopping bag full of meds and a chit for 5 days sick leave.

 

In my opinion... the military would be great for someone who is stressing out about what to do after high school. But joining under pressure of any kind would be a mistake. Take two years and go to community college, get an AA degree and live a little. Don't get lazy and don't get excited about a job that you get without a degree because it puts a few dollars in your pocket. Make yourself work out every day and see if you have the discipline to make building your body and your brain your priority. Ask yourself every day, like clock work, "am I ready for whatever the military throws at me". If you are not able to make those two years about building your body and brain the thing that matters most then maybe the military is not for you. But if you can, make your decision, pull the trigger, and don't look back. I don't think you'll every be sorry.

 

Agreed

 

Sage advice!

 

Did 11 years, punched it, and about to finish my second bachelor of science degree in 3 short weeks doing life as a registered nurse. Like anything else, there's positives and negatives, everyone's experience will vary based on the job, duty stations, leadership, trips to the sand box, etc. Would have stayed if they had let me cross-train my first enlistment (critically manned field at the time and baby NCO) wasn't happening and then once you reup that's a lost battle, applied to OTS (during the great force reduction) but also didn't work out, so here I am. Times I miss certain aspects of it, other times none at all, its funny I'm constantly told I'm moving from one "hero" job to another (AD to Nurse), never see it that way, I would say most of us that have served are the same way. Good luck with whatever you choose, I for one don't regret the time spent AD.

 

Did you go reserve or guard? You're over halfway to retirement and the reserves often offer more opportunities to go to OTS.

 

Todays military?

No way.

 

70% service related disability, so neither, I got a job at the VA hospital that lets me take those years with me towards VA pension/govt service year, the reserve guys were pushing hard during my out processing for me to consider a commission spot with my science degree, just was over it at that point. Between my disability and hopefully soon to be VA pension with AD time put in, I'll be better off, plus going back to school for NP and the salary with that will put me past whatever I would make as an O3E and none of the nonsense. I did my homework prior to separating

 

Brother is in the air force in aviano Italy. He loves it. Crew chief for F-16's. Went after college so he went in with a higher rank & pay grade. Seen more of Europe in his first 2 months than in his life. If you want to make a career out if it shoot for the air force. Though if school was hard for you than do the mentioned pattern - coast guard etc. If you want to fight then go to the Marines. I wasn't able to join because of a stupid medical condition but I suppose it worked out in someway. I tried to enlist about a year before 9/11

 

Been serving almost 15 and currently a Navy recruiter. Best advise I could give you is talk to all the branches and make a pro/cons list. Write out personal and professional goals and see if the military can get you where you want to be in life. All branches have good/bad and can offer you many things. Just remember, the military IS NOT for everyone.

 

All politicians seem to like war since it makes them money. We've been playing unnecessary games in Iraq/Afghanistan through 20 years of both party's time in power.

It does bring up a good point for the OP though. The military can/will make you do things you don't personally/politically agree with but you will have to do anyway. For some people that could be a big problem when looking at serving, especially as a career not just four years in exchange for college.

 

I did 6 years active in the USAF.
When I was in, I hated most if it.
Looking back though, I did some cool stuff, saw and did things that few other humans will ever see or do, and learned a ton about being the semi-responsible human being I am today.
If you do choose to serve, just put some thought into the field you want. Oh, and get it in writing as others have said.

 

Good advice here. Check with a recruiter, etc. I know for a bit in the 2010-2014 timeframe, there was a policy in certain branches (cant remember which) that if you went to a college that offered ROTC but didn't participate, then later enlisted, they wouldn't allow you to put in an OCS packet for a lengthy period of time.

 

be mailman instead

 

Fantastic life advice regardless of what career you endeavor in.

 

A lot of misinformation on this thread. Again, I’m an active duty CPO Navy Sailor and current recruiter. If you have questions, just let me know. I won’t get into political conversations but can assist with enlistment questions or set you up with a recruiter in your area. Any branch

 

I just retired after 20 years of active duty in the Air Force. Best bit of advice I can give you is to: give yourself a deadline, go do some honest and brutal research and talk to each branch's recruiters, talk to veterans, watch YouTube videos, even listen people who never served. Gather RATIONAL opinions of each side of the fence, build a straight forward and honest opinion within your self as to what your motives to potentially join the military are. If you decide you want to join the military, take time to study for the ASVAB test. If you score well, you'll have many available options such as which service branch and job to choose from. In other words, the ASVAB test will tell you whether you qualify for escorting third world nationals around as they spray down and sanitize portable toilets, or whether you have the potential to personally deliver warheads to foreheads.

Another piece of valuable advice is to be careful of what recruiters promise you! I've heard many stories of recruiters falsely promising new recruits new cars, or telling them they can be stationed anywhere they want in the world at any time. That's complete BS. I'm sure sleazy recruiters can be an entirely different post as I'm sure the stories are insane and numerous.

But If you want to join because you have a sense of pride for your country, or you want to do your part to take the fight to those cowards who attack us, then you're on the right path. If you think America is the great satan, then I'd say sit this profession out...maybe move to a 3rd world country for a while to see how bad life can really get for those who accept oppression.

Lastly, the military is/can be difficult (yes even in the Air Force) but the rewards are great and they last a lifetime. I never thought I'd find myself in many unusual situations such as being isolated in Afghanistan having to take a dump in a plastic bag for 2 weeks all while being singled out by suicide bombers, but you'll soon find out whether you can man-up or whether or not you lack balls. You won't get that from working at Bed Bath and Beyond....well..now that I think about it...

Good luck and best of luck on your future!

 

Good deal!

 

Yeah, spot on.

I served 12 years in the Marines. 4 Active Duty with Tracks. 8 Reserve. I have been all over the world and did a tour in Iraq. I did a side duty in career retention.

If you have specific questions, ask.

The military is what you choose to make of it, no matter what branch you serve in or what specialty.

 

When I was 18 I wanted to go to the military. I never ended up going though. I think about it to this day.

Now I almost 40, and I can never join the military.

I'd say go for it. You only live life once.