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So, for some time now I have been thinking about joining the military. I have yet to speak with a recruiter but at the moment I am leaning more towards Coast Guard/Navy/Air Force. I am not opposed to being in the Reserves either. I was wondering if any of you folks even if you're not from the States could post your experiences, advice, and overall opinion of the joining.

Reason I have been considering enlisting: patriarchal tradition, every man (besides my uncle) have done some manner of military service, additional skills (I currently work in IT at the largest casino in the area and would like to experience a different environment involving this), GI Bill to help with school during/after service, a personal challenge/goal, the ability to see other places/countries, and some manner of patriotism, though that probably falls in with the first listed reason.

Thanks.

I did a 4-year hitch with the Marine Corps and liked it a lot. The VA Loan and the GI Bill are fantastic, and I made a lot of great friends.

I'd encourage anyone to go for it.

I spent 5 years in the UK armed forces and I have to say, hand on heart, it made me the person I am today in terms of confidence, belief in myself and my abilities, personal drive and determination and self motivation. Thanks to my time in the military, I now have a highly paid job and (in my opinion) a successful life thus far. I would recommend a stint to anyone.

Obviously, the downside is you have to give of yourself and depending on what branch / country you join, you stand a fair to middling chance of being sent somewhere hot and sandy and being shot at.

Do it!! Best thing you could do.

I have, so far, done 21 years in the RAF and have loved almost every minute of it. Plus you get to do some amazing things that cannot be bought, no matter how loaded you were, and you get paid for doing it!

Did 4 years in the Army as a 60mm mortar, no real world aplications, but i wouldnt give up my experiences for the world. Would i do it again? Hell yeah, would my wife let me? Hell no.

Ten years in the Royal Marines Commandos, 5 wars, 50 women and 50,000 pints. It's the best thing I ever did.

Getting older is the worst thing I ever did.

I wonder if I actually served with any of you British guys.

Anyone in an Artillery Unit in Iraq around March 2003?

4 and a half years as a Tanker and no end in sight. It's good to be single if you want to stay in the Army happily. ;-) Wouldn't trade it for the world.

It will forever influence who you are.

It will also delay a "normal" life for 4 or more years. For some folks, this is a godsend. For other folks, they feel a bit bitter at just starting their career while flirting with 30.

I'll be hitting my 9th year in the AF in a couple months. I had a few rough years at the start, but I was way young when I joined as well. It was the smartest choice of my life, and overall I don't regret it at all.

You will only walk away from the military with good. Education benefits can't be beat, and veteran status is great when it comes to job hunting.

But you have to be prepared for a differant lifestyle then what you are used to. You have to be ready to put the mission before yourself, all the time. You have to be ready to spend a year in shithole country where people are going to try to kill you.

Your entire time in won't be like that, but when it is time for it to get bad, you've gotta be ready for it. I serve with way to many people who aren't, and it just makes my job harder.

Awesome, thanks for the replies and encouragement! Right now I am about 2 semesters from transferring to my local University, but not in both majors I'd like to get degrees in (Art/Computer Information Systems/Science). I turned 28 in August and have honestly been mulling it over for at least a year and a half. I do feel regret at not enlisting shortly after the events of 9/11, but, I feel now that I am older and wiser and know what field I'd like to go into, I am glad I didn't make that decision. Haven't discussed this really with my family, and I know my father would be opposed (was in Vietnam). For an MOS, are you usually able to pick it, or do they determine what you're capable of from the ASVAB?

VermGho5t wrote:Awesome, thanks for the replies and encouragement! Right now I am about 2 semesters from transferring to my local University, but not in both majors I'd like to get degrees in (Art/Computer Information Systems/Science). I turned 28 in August and have honestly been mulling it over for at least a year and a half. I do feel regret at not enlisting shortly after the events of 9/11, but, I feel now that I am older and wiser and know what field I'd like to go into, I am glad I didn't make that decision. Haven't discussed this really with my family, and I know my father would be opposed (was in Vietnam). For an MOS, are you usually able to pick it, or do they determine what you're capable of from the ASVAB?

You take the ASVAB and that will determine what jobs your qualified for. I'd highly suggest getting an ASVAB study guide, since the test had a lot of stuff that you learn in high school. 10 years later, you tend to just lose a lot of that info. I got a 98 on it, but I also took it in the summer of my Junior year. Now, I'd probably score in the 70's or so.

7 years AF some of the best years of my life and counting. Most of the benefits hae been stated but the one BIGGEST thing I can say is...after you take your ASVAB and get the list of available jobs....DON"T go general anything (as in let them pick your job and it's never a good one)!!! Find a job you want and tell the recruiter that you want that job and you are willing to wait for it to open up. I recomend somthing in the Medical field (lots of pretty ladies and easy office work) I'm a mechanic and how I envy them office workers lol. But, seriously your job will make or break what you think about the military so choose wisely. Also you are abit older but heck join now and you can still retire at 48 that is if you like it.

UbiSwanky2 wrote: I recomend somthing in the Medical field (lots of pretty ladies and easy office work) I'm a mechanic and how I envy them office workers lol. But, seriously your job will make or break what you think about the military so choose wisely. Also you are abit older but heck join now and you can still retire at 48 that is if you like it.

As a RAF Medic I can vouch that it is NOT like that at all, it can get very, very boring. Worked with the US AF Medics in Iraq, Bosnia and Afghan, much respect to them as they're good at what they do and professional, but don't for a second think it is all glory and girls, it isn't! As a medic if you're busy someone else (the patient) is having a real bad day!

Just remember...

I'm trying to earn my commission (preferably Air Force, but I'm more concerned about actually serving my country than stroking my ego/taking part in some sophomoric inter-service rivalry, so I'll go wherever I can). Wherever you go, you'll end up working with a lot of great guys (and more than likely a good number of not-so-great ones as well), and you'll do something worthwhile with your time. Think carefully about which career field you enter. Being a groundpounder sounds pretty heroic, but at the end of the day you learn how to kill, and not much else, whereas becoming a cryptographer or a technician will teach you a skill you can apply in the real world.

Nothing wrong w/ groundpounding, thats more along the lines of what I intend to do, but I'm getting a degree, so...

Might I suggest PM-ing the men from http://www.dakkadakka.com/dakkaforum/posts/list/288363.pagethis[/url] thread for their experiences?

mattyrm wrote:

Getting older is the worst thing I ever did.

Me too. This is something I think we can all agree on.

Elmodiddly wrote:

UbiSwanky2 wrote: I recomend somthing in the Medical field (lots of pretty ladies and easy office work) I'm a mechanic and how I envy them office workers lol. But, seriously your job will make or break what you think about the military so choose wisely. Also you are abit older but heck join now and you can still retire at 48 that is if you like it.

As a RAF Medic I can vouch that it is NOT like that at all, it can get very, very boring. Worked with the US AF Medics in Iraq, Bosnia and Afghan, much respect to them as they're good at what they do and professional, but don't for a second think it is all glory and girls, it isn't! As a medic if you're busy someone else (the patient) is having a real bad day!

Very true, was being a bit broad with saying Medical field, Medics are very busy, much needed and respected. By medical field I meant....Dental assistant, Physical therapy, Deployment Med, and Medical Records. By no means are they the easiest jobs but they are the job that have the best real world application even without a degree....ofcourse I'm speaking from being the 4th most stressed job in the AF, Special Purpose Vehicle Technician (mechanic)....super high deployment rotation (writing from my 4th 6 month Deployment in 7 years)...lowest female to male ratio and just blue collar in general....so I may just be alittle biased, lol.

P.S. I do love my job...but sometimes I do wish I had clean finger nails.

UbiSwanky2 wrote:

Elmodiddly wrote:

UbiSwanky2 wrote: I recomend somthing in the Medical field (lots of pretty ladies and easy office work) I'm a mechanic and how I envy them office workers lol. But, seriously your job will make or break what you think about the military so choose wisely. Also you are abit older but heck join now and you can still retire at 48 that is if you like it.

As a RAF Medic I can vouch that it is NOT like that at all, it can get very, very boring. Worked with the US AF Medics in Iraq, Bosnia and Afghan, much respect to them as they're good at what they do and professional, but don't for a second think it is all glory and girls, it isn't! As a medic if you're busy someone else (the patient) is having a real bad day!

Very true, was being a bit broad with saying Medical field, Medics are very busy, much needed and respected. By medical field I meant....Dental assistant, Physical therapy, Deployment Med, and Medical Records. By no means are they the easiest jobs but they are the job that have the best real world application even without a degree....ofcourse I'm speaking from being the 4th most stressed job in the AF, Special Purpose Vehicle Technician (mechanic)....super high deployment rotation (writing from my 4th 6 month Deployment in 7 years)...lowest female to male ratio and just blue collar in general....so I may just be alittle biased, lol.

P.S. I do love my job...but sometimes I do wish I had clean finger nails.

Four deployments out of 7 years isn't exactly super high. The lowest deployment tier is looking at 6 months gone 18 months home. The highest is 6 months gone, 6 months at home. My career field (Weather) spans all three tiers.

Working on my 12th year in the Navy as we speak.

My only advice to you is: Do some research. Figure out which Branch suits you better, what their strenghts and weaknesses are, what their deployments are like, etc, etc.

Your Rating/MOS is the most important thing in your military carreer. The saying "Choose your Rate, choose your fate" is very very true. Again, do some research. What do you want to do? More importantly, What do you want to do for potentially 20 years, and more? Will the job you take have post-military applications, or is it just a "while i'm here" job? A friend of mine worked in Aviation Ordinance (bombs and such on planes). Was well and good while serving with the Marines, but when he got out, there was no-where he could use those skills in the civilian world.

The military is not for everyone, but it's been one of the best experiances in my life. You certainly do get what you put into it.

Oh, one last bit of advice from a Sailor: "The military is like an octopus...if you fight it, you're going to lose. But if you dance with it, you can lead it where you want to go." Basically, work within the system, not against it, and you'll do fine.

Good luck!