the military...

[jayman]

who here has served in the armed forces. i know tj is tin the air force, and i was in the navy for six years..
does anyone out there consider joining the armed forces.. if so which branch.. the marines, the army the air force or the marines?

I was in the hell no !!! for about 16 years.

I am thinking about joining the Air Force. That or the Air National Guard.

I have a huge amount of respect for anyone willing to join the military (though I hate seeing army/navy recruiters tricking kids into it) but I have never once considered joining myself. Call me selfish, but giving your life "for the greater good of the country" is something I'll ever quite understand.

Never wanted to join...Never will

[hyyyper]

i've got school to finish and then to find a job that pays big. If i wouldn't be so fortunate with my high education i might have joined

I've considered it when i get older. the army specifically. But if my life goes good then im going to reevaluate my decision.

I have serverd in the Air Force faithfully for 17 years here, with 3 to go until retirement. There is one thing I can give anyone thinking of coming in as solid, sound advice ... and if you never listened to me before, listen now.

GO TO COLLEGE FIRST! Get a degree, and come in as an officer. At least then, there will be more $$$ right off the bat, and the retirement pay is more than twice that what your average enlisted person makes.

Enlisted men and women (no matter the service) don't make diddly-squat. Don't believe me? Check out the Air Force (for example) pay chart. Note the officer pay below the enlisted folks (the lower the "number" the lower the rank). Check out the difference in monthly pay between an E-1 and an O-1.

http://www.airforce.com/careers/paychart/index.php

Questions? Read this post again.

I did think about joining the navy or air force after college. I am only going to be around 21 when I graduate, so I'll see what happens in 2 years or so.

^^Also mention that (coming from my cousin) that trying to do all that school they pay for WHILE on duty is next to impossible. He said theres virtually no time to do hours of school work every day and still excell at all your other duties. So yes, I would agree with TJ. Sounds like very sound advice.

[Oscar]

tconwell is an O-10

Your mom wishes I was! Seriously, I am an E6 with over 17 years ...

It has taken me FOREVER to complete school while on active duty. Even though the military has paid for about 90% of my schooling bills, finding time (as Real said) is dang near impossible!! Go to school first and finish. It is the ONE thing that they can never take away from you!

Go to a Armed Service preparatory school which trains officers. My best friend did that, he started off in Rhode Island for a year and is entering the Navy as an officer.

Things I've noticed about the service.

A) The recruiters are just as bad as the people they are recruiting kids to fight against.

B) If you don't know what you want to do with your life, military is the way to go.

C) Start out as officer, work your way upwards.

D) Army Football Sucks.

[:)]

Its a great way to retire with huge benefits at age 42 or so, too.

[Coasterkidmwm]

In addition to what Tconwell said, the army is a great way to get yourself a boost into college or higher education so you don't get "trapped". I was/am lucky to enough to not need the boost the military would have given me, so I am not considering joining it.

If you like to eat dirt, the Army is definitely the way for you.

However, if you want to go TDY (temporary duty) and stay in places like The Hilton (like here where I am this week), then the Air Force is not bad either.

Yup. Air force it is. Heh, but really, they are the only service that offers work in the field that I want to work in. And I would still be based in the US. Just down in Mississippi with the rest of the hurricane hunters.