Serving in the military

[Geoff]

Time to stop hijacking Staerin's Goodbye topic, proud as I am of him.
Would you consider, have considered, or (grimace/beam in pride, depends...) have you already joined the military? What branch if any, why, or why not?
As I mentioned in the topic above, I have no regrets but I'm out now and might have done things differently looking back.
I also have a 4 year old son who is very into the good guy vs. bad guy thing. Do I explain to him that dad was a soldier ready to shoot what the folks he believed were right said was the bad guy? What if I still think those folks were right?
Please discuss... :smilegrin:

[More Lean]

i hate war it is always wrong

there is no winner in war only the dead and the damned

[Kurili]

Army, quite some time back.

::ducks and runs like hell::


Acolyte Kurili

[longshot]

Where's the coast guard?

Downright disrespectful!!

[Betheny]

My best friend is in the Navy. He's a submariner. Poor guy. It's a learning experience, to be sure.


My second dad, (AKA my mother's best friend's husband) was a CMC in the Coast Guard.

I was in AFJROTC, but ended up not joining the military due to some pins I have in my feet.

[theotherjohn]

I am a active Army signal officer stationed at Ft Gordon. I have been in the military since 1987

[peam]

I'm not in any service, but I was thinking about joining a branch for two years, after I'm out of college, just for some guaranteed work experience.

[Artha]

I was thinking about joining the Air Force after high school for some college money (among other things, of course). Or does that only count for the Army?

[Parkbandit]

Originally posted by More Lean
i hate war it is always wrong

there is no winner in war only the dead and the damned

So there is NEVER a reason for war then?

Let us all be thankful that our fore-fathers had a different vision.

[Gizmo]

Was Army, you know the routine.


Where's the coast guard?

Coast Guard isn't an active Military Branch..They report to the Department of Motor Vehicles..Not Defense :)

[Skirmisher]

Originally posted by Gizmo
Was Army, you know the routine.


Where's the coast guard?

Coast Guard isn't an active Military Branch..They report to the Department of Motor Vehicles..Not Defense :)


See the second word in the name there Guard. They Guard the coast. :thumbsup:

That can consist of aiding those in trouble, interdicting smuggling, or aiding the regular navy during wartime for things such as patrols.

I would find myself most suited for the coast guard I think as on an every day basis you probably have the most opportunity to directly help someone.

[i remember halloween]

Artha, you get college money for any active duty branch. your best bet would be to take course while serving since the military will usually pay for between 75% and 100% of your tuition. on my base i think the air force pays for 75% of people's tuition and the town pays for the books and the people also get a tax break which supposedly roughly equates to the remaining 25%. i'm not exactly sure how it works, but these are figures i've heard several times.

[Rowi]

I was 0311 GRUNT USMC 4 years from 89 to 93

Semper FI DEVIL DOGS!!

"Maybe this explains some of the stupid stuff i post?"

[AnticorRifling]

4066/0651 Small computer system specialist in the Marines. 99-03. No one is perfect but the Marines are damn close :cool:

[Carl Spackler]

If I were to join It'd be the navy. I'd go through the BUD/S training.

[draconis nematoda]

Originally posted by theotherjohn
I am a active Army signal officer stationed at Ft Gordon. I have been in the military since 1987

Does Ft. Gordon still have the highest crime rate in the Army?

Ray, Signal Corps Ft Gordon, 1972

[Zir]

Originally posted by Gizmo
Was Army, you know the routine.


Where's the coast guard?

Coast Guard isn't an active Military Branch..They report to the Department of Motor Vehicles..Not Defense :)

In war time they fall under the Department of Defense.

[Geoff]

Originally posted by i remember halloween
Artha, you get college money for any active duty branch. your best bet would be to take course while serving since the military will usually pay for between 75% and 100% of your tuition. on my base i think the air force pays for 75% of people's tuition and the town pays for the books and the people also get a tax break which supposedly roughly equates to the remaining 25%. i'm not exactly sure how it works, but these are figures i've heard several times.
When I was in I got 75% and was able to register as a resident in California. Books weren't paid for but tuition is so cheap for residents there that I finished most of my associate for probably less than a grand.
GI Bill is sweet too. I haven't used it for a while but from what I understand it's up to $1200 a month now for a full load. (12+ credits)

[theotherjohn]

Originally posted by draconis nematoda

Originally posted by theotherjohn
I am a active Army signal officer stationed at Ft Gordon. I have been in the military since 1987

Does Ft. Gordon still have the highest crime rate in the Army?

Ray, Signal Corps Ft Gordon, 1972

No idea on highest in the army but I was advised to be very careful where I park my cars and my bike. Comparing it to my last assignment of SWTG at FT. Bragg if it is going on it must be well hidden

[More Lean]

Originally posted by Parkbandit

Originally posted by More Lean
i hate war it is always wrong

there is no winner in war only the dead and the damned

So there is NEVER a reason for war then?

Let us all be thankful that our fore-fathers had a different vision.

i wish they had not

[draconis nematoda]

Originally posted by theotherjohn

Originally posted by draconis nematoda

Originally posted by theotherjohn
I am a active Army signal officer stationed at Ft Gordon. I have been in the military since 1987

Does Ft. Gordon still have the highest crime rate in the Army?

Ray, Signal Corps Ft Gordon, 1972

No idea on highest in the army but I was advised to be very careful where I park my cars and my bike. Comparing it to my last assignment of SWTG at FT. Bragg if it is going on it must be well hidden

We used to have to strip our beds and lock up our linnen before we went to breakfast.

Ray :rolleyes:

[AnticorRifling]

Gear adrift is gear a gift!

Steal is a Marine Corps acronym:

Strategically
Transfer
Equipment to an
Alternate
Location


If it's not bolted down and I need it for my mission it's mine! If it is bolted down...well I got wrenches :cool:

[AnticorRifling]

I was my unit's version of Red from Shawshank. I could get anything we needed if you gave me alittle time. You don't know how many times I've had to aquire gear from another unit to finish something in the field. But then again other units aquired our stuff to it's just friendly, unsolicited (and sometimes unknown) teamwork.

Now if people were stealing personal belongings that's another story. That's an ass beating. We had someone break into a car in the parking lot at the barracks. We didn't know who's car but it didn't matter. That dude won't be eating solid food for awhile (not like he can call the MP's "Well I was breaking into this car and these guys jumped me....")

[Jack]

I've been active duty in the Marine Corps since 94. I am a 2621/2625, or Ground Electronic Warfare Operator/Analyst. I'm currently stationed at Ft. Meade Maryland, but I'll be getting out in a few months though. My left knee is pretty much shot, so I am not medically qualified to re-enlist this time around. If I had it to do over I doubt I would change anything.

-Jack

[Askip]

<<GI Bill is sweet too>>

A great benefit of the GI Bill is a VA guaranteed mortgage. I did not need any down payment, just closing costs. :D

[radeek]

marines, 82-89....been there, done it and went back for seconds....still have nightmares, but wouldn't change a thing. and lets face it gang...we got the best looking uniform

[AnticorRifling]

Yes, yes we do.

Proposed to my wife at the Marine Corps ball, she couldn't say no to the dress blues (and if she did there was alot of liquer around)

[Geoff]

Originally posted by radeek
Marines...we got the best looking uniform
I'll concede that.
It's a morale thing though. As Anticor pointed out, that's the only way they get girls.
:smilegrin:

(Edited because I can't type...)

[Edited on 10-8-2003 by Geoff]

[Trinitis]

as my friend always says...

"Damn jug heads.."

-Adredrin

[radeek]

well, being a gentleman usually works for the right kind of girl....isn't that right bea? the uniform has nothing to do with it..just the pride that's exhibited from earning the right to wear it

[Beastabana]

You bet your ass Radeek. :grin:

And get it right! Its JARheads!:smilegrin:

[radeek]

she loves me...can ya tell? her opinion's a bit biased, but she knows the real deal

[Trinitis]

jugheads, Jarheads, Grunts, seamonkeys..he mutters them all, all the time.

Of course, he feels he is perfect, because he was in the air force.

-Adredrin

[radeek]

ahhh...yes...the airdales...although it was nice once in a while to use you for a taxi service (you guys always made us jump out though) the only guys that ever bailed me out were the a-10 jocks...gotta love them boys that get right down into the dirt....and the fac's were a godsend from time to time as well

[radeek]

oh yes....although this isn't exactly the right place for it...miss beastabana and i are engaged to be married...think she can handle a jarhead in her life? ya'll might wanna let her know what she's in for ::chuckle::

[Trinitis]

Heh, don't look at me. I've never been in the service, and never will be. And all he did was fix the jets. Never got down and dirty anyway.

Not to say fixing the jets is not important :)

-Adredrin

[Back]

I have some good friends in the Chair Force, er, Air Force. Looking back, I think I would have had tons of fun if I had joined. Think of it... stationed in Germany? Oktoberfest!

[Geoff]

Originally posted by LordAdredrin
Heh, don't look at me. I've never been in the service, and never will be. And all he did was fix the jets. Never got down and dirty anyway.

Not to say fixing the jets is not important :)

-Adredrin

I've spent 14 hours a day for a week in chem gear filling sandbags, hanging camo netting, and generally sweatting my ass off. I might not have been "down" but it was dirty. :smug:
Folks who work on (or fly) the planes aren't the desk guys you all think the AF is full of. That's the other 90%.

[i remember halloween]

well i can gladly say my duty uniform is a flight suit. i'll take that over any 'good looking' marine uniform.

[Ilvane]

I wanted to fly in the airforce, but I'm really short.;) :lol:

-A

[Geoff]

Originally posted by Ilvane
I wanted to fly in the airforce, but I'm really short.;) :lol:

-A

I worked on the U2/TR-1 and they had a limit on how tall you could be because they had to wear pressurized suits.
I heard astronauts have a height limit also. Small is good for pilots as long as you can reach the pedals. Cockpits are tiny.

[Solkern]

I was pondering joining the USAF, since they are mainly high tech computers, and I love programming.
I've talked with all branches, and if you want to do high-tech, USAF is the way to go.
USAF takes the best care of you, I love how people int he army and marines always laugh at USAF people, Shit, why is it the hardest to get into the airforce? why does the airforce, have the best living out of all the branches? Because your the one playing around with multi million even billion dollar toys, not carrying around a gun. in the air force your not just another piece of meat like the marines or army, your responseiable for ALOT of high tech equip.
So they take care of you, give you the best of the best becuase they don't want you to fuck up, and ruin some equip.
I was talking to the air force recruiter.
According to him, If i joined after my 6 week boot, I'd get stationed, I make a list of 4 places i want to be stationed and i have a GOOD chance of being put there, I get my own room, it's like a college dorm, but no sharing rooms. People clean for you, got your mess hall and stuff, sounded really cool.



[Edited on 10-9-2003 by Solkern]

[imported_Kranar]

I was a reservist for the Canadian army.

It was the main reason for my departing the forums for about a year. My regiment (TorScott Regiment) specialized in something called FIBUA. It was an overall interesting experience.

[Edited on 10-9-2003 by Kranar]

[Geoff]

Originally posted by Solkern
I was talking to the air force recruiter.
According to him, If i joined after my 6 week boot, I'd get stationed, I make a list of 4 places i want to be stationed and i have a GOOD chance of being put there, I get my own room, it's like a college dorm, but no sharing rooms. People clean for you, got your mess hall and stuff, sounded really cool.



[Edited on 10-9-2003 by Solkern]

That sure isn't how it was when I was in.
:lol:
I rarely didn't have a roommate when I lived in the dorm, got sent somewhere not on my hot list, and not only did my own cleaning but also had to help keep the dorm common areas clean. There are no janitors in the military because they have enlisted folks for that.

I can't emphasize this enough, and I bet all the other prior military folks on this board will agree:
Don't believe your recruiter.
What I'd recommend you do is ask him to give you a contact that's active duty right now (But not paid to get people to sign that dotted line) that you can ask questions.
Also, tell him you want a guaranteed career field. The jobs aren't all high tech, The AF needs postal sorters, pest control people, etc. No one goes in planning on getting a job like that so they pick from the folk that don't already have a CJR. (Career Job Reservation.)

[i remember halloween]

i can't speak for enlistees, but that is pretty much like my deal as a 2lt.