Thinking about joining the military..

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Originally Posted by Gomojoe

I'll tell you Air Force is an easier basic training, shorter deployments, better digs, and much better employment opportunities after you get out.


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Ok, substantiate "much better employment opportunities".

Lazarus, when were you at Iwakuni? That was my first duty station as well, was there from 03-05. I worked at the station ISMO (the bldg next to the hospital with all the antennae on the roof).

Sorry if I offended anyone by saying it's my 'back-up plan'. After thinking it over and talking to some friends who have a big military background, I've decided I'll most probably go that way, if I don't, then I don't really know what I'll do, prob a teacher or something. However, I want to go to college first. Not sure if a lot of people go it that way, but, it's the way I want to go, just in case if I have to leave, I have something to fall back on. I don't know which to pick, the army or the marines, seeing as the majority of my friends are split in half, so I need to do further investigation on that. I've watched 'Making of a Marine' on YouTube as well as watched some of JDuWayne videos and I have to say I'm impressed and psyched. I still have quite a few questions left tho, but, I'll ask my ROTC teachers first, before coming to any of you. Although, I would just want to know, after watching the 'Making of a Marine' video, what's the army bootcamp like? I'm pretty amazed by the marines video and psyched to get into shape as a pre req. if I do happen to join.

Once again, thanks for all the replies, and I apologize for offending anyone with my comment. And thank you to the vets and the ones who are serving for helping to protect this country.

I don't think you offended us, or at least me, we just want to make sure that you're going into the military for the right reasons. If you do decide on the Marines the "M" is always capitalized lol and here is a little video just in jest between the differences of Marine Recruit Training and Army basic. All it good fun! Hope it works

Well since I couldn't add the video go to youtube and put in Marine Corps Receiving vs Army Reception.

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Originally Posted by jinx667

Ok, substantiate "much better employment opportunities".

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It all depends on what you did in the AF, or any other branch. 6 years experience in the AF can get you 80-90k/yr after leaving...depending on what you did...and where you're willing to relocate to...

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Originally Posted by devildog_dk

Lazarus, when were you at Iwakuni? That was my first duty station as well, was there from 03-05. I worked at the station ISMO (the bldg next to the hospital with all the antennae on the roof).

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I wasn't there until 07-09, but I do know what building you're talking about. I'm sure I'll be back there eventually though I really liked being in Japan.

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Originally Posted by sho220

It all depends on what you did in the AF, or any other branch. 6 years experience in the AF can get you 80-90k/yr after leaving...depending on what you did...and where you're willing to relocate to...

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This reply makes a previously very specific statement very vague. It is the job, not the branch. Just as one example, Navy nuclear reactor technicians and officers do quite well in the civilian sector. Another would be nurses and doctors in any branch. Also, the Navy flies as many or more planes than the AF, so there is the aviation sector as well. The comment came off as being in the Air Force will net you a better job over the others simply by virtue of being in the Air Force, and if that is the case, I want to see proof.

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Originally Posted by sho220

It all depends on what you did in the AF, or any other branch. 6 years experience in the AF can get you 80-90k/yr after leaving...depending on what you did...and where you're willing to relocate to...

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Yeah, the Air Force has many more jobs that are relevant to civilian life after you get out. Plus more employers look at the Air Force for technical positions. I have also seen that the transition programs are better in the Air Force. Not that coming in and handling basketballs at the gym would do you any good afterwards, but even then there are a lot of Air Force jobs that afford you the time to complete a degree while your in. I don't know any of my friends in the marines or army who are really able to knock out a degree because of deployments and what not.


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Originally Posted by Gomojoe

Yeah, the Air Force has many more jobs that are relevant to civilian life after you get out. Plus more employers look at the Air Force for technical positions. I have also seen that the transition programs are better in the Air Force. Not that coming in and handling basketballs at the gym would do you any good afterwards, but even then there are a lot of Air Force jobs that afford you the time to complete a degree while your in. I don't know any of my friends in the marines or army who are really able to knock out a degree because of deployments and what not.


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There are plenty of folks who work on degrees while deployed. I am still waiting to see something beyond conjecture that the AF has more technical jobs, or is looked at more favorably by an employer? The Air Force has a pretty specific scope of operations compared to say the Army or Navy, but this mission, for the most part, is also covered by other branches, so many of the same "technical" jobs are spread throughout the DOD. Also, depending on the job, a USMC or Army infantry NCO or officer may have a very noticeable edge in the leadership department. Not every good job is purely technology based.

I am taking specific umbrage with this because after nearly 20 years, the my branch is better than yours crap gets old, and is NEVER backed up by actual facts. Each branch has a mission, and does it well. Also, each branch offers opportunities for those willing to look for them. Different folks are looking to get different things out of a military enlistment or career, and a given branch may or may not be able to fulfill that for them.



To the OP, I do not think anyone is offended, we are just making sure that you really evaluate your motivations. It is very true that 20% of your people cause 80% of your problems, and this is generally from folks who did not have their intentions and motivations sorted out before joining.

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Originally Posted by jinx667

There are plenty of folks who work on degrees while deployed. I am still waiting to see something beyond conjecture that the AF has more technical jobs, or is looked at more favorably by an employer? The Air Force has a pretty specific scope of operations compared to say the Army or Navy, but this mission, for the most part, is also covered by other branches, so many of the same "technical" jobs are spread throughout the DOD. Also, depending on the job, a USMC or Army infantry NCO or officer may have a very noticeable edge in the leadership department. Not every good job is purely technology based.

I am taking specific umbrage with this because after nearly 20 years, the my branch is better than yours crap gets old, and is NEVER backed up by actual facts. Each branch has a mission, and does it well. Also, each branch offers opportunities for those willing to look for them. Different folks are looking to get different things out of a military enlistment or career, and a given branch may or may not be able to fulfill that for them.



To the OP, I do not think anyone is offended, we are just making sure that you really evaluate your motivations. It is very true that 20% of your people cause 80% of your problems, and this is generally from folks who did not have their intentions and motivations sorted out before joining.

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I am not saying one branch is better than another. What I am saying is that the branches ARE different than one another. I am positive that you could find someone who graduated from Phoenix online who is more successful than someone who graduated from MIT, but that doesn't mean I wouldn't recommend that someone go to MIT versus Phoenix should they have the option. And I'm not saying other branches are Phoenix online. I am just saying stating a few possibilities doesn't change the reality of the situation. As far as a technical position vs a infantry position, I 100% agree that the infantry position probably has more leadership skills than the technical, but I don't know any employer who is going to hire someone with only infantry experience into a higher paid position(not that it couldn't happen). Because the Air Force specializes in Air it requires minimal people to run their equipment compared to the amount of people required to run, say a ship. They also don't provide significant ground forces like the army and the marines, so the bulk of what jobs the air force does have are either support positions or technical positions which translate to civilian life pretty well. Now my exception to the technical side is that if you are going to try and get an engineering position I think the navy has some really top notch stuff. Some of the best EEs I have worked with are out of the Navy. Having seen the way their training differs than the Air Forces in this field I can see why. Navy goes way more in depth. Anyway, just throwing out other things to consider. Another thing that is different between the branches is discipline. The Air Force is undeniably less disciplined. Enlisted can often be seen referring to officers on a first name basis and the chain of command, while outlined the same on paper as the other branches, is much more ethereal and relaxed. From my experience the navy is probably the most strict and therefore the Marines are very close as well.