Thinking about joining the military..

[Pampho85]

I've been thinking about joining the military (Either the army or the marines) mainly as a back up if I don't get into the college I want to go to. However, I just have a few questions about joining the military as a full time career (And I would like to apologize for my lack of knowledge beforehand, and I don't mean to offend anyone in any way). I've been interested in the army and marines on and off for the past four years and I would like to serve my country as a back up and just to show that it doesn't matter if I am a first generation born in the US, I can still fight for my country.

Would it be better to go and get a college degree then go to the military? I've heard that the job outlook isn't very good if you just go straight into the military. Except if you want to become a police officer, then it'll be easier to get the job.

What's the pay like? (I'm not going into for the pay, but, my parents are strongly against me going, and coming from a medical family, money does speak to them) I know it won't be hundreds and thousands of dollars after doing four-six years or so.

How hard is the training/boot camp for the army and marines? I'm all for getting in shape and everything, but, I've heard it's really hard and many people give up during this time.

What's the experience like? By that I mean, just the traveling and lifestyle, and basically the average day for someone.

I've also heard it's important to make friends, but also heard it's hard to make them while in the military, is this true?

Where are some of the places you can get stationed? I've heard that sometimes people get stationed in Japan, South Korea, etc.

If you're reading this and you did join/are still in the military, how long did you go far and how did you like your experience? What field/career are you currently in now?

And I've also heard if you join the marine corps, you don't really get sent overseas. You go to college normally while you are in boot camp, and I was wondering, how exactly does that work?

Thanks for taking the time to look over/answer my questions and I just want to re-emphasize I don't mean to offend anyone by posting this and I'm sorry if I have.

[Mike41793]

Talk to gsarchie, he recently had a "day in the life of a soldier" thread. It was very informative, i really enjoyed it from a soldiers perspective. Without all the media's bias thrown in there.

There are also a ton of other vets/active soldiers/ reserve on here!

EDIT: the only thing is if you join then it may delay you getting your first snake a little longer lol

[Skyler]

I am currently in the Army. It all just depends what you want to do, but if you are looking at it as a stepping stone to a future career I would definately go to college first. I did not and I am very happy, but that is more of an exception to the rule because of my job. If you go to college first you can do an ROTC program and get paid while you attend school. As far as how much you will make, just look up US ARMY pay scales. It is all over the internet. It will break it down for you by time in service and rank. It is real easy to figure out. I have had a lot of great experiences and had the opportunity to travel all over the world and do all kinds of things that I would have never done otherwise. You just have to make sure it is something you REALLY want. If you don't really want to be here it can be just the opposite and easily be the worst experience of your life. I have had a lot of good times and also my fair share of bad ones, but in the end I intend to stick it out and do at least 20 years so I can retire. Hope that helps a little.

[sflanick]

I'm a army vet and let me tell you south Korea was a boast and you don't make friends in the army you find brothers I know that sounds corny and cloche but it is true and I went into the army before I went into college and although it wasn't bad I think it is different. I say go for it but then again I believe amevery American should serve their country if able and basic is 80% mental and 20% physical also when in basic and AIT volunteer for every.once u are done with them.never volunteer again. Best advice I was ever given before I joined

[Mike41793]

also when in basic and AIT volunteer for every.once u are done with them.never volunteer again. Best advice I was ever given before I joined

Whats this part say?

[DooLittle]

There are lots of military folks here- hopefully they will chime in, as I have zero experience.

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[iPanda]

speaking from an air force perspective...if you enjoy being away from your family and friends for 15 months at a time every year, go for it. (army, anyways).

[darthkevin]

Ok I can answer some questions. I am currently stationed at Fort Carson Co. I am a 91 F which is Small Arms Repair. I am a Specialist which is E4. The Army life isn't for everyone. I will admit that right off. Deployments can be rough. I would suggest getting a degree first then joining up. This does two things for you. First off you can stick with what you know and a job you know you like doing. Second you can join up and be an officer. Officers obviously make more money then the enlisted side does. I just finished up a deployment in Kandahar Afghanistan. Basic Training isn't hard anymore like it was in let's say the Vietnam era. But it can still be demanding. Friends are a very important part of the military lifestyle. All you normally have around you is your comrades. They are your family. If you want to know about pay, just Google military pay scale. Friends are sometimes hard to keep because you are constantly moving from post to post. If you have more questions send me a personal message and I'll throw you my email.


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[Bill T]

As a former soldier and iraq vet i would agree mostly with darthkevin. I dont know if i would do colledge first becouse i think the guards have pretty decent programs and will mostly pay for ur school while u are enlisted. u can serve your country and not have to jump from base to base. I did both guards and active duty army and grew up on a marine corps base as a child. Basic training and AIT (advanced individual training) arent all that bad. Its rough mentally and physically but its meant to be. I would encourage everyone to serve thier country. During peace time. We lost 2 men overseas but 5 more after we returned home to suicide. Im not trying to scare u out of joining or even bad mouth the military. im simply trying to show u the possible hardships that come with a decision like this. i hope u take what the other vets and active soldiers tell u on here becouse thier words will tell u much more than a brochure at the recruitment office. good luck.

[gsarchie]

A lot of your questions has answered already but I'll throw my $0.02 in as well.

1) You say that the military is a back up. My honest assessment based on this comment and the rest of your post is that you wouldn't like the military, but I could be wrong.

2) I don't believe that the Marines can guarantee you a specific job, but I could be wrong. I do know that Army can guarantee you any job that you qualify for. If you want a job and you go to MEPS to enlist and they say that they don't have that MOS available then tell them thanks and that you'll come back when they have it. I will say that it is exceptionally important to be in the job you want or you will be far more likely to hate your job.

3) Don't expect to make more than $2K a month for your first few years. This might not seem like much but keep in mind that you will not be buying groceries (you will eat at the DFAC), paying for rent (you will live in the barracks) or paying for health insurance. You also won't have to pay for utilities. It will essentially all be disposable income.

4) You can be stationed anywhere in the world. All over the US, Afghanistan, Kuwait, Korea, Germany. Aside from that some very hard places to get are Italy and Japan. You can also deploy to Africa, I was supposed to be going there after I got home from here but now it looks like I'll be going to somewhere in Europe.

5) You can really hate some of the people that you work with but in my experience, the friends that I've made in the Army are closer than any friends that I've made in the civilian world.

6) Whoever told you that Marines don't deploy and that you can go to college while at boot camp is lying to your face. Either that or they are incredibly mis-informed. You will eat, sleep and breathe the Amry or Marine Corps every second of every day that you spend in Basic/Boot and AIT.

7) I was a reservist for 8 years before going active duty upon graduating from KU (Kansas) and finishing ROTC, and I have now been active duty for over 2 years. I was in supply, a 92A, and am now a field artillery officer, or a 13A, and am a 1LT. I love what I do, although I still have moments where I wish that I had gone pilot or infantry. I can chock pretty much every aspect of my present adult life up to being brought about as a result of my time in the Army, to include both good and bad experiences. That said, I have no true regrets, even if I would do some things differently.

I hope that helps and good luck with whatever you do. Go ARMY! And to the individual who in a round-about way talked a little smack on the Army, iPanda, check yourself. 15 months a year? Not quite. Also, the active duty side of the house (Army-wise) has moved to 9 month tours with no R&R, and my 9 month tour is only going to end up being a total of 8. Yes, I'll deploy again in a year, but your comment was a bit off. What do you do that as an airman you are deployed for more than 3 months at a time? You must be guard or reserves, yes? Otherwise you'd have to be a JTAC assigned to an Army unit doing a yearlong deployment.