All You Former Military Folks

[Peaches]

It looks like the kid going into the military might be one of his few remaining options. I see the military as a way for him to have a structured environment while learning things that will help in later in life, whether he stays in the military or not. Some questions:

1) Why did you join up?
2) What did it do good for you?
3) What did it do bad for you?
4) Do you recommended any branch more/less than another? He was in AF ROTC for a year in college and my father was in the AF, so he's leaning towards it, but apparently they are having some severe $$$ problems.
5) If you had to do it again, would you?
6) Any other advice?

Thanks - this is obviously not something that's being entered into lightly, but if he keeps on the path he's on, he's going to be an uneducated bankrupt father of 10 and living in a trailer eating ramen for the rest of his life :(

[sextoyking]

Hi Peaches,

well nothing wrong for a younger guy to look at doing 2-4 years in the service.

I was 18 and my dad said it's the army or the streets:) I was in for 3 years, and had a great time. Met alot of good people, grew up some, and went to germany for 2 years.

if he was in the AF Rotc, and has some college, he probably can go in as an E-2 or E-3, depends on how much college I think.

Army is great, but if he any brains, tell him to pick the air force or navy. at least in those services, you get to use your brain more.

Mabey air traffic controller. do 4-6 years, and get out, get a federal job.

happy holidays

todd

[Buff]

1) I joined because I was fucking off in high school and my dad was gonna kick me out the house when I graduated and not sign a tuition waiver for college until "I matured".

2) It developed my combat skills and gave me a loathing for bureaucracy.

3) It wasted a lot of time and left me constantly frustrated.

4) Marines -- they don't succumb to political pressure nearly as much as the other branches, and they still have a somewhat difficult training program.

5) Yes, I'd join the Army Rangers or Army Special Forces or Navy SEALs.

6) Military Special Forces are the best way for a man to find out what he's made of. I recommend a 4 year elite forces commitment for all males.

[Peaches]

Cool - thanks guys :) It's obviously a BIG decision, and since he's of age, it's his decision. He doesn't know anyone that's been in it so I said I'd try to get some info for him. :)

Thanks again! :gbounce:

[MikeFold]

Most of these answers are in hindsight Peaches:

1) Why did you join up?
In 1969, they had the draft and a lottery. Not by choice

2) What did it do good for you?
It did teach me some discipline, as well as how to stand on my own.

3) What did it do bad for you?
It taught me the futility of a "chain of command"...(still prevalant in todays corporate structure)

4) Do you recommended any branch more/less than another? He was in AF ROTC for a year in college and my father was in the AF, so he's leaning towards it, but apparently they are having some severe $$$ problems.

Nope, maybe just try to excel and get into something desirable for that individual. Probably the Navy though....

5) If you had to do it again, would you?
If I was the right person for the job, yep, I would do my time and retire with their great benefits. But, it wasn't my calling.

6) Any other advice?
Sure, join the other 4 billion people who start a TGP, give away free porn, and brag that they have a website that gets 2000 visitors a day
hahahahahahahaha&copy

over and out

:matey:

[TheEnforcer]

1) Why did you join up?

I did great on my college boards tests and had plenty of big schools that I could have chosen to go to. Choose to go and become one of Uncle Sam's Misguided Children :rokk: over the other services top programs I was offered because of the greater challenge, tradition, honor, and decication the Corps has.

2) What did it do good for you?

It teaches discipline, honor, and dedication and will give him a much greater sense of accomplishment and self worth.

3) What did it do bad for you?

Nothing.



4) Do you recommended any branch more/less than another? He was in AF ROTC for a year in college and my father was in the AF, so he's leaning towards it, but apparently they are having some severe $$$ problems.

From what I have read on what you posted about your son I would suggest the Marine Corps first. The discipline and sense of tradition the Corps has will go a long way in helping him out. Longest and toughest basic training. Despite the belief to the contrary there are quite a number of good job opps in the Corps.


After the USMC I would suggest the USCG (United States Coast Guard) An extremely under appreciated branch of service that it also heavy on disicpline and toughness and has some excellent programs. Also the most "active" of the branches, whether it be in peacetime or wartime ,as they have functions that serve both the military and civilian world.

After that the Army or navy is an either/or situation IMHO. They are both excellent branches and what your son would be interested in for a MOS would be the biggest difference.

Air Force- Shortest basic training and the least "strict" of the military branches. Still a great branch with excellent job opps, but IMHO not what you are looking for in this situation.

[Nickatilynx]

Sure, join the other 4 billion people who start a TGP, give away free porn, and brag that they have a website that gets 2000 visitors a day
hahahahahahahaha©


ahahahahahahahahahahaha

So you read GFY then?

[UncleJimmy]

Hi Peaches,

I did a little over 12 years in the USAF before starting this biz full time...

1) Why did you join up?
- Needed to get out of L.A., get away from some bad influences, get some distance from family, etc
- Wasn't ready for full time college yet...

2) What did it do good for you?
- It gave me a place to think about who I was, what I wanted to do, let me see a LOT of the world & a lot of strange food & p00ty which was VERY fun of course :)
- Paid for 75% of my B.S., met my wife there, and a few good friends
- Saw a lot of the world at different times that was kinda cool to be a 'part' of history instead of just watching it

3) What did it do bad for you?
- Made me never be able to tolerate growing hair on the sides or back of my head.... The top can grow but the long hair on the sides and back just freak me out now.

4) Do you recommended any branch more/less than another? He was in AF ROTC for a year in college and my father was in the AF, so he's leaning towards it, but apparently they are having some severe $$$ problems.
- Air Force all the way, Navy second, the rest after...
-- The military is always having money problems....that should not be a huge issue imo

5) If you had to do it again, would you?
- YES! But for maybe 4 to 8 years.... I stayed in 4 years longer than I wanted to do a 'layover' as the wife got out first... Needed the transition time, etc

6) Any other advice?

If you or he has any questions, hit me up at 5702550 anytime

- type-atcha-later, TJ

[dantheman]

peaches, It's well worth a couple years of his life, then he might be ready for college, I guess they still have a college fund thing that would help him.

As for as which branch, I lean toward the marine corps, but i'm a little partial to them:)
just try to pick a mos that he's excited about, he'll do much better in it.
Plus maybe he'll see part of the world

Good luck in whatever you and him decide:)

[PornoDoggy]

Hmmm ... I joined the Navy in October, '73, to get the GI Bill. Plan was to stay my four years and get out; ended up doing 9 1/2, and got out reluctantly because of my kids 9 years, 5 months, and 22 days later.

What good did it do me? I can't begin to estimate it. Taught me discipline, taught me structure, taught me how to work the system. Let me see a bit of the world, let me meet people from all walks of life and every area of the country and just about every ethnic mix you could imagine.

Bad? Can't think of anything. I had a negative attitude toward authority before I went in, and still do :)

All services have their advantages, so the following is a pretty broad generalization. If a young person is looking for physical challenges, the USMC is the way to go, followed by the Army. For mental discipline the Navy is probably the best, but I might be biased. For technically-oriented training, however, the USAF has the stuff that is most likely to carry into civilian life.

BTW, if he has enought ROTC to get credit upon enlistment, it should carry over into the other services. He should talk to ALL the recruiters before he makes a decision, and he should think about it for a couple of weeks before he makes a final decision. Tell him not to be afraid to ask questions.

[Peaches]

Thanks, everyone. I've been sending him all the posts. The more I read, the more I think it really is the best decision for him. He seems to think that if he enlists, it's a show of failure on his part to not be able to pull off living on his own and going to college. But I'm trying to show him that it's a GOOD thing on his part to realize that maybe he's not ready to be completely on his own yet and it's better to realize it and get help NOW instead of waiting until he's really hosed something up.

He's also worried that when he gets out, he'll be "behind" his friends in life - education and career wise - but I think he'll be at least equal with what he'll learn in the military and from you guys have posted, it looks that way :)

I'll also have him talk with all the different recruiters. He's only talked to the USAF one and dang - the guy practically begged him to sign up on the spot, lol!

Thanks again - I knew I'd get good answers and advice here :rokk:

[PornoDoggy]

Failure? The economy stays the way it is right now, you'll see a lot of people taking this route. Let him know that he'd be doing EXACTLY what millions of folks have done since World War II (and before).

Behind his friends? Not if he plays it smart. If he invests in the college fund programs they have he's set for school afterward. Nowdays it would be hard to find a military base that isn't offering several options for college classes on post; at one point they were also available on some ships while deployed, although I don't know about today. They were from major colleges, in some cases, and usually pretty transferable; and they were affordable as well. In a technical field he'll be getting training and EXPERIENCE far in advance of what his peers will be accumulating in the civilian world, and likely will also get experience as an entry level manager and trainer. He'll develop a work ethic that (IMHO) you rarely see in young people his age that haven't been there.

I can't stress enough about talking to all the branches, even the Coast Guard. Remind him that recruiters are salespeople; a few lie, but lots are stingy with certain facts :). He should let them know he's talking to everybody, too.

Now ... if I could just convince that youngest daughter of mine ...

[MattyB]

I joined the military to help pay for college and to see if I could actually do what people said was so hard to do. I joined the Army infantry, went to Airborne school, and to a Ranger Battalion for a while, all because I heard it was the hardest thing to do. I did almost 4 years, and went to countries that most people dont want to go to and did things most people wouldnt, but looking back, it was the best thing I could have done. I got the rest of my college completely paid for(including books, spending money, tuition, other supplies) and my college GPA went from 2.0 before, to 3.8 after going back.

As everyone that was in service, I feel that my branch was the best, but cant say anything bad about the rest. I feel Marines and Army Infantry are definately the hardest physically and mentally, but with the Navy, Airforce and other Army areas, there are jobs that can help you throught you life.

Only a couple things I would suggest is to have them not do anything except exactly what they want to do. Dont listen to the recruiters as most of them have quotas and are just trying to push you to where they need you. If they want to jump out of planes, or want to be a medic, make sure it is in writing. Dont listen to the crap about "you can only get it when you are already in." A lot of the time you cant, but they have to give it to you if its in your contract.

The last thing I would tell them is if they are injured in any way while they are in, go to the medic and have it recorded. If their knees or back starts to hurt, go to the hospital at least 5 or 6 times, so it is recorded. During the first year after getting out, they can declare these injuries to Veterans Affairs and get compensation for the rest of their lives for it. I did this and get money every month, extra money on top of the college money they gave me, and free Military health care for the rest of my life because I did this. If there are no records, you are most likely out of luck. If you have any more questions, my icq is 152857888. :D

[Anthony]

Originally posted by Peaches@Dec 21 2002, 11:33 AM
It looks like the kid going into the military might be one of his few remaining options. I see the military as a way for him to have a structured environment while learning things that will help in later in life, whether he stays in the military or not. Some questions:

1) Why did you join up?
2) What did it do good for you?
3) What did it do bad for you?
4) Do you recommended any branch more/less than another? He was in AF ROTC for a year in college and my father was in the AF, so he's leaning towards it, but apparently they are having some severe $$$ problems.
5) If you had to do it again, would you?
6) Any other advice?

Thanks - this is obviously not something that's being entered into lightly, but if he keeps on the path he's on, he's going to be an uneducated bankrupt father of 10 and living in a trailer eating ramen for the rest of his life :(
1) Why did you join up?
My parents kicked me out of this house.


2) What did it do good for you?
Made me hungry. Who wants to make 150 bucks a week?


3) What did it do bad for you?
Made me hate authority even more.



4) Do you recommended any branch more/less than another? He was in AF ROTC for a year in college and my father was in the AF, so he's leaning towards it, but apparently they are having some severe $$$ problems.

Air force always first choice, but I was Navy. =o) My uncles said if I joined the marine corp they would hunt me down and kill me.

Damn Filipino Navy Cooks!


5) If you had to do it again, would you?

Yep
6) Any other advice?

Don't give him a chance to come back home. Become a man.

[Evil Chris]

I thought I would be in the military for life... then this "part time" job came along... :D

If it weren't for the 'net, I'm sure I'd still be in the military. I thought it was a good life. I still have a lot of friends who are in. Some will be retiring soon.

I put in almost 15 years. It taught me a lot about discipline and life. It was also a chance to travel to places I know I will probably never return to. And, I made lifetime friends in the military.