|
I suppose I should plug MY service, the Navy. You do know we have more planes than the Air Force, right? Anyway, just about anything you can do in the USAF you can do in the Navy. Joining up was the best decision I ever made. I turned from a two-time college dropout slacker into a leader with so many professional accomplishments to look back on, and build on for the next 11 years of my career. I have a clear-cut goal to work for now (CMC of a CVN) instead of not knowing what I wanted to do with my life.
If at all possible, try to get a member of the service who's recruiter you are talking to, to BE WITH YOU at the office. It will definitely keep the recruiter from spinning the usual lines of BS. I was a walk-in, so no matter what my recruiter said I was joining. I had no problems with anything he told me, and looking back on it, he didn't lie to me once about anything. But then again, he pretty much knew I was joining no matter what and he was just there to do the paperwork.
I highly recommend a career in the military, but remember it really isn't for everyone. Every day we kick people out who never should have joined in the first place. It does mean a complete life change. There are those who want to call it brainwashing, I guess it makes them feel better. You will be trained to view the world around you, the people you work with, and the country you serve very differently. For it is only with this mindset, that you can truly succeed in the military. If at all possible, try to tour a military installation and talk with the most junior people you can find. See what it is they do. Ask if they like it. I guarantee many will tell you they don't but nobody gets hired directly into a leadership position. You earn that by doing the lowest, menial tasks first. When you show you can do that, you will eventually be promoted out of it and begin the really cool work. Hey, I cranked in the galley for 3 months, worked in the laundry for another 3, and this was after an 8 month school in advanced electronics. You think after all that high-tech training I didn't think that was all being wasted doing that type of work? But somebody has to do it. And the Chiefs you look up to, who bark orders at you, who are responsible for your welfare and productivity, who seem so old and crusty that you think they cruised with John Paul Jones, were once in that galley doing dishes too. And they made it to where they are. Those who decide the military isn't for them, their decision is usually made during this first year or so of service when they are TAD and not doing the jobs they were promised. YET.
I guess my point is, if you do join, remember whatever service you join will most likely be assigned some unpleasant task right off the bat. STICK IT OUT! It will get better. I'm at the point in my career (E-6) where I can look back on it and see the importance of what I had to go through, but it's never that clear when you're actually doing it.
Good luck!
-Mikey
|