01-05-2004, 11:04 PM | #1 (permalink) |
Banned
Location: Sunny S.FLA
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Join the Military?
Hey all,
Recently I was down at my Marine recruiters, and though i thot he was going to just give me a run down on what the corps has to offer, it turns out that he wanted me to enlist as a reservist. Though i have always wanted to join the military, i am hesitant to do this. With the situation in this world, it is likely that i will be shipped out, and that my studies in college may be disrupted (I a currently a senior in high school). Some distinct advantages are that i will have a much better character coming out of the corp, and that it may aid me in the future (i actually plan on studying law). Furthermore, i will be much more physically fit than i am now (though i was on Cross country..) I got above 90's on all subjects in the ASVAB, so being accepted in to the corp should not be a problem. However it is also the fear of the unknown that makes me not want to joing. I really don't know... Does anyone have any feedback of their experiences or advice for me? Thanks |
01-05-2004, 11:23 PM | #2 (permalink) |
The Northern Ward
Location: Columbus, Ohio
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Nothing can get you over fear quicker then having someone kick your ass straight into it. Do it for the chicks if nothing else.
__________________
"I went shopping last night at like 1am. The place was empty and this old woman just making polite conversation said to me, 'where is everyone??' I replied, 'In bed, same place you and I should be!' Took me ten minutes to figure out why she gave me a dirty look." --Some guy |
01-06-2004, 02:29 AM | #3 (permalink) |
Junkie
Location: Fort Worth, TX
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If you are seriously interested make sure you look at all the available options. Recruiters have quotas to make so dont always tell the full truths, nor are they legally responsible for anything they say (or dont).
If you want to go to college look into ROTC. If you get the scholarship you go to college with books/tuition/fees paid as well as $350/month stipend. You choose a college that has the ROTC of whichever branch you choose (if you want Marine it's under Navy). You missed out on the 4 year scholarship (deadline in december), but you can join what is called a College Program, in which you pay your own way through college, and apply for the scholarship. ROTC is basically you graduate from a major university with a degree (can be in anything). After you graduate you get commissioned as an officer, and require 4 years of service, or 8 as reserve. I am currently in this program for flight school, which because of the extended and expensive training the service is 10 years. There is also in the Marines a program called MECEP program, in which you enlist and go through the normal elisted life. You sign up for the program as a Cpl. to get in, and if accepted you are pormoted to Sgt., and then attend the university. You get standard Sgt pay, but you have to pay your own schooling. Every branch has a program like this, Navy has OCS (Officer Training School), Air Force and Army have the same equivilants. If you are serious about joining in any of the programs ask to talk to the recruiters Commander. He is responsible for anything and everything, and because the commander does not have to physically fill the quotas he will give you no BS answers. There are dozens of different ways to get your degree in the military, figure out which one tailors to your life the best before you sign any papers. Oh yeah, and the chicks do dig the uniform. |
01-06-2004, 04:20 AM | #4 (permalink) |
Dubya
Location: VA
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You're in for the best four years of your life, you'll meet new people, go to new places, and do things you didn't think you were capable of doing.
/recruiter If you are doing *at all* well in high school, I recommend following Seaver's advice and become an officer. Go to one of your state's public schools, get yourself a couple of grants and a ROTC scholarship your second year, and spend four years as an officer when you're done. The difference in pay and respect is significant between the enlisted ranks and the officer ranks. If you have your heart set on being enlisted, I'd personally stay away from the reserves and Guard - if you pay attention to world events lately, these are the guys getting deployed and bumped out of school/work/whatever all the time these days.
__________________
"In Iraq, no doubt about it, it's tough. It's hard work. It's incredibly hard. It's - and it's hard work. I understand how hard it is. I get the casualty reports every day. I see on the TV screens how hard it is. But it's necessary work. We're making progress. It is hard work." |
01-06-2004, 05:20 AM | #5 (permalink) |
will always be an Alyson Hanniganite
Location: In the dust of the archives
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I would have to agree with all of the above...however, as someone that spent eight years of his life in the U.S. Air Force, I offer to you the following axiom; "The Marine Cops takes it, the Army secures it, the Navy cleans it up, and the Air Force lives in it."
A little over simplified, and certainly no disrespect intended to any of the Marines, soldiers or sailors within our ranks, but it's actually fairly accurate. I found that the Air Force always had the better facilities and the better quality food. And yes, the Air Force officers always had the best of the best.
__________________
"I distrust those people who know so well what God wants them to do because I notice it always coincides with their own desires." - Susan B. Anthony "Hedonism with rules isn't hedonism at all, it's the Republican party." - JumpinJesus It is indisputable that true beauty lies within...but a nice rack sure doesn't hurt. |
01-06-2004, 06:37 AM | #6 (permalink) |
Super Agitator
Location: Just SW of Nowhere!!! In the good old US of A
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The militray is a whole lot like marriage - damned easy to get into and all but impossible to get out of with out paying a price. Look at the military as if it were marriage . Make damned sure that you are damned sure and if it appears to be your thing then, as others have advised, make sure of all your options before you start. A poor choice of job classification etc. can haunt you throughout your military career regardless of length. There is absolutely nothing wrong with the military - but, like many other choices one makes in life it is one that can prove very rewarding -or four years in hell. Consider location, money, living conditions, chance for advancement - Just don't jump into it without a lot of planning and do your homework before you do anything else.
Proud to be a veteran of the USN
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Life isn't always a bowl of cherries, sometimes it's more like a jar of Jalapenos --- what you say or do today might burn your ass tomorrow!!! |
01-06-2004, 07:21 AM | #7 (permalink) | |
beauty in the breakdown
Location: Chapel Hill, NC
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Quote:
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"Good people do not need laws to tell them to act responsibly, while bad people will find a way around the laws." --Plato |
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01-06-2004, 09:08 AM | #8 (permalink) | |
Dubya
Location: VA
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Quote:
One more time - Get it in writing!
__________________
"In Iraq, no doubt about it, it's tough. It's hard work. It's incredibly hard. It's - and it's hard work. I understand how hard it is. I get the casualty reports every day. I see on the TV screens how hard it is. But it's necessary work. We're making progress. It is hard work." |
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01-06-2004, 10:06 AM | #9 (permalink) |
Tilted
Location: Mass
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This is a subject that has been on my mind for a while now. I am currently in college and really want to join the airforce as an officer. But I'm not in any kind of ROTC program, because my college doens't offer it. Is this going to be a problem? Or what can I do about it?
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01-06-2004, 10:13 AM | #10 (permalink) | |
Dubya
Location: VA
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Quote:
1) Find out if your school has a "cross-town agreement" with another school providing AFROTC classes. An example of this is a student at George Mason University in Fairfax, VA taking their AFROTC classes at UMD, College Park. You can find these colleges through http://www.afrotc.com/ 2) Transfer to a school that offers AFROTC courses, or has a cross-town agreement with a school that does. See the above link for details there. 3) When you are within one year of completing your degree, you may apply to Officer Training School, which is basically the 4 years of AFROTC classes compressed into 3 months. Info is here: http://ots.afoats.af.mil/24TRSFiles/BOT.html USAF Nobody Comes Close
__________________
"In Iraq, no doubt about it, it's tough. It's hard work. It's incredibly hard. It's - and it's hard work. I understand how hard it is. I get the casualty reports every day. I see on the TV screens how hard it is. But it's necessary work. We're making progress. It is hard work." |
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01-06-2004, 03:31 PM | #12 (permalink) | ||
Junkie
Location: Fort Worth, TX
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01-06-2004, 06:52 PM | #14 (permalink) |
Existentialist
Location: New York City
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Tiger,
All the above advice is good. But you have to ask yourself, what do you want out of it. Want a challenge? An experience? Leadership skills? Then you're looking in the right direction. I'm Army OCS, and know a lot about the process and such, so if you have any specific questions, feel free to email or PM me. Just remember, go Army Combat arms if you want to fight. Go Marines if you want to fight with a bunch of maniacs
__________________
"Don't cry because it's over. Smile because it happened." - Dr. Seuss |
01-06-2004, 06:58 PM | #15 (permalink) |
Leave me alone!
Location: Alaska, USA
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Air Force.... much better for married people.
Stay off the flightline. Don't be a cop or a cook. Paralegal? Then OTS.... Base contracting? High bonus may = crap job. 21 year retiree.
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Back button again, I must be getting old. |
01-06-2004, 07:03 PM | #16 (permalink) | |
Existentialist
Location: New York City
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Quote:
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"Don't cry because it's over. Smile because it happened." - Dr. Seuss |
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01-06-2004, 07:17 PM | #17 (permalink) | |
WARNING: FLAMMABLE
Location: Ask Acetylene
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Quote:
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"It better be funny" |
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01-06-2004, 07:42 PM | #18 (permalink) | |
Junkie
Location: Fort Worth, TX
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01-06-2004, 08:53 PM | #20 (permalink) |
Tone.
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There is no way in hell I'd join the service right now. We're fighting a war that we shouldn't be in. It's no longer a defense army - it's an invasion army. I would refuse to be a part of it.
and the last time I checked, the air force and navy were the only ones who were anal about glasses. |
01-06-2004, 09:35 PM | #21 (permalink) |
Sergeant
Location: Camp Pendleton, CA
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Tiger, its up to you if you want to join or not. Joining the Marine Corps is one of the best things i've ever done in my life. The experience you get and the friends you meet are well worth it.
Now if you want to goto college while your in you can, and if you are active duty, its 100% tuition assistance, (all you pay for are the books and school supplies) And yes, there are online classes you can take if you get deployed. oh yeah, and Seaver, there are 4 ways to become an Officer in the Marine Corps. Those are MECEP(Marine Enlisted Commissioning Program), OCS(Officer Canidates School), OCC(Officer Canidates Class) and PLC(Platoon Leaders Class)
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"Beer is living proof that God loves us and wants us to be happy" - Benjamin Franklin DONATE TO THE TFP |
01-07-2004, 08:36 AM | #22 (permalink) | |
Junkie
Location: Fort Worth, TX
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Kel, they are in the Army that is correct, but I'm pretty sure they are just as anal (could be incorrect). The big deal about glasses is you dont have the full 180degree vision with glasses as you do without, you're negated to a smaller in-focus field of vision. Added to this with glasses the NVG's helo's fly with now would not fit correctly. Zero thank you for the correction, I'm Navy and you apparently have much more seniority than I so if I say anything else only half-correct feel free to correct me. |
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01-07-2004, 09:47 AM | #23 (permalink) |
Computer Nerd
Location: Bishop, TX
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Speaking as someone who was in the navy for 4 years, 2 months and 3 days, I thikn the military is a great opportunity for those wanting to either get money for college or go to college under obligation to serve on completion. I blew all my tuition money the first year I was in college on pertying and drinking, so being broke and nowhere to go, I joined the Navy for the G.I. Bill alone. After a wonderful (but exhausting) enlistment, I got out and went to school. I just graduated from college back in mid-December and the Navy paid for it all.
Here are some things that I looked at before joining. Army - front lines - read the news Marine Corps - even closer to the enemy than the army...we used to have these guys go out and spot rounds for us when we fired five-inch guns, they were a couple hundred feet away from where the rounds landed...not my kind of job, but some might be interested Air Force - great for married life and they usually stay at nice bases, food, etc., but opportunity for advancement when I was thinking about joining was almost ZERO. I had a high school friendd that went into the AF and the highest he got rankwise while there was E-4 (and he had just gotten that). I was a E-5 for a year before I got out. Navy - AWAY FROM THE FIGHTING WITH ALL THE BENEFITS. Not great for married, but I was single at the time. LOOOONNNGGG cruises away from family, but you get to see some great places that most dont get to see except during wartime. My ship did LEOPS, which means we looked for drugrunners in Central and South America. I've been to Panama City, Panama 27 times, Mazatlan, Alcapulco, Manta Ecuador, Galapagos Islands, Puerto Vallarta x2, Curacao, Puerto Rico, Cartagena, Guatamala, etc. and got to spend at least 3 days at each place doing anything I wanted to (ie. tourist time) Now back to the school part. I signed up with the VA office at my University, and they ran checks on my Navy paperwork (discharge papers, etc.) and filed with the regional VA office to cut me a check every month I was in school. At the end, I was receiving $900/month for going to school full time. The college I attended defined full time as 12 semester hours and that ran about $1500/semester. So, 2 months paid for the tutioon and the rest went to books (~$500/semester), supplies, and my bills. They could care less what you do with the money, as long as you are in school for those hours and you pass the classes. For this reason, I graduated with NO OUTSTANDING SCHOOL LOANS. This may not sound like a big deal, but I know people that are 35-40 years old that are still paying on their loans and interest from those loans. Now, on staying in, I would only advise to do that if you are really happy with the job you do in the military. The retirement for military service these days is horrible. Again, budies of mine that retired from the Navy when I was onboard had to find new jobs/careers after they retired (26+ years) becasue the retirement checks weren't enough to live on. Just thought you could use some insight into the military and school related issues. I am biased towards the Navy though, because that's the branch I chose. But then again, you might be inclined towards a different branch. Hope this helps some.
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I am not a vegetarian because I love animals; I am a vegetarian because I hate plants. -- A. Whitney Brown Last edited by d4in; 01-07-2004 at 09:51 AM.. |
01-07-2004, 10:58 AM | #24 (permalink) | |
Dubya
Location: VA
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Quote:
You can get PRK, paid by the military or not. The laser just impacts on the surface of the eye, and there is a longer healing period, but there is no black-out danger during high Gs. Thanks for that great post, d4ip. I plan on doing exactly that. But for those considering the navy, my friends in white tell me it's important to consider which job and resultant *area* you want to go into: subs, ships, planes - because they are each they're own seperate worlds within the Navy and some are better than others (subs - NO WOMEN!!! For 6-12 months!!!!!). The Air Force, on the other hand, is fairly drama free (even if he hit the nail on the head about promotions...).
__________________
"In Iraq, no doubt about it, it's tough. It's hard work. It's incredibly hard. It's - and it's hard work. I understand how hard it is. I get the casualty reports every day. I see on the TV screens how hard it is. But it's necessary work. We're making progress. It is hard work." |
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01-07-2004, 11:28 AM | #25 (permalink) |
Junkie
Location: NJ
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If you're really interested in going to college and joining the military, the Marine Corps has an OCS (Officer's Candidate School) program. There's no such thing as a USMC ROTC program so, if you wanted to go the ROTC route for the Corps, you need to do the Navy ROTC course. Basically, with OCS, you spend either two six week sessions (aka PLC--Platoon Leaders Class) during the summers (six weeks one year, six the next or the year after) or one ten week session (OCC-Officers Candidate Class) if you're nearer to graduation and don't have two summers to spend.
Upon completion of OCS you are commissioned a 2nd Lt and sent to attend TBS (the Basic School) for about six months. You then move on to your specialty school for the MOS you choose. If you further want to be a lawyer they have programs to allow you to go to school for it but they are very competitive and you can usually only do them after a couple of years in service. Check with your nearest Officer Selection Office for details.
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Strive to be more curious than ignorant. |
01-07-2004, 12:35 PM | #26 (permalink) |
I aim to misbehave!
Location: SW Oklahoma
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Still one of the top three decisions I have ever made. I spent four years and never saw a day of battle but it was still one of the greatest adventures of my life and a defining time for the rest of it.
Veteran USN
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Only two defining forces have ever offered to die for you, Jesus Christ and the American G. I. One died for your soul, the other for your freedom |
01-07-2004, 06:54 PM | #27 (permalink) | |
Existentialist
Location: New York City
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Quote:
I'm quite certain the Air Force (and Naval Air) are as stringent if not more about corrective surgery. I once heard they wouldn't even give waivers for surgery. Not sure if that's still the case.
__________________
"Don't cry because it's over. Smile because it happened." - Dr. Seuss |
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01-07-2004, 08:20 PM | #28 (permalink) | |
Dubya
Location: VA
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Quote:
Check out my earlier post about PRK. It's still the *only* surgery you can get that keeps you eligible.
__________________
"In Iraq, no doubt about it, it's tough. It's hard work. It's incredibly hard. It's - and it's hard work. I understand how hard it is. I get the casualty reports every day. I see on the TV screens how hard it is. But it's necessary work. We're making progress. It is hard work." |
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01-07-2004, 08:57 PM | #29 (permalink) | |
Existentialist
Location: New York City
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Quote:
Their agreement isn't exclusive. The Army has at least one fixed wing aircraft, which I cannot recall the model off the top of my head. That might be their only fixed wing craft.
__________________
"Don't cry because it's over. Smile because it happened." - Dr. Seuss |
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01-07-2004, 09:07 PM | #31 (permalink) | |
Existentialist
Location: New York City
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Go here to find some more information on OCS: http://www.ocsfoundation.org/
__________________
"Don't cry because it's over. Smile because it happened." - Dr. Seuss |
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01-07-2004, 09:16 PM | #32 (permalink) |
Addict
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You should seriously think about it, the Air Force did wonders for me and the GI Bill nade going to school so much easier. My advise is shop around at the recruiters, if your scores are that high they will work to get you. If serving your country and wanting to get an education at the same time is important to you, you might wan to look into the Air Force. They have a emphasize a great quality of life and there are less deployments ( I never got deployed in five years). I not saying other branchs aren't great because in the end of the jokes against each other we are still on the same team.
__________________
...sitting on your bed with a samauri pose. |
01-08-2004, 03:38 AM | #34 (permalink) | |
Dubya
Location: VA
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Quote:
__________________
"In Iraq, no doubt about it, it's tough. It's hard work. It's incredibly hard. It's - and it's hard work. I understand how hard it is. I get the casualty reports every day. I see on the TV screens how hard it is. But it's necessary work. We're making progress. It is hard work." |
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