Is joining the Military a good option...

[DizBelle]

It angers me greatly to read the stories of people who are freaking out because they are being sent to war zones. They joined the military to get their college paid for........and never believed they would actually have to fight for their country.

I also don't get when folks join the military and then are surprised when asked to fight - perhaps take the life of another and maybe even sacrifice their own.

Bottom line, if you not prepared to kill or be killed (seriously), the military is not for you.

 

[irishbosoxfan]

It angers me greatly to read the stories of people who are freaking out because they are being sent to war zones. They joined the military to get their college paid for........and never believed they would actually have to fight for their country.

And kinda along the same line is the ones who think being in the military is a 9 to 5 job.

Yes there are some jobs that are 9 to 5 but for the most part you can forget about it. Same goes for holidays and weekends...don't expect to have it off and you won't be disappointed.

Expect to work Saturday and Sunday and Thanksgiving and celebrate Xmas sometime during the beginning of January. Expect 15 to 18 hour days and having to work 8 plus days straight before getting 2 days off and expect that something is going to happen on at least one of those days off that means you have to go in.

 

[ginna74]

And kinda along the same line is the ones who think being in the military is a 9 to 5 job.

Yes there are some jobs that are 9 to 5 but for the most part you can forget about it. Same goes for holidays and weekends...don't expect to have it off and you won't be disappointed.

Expect to work Saturday and Sunday and Thanksgiving and celebrate Xmas sometime during the beginning of January. Expect 15 to 18 hour days and having to work 8 plus days straight before getting 2 days off and expect that something is going to happen on at least one of those days off that means you have to go in.

yes back in the day when pagers were cool you had to have them on your days off and if you didn't answer....... TROUBLEEEE. Now, I would assume if you dont answer your cell on your days off the same TROUBLEEEEEEE applies. I am not talking about DUTY days either. After me and hubby were married he was called in a lot at night but it was his job though, it seemed to never stop, he was ALWAYS going in. I was glad when he got out of that one and moved to the next one.YOU BELONG to the government! I remember getting YELLED AT for getting a SUNBURN!! "Desruction of government property" NOOOOOO KIDDING Anything that you do to yourself that is careless and that can prevent you from working can be as such. If I had known all of this before would I have changed my mind and not gone in? NO way I am glad I went in. Not only did I grow up ,but I learned so much about life itself, how to be a better person, and I met hubby I was a kid going in and now I am all grown up....

 

[ginna74]

anyone else wanna chime in?

 

[lookingforward]

My husband served 26 years in the USMC and worked his way from the enlisted ranks to officer. There were a lot of opportunities for him and his peers to succeed and they loved it. We traveled to Japan, California, Tenn., NC, SC, FL. LOVED being a USMC wife and our kids really had a great childhood. I wouldn't trade those days.

 

[disneydreamin247]

My DBF just left today for his 6 months of basic for the National Guard. It's tough, but we're going to get through it. He keeps reminding me that he's doing this for us and I'm very proud of him for being able to do it. Luckily he'll be home right before Thanksgiving and we'll (fingers crossed) be able to have the holidays together.

 

[Scraper]

It is a nobile job. One that deserves great respect. I wish someone would have pushed me in that direction when I was younger. It looks great on any resume.

 

[rparmfamily]

We are a Navy family and the Navy has been good to us. I'm not sure where DH would be in life had he not joined at 19. He wasn't ready for college and wasn't ready for entering the big adult world yet. I'd say the Navy did a great job of not only "growing him up" but giving him responsibility, honor, dicipline,etc.

He's been in 16 yrs now and he enjoys his job. Plus we've lived in some awesome places!!! (Hawaii right now, came from Florida, lived in Italy,etc...)

There are trade-offs of course, the deployments, the training time away,etc but he's 4 yrs away from a nice pension, health benefits, etc.

 

[HeatherFeather]

I know you have most of the answers you need but I will throw in my two cents from the perspective of having been a 24 year old woman that was pretty directionless. I had been in go nowhere jobs and in and out of college when I joined the AF at 24. It was always something I had thought about doing and I figured why not...I didn't want to look back later and regret not having done it.

I served 6 years and it was probably the best thing I have ever done for myself. It really did make me a better, more responsible person. I made friends that I hope I will keep forever. I met and married my DH while I was in the AF. He is still in but I am now a civilian.

That said, I agree with the previous poster about being willing to work weird hours and that you may very well have to go to war.

Oh...and I forgot about the Montgomery GI Bill, which has paid over $30,000 toward college costs and put me through both x-ray and ultrasound school.

Military might be just what she needs....

 

[powellrj]

My DS was in the army. He was injured in Iraq and came home pretty beat-up both mentally and physically. He is now disabled because of his injuries, BUT, if he had it to do over again, he would still join.

His life was forever changed because of the army. He was a lost kid who needed direction and the army gave it to him.

I wish he had made different choices, but these were his and he has never regretted them.

That said, I would never encourage my other 2 kids to enlist, but to serve if they are ever called. They are both really different kids who have the drive and direction he never had.

 

[pl71]

I'm a female and joined the Coast Guard when I was 18. I'm still here, 19 years later. I've been very happy here.

I think 22 is a good age to join. Those extra few years tend to make someone a bit more realistic and mature than the 18 year olds. Too many 18 year olds join then are irritated that they have to clean dishes and toilets on a ship for the first couple years, which is not what they thought they would do.

Let me know if she has any Coast Guard questions.

 

[Lanshark]

I know you have most of the answers you need but I will throw in my two cents from the perspective of having been a 24 year old woman that was pretty directionless. I had been in go nowhere jobs and in and out of college when I joined the AF at 24. It was always something I had thought about doing and I figured why not...I didn't want to look back later and regret not having done it.

I served 6 years and it was probably the best thing I have ever done for myself. It really did make me a better, more responsible person. I made friends that I hope I will keep forever. I met and married my DH while I was in the AF. He is still in but I am now a civilian.

That said, I agree with the previous poster about being willing to work weird hours and that you may very well have to go to war.

Oh...and I forgot about the Montgomery GI Bill, which has paid over $30,000 toward college costs and put me through both x-ray and ultrasound school.

Military might be just what she needs....

I am beginning to think that too

 

[PatsGirl]

DS signed up for the Air Force a few days after his 18th birthday but had to wait until after his high school graduation to actual go. His options were rather limited because he truly hated school and although he did well and was accepted at a good state university he was adamant that he was through with studying...

Fast forward 9 months... Honor Graduate at boot camp and more than half way through EOD school at Eglin Air Force Base. I visited him a few weeks ago and asked him if he thought he made the right choice and it was a definite YES! Funny thing though is that he is in a tech school program that will last nearly a year and they go to school about 10-12 hours/day I guess this type of school is different from "regular" school, it's dangerous, it pays well, and there is a light at the end which he can already see...

I sincerely hope that the Air Force provides him with what he needs to succeed. He has always needed structure and an ego boost. Smart kid, physically strong, but not always the most ambitious in the bunch until now. I have other family members who have joined and have not necessarily felt they were treated very well, that they were lied to, and the military was evasive. I think alot of times it is the kids who are not listening, not asking the right questions, and not really sure what they want. I hope that is true.