Is joining the Military a good option...

[Lanshark]

I know a young woman who is thinking of joining the Military. I believe she is interested in the Navy or Coast Guard. Can anyone tell me some of the Pros and Cons? This is a 22 year old woman in great physical shape but seems a bit lost as to what she wants to do with her life.

 

[LindaR]

Well, I was in the Air Force for 8 years. This is a very important decision.

I would like to say that I sincerely hope that she thinks about and fully understands that this is very important decision! I cannot say that enough. You are commiting your LIFE to your country. You may have to take another's life OR give your life for your country. This is not just a job to take because you can't get a job at McDonalds.

This is a very important decision.........

 

[LindaR]

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.

 

[GRUMPY PIRATE]

Hmmm, I know that when I joind It helped me figure out what I wanted to do, plus it gave me work experience.

Before she joines, she should have some idea of what she would like to do or is good at or interested in. The Navy and the coast guard have a lot of different carreer fields to go into, and you should have an idea of what she would be good at so that she could enjoy the work she will be performing daily.

I would suggest that she go to the Navy web site and look at all of the fields and the requirements for each one.

 

[SwedishMeatball]

It depends on the individual and their expectations. It's hard to imagine that in this day and age anyone would join without realizing that there is a strong possibility that they could be sent into a war zone.

 

[Lanshark]

It depends on the individual and their expectations. It's hard to imagine that in this day and age anyone would join without realizing that there is a strong possibility that they could be sent into a war zone.

She is very aware of that possibility.

 

[ZephyrHawk]

My cousin wasn't bothered about being sent to a war zone. He knew what he signed up for, even though he never gave it much thought past the college tuition. No, what bothered him was his then-wife taking up with her bodybuilder while he was away fighting in Bosnia.

The military is an excellent career move, if you go into with the full intention of having a military career. Perhaps she would be interested in "dual majoring" so to speak. I have another cousin (sister to the first) in Jag. She's been very successful.

 

[lovemygoofy]

The military is an excellent place for some people and it's not for everyone. It is hard work and sometimes deadly work. It can be long hours, crappy assignments on the other side of the world without family or loved ones.

It also gives great direction, can learn valuable job skills, and lend itself to even more opportunity on the outside.

The person needs to be willing to work hard and be dedicated. If the person has a career of interest in the navy or coast guard do some research and see what it entails in those branches. I always thought that the medical community such as x-ray tech would be a good job that can lead to other opportunities outside of the military if need be.

 

[Praying Colonel]

IMHO it can be a very good experience, or a very bad one. I served in the Navy for 4 years and have worked for the Army as a civilian for 9, and I've seen examples of both situations.

DD19 is thinking about it right now--either Marines or Navy--and I've tried to guide her to gather as much info as possible about what will be expected of her (which would be a lot), and to be sure she feels called to it. You don't get a "do over" if you join and decide you've made a mistake.

 

[Piecey]

My DH would say it is a good idea...

He says he owes the Marine Corps. for who he is today (respectful, honorable, strong), where he is today (Fed. Government employee), for his degree (he's still using the GI Bill to finish up) and for every one of the best friends he's ever made.

He deployed three times (Iraq x2, Kuwait x1) but he still says joining USMC was one of the best decisions he ever made.

 

[Ephany]

DH and I were both Navy, and neither one of us regrets enlisting. It gave us focus, direction and job skills. My GI Bill helped cover a large portion of my undergraduate degree and will be very much appreciated in August when I start graduate school. However, it is a major commitment and should not be taken lightly. The military is not for everyone and there is a big difference between entering as an officer vs. an enlisted; she needs to take a long look at what she expects to gain from the experience.

It is not easy, especially as a female. I was the only female in my 'A' school class, and there were only a handful of us total in my 2 years of schooling before I reported to my ship. I think less than 10% of my ship was female and you get used to sticking out. However, I firmly believe that the experiences (both good and bad) made me a much stronger, more assertive person. I don't regret it, but I do know a few people who do.

 

[ClarabelleCowFan]

The Army has been very good to DH so far. He has been able to obtain his BS, MS and work towards his PhD. He has been in for 14 years and plans to do his 20 at least. He is hoping to also get his MBA next year on the Army's dime. What other job will PAY you a salary while they pay for your college education?

 

[Piglet4Ever]

My Dh is in the Navy and about 3 yrs from retirement. Hubby has really enjoyed being in and still does. The one con he thinks might be tough is all the moving around, usually every three yrs for the Navy. It takes some getting used too, especially if you have lived in one place with your family all your life. In both our opinions though it is totally worth it. We have lived on both coasts of the country and loved everywhere we've been. A benny to being in the Navy is that you are usually living by the water which is awesome. You get out of the service what you put into it. There are tons of great educational programs you can take advantage of but you have to put in the work. Dh got a second collage degree a few yrs ago mostly aided by the training he got when he was enlisted and he is now looking into getting his Masters.

 

[sfcgijoev]

I have been both in the Navy 4 Years 1988 to 1991 my ship USS Kitty Hawk CV 69 as an AO with 3yrs 8 months Sea Duty. and now another 16 years in the Army Guard and 14 of those have been active duty for the Guard (total 20 years and yes I am still in). if she wants I can tell here what life is like living on a boat. but if she wants to get a more education the guard is where to go. most states offer 100% tuition and most guard members on average make about 750 to 900 a month for working 2 days a month. which is a great deal when you add the free tuition which on average is about 5,000 to 6,000 a semester. I live in NJ and the free tuition goes all the way to a DR degree. ( that includes Rutgers, Rutgers Law, Rowan University, and University of medicine and dentistry this one is about 80,000 a year.). and yes it all has been a great ride for me. but here is my email if she would like to email me if she has any Q's arthur.valenzuela-us.army.mil (replace the( - )dash with the @)or cell 856 217 7971.

 

[GeorgeG]

It was a long time ago, but I have no regrets about my military service.

Before the Marines, my grandson had no direction for what he wanted to do and says joining was the best thing he ever did. He's now in his second hitch, a seargent, in Iraq for a second tour, and married to a wonderful girl. He has a "plan" for the future, which is something he never would have had without the military.

The biggest advice I will offer is that it's a commitment. As others have posted, research everything before making a decision. Once you join there is no changing you mind. As with anything, it's what you make of it.

 

[minkydog]

I know for my brother the Navy really saved him. He was 27yo when he went in. Up until then he had worked at factory jobs barely making ends meet, had a wife & child and no direction in his life. He went into the Navy and took every A class he qualified for. In fact, we joke that he's the only Navy guy that spent less than 6 months at sea in a span of 6 years. He ended up with the equivialent of an AS in electronics. Now he works for himself repairing ocean-going yachts in the Outer Banks where he lives in a house on the water and drives his own boat to work. Now that's the life!

I wish I could get my own son to consider the military. He's also 22 and really at loose ends. College didn't do it for him and with only a HS diploma he finds it hard to get jobs that will make a decent salary. 'Course it might be those two lip rings, ya never know.

 

[Lanshark]

Thanks for all of the great replies

 

[PatsMom]

Enlisting in the Air Force was the right decision for me. Do the research and be prepared for what you are getting into. I got great job skills, an opportunity to travel, made friends I am still close to and had a bunch of my education paid for. In return I worked long hours, was prepared to deploy if it was asked of me (and it was) and put up with separations that may have been a contributing factor to the nasty ending to my first marriage. I think I would have stayed in for my 20 years but I separated after 8 as a last ditch effort to save a marriage that was not salvageable.

 

[OctMtnWoods]

I have been both in the Navy 4 Years 1988 to 1991 my ship USS Kitty Hawk CV 69 as an AO with 3yrs 8 months Sea Duty. and now another 16 years in the Army Guard and 14 of those have been active duty for the Guard (total 20 years and yes I am still in). if she wants I can tell here what life is like living on a boat. but if she wants to get a more education the guard is where to go. most states offer 100% tuition and most guard members on average make about 750 to 900 a month for working 2 days a month. which is a great deal when you add the free tuition which on average is about 5,000 to 6,000 a semester. I live in NJ and the free tuition goes all the way to a DR degree. ( that includes Rutgers, Rutgers Law, Rowan University, and University of medicine and dentistry this one is about 80,000 a year.). and yes it all has been a great ride for me. but here is my email if she would like to email me if she has any Q's ---- REMOVED PERSONAL INFO

Dude, probably not too great of an idea to post your mil email address on a public message board. Never mind your name & cell phone #.

Go rack up 19 more "nothing" posts & just private message the person the info.

Mods, please edit that info out for the guy.

 

[rie'smom]

For most people that I know it as great and for the couple where it didn't work out, it was not the armed services fault, it was the people's fault for using drugs.

My housekeeper's family was very poor and lived in a horrible neighborhood. Her brother wanted to travel and to break out of the place wehre he lived , so he joined the air force. He made it a 20 year career and retired at 38. When he left, he had dozens of job offers in Washington DC and ended up taking one as the vice president of a computer company. He met his beautiful wife while in the service too. It makes me feel so happy whenever I think of his story. He's a hero and the American Dream all rolled into one.