Curious about the Service

[jream]

Hey guys I didnt realize there was a Military section here, I was told about it in the mens section.

I'm looking into the service, Air Force or Navy sound the best to me if I am applicable. I have a misdemeanor for stealing a $20 dvd when I was 17. Also had drug usage in those ages, never caught.

Anyways, since I am going to be body building anyways, I am mostly concerned about the running. I get shin splints that hurt very bad, I can't go over a mile with the pain making it hard to walk.

I mostly work my upper body, should I do lower body and drop a few lbs - will that make it easier? I am about 6'4 220lbs if that matters.
Any exercises I should focus on that would make boot camp a little easier?

Also I am wondering about PTSD. Has anyone had this after being in the Service? I know I've heard about it from Vietnam soldiers, but I don't know much about after that if many people suffer from it. Is PTSD something that would affect an individual more than an overall group of people? If I were in combat and shot a person, or saw someone shot and the gore in front of me, I think I would be affected very severely. I do not want to kill anyone, but I also don't want our free country to be trampled on, so I would play my part.

I am speaking ahead of myself I know, I am not even certain I will join. But I would just like some heads up. I've browsed a few military sites and there are some pretty mean people on there, I hoped to get a nice answer here instead without any dissing.

Also, is the saying - "Curse like a sailor", true? Is it easy to pickup that nasty habit?

Any other cliff notes or things like websites would be appreciated!

-Jesse

 

[justanobserver]

Hey Jream - welcome to the Military forum.

about the best initial advise I can give to you about which branch to join is you need to figure out what it is you want to do. The options are many.

Different branches offer bonuses for enlisting but it will be for a specific MOS (job) and a specific time frame and that branch only. Dont let the dollar signs determine where and what you sign up for.

Do your recon - put together a list of what you would like to do, I mean really intertested in what you will be doing if you join then sit with the recruiters of each branch your interested in adn talk to them about schools, time frames, promotions, duty stations, etc.

Be straight up with the recruiters - I dont care about the "its sealed and no one will ever know" stuff - if you did something wrong, got caught and there was a record of it, then declare it.

Unless things have really changed since I got out, you will be asked if you ever smoked pot or done drugs before. Just saying this since you mentioned smoking pot before.

Curse like a sailoer - well, ever hear a lumberjack curse or a longshoreman? hang around a truck stop and listen to a long hauler! It aint just sailors!! Marines and soldiers can curse pretty good. I know - I was an Army Sergeant and I had a potty mouth although I could say since I am a former Marine (before I went Army), thats where I got it!

PTSD - I wouldnt worry about that right now. Millions have served and do not have this.

Killing - well, again, depends on what branch and what MOS you sign up for. You go computer tech in the Airfoce and get stationed in the US, you aint gonna be shootin folks. You become a jet engine mech on a carrier, you aint gonna be shootin bad guys either.

You become a grunt in the Army or the Marines, chances are you will be in a place to shoot or get shot at.

Height/Weight - different brahcnes have different standards - go google each one and thru teh links you can see the Height/Weight standards for Male/Female as well as the PT test - what comprises it and teh minumum required to pass it. Each branch is different.

Ht/Wt - for ex: I am almost 50, at 70" (5'10"), I can go to 192 lbs before I have to taped for body fat - Army standards

So, it depends different factors but the closest to your Ht/Wt allowable, the better.

Others will post here I am sure and will offer nsights and views/

i wish you the best in your endeavors.

 

[Gwenyfur]

I can't add anything to what observer told ya except to say...good luck...and if ya follow what he said, you'll do allright

(and I have to confess, that on certain days, in certain situations, I still swear like a Marine)

 

[paul123]

Hey guys I didnt realize there was a Military section here, I was told about it in the mens section.

I'm looking into the service, Air Force or Navy sound the best to me if I am applicable. I have a misdemeanor for stealing a $20 dvd when I was 17. Also had drug usage in those ages, never caught.

Anyways, since I am going to be body building anyways, I am mostly concerned about the running. I get shin splints that hurt very bad, I can't go over a mile with the pain making it hard to walk.

I mostly work my upper body, should I do lower body and drop a few lbs - will that make it easier? I am about 6'4 220lbs if that matters.
Any exercises I should focus on that would make boot camp a little easier?

Also I am wondering about PTSD. Has anyone had this after being in the Service? I know I've heard about it from Vietnam soldiers, but I don't know much about after that if many people suffer from it. Is PTSD something that would affect an individual more than an overall group of people? If I were in combat and shot a person, or saw someone shot and the gore in front of me, I think I would be affected very severely. I do not want to kill anyone, but I also don't want our free country to be trampled on, so I would play my part.

I am speaking ahead of myself I know, I am not even certain I will join. But I would just like some heads up. I've browsed a few military sites and there are some pretty mean people on there, I hoped to get a nice answer here instead without any dissing.

Also, is the saying - "Curse like a sailor", true? Is it easy to pickup that nasty habit?

Any other cliff notes or things like websites would be appreciated!

-Jesse

Have you ever looked into the Coast Guard? If you are still investigating, look into the service with the Big White Boats. You may be suprised as to what you will find. If you have any questions about it, please ask. I am on a 270 foot boat in the Caribbean looking for drug smugglers, stranded migrants, I am boarding boats, and gathering intelligance for joint millitary forces right now and for the next month. Yesterday, I saw the house of the Haitian drug lord who controls 85% of the Haitian army. His house is on a beach with a Yaht and zip-line. Just PM me if you are curious.

Don't worry about the drugs. A little weed can't keep anyone out. I have a buddy who has done more drugs than I have letters in my name. He is in and doing fine.
That misdemeanor means nothing.

 

[sn315on]

Hey guys I didnt realize there was a Military section here, I was told about it in the mens section.

I'm looking into the service, Air Force or Navy sound the best to me if I am applicable. I have a misdemeanor for stealing a $20 dvd when I was 17. Also had drug usage in those ages, never caught.

Anyways, since I am going to be body building anyways, I am mostly concerned about the running. I get shin splints that hurt very bad, I can't go over a mile with the pain making it hard to walk.

I mostly work my upper body, should I do lower body and drop a few lbs - will that make it easier? I am about 6'4 220lbs if that matters.
Any exercises I should focus on that would make boot camp a little easier?

Also I am wondering about PTSD. Has anyone had this after being in the Service? I know I've heard about it from Vietnam soldiers, but I don't know much about after that if many people suffer from it. Is PTSD something that would affect an individual more than an overall group of people? If I were in combat and shot a person, or saw someone shot and the gore in front of me, I think I would be affected very severely. I do not want to kill anyone, but I also don't want our free country to be trampled on, so I would play my part.

I am speaking ahead of myself I know, I am not even certain I will join. But I would just like some heads up. I've browsed a few military sites and there are some pretty mean people on there, I hoped to get a nice answer here instead without any dissing.

Also, is the saying - "Curse like a sailor", true? Is it easy to pickup that nasty habit?

Any other cliff notes or things like websites would be appreciated!

-Jesse

Hi,

My hubby has been a sailor for 25 years and he doesn't cuss. He picked it up when he first joined and then when we met he stopped after I asked him to. *LOL*

As far as I know, once you hit 18 all the stuff on your juvie record is gone, so don't let that stop you from joining the military.

Just make sure you know what you want to do and when the recruiter asks you what you want to pursue as a career, have an answer. Don't just let them pick one for you. My hubby wanted to be in Electronics and the Nuclear field and knew it.

Also, the recruiter is making money when he signs you up, he will not answer a question you don't ask. He will not necessarily lie to you, but he won't disclose all the facts to you either. You basically have to know what to ask I guess.

It's easier to advance in the Navy if you have a good weight. I know that there's a lot of guys that get passed over because the next guy weighs less.

PTS happens, but, I've not heard about it happening to sailors that my hubby knows. I think maybe more Army guys would have this is my guess.

If you have any questions and would like me to pass them on to my hubby for answers, please let me know.

 

[Balko]

So you like dvds, huh? go airforce, lol.

Just kidding. But just to let you know, Air Force guys don't run, they bike. I'm joining marines myself, and people I know think that Air Force biking for their fitness tests is a joke. Regardless of what you do, you need to learn how to run, because you need to carry your weight, and be useful. Military is serious business.

You really need to start working out your lower body. Having an unbalanced body isn't going to help you but it'll probably be less of a factor for the air force. 6'4" and 220 lbs, means you're probably overweight, so I would drop a few lbs. The absolute best thing is the fat to weight ratio, because you could just be pretty well muscled.

And cursing is what you choose to do with it. If its that big a deal to you, you probably can control it yourself. If the guys at the recruiting office can control their foul mouths in front of parents, I think its quite possible to do so all the time. Though I know when parents leave, my recruiter can sometimes "curse like a sailor", lol. Plus I have two friends who joined the army, one of them, I've NEVER heard curse, just to let you know.

 

[mont974x4]

It takes a very strong (in the faith) person to serve in the military and not pick up bad habits. As soon as you get stationed somewhere get hooked up with Promise Keepers or another solid group of Christians.

 

[Gwenyfur]

Good advice Mont...
I was a pagan when I joined the Corps...G-d used a nice chaplain and a rack mate to put me where He wanted me...but some bad habits do die pretty hard

 

[mont974x4]

I was blessed to be raised in a solid Christian home but rebelled hard. Thankfully He provided loving and prayerful intercessors and He is longsuffering

 

[jlcboi23]

I am in the Army and am overseas at the moment. My advice would be to pray and make sure you have God's will for your life. We need the military and it's not a bad decision if you are sure that's what you and God want. In the bible Israel had a army and fought in many battles. God told them to slay every one of their enemies and leave not one behind.
About the PTSD, I wouldn't worry about that too much. Like the other writer wrote...a very small percentage of people over here have to deal with that. This is my second time over here and didn't have any problems at all the first time I went back to the states.
To reiterate myself, Be sure to have God's mind in everything that you do. I pray that God bless you in all of your decisions in the future!

 

[ONEGod]

If you're looking for some direction, purpose, discipline in your life, the military can provide it. If you're looking for a place to play political games, you're looking in the wrong place. The Airforce is about the easiest branch of service to serve, usually far (further)away from shots fired in anger. Most of the Navy serves States side last i heard.
I was Army trained field wireman, which gets you invited to the thick of the action. Vietnam was closing when i joined and i served Stateside.

 

[StephenES]

I have a few airforce friends over on another Forum (startrek Forum of all things) , and We are always kidding each other. Me being the most vocal Leatherneck there, I always remind them, at least they send there officers to fight.

Whatever you decide, It's a good thing. And guys, Try and stay of the drugs. Sure you might feel good for awhile, but in the long run they will bring you down.

Stephen

 

[Conspiracy Theory]

In the Army you can get a waiver for up to two felonies, IIRC.

It's easy to pick up cursing, tobacco use, and drinking in the military.

In terms of recruitment, the Air Force has the highest standards, so I don't know if you would be able to join them.

 

[BAFRIEND]

Even the FBI allows past drug offenders to join its ranks.

Just put alot of thought as to whether this is what you really really want. Some place more thought into what they put on in the morning than about their careers.