Thinking of Joining the Army!

[HumbleSiPilot77]

yeah you can, i just want to join the army.

I really want to hear why... I hear a lot of nonsense from people but I still love the army. I think we do most of the job.

 

[pinqy]

No, they'll never tell you you're not guaranteed branch, or assignment, or schools

This sounds kinda odd. I had a marine brochure, and it said something about getting to pick which branch of the marines you're in, with some exceptions.
Also, I was always under the impression you could choose whether you join the army, marines, air force, or coast guard.

Ok, this is just a problem of terminology. "Branch" can mean "branch of service" such as Army, Navy, Marines, Air Force, Coast Guard, but it can also mean the subdivision of a service: artillery, infantry, aviation, finance, medical, etc. Absolutely, in all cases, you choose what branch of service you join. As for branch within a service, officer candidates get to choose which they prefer, but that preference may or may not match what you get. Enlisted in the Army get choice of MOS, Marines as well. It used to be the case that Navy and Air Force could enter under an open contract and would be assigned a job during basic training. I think both allow more choice now. But actually getting the MOS depends on passing the school. I know dozens of people who enlisted for military intelligence, as linguists, but failed language school and were reassigned as infantry, or mechanics, or cooks with no choice. There are several other MOSs and fields (nuclear, medical) that I would assume also have substantial failure rates.

Also, I have a friend who got to choose what school he went to (in this case, the Citadel). And I have a hard time imagining that I would sign up for the AFA and they say that I was accepted, and then send me to west point.

The Citadel is a civilian, public college. It's not run by the military, it is simply run in a military manner with a strong ROTC program. But yes, you are only considered and accepted by the military academy you apply for. When I wrote "schools" I was referring more to airborne, ranger, air assault, etc. Unless those are in your contract you're not guaranteed them, and even if they are in your contract, "needs of the service" take precedence and you might not get them even if they're in your contract.

 

[Buckaroo]

So here i go on my, almost, own and I'm halfway with having my associates in Criminal Justice, and well money is tight. My mom helps my out a lot when i need it, but mostly i'm living off my financal aid. Recently my college had a career fair and The local police and the county police departments are there and so are the marines and the army. And well both of the police stands were busy and i was standing waiting my turn when the army guy walks up and starts talking to me about maybe joining the army, and well i've never thought about or looked into anything dealing with the army. So he's tlaking to me and i tell him that i'm looking to go into Law enforcement and more specifically investigations and such. So he picks up one of the brochures sitting ont he table and starts explaing that i can do that in the army too, that they have their own police and investigations unit (army guys plz dont get mad i didnt know this..non of my family , except for my grandfather and thats cus he was drafted, is in the millitary).

So i was wandering if it is a good idea to join the army or just stay with what i was planning on. I figure that inthe army i will get better training and experience that with a local or state level job. Plus the army will pay for everything, in terms of school and what not. The only thing i'm not sure of is that i'm kinda out of shape and i'm worried that i will die (not literally) at basic. Also my mom isnt really comfortable with the idea of me being in the army cause i could die...but she was fine with my joining the police.. i dont really get that. ANyway, comments welcome!

If I were you young man I would not join the Army or the Marines until this sorry war is over for you might end up dying or getting wounded for nothing in a lost cause. I would choose a nice cushy job in the Air Force or as they say the Chair Force right now . Nothing against those wonderful men and women in all branches of the service I just would not risk dying in another Vietnam quagmire like Bushes War..

 

[SH89]

. I would choose a nice cushy job in the Air Force ..

All jobs in the Air Force are cushy...

LOL, I am just kidding. In the Naval aviation community, they all view the Air Force as a flight club. In-fact, pilots in the air force Iron their suits!

 

[HumbleSiPilot77]

In-fact, pilots in the air force Iron their suits!

In the Army we iron our BDUs also... What is that supposed to mean?

 

[SH89]

In the Army we iron our BDUs also... What is that supposed to mean?

I got that from this article

USN or USAF? by Bob Norris

Bob Norris is a former Naval aviator who also did a 3 year exchange tour flying the F-15 Eagle. He is now an accomplished author of entertaining books about US Naval Aviation including "Check Six" and "Fly-Off". Check out his web site at his web site. Click Here. In response to a letter from an aspiring fighter pilot on which military academy to attend, Bob replied with the following.

12 Feb 04

Young Man,

Congratulations on your selection to both the Naval and Air Force Academies. Your goal of becoming a fighter pilot is impressive and a fine way to serve your country. As you requested, I'd be happy to share some insight into which service would be the best choice. Each service has a distinctly different culture. You need to ask yourself "Which one am I more likely to thrive in?"

USAF Snapshot: The USAF is exceptionally well organized and well run. Their training programs are terrific. All pilots are groomed to meet high standards for knowledge and professionalism. Their aircraft are top-notch and extremely well maintained. Their facilities are excellent. Their enlisted personnel are the brightest and the best trained. The USAF is homogenous and macro. No matter where you go, you'll know what to expect, what is expected of you, and you'll be given the training & tools you need to meet those expectations. You will never be put in a situation over your head. Over a 20-year career, you will be home for most important family events. Your Mom would want you to be an Air Force pilot...so would your wife. Your Dad would want your sister to marry one.

Navy Snapshot: Aviators are part of the Navy, but so are Black shoes (surface warfare) and bubble heads (submariners). Furthermore, the Navy is split into two distinctly different Fleets (West and East Coast). The Navy is heterogeneous and micro. Your squadron is your home; it may be great, average, or awful. A squadron can go from one extreme to the other before you know it. You will spend months preparing for cruise and months on cruise. The quality of the aircraft varies directly with the availability of parts. Senior Navy enlisted are salt of the earth; you'll be proud if you earn their respect. Junior enlisted vary from terrific to the troubled kid the judge made join the service. You will be given the opportunity to lead these people during your career; you will be humbled and get your hands dirty. The quality of your training will vary and sometimes you will be over your head. You will miss many important family events. There will be long stretches of tedious duty aboard ship. You will fly in very bad weather and/or at night and you will be scared many times. You will fly with legends in the Navy and they will kick your ass until you become a lethal force. And some days - when the scheduling Gods have smiled upon you - your jet will catapult into a glorious morning over a far-away sea and you will be drop-jawed that someone would pay you to do it. The hottest girl in the bar wants to meet the Naval Aviator. That bar is in Singapore.

Bottom line, son, if you gotta ask...pack warm & good luck in Colorado.

Banzai

PS Air Force pilots wear scarves and iron their flight suits.

 

[HumbleSiPilot77]

Loved the article.... Though sad it is only about flying the fighter. The real military flying is the rotorheads in the Marines and the Army. Add more hardship to his description of the Navy and there you will have it.

 

[TheReasoner]

Having served, I loved the army. But you should know how good it is depends largely on which country you serve, what company/troop you are in (and what their priority is) and what position you get.

A lot of soldiers are set to do meaningless tasks that can make life pretty hard. And meaningless.
Yet others get a good position, like myself. IF you do join, work hard and excel.

Anyway, you should also check out how the standard is for your nation. In Russia there is an acceptable loss of life during exercises at 10%. If one out of ten dies in an exercise, it is within what they expect and accept. Some nations do not value their troops.

 

[Buckaroo]

Of course the pilots in the Air Force are in danger as are some Navy personnel but for the most part they have a easier go. I do not have anything against the Army and Marines for they are wonderful .I just dont like this Iraq war but we are there now so we cant leave the country in the hands of those murderous heathern. Afganistan is another story we must fight Alquida wherever they are at no matter how long it takes.

 

[pinqy]

Anyway, you should also check out how the standard is for your nation. In Russia there is an acceptable loss of life during exercises at 10%. If one out of ten dies in an exercise, it is within what they expect and accept. Some nations do not value their troops.

While I've heard this rumor for years, I've never heard it confirmed, even from the Russian and other former Soviet soldiers I've worked with. And, in recent years, the Russian Army has been under much scrutiny and criticism for its extreme hazing practices the whole system is under careful watch.

For any Army, training accidents will occur. The Soviet and Russian armies were/are not as scrupulous about safety as the US and other NATO countries, but it just seems odd to have a set percentage.

 

[TheReasoner]

While I've heard this rumor for years, I've never heard it confirmed, even from the Russian and other former Soviet soldiers I've worked with. And, in recent years, the Russian Army has been under much scrutiny and criticism for its extreme hazing practices the whole system is under careful watch.

For any Army, training accidents will occur. The Soviet and Russian armies were/are not as scrupulous about safety as the US and other NATO countries, but it just seems odd to have a set percentage.

Aye. Ofcourse, I have heard some rumors from a few border hunters (a group of elite soldiers) who served up on the russian border. The conditions they serve in are significantly worse than what we had.

Is this rumor true? I don't know. But hearing what I've heard, I'd still be careful. It is known that in WW2 they had less respect for human life than the germans did.
I hope that has changed.

 

[Crusader05]

Secret won't be a problem. Top Secret is not out for naturalized citizens (I've known several), it's just harder. Some Top Secret Clearances require that the individual has no immediate family who are foreign nationals. But waivers are not difficult to get (I needed one). The key is that of threat. A foreign government having power over people you care about is something to be considered for security, regardless of country. Divided loyalty to your original country, loyalty of family members: all concerns. Most of the time they won't be real concerns after investigation.

Its not impossible to get a TS clearance with foriegn relatives, but it will slow the prosess. It might take up to a year to complete. I am in intel training right now, and I know a guy who has relatives in the PRC so it took him about a year for him to get cleared to begin training.

 

[Crusader05]

The hottest girl in the bar wants to meet the Naval Aviator. That bar is in Singapore.


Yeah, just make sure she's really a girl first!

I cannot fathom why anyone would want to go in the Navy...but to each his own.

 

[HumbleSiPilot77]

I do not have anything against the Army and Marines for they are wonderful

Definitely wonderful. This morning we did PT under rain, pushups and situps and stretches in the numerous puddles in our PT field. After this, we ran a few miles. well, yea you get ****ed and say things about the way it is, but you appreciate it later. Can't say the same thing for the AF dudes on post. Never seen them doing PT.

 

[HumbleSiPilot77]

Yeah, just make sure she's really a girl first!

HAHAHAHAHA Cracked me up! Korea has the same problem, sort of.

 

[Buckaroo]

Definitely wonderful. This morning we did PT under rain, pushups and situps and stretches in the numerous puddles in our PT field. After this, we ran a few miles. well, yea you get ****ed and say things about the way it is, but you appreciate it later. Can't say the same thing for the AF dudes on post. Never seen them doing PT.

Wowee: You must not be in love with ur service as I can see. Let me assure you the Air Force does PT three times a week with a two mile run. My son in law is a airman and he does not like PT either. I have been there my friend. While serving in Viet Nam and other duty stations I have been drenched, vehicles up to axle in mud and us covered in same. Freezing and putting up tents in two feet of snow in the Alps and sleeping on a air mattress in a F bag on the snow and so cold I felt like crying and sitting down and quitting, but we didnt and we just kept on doing the job.. My point is all servicemen have to muck along in different situations and that is one reason we love em all and are thankful for them!!

 

[HumbleSiPilot77]

You must not be in love with ur service as I can see.

Wrong buckaroo, I haven't said such thing. I mentioned the conditions we do PT compared to AF. We do PT 5 days a week, 60 mins every morning, notice say things about the way it is, but you appreciate it later.

 

[GodBoy809]

hate to interrupt your riviting coversation but just filling in with an update.

For some reason none of my family is thrilled about me wanting to join the army, even if i'll get excellent training, they just dont want to see me get sent to iraq and die (as mentioned by buckaroo) and they also think it was a spare of the moment dumb decision. They've talked me into atleast finishing my degree and checking out one of the universities internships before I decide where i want to work.

 

[SH89]

hate to interrupt your riviting coversation but just filling in with an update.

For some reason none of my family is thrilled about me wanting to join the army, even if i'll get excellent training, they just dont want to see me get sent to iraq and die (as mentioned by buckaroo) and they also think it was a spare of the moment dumb decision. They've talked me into atleast finishing my degree and checking out one of the universities internships before I decide where i want to work.

People don't just get sent to Iraq and then die:

150,000 troops were sent to Iraq, and about 2,000 died(15,000 wounded).

.013% of the coalition died

.1% were wounded
-------------------------
I definitely recommend going to college first, and the joining the army.

Why not become a officer?

By the way, what exactly do you want to do? Infantry, Armor, aviation, intel, etc..

 

[StromRider]

yeah you can, i just want to join the army.

I spent 16 years in the Canadian army, reg and reserve, and I've got a couple of things for you to consider.

Life in the army (land element - include marines in US) can be absolutely miserable compared to the other services. I know some of the deployments for the air force and navy can be bad, but in general, nothing is worse than the land environment for fighting and living in. Rain, snow, heat, dust, whatever, you work and live in it. After a while it sucks. I'm not a wimp, I've slept in a muddy trench and in a tent in -30C weather, but it still sucks. And when you are on an exercise and waiting to attack a position but are told to stop and wait, in the rain, for the air force to do their bombing run, it makes you mad. Because you know they got up from their warm beds, had breakfast and coffee, and are heading back for more of the same. While you got up in your wet tent, put on your wet clothes, are sitting in your tank/apc, knowing that after this you get to play in the rain some more before doing it all again the next day.

And don't forget your career after the military. Most join thinking they are going to be lifers, but it doesn't work out that way. The American military is notorious for it's up or out policy for officers. At least try and gear your career choice towards something useful in civvy street. I don't know what the potential is for MI or MP or whatever you are choosing but do some research. At least you didn't go armour like me. Not a whole lot of call for tank troop leaders in the real world.

And read the fine print. How many people have we seen in the news that have been called out of retirement who didn't realize they could be?