Thinking about joining the Army.

I have been int he Corps for almost 10 years. I have had the best and worst times of my life in the marines. Here is what I suggest
1. Wait and see what happens with this election. Obama is doing a good job of killing our benefits package. Before Obama the Corps was to be at 212,000 marines. My first time reenlisting I recived $61,000.00 because of my job. If we asked for gear we got it. Since Obama there have been talks of taking away our retirement, and having us pay for our medical. There are no more bonuses for reenlistment and they want the marine Corps to be down to 180,000. So alot of good Marines are being denied reenlistment.
2. If you go in PLEASE pick a job that will train you for something in the real world. I am a marine Force Recon, Sniper, Diver , Free fall parachutist, and have close to a million dollars sunk into me in training, and I can't find a good job out side of being a merc that pays me for what I am trained in. Pick a real job you can do when you get out.
3. If you go in have a plan incase you want to do your 4 and get out. Don't assume you will do your twenty. There are things about the military you can not learn aside from being in.

If you decision to enlist is motivated by debt then I sat pick another line of work. You will carry that debt in and the military does not pay much. You will not be able to use the GI bill for college debt you already have. Also depending on your debt you may be denied enlistment.

I am not trying to discourage you, it is not for everyone and has the potential for great adventures. But remember it is NOTHING like the commercials or movies.

A general rule of thumb. The cooler it looks on tv the more it sucks in real life. When you are patrolling or doing a long swimm, there is no commercial break, no music in the back ground, and there is no hot girl waiting for the hero at the end of the war.

I hope this helps. Also if you go to talk to a recuiter don't believe what they say and take some one with you that is or has been in.
 
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Longtrang said:
Nothing much to add except, 3-6 years is not that big of a deal in the long run. If you like it re-up, if you hate it, get out. Not like being a Vet hurts your resume.
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It can be a hugge deal if with in those few years you manage to get killed and or mangled to the point of it being life altering. Not to come off like a coward, I have deployed several times and have been shot and am going back in a few months and will continue to do so untill my time is up, or there is no more enemy. Also being a vet can hurt you on an application. I hate to say it but not everyone is a fan of the war or the peple fighting it. It the sad truth. I am not trying to sound negative but these are all things he must consider. More often than not being a vet will help for applications but you might get that one prick that hates the military.
 
Emphasiski said:
... I'm about to hit my 10 year mark in the USAF, and I'm currently at my third tech school.
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+1.

If you can get into the USAF, then do that. I don't know anyone who has ever regretted that decision! Disclosure: I have never served in uniform, but my work (USG) has me around military folks all the time. All the stories you hear about USAF people having it better are true.
 
The only advice I can really give is do your research and make sure that that's really what you want to do with your life.
Do it because you want to, not because you have to.
 
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Charlie Fox said:
Lastly; don't spend your money! Pay your bills, stay away from the bars and town women and sock your money away. When your deployed it won't be hard, but in garrison there are many enticements to separate you from your $. Be frugal, it will pay off in the future.
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+1,000,000.

I give this post +1,000,000.

I am not a member of the armed froces but my job (USG, not/not uniformed) keeps me around military folks all the time, and I know far too many young men your age (OP) who were suddenly flooded with what seemed like a lot of money for the first time in their lives. And what did they do? Of course they went and bought a sports car or a motorcycle, blew it on women, you name it... they basically lived it up and that money is now gone and gone.

Whereas... if you put the maximum amount of money you are able into your TSP account (you set that up in basic training I believe, probably around the time you sign up for the GI Bill)--especially while deployed because the max is raised--you will have a leg up on other people your age. It seems like a huge sacrifice, but trust me and just do it! I know no one else does it, but you must.

Then, when you separate, go to a real 4-year school right away, and get a degree that matters, like engineering. Don't waste the GI Bill at a 2-year school or any school you've seen on T.V. like DeVry or distance learning or Phoenix. They lie about what their degrees are worth... mostly they're worthless, especially in this economy.

That's the start. To recap:

1. don't buy a new car/motorcyle and/or spend on women, liquor, etc. Save as much as you can.
2. sign up for TSP and GI Bill when they let you, and max your contribution to the TSP (and then don't take it out again)
3. Go to a real (accredited) 4-year school immediately after leaving the military and pick a useful major

I guarantee you that you will never regret doing those things. If you do those things and come back and tell me you regretted it 10 years later, I'll eat any shoe of your choice and that's a promise.
 
No comment. :D Good luck with your decision, sorry i can't provide any real advice. I can't make up my mind on what I should tell you so I will leave it at that.
Just try not to get screwed too hard by the Big Green Weenie.

~USMC 1371.
 
I wanted to join the Marine Corps like my dad, but ended up a mechanic in the AF. I still wish I had followed my own path and been a warrior. That said, the AF was no cake walk, just not a lot of the unique things being in the military offers.

Follow your heart and do what you want to do, or you'll regret it forever.
 
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