Hey Army or other Military member I need Some advice

[FESTUS33]

Originally posted by Sir. Foxalot
when I went to the recruters they said i was good for any enlisted job.

"Enlisted" this does not mean "Officer Corps",
You have to be very careful of how Recruiters
word thing's. If I were you I'd ask you're
recruiter how that score qualifies you as to
OCS/WOC.
Recruiter's have a tendency to say thing's that
while being "True", don't neccesarily mean exactly
what you Hear.
Get this Clarified BEFORE you sign anything.
Rick

[PaintballMonkey]

First of all I'm new to the board, but back on topic...

I was in the Army for 4 years as a 91B (combat medic) and sometimes it was hell and sometimes it was great. If it wasn't for the military I wouldn't have a degree right now. Some things to watch out for:

1. Never trust a recruiter. They are the military's version of a used car salesman.

2. Never trust a recruiter.

3. Never trust the MEPS people.

4. When you are in the Army you will get a cool job, but it probably isn't the one you want. I know a lot of medics that spent most of their time in motor pools changing tracks out on their vehicles instead of working with patients... real fun

5. About 10 days a month will be spent doing crap work like duty driver (aka gopher) and special detail (aka trash boy)

6. When you go to MEPS, know which MOS (job) you want and stick to it. It is the recruiter and MEP's job to convince you to be something that the Army needs people for, not what you want. Make up your mind and stick to it. If they tell you it isn't available, call their bluff and tell them you will try another branch. They can get you any job, you just have to make them think they will lose you if they don't.

7. There is no such thing as a 2, 4, or 6 year enlistment. The minimum is 8 years. A typical 4 year term is really 4 years active and 4 years inactive reserves. Durimg the inactive time they can call you back to duty.

8. Do DEP (Delayed Entry Program). The DEP time you do counts as inactive reserve time served.


Whatever you decide to do, do it for yor own reasons (patriotism, money, school, and personal development are all good resons to join). Don't let someone convince you otherwise.

One last thing to keep in mind. If you do DEP, you swear in twice, once when you sign up in DEP, and second when you ship off to boot camp. If you change your mind before your second "swear in" you can still get out of your contract.

Good Luck!

[shartley]

Welcome to AO PaintballMonkey.

[blembiggity]

shartley i know that under arms they have to keep their hat on. i didnt just join. he inside a house for one and doesnt have his blouse on, thats the only reason i said it. i have many friends that are cops and i feel for them. they are the ones that have to stand out and check i.d's in the cold and stand in front of a jet all night in the freezing cold. i know SP's do many other things so dont jump on me for not listing them all but it is a job i envy. we work hard as mechanics but they work long.

[shartley]

Originally posted by blembiggity
shartley i know that under arms they have to keep their hat on. i didnt just join. he inside a house for one and doesnt have his blouse on, thats the only reason i said it. i have many friends that are cops and i feel for them. they are the ones that have to stand out and check i.d's in the cold and stand in front of a jet all night in the freezing cold. i know SP's do many other things so dont jump on me for not listing them all but it is a job i envy. we work hard as mechanics but they work long.

[blembiggity]

naw shartley i wasnt saying anything against u or bagging on u. i was stating what i meant. chill out. i really do admire cops and all that they do

[edweird]

In CAPS LOC for a reason

FOR THE LOVE OF ALL THAT IS HOLY DO NOT BECOME AN AIRCRAFT CREW CHIEF!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !

yes they get an awesome reenlistment bonus, yes promotion rates have been the highest in decades, yes the air force is cake in comparison to the other branches.

but the job "Tactical Aircraft Maintenance Specialist" aka airctaft crewchief is one of the most thankless and backbreaking jobs in the airforce. Beleive me, all flightline jobs in the airforce (TAMS, Weapons, Specialists) are by far the most overworked and under appreciated gaggle of slaves the air force employs.

The only real benifits that a TAMS job holds is the ability to obtain an A&P license, so when you seperate you can go work for the major airlines. As a weapons crewcheif I will get little more than some management experience to work the civilian job markey from doing my job for 20 years.

College classes while serving your enlistment in these flightline dutys are limited to when you can work an arrangement with your shop. Unlike the hogwash your recruiters may say.

But to end on a positive note, regardless of the insane hours I work sometimes and the sacrifices I do make to my personal life to sustain it, I remain mildly happy with the job I do and the pay I draw doing it. How common is it today in a civilian job to go home every day without fear of getting laid off, with a reasonable paycheck 2 times a month, and the minor glee from arming 23 F-16's with enough conventional explosives to level most large citys.

I dont want to scare you away from the job its just that alot of ppl get out very unhappy with it. However there are countless other AFSC's that have far better end benifits and more forgiving workloads. But us "Mission essential" ppl will still laugh at you and call you "Non-ers" :P

[Kevmag]

Originally posted by Army
Whatever your girlie friend believes, her thoughts should not concern you with your future.

Sometimes I think Army is really R. Lee Ermey from History Channel's Mail Call.

[FESTUS33]

Originally posted by edweird
In CAPS LOC for a reason

FOR THE LOVE OF ALL THAT IS HOLY DO NOT BECOME AN AIRCRAFT CREW CHIEF!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !

yes they get an awesome reenlistment bonus, yes promotion rates have been the highest in decades, yes the air force is cake in comparison to the other branches.

but the job "Tactical Aircraft Maintenance Specialist" aka airctaft crewchief is one of the most thankless and backbreaking jobs in the airforce. Beleive me, all flightline jobs in the airforce (TAMS, Weapons, Specialists) are by far the most overworked and under appreciated gaggle of slaves the air force employs.

The only real benifits that a TAMS job holds is the ability to obtain an A&P license, so when you seperate you can go work for the major airlines. As a weapons crewcheif I will get little more than some management experience to work the civilian job markey from doing my job for 20 years.

College classes while serving your enlistment in these flightline dutys are limited to when you can work an arrangement with your shop. Unlike the hogwash your recruiters may say.

But to end on a positive note, regardless of the insane hours I work sometimes and the sacrifices I do make to my personal life to sustain it, I remain mildly happy with the job I do and the pay I draw doing it. How common is it today in a civilian job to go home every day without fear of getting laid off, with a reasonable paycheck 2 times a month, and the minor glee from arming 23 F-16's with enough conventional explosives to level most large citys.

I dont want to scare you away from the job its just that alot of ppl get out very unhappy with it. However there are countless other AFSC's that have far better end benifits and more forgiving workloads. But us "Mission essential" ppl will still laugh at you and call you "Non-ers" :P

Not to Rip on you Dude
But Get Some Ball's!!, As A Crew Chief
That Aircraft "BELONG'S" To YOU!!
Not the Diploma'd Jerk who yank's the
control's every which way. Make it
clear to anyone who take's "You're
Aircraft" off the ground, That You
Expect to see it come back,
In The Same Shape You Gave it to Them.
You will be Amazed at how many Pilot's
actually listen to they're Crew Chief's
Rick

[edweird]

Bah! belongs my arse!

Of the DCC's that im friendly with (Weapons and Crewcheifs have a long standing rivalry) they are rarely on "there own jet". Normally they are stuck assisting someone else or training some FNG. All part of the bigger job really.

I remember back when I was 18 and fresh out or Sheppard AFB, still scared to walk under the exaust of an F-16. When id get a giant grin everytime I loaded 511 rnds of PGU-28 TP ammo into a M61a1 gatling gun and marvel at its simple genius. But that only lasted so long.....

Trust me, the "glammor" of "Owning" your jet wears off fast. Just like when I spend 6 hours putting up several metric tons of Mk-82 or JDAM's it all becomes part of an average day. And after it all the only thing that really matters is that the pilot that hops in that 22 year old airframe is as safe as the guy that jumps into the newest plane in the inventory.

Seeing a newbie Pilot jump out of a plane with a face full of teeth after dropping the munitions that My crew up is really my only reward other than a decent paycheck.

If ya were near Luke AFB id invite you all to take a tour with me and see how it is on a day to day basis, not the dog and pony show everyone gets at airshows.

Oh and (Sir. Foxalot) this goes double for you. My posts arnt ment to scare you off, just be prepared for the harsh reality of whatever choice you make. I personally invite you out to Luke for the grand tour. If your in the Phoenix area anytime feel free to drop me a PM and undoubtedly ill check it and send ya my contact info. Most of all dont go blindly into stuff. Find someone that has done it and can tell you all the worst stuff about it, if it still sounds good it might be worth looking into for a career.

[SilverFox]

Army? AIR FORCE??? I thought wanted to join the Military?

Semper FI join the Corp. I put off joining the service because of a girl. Even though she is now my wife and we are happily married with 2 1/2 kids. I still regret not joining up first.

[Trunnion]

just so you know, it's not required that you go active duty. you could also go reserve or gaurd. a number of the gaurd officers i've met here went to the gaurd from their ROTC programs. if you have questions about ROTC, find a nearby college or university and set up an appointment with them. they can explain the ROTC program to you. and you don't have to contract immediately. you can do the program for two years without a commitment to the military. it'll give you a little taste of the military(though to be honest, ROTC is still not going to compare to the real deal). just remember, that if you don't contract immediately, you still have to pay for college for those two uncontracted years.

[battlegroup]

First off I have been in the Navy for 13 years. I have seen both the officer side and the enlisted side. And I received my education while in the military.

I am a Smart guy but I blew off high school and had a C avareage. I took the ASVAB and scored a 99, which when I joined was a score that was compared to everyone else and 99 was the highest you could get. I don't know if that has changed but I know that Army uses some numbers above 100 for the ASVAB. I Enlisted in the Navy as a Nuclear Electronics Technition and made it to E-5 on a submarine. From the time I entered the Navy I wanted to fly, so I applied to Every Officer Program for Four years until I was picked up. I went to the US Naval Academy where I graduated with a degree in Electrical Engineering. I went to flight school, selected helicopters, went to sea for some time and now am a flight instructor in Pensacola. But my path is unusual. It can be done with hard work, dedication, and persistence, but it's not a guarantee by any means.

I have seen the military from both sides and can say that, even though I enjoyed my enlisted time, Officer is the way to go. There's more paper work but Quality of life and Job satifaction is great on the officer side, At least IMHO. I have loved just about every day I have spent in the military and I can't think of anything I would rather do.

My advice to you is to get an ROTC scholarship. Go to college get a degree and get a Commission in whichever branch of the military you choose.

FESTUS33 , with all due respect, The aircraft belongs to the government! And as a pilot, I'm not worried about bringing it back to you the way you "gave" it to me. I'm more concerned about bringing my butt back safe in an aging aircraft. I have had more mechanical failures in aircraft than I wish to count and the guys on the ground were the last thing on my mind. Yes, you have a lot of responsibilty in making that aircraft safe to fly and may bear some heat if something is done wrong, but it's this "jerk who yanks the controls" life and the life of my crew that i'm responsible for, in addition to putting ordnance on target. I know working on aircraft is a tough job, and have great respect for mechs, because in the Navy Helicopter Squadrons that Deploy on small ships have a limited number of maintenance personnel and us "Diploma'd jerks" get in there and work on our own aircraft doing the sucky jobs like cleaning/washing/and any other dirty jobs, because we need the techs to actually work on keeping the aircraft flying. I don't know how it is in the other services But in the Navy we are a team and don't go bashing other people we work with and depend on.

*BTW BOOMERFOXTROT What's your brothers name (PM me), I'll look him up, and take care of a fellow paintballer, if he plays, and he goes Helicopters.*

[devildog]

hey, glad to see your thinking of making a good choice. all i have to say to help your parents is, the military will give you better education than anything else out there. im in the marine corps, ive only been in about a year, but i already have 36 college credits and i havent even gone to college, all the credits are just from training. also, the military pays 100% college tuition while youre in, and you have the gi bill after you get out.

second, DO NOT BASE YOUR DESCISION ON THE GIRL!!! first off, if its meant to be between you too, she will understand and she will be there for you. second there is no love greater than that for the corps, god country corps, all the way, hoorah.

i dont want to make a 3 mile long post, if you wanna talk about some options you have, what recruiters do, and what you want to do when you go in, then pm me or catch me on aim some time at gainman00.

oh yeah, with a 99 asvab score, think about going navy into the nuke program, they make ungodly ammounts of money when they get out of the service, and get awesome education.

lastly, for all the guys who "almost" joined the corps and are writing semper fi and stuff, i nicely ask please dont, its insulting to me if youre not in the corps.

oh yeah, and sir foxalot, join the corps, no other service will change you for the better like the corps.

Battlegroup, i am also at pensacola going through school still, maybe we can meet up some time sir, and the thing about team work is totally true, as nasty as the navy may get sometimes, they stick together and get the job done.

[battlegroup]

Originally posted by devildog
Battlegroup, i am also at pensacola going through school still, maybe we can meet up some time sir, and the thing about team work is totally true, as nasty as the navy may get sometimes, they stick together and get the job done.

How long are you going to be here? I plan on playing again as soon as I get my X-mag which I hope will be soon (I ordered it last July)! PM me if you are going to play anytime soon and I may come out with my classic.