Am I crazy for joining the Army?

[veteranvmb]

Oh by the way, I assume by your concern you have some dental issues. Before you are put in basic or boot or whatever you will be given a pretty decent physical and have lots of injections, and a dentist giving you an exam.
If you have any problems with your teeth, they will take care of it immediately or soon after. So if thats a concern , not to worry. They dont want you to have any teeth problems, if you have go to a combat zone, especially in the marines or army, where a dentist may not always be available. So dont worry about your teeth.
Good luck, Jerry

[tmanqz]

All I can Steven is, if this is what you want to do go for it.
When I was a young man, I wanted to join the coast guard, unfortanately I let others talk me out of it, I'd give anything to go back in time and enlist.
Live your life with no regrets and enjoy.God bless and good luck.

[zitro_joe]

Are you crazyy, no.

ALL BRANCHES HAVE PROS AND CONS. Period. I just fnished being an tech school instructor. I instructed all branches.
Best students: Marines, hands down.
Smartest Students: Air Force (a bunch of smart asses, too!)
Navy and Army fell in between. I dont mean that in a bad way. I was lucky, our career is very small and it is hard to get into and finish so generally every one wanted to be there.

Joe

[Acesfull]

If you want to serve and learn go Air Guard... 100% Tuition paid for college (check with recruiter as benefits vary by state), free GI Bill... and your deployments are shorter and less dangerous.... oh and basic is shorter and easier.. everyone that I know that has went army I told them about the Air Guard and they said to me afterward "I should have listened to you".. thats just my $.02

[Ray]

Well, I've seen lots of good advice and wisdom here. So I'll just chime in with my $.02

I think all men and women should serve, I think it would give our leaders in the future a little better idea of what sending men into harms way is REALLY all about.

But, I'll get off my soapbox. I enlisted in and served 3 years in the Army. I wasn't too bright about it and did it on a spur of the moment. If I had it all to do over again, I may have went into a different branch, or at the very least chose a better MOS for civilian life.

If I was doing it again, it would be a toss up between Marine's and Air Force. I would consider Marines because I thought the Army was too easy. It was of course peace time, I can only hope it's better now.
Air Force is a good place to go to learn some of the specialities and serve in a somewhat "safer" environment.

My best advice is to think long and hard on Why you're enlisting, and what you want to achieve by serving. (Other than pride and patriotism, that's essentially why I joined. Good things to be sure, but they don't carry over to civilian life very well if you choose not to make it a career)

[HU1844SMOKER]

Join the Marines like I did and see the world.

[fuente~fuente]

Do what your heart says redvette.

Thank you for doing what alot of people wouldn't think about doing this day of age.

If more people thought the way you do, our country would be on alot better shape. Not because of you choosing a military career..... But because your thinking unselfishly.

[PerpetualNoob]

In the late 80's, I was 25, over-educated and under-motivated, trapped in a series of dead-end jobs. On the advice of my FIL, I tried to join the Coast Guard but they wouldn't take me. I don't have "normal color vision". I see colors, but I never know if I'm seeing the right ones. Anyway, I totally kicked ass on my ASVAB tests, and the recruiter referred me down the hall to the Air Force guy. I thought he was going to pee. I wound up in the USAF for four years as a computer/comm operator, although I did have to wait 9 months for a slot to open up. It was kind of an accident, really, but it was the best decision I ever made. Frankly, I needed someone to tell me what to do for a while. I know it sounds like a cliche, but they really did make a man out of me. Gave me discipline, initiative, and the ability to think on my feet, all of which has served me very well since then. On top of which, it also made me eligible for a VA mortgage, or I never would have qualified to buy the house I've been in for 15 years. I've never regretted it for a second.

[veteranvmb]

Originally Posted by PerpetualNoob

On top of which, it also made me eligible for a VA mortgage, or I never would have qualified to buy the house I've been in for 15 years. I've never regretted it for a second.

And I believe the v.a. mortage guarantee(Its not reall a va mortgage) is I think up to 500,000 with no down payment. Not a bad deal, but you still go through a bank, and need to qualify, but its a lot less restrictive as the bank has nothing to lose as long as the value of the house is at least as much as your mortgage.

Jerry

[redvette]

Well its pretty much settled. I just cant find any reason not to do this... The recruiter said it will take a little bit of time at first but to "get my ducks in a row" ... My family is now behind me %100... Once they got a few things through to my noggin (like the first 48 hours in basic for one... lol). I cant imagine I'll have much time for my cars so I have to get them in to storage.

Nice thing is I'll have people taking care of my stuff,and holding it for me and so on and so forth....

I truely thank you all for these fantastic opinions... Any tips for basic? I was told back in '66 it was like 14 weeks but I've herd its not that long now.

I know its gunna be hard work but they dont treat you the way they do in basic for your entire term do they?

Thanks again guys... Gotta go get some sleep,these 10 hour shifts (6 days a week) kinda get to me after a while.

[ssutton219]

Congrats!





Keep in touch and after boot camp we can send ya a graduation present....






Shawn

[veteranvmb]

[QUOTE=redvette;2716421]

.. Any tips for basic? I was told back in '66 it was like 14 weeks but I've herd its not that long now.

It depends on what branch you are joining and what mos(job) Some mos have osut in the army. (one station unit training) so if you are going to be say an army m.p., you will go one place and stay with your batallion from basic through advanced mp training at fort leonard woods(ft. leonard, lost in the woods)
Basic is a bit mental for the first 4 weeks in the army. Some things you will get used to, is not having sweets, or sodas, and eating real fast, and showering real fast.
After you get used to it mentally, tis no problem. Not to difficult, and as you are older, you will not suffer the mental problems of the 18 year olds.

In the marines its a bit different. they demand a lot from you and expect a lot from you the first month or so. after that it becomes more of a mentor roll, in that they dont want to break you down any further, but want to build you up.
after boot camp you usualy get some leave, and then have to report to where your going to get trained. Infantry, tanks, air wing, fleet force, etc.
the corps will put you into shape. if you are heading to the corps i will say for you, to practice pullups on a bar. if you can do ten, your life will be a lot simpler. and start to job a mile or so. if you can do this, you will breeze through.

I know its gunna be hard work but they dont treat you the way they do in basic for your entire term do they?

see above. but if you are going to the navy or airforce or coast guard, its more important to learn your table manners and how to hold your pinkie when you go to tea time.

and also, if you dont know how to iron or sew a buttom or seem on a pair of pants or shirt, its might save you a bit of stress to learn how.

good luck to you

[Ray]

Originally Posted by veteranvmb

but if you are going to the navy or airforce or coast guard, its more important to learn your table manners and how to hold your pinkie when you go to tea time.

R

Seriously though, Steve thank you for your service.
Basic is essentially a mind game while they build up your body and teach discipline. Being older is a big plus, I was when I joined too. The few years of extra maturity will carry you a long way in basic.
I went through OSUT at Ft. McClellan, so I don't know "real" mos training. I imagine it's a lot better than what I had as an MP. (And yes, I'm dating myself with the Ft McClellan bit, but oh well.)

[Magicseven]

First and Foremost if you do decide to go! Thank you for having the courage to do something a lot of people aren't willing to do. I never had the opportunity to joined the armed forces otherwise I would have.

So you get a HUGE thank you for me for protecting my freedoms.

Good luck and god bless with whatever choice you make.

[veteranvmb]

Originally Posted by Ray

R


I went through OSUT at Ft. McClellan, so I don't know "real" mos training. I imagine it's a lot better than what I had as an MP. (And yes, I'm dating myself with the Ft McClellan bit, but oh well.)

Ray, its funny you mention osut at ft. mcllelan. They moved the m.p. school to ft. leonard wood I belive in the late ninties.

All m.p.s, s.p.s finish their training their no matter what the service. They dont train together, and have different programs , different barracks and instructors, but all go their.
The army does osut, the marines and others are their for advanced training.

I spent some time their taking some refresher courses with a few other sgts, to bring some new urban fighting skills back to the unit, as well as some training on n.b.c. (nuclear, biological, chemical).

Regards Jery