Thoughts on joining the military?

SimonRath · 02-15-2011, 09:51 AM

I've been contemplating it for some time now, I was jus wondering if any of you guys were in the military and how you liked it?

diabsoule · 02-15-2011, 10:06 AM

there are a couple of guys that were previously in/still are in the military that will be helpful to talk to.

I will be joining this year. I talked to a recruiter just a few days ago and once I lose 40lbs I can be in. That's not a difficult task and one that I started tackling immediately upon talking to him.

I guess some initial information would be: How in shape are you? Do you have a college degree? Why are you wanting to join? Etc...

SimonRath · 02-15-2011, 10:07 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by diabsoule

there are a couple of guys that were previously in/still are in the military that will be helpful to talk to.

I will be joining this year. I talked to a recruiter just a few days ago and once I lose 40lbs I can be in. That's not a difficult task and one that I started tackling immediately upon talking to him.

I guess some initial information would be: How in shape are you? Do you have a college degree? Why are you wanting to join? Etc...

im 5'10" 175lbs and in pretty good shape. not amazing, but good enough.
no college degree.
and i wanna join cause i think its a good career opportunity

Don Vito · 02-15-2011, 10:14 AM

It isn't as bad of an option as a lot of people make it out to be. There aren't too many jobs out there and although it isn't a huge moneymaker, you have a decent steady income with few expenses if you use your money wisely. A lot of people today are joining after college and military experience looks very good to employers, it is actually something I am considering when I graduate from Ole Miss in December.

SimonRath · 02-15-2011, 10:16 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Don Vito

It isn't as bad of an option as a lot of people make it out to be. There aren't too many jobs out there and although it isn't a huge moneymaker, you have a decent steady income with few expenses if you use your money wisely. A lot of people today are joining after college and military experience looks very good to employers, it is actually something I am considering when I graduate from Ole Miss in December.

the fact it is a steady income is very nice to me, I work full time at Whole Foods and like 90% of my money goes towards bills so it's been very stressful.

diabsoule · 02-15-2011, 10:21 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SimonRath

im 5'10" 175lbs and in pretty good shape. not amazing, but good enough.
no college degree.
and i wanna join cause i think its a good career opportunity

It's a great career opportunity and it's something I encourage people to try. Joining has been a goal of mine for a few years now and this year I will make it a reality. There is just too much opportunity to pass up and once you finish your enlistment you'll have marketable job skills and being in the service looks amazing on a resume.

Halsey · 02-15-2011, 10:31 AM

I did 6 years in the Navy, working in the submarine force. I'm very glad I did it. There were a lot of crappy days, but there were also good days and many interesting experiences. The pay is pretty good in the sub force, as far as military jobs go. I used the MGI Bill to help me pay for school after I got out. Really glad I did it.

If you're going to join the military, I highly recommend using the educational options available. Invest into the GI Bill and take classes while in the military, if you ever have time.

Babylon · 02-15-2011, 10:40 AM

As much as you'll question it going through when you look back it will be one of the better experiences you'll ever have.

Brent · 02-15-2011, 11:36 AM

SuperKevin needs to return from the abyss and contribute to this. He was pretty darn knowledgeable considering he's still enlisted.

Vikes99ej · 02-15-2011, 11:54 AM

I'm not 100% positive, but I think Ironman and senormysterio have military experience. CJ, too.

FlyingElvis · 02-15-2011, 11:55 AM

Definitely take advantage of the education opportunities they make available. ROTC has done great things for some friends of mine. One in particular who got an undergrad from Notre Dame and then a post grad law degree. Spend some time on the beaches of Iraq for her trouble, but that's the life you're signing up for.

Babylon · 02-15-2011, 02:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Vikes99ej

I'm not 100% positive, but I think Ironman and senormysterio have military experience. CJ, too.

4 years in the Army, two in Nam. Dont know if that's experience or just stupidity.

CJSchneider · 02-15-2011, 03:15 PM

You will never get a better chance to better your education at a better price than joining the military. Because of the Montgomery/G.I. Bill, I was able to not have to work and focus on studies my first 3 years of school. If enlistment is your goal, go in with a purpose. Seek to enlist in an MOS (military word for "job") that you will not only enjoy but that will aid you in the real world after your service is over, even if that happens to be acquiring leadership skills.
If you have any questions, feel free to PM me.

Nalej · 02-15-2011, 03:23 PM

I've been in the Navy eight years and am still active.
I got selected for a commissioning program now so I get paid to go to school full time.
I use the GI Bill to pay for tuition and get a paycheck every two weeks. Pretty good deal.

I qualified to work on subs but did my tours on carriers though.
My suggestion would be, make sure you get a job you'd like doing.
Start running 3 miles a couple times a week.
Also, definitely use that GI Bill if you can.
Not much time to use it while you're active duty so probably afterwards.

RaiderNation · 02-15-2011, 03:55 PM

Ive always told myself that if I have nothing going for me by age 24 or 25 you might as well join the military.

diabsoule · 02-15-2011, 06:02 PM

My likely MOS will be in intelligence or something dealing with computers since the recruiters all told me that I can handpick my "job" due to how high I scored on the ASVAB and that I already have a college degree.

I'm very excited about joining. Last time I went into the recruiters office they told me I need to drop 8.5" from my waist. I have lost 1.5" in about 3 weeks and will drop more once I get on the weight loss supplement that I'll be getting next week. I'm looking to join in 3-5 months.

Nalej · 02-15-2011, 06:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by diabsoule

My likely MOS will be in intelligence or something dealing with computers since the recruiters all told me that I can handpick my "job" due to how high I scored on the ASVAB and that I already have a college degree.

I'm very excited about joining. Last time I went into the recruiters office they told me I need to drop 8.5" from my waist. I have lost 1.5" in about 3 weeks and will drop more once I get on the weight loss supplement that I'll be getting next week. I'm looking to join in 3-5 months.

Are you going commissioned?
The pay is waaaayyyyyy better

diabsoule · 02-15-2011, 06:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nalej

Are you going commissioned?
The pay is waaaayyyyyy better

That's the plan. I plan on making it a career

Nalej · 02-15-2011, 06:26 PM

Just making sure, I know a lot of enlisted fellas that had degrees.
The recruiters were just busy about their quota and never told them they could be commissioned.
It's actually pretty sad. I have a couple of friends (Navy, like I) that are in the Intelligence field.
Alot of picture scanning, briefs, briefs and briefs lol

njx9 · 02-15-2011, 06:43 PM

i'm intrigued* by the idea that it looks good on resumes. i'd imagine there are *some* fields where that's true, but it would be completely irrelevant in mine, for instance. (and anecdotally, it hasn't done a good friend any good whatsoever. he's actually been turned down for jobs because employers figured it was likely he'd end up back in the ME in the near future).

* - but seriously, not snarkily.

Nalej · 02-15-2011, 06:43 PM

What's your "field"...?

njx9 · 02-15-2011, 06:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nalej

What's your "field"...?

IT - programming, training, sales and support. any of the 4.

Nalej · 02-15-2011, 07:10 PM

Eh, as far as the sales and support... maybe Supply?
Supply Officers have the most cake job (at least in the Navy)
Not really sell but whenever anyone needs anything, they're in charge of ordering it.
As an officer, you wouldn't be doing any of that, just making sure that department is on top of its ****.
That's sales-ish and support. No real programming...

UNLESS... you want to be a Crypto...
Those dudes are the computer geniuses who hack and do all that top secret ish I little knowledge about.
Again though, I know little about programming
(I'M STUGGLING SO HARD WITH MATLAB IN SCHOOL RIGHT NOW!!!)
so don't know if programming = computer genius lol

As for Supply guys, I also heard after one tour (2 yrs?), they get sent to Harvard to get their masters in business something on the navy's dime.
Pretty sweet deal.

It's hard to get into the field though... bc it's pretty cake and awesome

dabears10 · 02-15-2011, 07:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by njx9

i'm intrigued* by the idea that it looks good on resumes. i'd imagine there are *some* fields where that's true, but it would be completely irrelevant in mine, for instance. (and anecdotally, it hasn't done a good friend any good whatsoever. he's actually been turned down for jobs because employers figured it was likely he'd end up back in the ME in the near future).

* - but seriously, not snarkily.

Basically it seems employers really love it at managerial positions. People feel that if the person went through the military they are likely organized understand 'chain of command' and how to be a leader. None of these are obviously automatically truthful, but it is how it shows on a resume.

senormysterioso · 02-15-2011, 07:18 PM

I love it. I've been in the Army for 6 years and it's the best decision I've ever made in my life. I've been a Civil Affairs specialist the whole time, but after I get back from the mission we have in Afghanistan I'm going to packet for selection into Special Forces.

If you're planning on using the Military for job experience and educational benefits, don't get too wrapped around the axle trying to be a bad ass. Trust me, nobody in the real world cares that I can shoot expert on my M4, or that I can jump out of planes, or that I'm level 3 certified in combatives, or any of that happy hooah stuff. The stuff that looks good on my resume is the medical training, leadership schools, and civilian certs that I've gotten.