Re-enlisting in the Army

[chilli311]

Re: Re-enlisting in the Army

Sounds like your mind is made up. Go for what you know. Just remember that some "old guy" on a forum did tell you to stick it out . By the way what is this "thriving" mos of yours? Or is it classified? Well the description shouldn't be but what you actually do could very well be.

When I was in I did see the vast buttkissing you talk of but being that I just did my 3 and jetted I didn't really pay too much attention. All I know is I made E4 and then broke out early cause they were letting people out to save $$$. I told them I was starting college and if I could get out early I wouldn't have to wait a whole semester so they gave me the green light. It was like a month and a half or so but still.

I work in UAV operations. I'll leave it at that. :wink:

[Buckeyes_Doc]

Re: Re-enlisting in the Army

I'm currently waiting on a reply from my NROTC scholarship, but if I don't get that I will most likely try to get into the STA-21 program.

Since I'm going into the Nuclear Power Program my rate is going to be E-3 at Boot Camp.

Ok, well I know nothing of the Nuclear Power Program except its a hard rate to get into lol. Good luck and I think upon completion of the school you put on E-4. I know one friend from Boot Camp has a Nuclear rate and he put on E-4 at the end of his school.

[totalownership]

Re: Re-enlisting in the Army

I work in UAV operations. I'll leave it at that. :wink:

Sounds like when people used to ask me what I did. I'd say "I listen" I tell you anymore and I'd have to kill you. LOL

[chilli311]

Re: Re-enlisting in the Army

Sounds like when people used to ask me what I did. I'd say "I listen" I tell you anymore and I'd have to kill you. LOL

lol... Yeah, kinda similar, but instead of listening, I'm watching.

[jct32]

Re: Re-enlisting in the Army

Ok, well I know nothing of the Nuclear Power Program except its a hard rate to get into lol. Good luck and I think upon completion of the school you put on E-4. I know one friend from Boot Camp has a Nuclear rate and he put on E-4 at the end of his school.

Thanks, one of my recruiters went into the same field. He talks me up all the time, saying how he was less qualified than I am. I'm just going to work my butt off and see what happens. I think you're right about being promoted at the end of school. I think my recruiter told me that.

[Cusefan]

Re: Re-enlisting in the Army

Well I was talking to a recruiter the other day and it doesnt look too good for me. Since My hearing is not too great (Infantry, go figure) I will probably need a Waiver and the recruiter said since Recruiting is going so nicely right now, They are not doing hardly any waivers.

Im Still gonna get back in Army Shape and give it a shot ( I figure I will be ready by August) and we will see what Happens. If i can get back in I will pretty much do anything (Except Parachute Rigger and Cook), so we will see what happens.

[jct32]

Re: Re-enlisting in the Army

Well I was talking to a recruiter the other day and it doesnt look too good for me. Since My hearing is not too great (Infantry, go figure) I will probably need a Waiver and the recruiter said since Recruiting is going so nicely right now, They are not doing hardly any waivers.

Im Still gonna get back in Army Shape and give it a shot ( I figure I will be ready by August) and we will see what Happens. If i can get back in I will pretty much do anything (Except Parachute Rigger and Cook), so we will see what happens.

Best of luck to you man, I have heard they aren't getting many people in right now. I was at a DEP meeting this month and we were told that the only people being allowed to join the Navy right now were the ones entering the jobs like the Nuclear Power Program, because everyone that is active duty already is staying in and there isn't going to be any openings since everyone is staying in because of the economy.

[Buckeyes_Doc]

Re: Re-enlisting in the Army

Best of luck to you man, I have heard they aren't getting many people in right now. I was at a DEP meeting this month and we were told that the only people being allowed to join the Navy right now were the ones entering the jobs like the Nuclear Power Program, because everyone that is active duty already is staying in and there isn't going to be any openings since everyone is staying in because of the economy.

Yep thats true, and their not letting a lot of people re-enlist either. My rate the Hospital Corpsman rate is extremely overmanned and no one can join right now, and we have to fill out these Preform to Serve things where the only way you can re-enlist as a Corpsman is if your recommended for it. In other words if your a dirt bag they wont let you re-enlist like prior years.

Also with manning being so high, bonuses are going out the window in the Navy. Especially in my rate, if you went to a C-School you got a bonus as an incentive well no more.

[Cusefan]

Re: Re-enlisting in the Army

Yea, The DOD is expecting a major drop off In funding Next year so its Getting tough to get in, especially now with this horrible Economy. I am hearing stories of people getting Below a 80 on the Asvab and being turned away! Pretty Soon anyone below a 90 may not get a job.

It is a golden Era for Army Recruiters, It is not often they can cherry pick the best and the brightest who want to join...

[Crimsontide27]

Re: Re-enlisting in the Army

Here is my take on it, take it with a grain of salt. I was in the Army for 6 years . Enlisted in 1997 and got out in 2004 after a tour in Iraq. I am now a civilian and will give you my opinion on what I saw and went through when it comes to the Army.

Enlistement : If I had it to all over again, I would NOT do it. ( not enlisted anyways ) I do not regret my time in the Army and there were good and bad on both sides of the fence. However, enlisted is NOT the way to go for an established career. Everything you are promised is null and void unless its in your contract. My dream was to be a pilot, and the recruiter managed to convince me to do the infantry due to alot of time for schools, fast promotions, easier track into warrant officer school etc etc.

Got to my first duty station at Ft Irwin and my 1SG asked me what my goal was in the Army...told him it was to be a pilot . He looked me dead in my eye and said he hopes I like flying a sheridan tank for the next few years, because thats what I would be doing.

I completed a flight phsyical, finished the security clearance, passed the AFAST test, got signatures from CW4s and above....all I needed was 1 signature from my commander to go be a pilot... Newp..unit needed me.

To sum up a long story, I spent 6 years in the Army and never once was I, nor anyone I knew, allowed to apply to go to flight school . We had rotations every month at Ft Irwin and their were classes ( college ) set up so rotational soldiers could attend school as well....always denied. We got our monthly counseling every month stating we should seek further civilian and military education, but were denied at every opportunity.

If you want to do the military...go to college...go to college...go to college...go to college....then join the Army

Take ROTC and major in military science..., the day you join the military you will be a 2nd LT, which was a platoon leader where I was at. Thats the highest rank in the platoon...on your first day, you already outrank soldiers that have been in 20+ years. In my experience, all the officers pretty much did was go to some kind of education courses or school the majority of the time they were there.

This sets you up for if and when you decide to leave service. As an officer, you have the entire service at your desposal....as enlisted, you are up chit creek if just ONE of your chain of command doesnt support you in whatever it is you want to do.

Want to go to jump school? Well, squad leader has to agree...which then has to talk to the section sgt...who then goes to the platoon sgt...who then goes to the platoon leader...who then discusses the issue with the 1SG....who then confers either with the company XO, or goes straight to the company commander....who then talks to the colonel... Point of this is....if you lack support at any part in this chain, you will not be going anywhere.

As an officer, everyone of them is not only encouraged to take classes, but now its required.

In 2-3 years...you could go from an E1 to an E4 mostly likely....but if you did college first...you would go from a 2nd LT, to a Captain.....HUGE...MASSIVE...difference.

I did ROTC when I came out of service and it was a joke. 4 semesters of classes and people still couldnt read a map. Our FTX exercise.....which is supposed to be some serious training...was parking cars at the Talladega 500.

At the end of the day.... Officer > enlisted and School > no school

Dont take this as some disgruntled ex soldier who is bitter at his time in service. I started as an E1 and left as a decorated E6 war vet. I love the Army with all of my heart. I just give you the straight story on how it really works, versus how its supposed to work. Everyday my hands were tied by my command and I had to deny all of my soldiers requests to better themselves.

Fast Forward to today:

Ive kept in touch with plenty of my soldiers and the story is pretty much the same. All of the enlisted soldiers are either in college now with the GIBILL, but 4-10 years behind their peers, or they all have slightly higher than minimum wage jobs.

The same officers that I keep up with, for the mere sake of their job title and rank, all have pretty high lvl paying jobs and careers going.

Its not about what you are capable of doing, its about who is willing to allow you to "be all you can be"


If you have any further questions, feel free to ask and I can be more specfic or point you in the right direction. I want the best for all potential soldiers, and Ill be here for you if you need advice or any questions about the Army.

[totalownership]

Re: Re-enlisting in the Army

You are right about one thing though that everyone should know if they enlist in the Army. If it ain't in your contract it don't mean squat. I can tell you till the cows come home that if you sign up I'll make you an astronaut, you get to sleep in the white house and I'll have you a Jet Pilot in 3 weeks. If it doesn't say it in that contract when you sign up then what I tell you don't mean squat. Also keep in mind if you sign up for a sweet job and don't cut it in training you're still in the Army and can go anywhere they want to send you.

It helps to knock the ASVAB out the box. Not just get by but really knock it out the box. That does help some.

[longshadow11]

Re: Re-enlisting in the Army

Don't go infantry. There are very few future applications for that MOS. Get trained in something an employer will want. My years as an infantryman have meant nothing as far as employment goes. It's too bad the toughest job in the army reaps the least reward.

Thanks to all you guys who are serving now.

[Cusefan]

Re: Re-enlisting in the Army

Don't go infantry. There are very few future applications for that MOS. Get trained in something an employer will want. My years as an infantryman have meant nothing as far as employment goes. It's too bad the toughest job in the army reaps the least reward.

Thanks to all you guys who are serving now.

lol I learned that one the hard way. If your going to make a Career out of the army, Infantry is pretty good because that has the lowest points for promotion. If your gonna do four and get out, yea a MOS that has a civilian related job is your best bet. Problem is, everyone wants to be a Army Ranger or Green beret and when they cannot hack it, they are sent to regular Infantry Units.