Military Vets/Currently Service: I need advice!

[Buckeyes_Doc]

Re: Military Vets/Currently Service: I need advice!

The more I have been reading this thread, Chase, the more I think you should go all in.

By all in I'm talking MARSOC.

You would need a second OS account just for your balls if you did that.

Why stop there. Go Navy SEALS. Travel to places that you've never even heard of.

[ABR173rd]

Re: Military Vets/Currently Service: I need advice!

wow they extended the cut off age for the Army I see. It use to be 34.

It's 35, about.com is not a good place to go for answers regarding the military. If your prior service you can deduct time served from your current age. Not sure about the other branches but the Army is definitely drawing down and it is not nearly as easy as it was three years ago to get in.

The Peace Corps idea was a pretty good one as well I believe it is either mandatory or they prefer you to have some college. They also give you a lump some of money when your contract is up so you can reintegrate into civilian life. It's not a huge chunk of change but enough to help you through the transition.

[DonkeyJote]

Re: Military Vets/Currently Service: I need advice!

It's 35, about.com is not a good place to go for answers regarding the military. If your prior service you can deduct time served from your current age. Not sure about the other branches but the Army is definitely drawing down and it is not nearly as easy as it was three years ago to get in.

The Peace Corps idea was a pretty good one as well I believe it is either mandatory or they prefer you to have some college. They also give you a lump some of money when your contract is up so you can reintegrate into civilian life. It's not a huge chunk of change but enough to help you through the transition.

It was 42 until last year. Wasn't aware that it had changed. It was even 42 in official US Army regulations put out last April.

As far as the Peace Corps, they do prefer some college, but a I believe good work experience helps a ton too. They basically want people that are going to commit, and not flake out 3 months in.

[Buckeyes_Doc]

Re: Military Vets/Currently Service: I need advice!

Coast Guard travels just depends on if you take the jobs that travel. We have boats so they go places such as Asia, Africa and Europe. We have a few boats and land units stationed in Bahrain and even land units in the Bahamas. Depending on your job some people deploy with the Navy due to the Navy's lack of law enforcement powers.


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Yeah in Guantanamo Bay there was a Coast Guard unit attached to the Navy base down there.

People can travel in every branch and some people don't travel. It's not as easy as picking Branch A and that means you will travel and picking Branch B does not mean you will travel.

I know someone who spent his entire 5 year Navy enlistment in Great Lakes IL. Went to boot camp there, "A" School, and was assigned at a command at the base for the rest of his time in the Navy.

I've been in the Navy for 5 years and have traveled to Iraq and Cuba, not the greatest places in the world. Others who have been in 5 years have been to numerous countries on port visits and around the world, and the guy I mentioned above didn't go anywhere. Traveling is a plus for a lot of people but it is not always a guarantee and you may not travel to the best of places. Everyone's experience is different, flexibility is key in the military.

[Gotmadskillzson]

Re: Military Vets/Currently Service: I need advice!

So true......when I was in the Army I traveled a hell of a lot, my friend however never left the states. My wife was in the Navy and been to every port of call twice. Some ports she been to 4 times.

[AUChase]

Re: Military Vets/Currently Service: I need advice!

I do appreciate all the valuable advice and Baumy's outstanding sense of humor

I really didn't intend for this to turn into a "which branch is better" debate, because I think they all serve a good purpose.

The traveling I mentioned was just a plus. When I do research, I find that the things the Navy and Coast Guard are involved with are the most appealing and some of it seems entertaining...

Again, I'm just in a preliminary stage right now and digging in and doing a bunch of research on them. I've sort of given myself a few month ultimatum. If I'm still not happy with where my life is, in a few months, I'm going to make a significant change.

[jct32]

Re: Military Vets/Currently Service: I need advice!

I would always recommend the route I went. It's not easy but man is it rewarding.

The Navy Nuke route.

There is a lot of hate for it but I love it. Nothing cooler than sitting at the controls of that reactor and starting it up. Also if you are interested in seeing the world I would recommend being a surface guy if you are in the Navy. SWO nukes (Surface warfare officers) have a pretty sweet deal much more so than Submarine officers (all officer are nukes on a submarine) unless you are into that submarine stuff like myself.

If you have any questions let me know, I am a weirdo who enjoys his job. (Plus the job offers when you get out are amazing)

[Cusefan]

Re: Military Vets/Currently Service: I need advice!

I was in the Army and though we did travel, it's not to locations you would want to visit...
Here is where I went

Oahu, Hawaii( duty station)
South Korea( DMZ)
Hawaii(big island for training)
29 palms
Fort Irwin(NTC)
Iraq

Everything under Oahu sucks

[BatsareBugs]

Re: Military Vets/Currently Service: I need advice!

I would always recommend the route I went. It's not easy but man is it rewarding.

The Navy Nuke route.

There is a lot of hate for it but I love it. Nothing cooler than sitting at the controls of that reactor and starting it up. Also if you are interested in seeing the world I would recommend being a surface guy if you are in the Navy. SWO nukes (Surface warfare officers) have a pretty sweet deal much more so than Submarine officers (all officer are nukes on a submarine) unless you are into that submarine stuff like myself.

If you have any questions let me know, I am a weirdo who enjoys his job. (Plus the job offers when you get out are amazing)

I'm going through the Nuke route in the Navy. I'm looking forward to it even though it will be difficult.

[Cusefan]

Re: Military Vets/Currently Service: I need advice!

I'm going through the Nuke route in the Navy. I'm looking forward to it even though it will be difficult.

Ranger school is difficult, AIT nuke training is meh for a person of higher than average intelligence.

This reminds me of Basic Training; if you think it is still difficult when it is over, then I really hope you do not have a combat MOS. I know that the Pentagon has gotten considerably softer as far Basic Training is concerned, your Unit has far less rules. The farthest I ran and rucked in basic was 4 miles for running and 12 for rucking, my unit made me run a marathon and I completed a 26 mile ruck.

damn I was in good shape...

[superjames1992]

Re: Military Vets/Currently Service: I need advice!

If you want to see the world, I'd say the Navy or being involved in cargo transport in the USAF is your best bet. My dad has been to 50+ countries (and two wars) since he was a C-130 pilot in the West Virginia Air National Guard from the 1980s until 1992.

However, I would not join the armed services just to travel.

[superjames1992]

Re: Military Vets/Currently Service: I need advice!

I actually was thinking about joining the NC Air National Guard a few months ago as a weather observer, but given that the recruiter said that the training takes close to a year (and more OJT thereafter), I think I'll hold off until at least after college (if at all). Plus, I may be switching majors now, so I don't know.

My dad actually joined the WV ANG as a jet engine mechanic (enlisted) during his junior year of college and went to OTS after college and pilot training in Del Rio, TX thereafter.

[AUChase]

Re: Military Vets/Currently Service: I need advice!

To those that are currently serving, at what age did you enlist ?

[Gotmadskillzson]

Re: Military Vets/Currently Service: I need advice!

I was 18. Had quite a few 16 yr olds in bootcamp with me. A good number of 24 to 27 yr olds in bootcamp as well. The oldest was these 3 guys who were pushing 40, however they were national guard or reserves forgot which one going over to active duty.

[dickey1331]

To those that are currently serving, at what age did you enlist ?

19. It was about a year after I graduated high school.


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