Military Vets/Currently Service: I need advice!

[loccdogg26]

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

I served in the Air Force for ten years, but separated last year. The decision was based on me having to make the decision to stay with my family, or stay in for ten more years for retirement. Family was more important to me.

I enjoyed my time in the service, and took away a lot of good lessons, but also a lot of bad. Since you have a degree, I would suggest getting a commission instead of enlisting. Better pay, and better skills to be applied outside of the military.

The hardest part for me was dealing with the politicking that goes on within the units. I was forced to do things that I did not agree with, or have my career put in jeopardy.

If I had to choose to go back, I'd go Coast Guard first, then Air Force, Navy, Marines, Army.

Yeah I have to agree about the politicking stuff. I did about 5 years in the Air Force but got out 2 weeks before the World Trade disaster. My favorite assignment was Macdill Air Force Base in Tampa, Florida but also got to go to Italy and Japan.

[HealyMonster]

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

I served 8 Years in the US Army, and spent 3 years as a recruiter, any questions any of you guys have about the Army just let me know Id be glad to let you know as much as I can.

[Bdubb]

Hey fellow vets just thought I'd introduce myself here.

Former 11B at the 101st. Deployed with no slack battalion in 2010, and got back last April. I got out of the army in December. Currently majoring in Criminal Justice using the GI bill to full extent.

I had served 3 years (straight out of high school) and was looking at being sent to the board to become an e5 but idk I felt I just had enough of the crap you deal with especially in a line platoon. Being a civilian again is such a great feeling but I wouldn't have traded those years I rocked acus for anything. Made me a much better person.

[AUChase]

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

Just an update;

I'm going Wednesday morning and talking to a recruiter for the Navy, back in my hometown. I talked to him on the phone yesterday and then bumped into him at the gym last night, coincidently.

I'm going to be writing down some questions as they come to mind, so they will be easier to remember come Wednesday morning

I make a decent salary right now, but I'm extremely bored with my life and I want to see and do something meaningful. I'm also a stickler for fitness and I think I would enjoy the physical challenges that come along with it as well..

Either way, I don't think it can hurt to go talk to him and get some more information.

I'm single, 23, and I live at home with my parents. I want some independence and I think it will help me appreciate things that I struggle to find value in with my every day life..

I'll let you guys know how it goes. I've been debating about this for months now and I'm tired of it weighing on my brain. If it's something I'm genuinely interested in, It's important to me to pursue and see where it goes.

[chilli311]

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

I'm going Wednesday morning and talking to a recruiter for the Navy, back in my hometown. I talked to him on the phone yesterday and then bumped into him at the gym last night, coincidently.

If you haven't already, check out the career fields for the Navy, and what they do. Pick a handful that seriously interest you, and go in with those in mind. The last thing that you want to do is go in "Open General." OG means that they will assign you to a job that has a manning shortage, so it can be a crap shoot. If you go in with 3-5 specific jobs in mind, you'll be able to find a spot in at least one of them. This website has a breakdown of exactly what those jobs entail, what kind of training is involved, and what it can qualify you for in the civilian world.

http://www.navy.com/careers.html

Also, if you find a few you like, but have a difficult time picking between them, use about.com to get more specific info about the jobs. That's how I found my military career field, and I loved what I did. Just copy the job title from the Navy site, and Google it verbatim. The amount of information you can get just from that should be more than enough to help you narrow it down.

[Gotmadskillzson]

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

Good luck to you.....my wife was in the Navy for 18 years, her ex husband was in for 25 years and her dad was in for 30 years. And for the most part, Vermont is full of old retired Navy vets.

[AUChase]

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

I finally got in to talk to the recruiter today and I found out that I did indeed know the guy from working out with him at the gym.

I appreciated how honest he was with me throughout our talking and some other guys stopped by that I all ready knew and we had a long drawn out conversation about some various aspects.

He didn't try to force me in or give me a whole bunch of mess about what the Navy can do for me, but to put his message in easier terms he said, "You get from the Navy what you put in. If you go in with the thought process of just doing whatever you have to do to get through 4 years to get out, then I would hate my time in and I wouldn't accomplish anything except maybe coming out an E3 or E4".

He didn't sugar coat anything and was very honest and laid back. I told him I was going to come home and talk it over with my parents to get their input on things and then if things were going the way I planned I will square away some things and call him back and see about proceeding.

Overall, it went pretty well and I like the guy's attitude. He went on to explain how he hated being a recruiter and being micro managed and hounded about his enlistments and how he was ready to get back to a ship where he's more comfortable.

We talked about some various jobs and he explained how the Navy has really changed their programs to help with advancement, because people who are E5, E6, etc. that go years and don't make the right effort to advance are blocking positions for guys under them who want to advance. He said the Navy is giving people more of an ultimatum once they get so high in rank to where they have to meet goals to advance or they will push them out the door with a bonus check and thank them for their service and make room for a less tenured person.

I told him I didn't want to be put in a job I was going to hate and I wasn't overly picky, but I don't want to come off as too vague and someone try and give me the shaft. I'll listen to any offers based on the ASVAB and other stuff, but I want to get as many options as possible.

We talked about a lot of other stuff and life, benefits, education, etc.. I took away a lot of good things from our conversation and with the other guys who stopped in to talk to him.

[Gotmadskillzson]

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

You can say that about any job or any thing you do really. You get out of it what you put into it. All about having the right attitude and being around people that are positive. At least you are one step closer to deciding whether or not if you want to enlist or not.

[AUChase]

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

Hey guys..

So, I went to MEPS today. I rode down with my recruiter and another girl to Montgomery and they put us up at a nice Hotel for the early start this morning and then he drove us back afterwards. I know most recruiters are full of ****, but this guy is genuinely a nice guy. I've known him for a long time and he's been completely honest and been helping me know what to expect along the way.

Anyways, MEPS wasn't really awful. The waiting and sitting sucked, but outside of that the procedures and tests were pretty simple. I've got to lose around 8 lbs and get my blood pressure checked three consecutive days and fax that in and I'll get those waivers cleared.

Outside of that, I've done everything else required to join the Navy.

Luckily, my step mother is an RN and can check my blood pressure to keep me from going to a doctor.

I'll save you the rambling on because I could talk for days about it so far, but I finally broke down and told my mother the truth. I've been hiding it from her until I know for sure what I want to do. I felt really bad about lying to her about a lot of things, but It had to be done. She was understanding, but still voiced the usual concerns about getting used to me not being home and such. I assured her that was my biggest concern, but I felt like it was my biggest flaw right now. I need some space and to be myself for a while and find who I am in life.

My dad stayed true to his promise not to let her or my step dad known until I told them myself. He pretty much guessed what I was trying to do when I asked if he had a birth certificate for me. I literally sat down and he immediately said, "The Military, eh ?"... he's too smart sometimes.

He voiced more concern than my mom, but they both seem understanding and both said if it's something I truly want to do they'll support me any way they can. It was a tough moment for sure with both of them. I'm not going to lie, family is important to me and it's going to be tough.

I lied.. I still continued to ramble and even went a little soft, but whatever.. . Thanks for listening to my crap.

[Gotmadskillzson]

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

Welcome to the military family !!!!!!!

[slickdtc]

Best of luck to you, Chase.

[JBH3]

Congrats on your choice, it is important that you embark on this journey and become your own man. When do you go to bootcamp?

[mgoblue]

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

Good luck! Glad to see you've put a lot of thought into this. Just put everything you can into it so you come out ahead of the game. Too many times I've seen people go into the Army thinking it'd change them, but they goofed around and just came out wasting 4 years.

[AUChase]

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

Congrats on your choice, it is important that you embark on this journey and become your own man. When do you go to bootcamp?

I haven't officially sworn in or anything yet. I'm going back the 11th (soonest they will let me back) to double check my blood pressure and process the waiver and I'll be able to finally pick a job (assuming they have something I'm interested in). They discussed some jobs with me all ready and what will likely be open, but there's no way to guarentee anything until I get the clearance from MEPS.

MEPS is a lot different than a lot of people say it is. I guess it's different everywhere.. outside of a few hiccups it was just a boring day of sitting in waiting areas, lines, and lobbies..

They thought I might have been suffering from "white coat syndrome" and lack of sleep and nerves that caused my BP to go up.

I cleared the BMI and physical with ease, but they claim for 75" or 6'3" I should weigh 213 and I'm at 226 right now. I guess I'll just stop lifting for two weeks and dedicate my gym time to cardio. Going to meet the girl that I met at MEPS this weekend to run at the park... got them digits last night

[dickey1331]

Good luck bro. Do they still do the duck walk at MEPS? I hope you enjoy the Navy.