The Military.

Vercades · #1 January 4th, 2005, 01:28 AM

I'm thinking about joining up with the armed forces, seeing all this mayhem on CNN, has made me feel like I need to do something.

My cousin was a marine, he got posted in thailand for a year,after his term was up, he didn't have much to say about serving in the military. Only thing I remember him saying was wears you down and he regretted ever joining up. Thats not what I want to happen to me if I ever decide to join. He was an aviator mechanic none of those skills helped him out nowadays. So I'm not really sure if I want to join the marines unless you guys have a good reason to join the Marines or a field thats may be appropriate for me. As far as I know he never used anything for college, instead he became a trucker. I know how some recruiters think they sugar coat. I think they have a job to pass out recruiting cards at a school or something and the more they recruit the more better their rank I think thats why they make it seem not all that bad.

I spoke with a recruiter of the army a while back he had some good things to say but I don't think it'll help me that much, things like the Montgomery GI bill, and other things sposedly useful for college. My other cousin served in the Army, he served in Bosnia, fought in Afganistan, and is currently posted in Iraq, his reserved unit got called to duty. He took being in the forces as a task you have to do, when you're alive, he didn't so much enjoy his time but lets just say he had his share of problems, divorces and a women just marrying him just to get in the states. He's had it pretty rough, but I don't know all his details exactly but it doesn't make it any easier to decide seeing all these examples of joining the military. So I'm not sure of the Army unless you have a good reason I should join thats not sugar coated.

My Dad, was in the navy.... he didn't do much he said except mop up puke on the ships he was posted on, he was sposed to go to VietNam and fight there, but he got too sick, and had to be discharged. He said, When, I walked into the sickbay, I just passed out and right before I lost concisiousness, I heard them say "He's a goner". I don't really know if he just jokes about that or if its true its kinda hard to tell. My dad did get to travel to all sorts of places but there was no shore leave for him and he had to stay on the boat.

See my frustration here? I want to help people and do something useful for people and myself, but so many things I hear from people that used to be in the military are just so negative it makes me not want to go into it, or see no glory in joining up. Does anything good ever come out of being in the military? Do peoples career's actually flourish after their finished with their term? Can people end up better off after they finish their time with the military? I just don't know.

**Spider** · #2 January 4th, 2005, 01:40 AM

That would all depend whether Kintuki is part of the coalition.

You may want a career but you must be willing to shoot Iraqis. If your not
prepared to kill then perhaps job skills should be sought elsewhere.

Just a bit of reality here for you.

Vercades · #3 January 4th, 2005, 01:57 AM

Well, I did read about the peace corp. and what tey do but they get sent to area's without weapons an could get more likely in dire situations of being shot. The proper spelling is Kentucky

, I can't remember what the coalition is refresh my memory please? I don't have a serious problem with killing the enemy, and seeing action, just as long as the training camp lives up to its name and prepares me for those situations.

I'm more considering the long run here, the results after serving can you be more likely to succeed in life or will it make it harder?

**Spider** · #4 January 4th, 2005, 03:50 AM

Quote:

I don't have a serious problem with killing the enemy

Don't forget they don't have a problem killing you. They have years of target
practice as well.
Shooting a real gun with accuracy takes a long time to learn.

I suggest you go to an indoor firing range and rent a gun for an hour. See if
you can actually hit something, you may change your mind about death
and dying.

There are lots of young men dying in Iraq who also had intentions of surviving.

Watch Fahrenheit 911.

oink · #5 January 4th, 2005, 04:01 AM

One of my coworkers who was in the Marines for at least six years, but has been out for six also, has just rejoined. I asked him why he would do something like that when he was making more money now and would lose what retirement he had earned. His response: "In case you haven't heard, there's a war on right now." It is good that there are those that have an aptitude for that line of work. It may disgust most of us, but we need those people. If you want a safe military job to earn college tuition or ossibly a trade, I think I would consider the Airforce. Generally, a career in the reserves is very benificial. It provides some training, and quite a few benifits. It can be a very big boost for retirement years. The disadvantages and risks are currently very evident.

**Miz** · #6 January 4th, 2005, 04:38 AM

To offer another point of view....I'm married to a retired career Navy jet jockey. He enjoyed his career. He flew in Vietnam so he was in during wartime,too.

As far as battlefield skills...even if you've never even seen a gun, when the Marines, Navy, Army or Air Force has finished training you, you'll know your stuff.

I'm surprised your cousin's aviation mechanic traning didn't help him in civilian life. Aviation mechanics are in demand and make good money.

Don't forget that far more people are serving behind the lines than are doing the actual fighting. It takes something like 10 people behind the lines to support one person doing the fighting. Joining the military is not an automatic front-line assignment.

oink · #7 January 4th, 2005, 05:08 AM

Quote:

Does anything good ever come out of being in the military? Do peoples career's actually flourish after their finished with their term? Can people end up better off after they finish their time with the military?

My father is the perfect example. He joined the Army out of high school. He excelled in his duties and was promoted to sergeant. He excelled as a sergeant and was chosed for Officer Candidate School and eventually finished active service as a Captain. He then used his GI bill to get a college degree and eventually finished a career in education as a high school principal. He left the reserves as a Lt Col. The Army made a leader out of him and allowed him to get a college degree. His reserve retirement and veteran benefits help him a lot in his retirement.

**Murf** · #8 January 4th, 2005, 05:44 AM

I will not get on a soap opera and tell you how good the military can be. You have to make up your own mind. Is this what you really want? Find some retiree's and talk to them, don't talk to the individual who spent maybe 2-3 years and got out, as they probably got out because they did not enjoy it or the military just was not for them.. Talk to all of the military service recruiters and compare them.

Military life is what you make of it, it can be great or it can be rough and bad and you count the days until it's over. It has some great benefits , however, it has some not so great benefits- particularly during war time..YA the military fight our wars....

The only advice I can give you is to Make up your own mind, don't let someone else talk you into it, as once you sign the papers they got ya. Weigh the pro's and con's of each branch of service before making any decision.

What qualifies me as giving this advice:

Retired Air Force - 22 1/2 years Want to know a little more about each branch of service I have links at "Murfs Garage" HERE

Vercades · #9 January 4th, 2005, 08:10 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Miz

I'm surprised your cousin's aviation mechanic traning didn't help him in civilian life. Aviation mechanics are in demand and make good money.

I think he has gotten a job, as a aviator mechanic in civilian life, I'm not sure if he's making good money, it took him a year just to find a job fitted for his skills, so I don't know the exact details on that situation.

And Murf you sound like a soldier to me, I appreciate that reply, and hopefully I can make up my own mind.

renegade600 · #10 January 4th, 2005, 10:13 AM

I spent time in the military (air force) myself and if you join, you better be prepared for mind games and the disipline necessary. I was in and out long before desert storm. It is not a game and I have seen many gunho to get in then cannot hack the disipline

I enjoyed my job when I was it, It was an easy deskjob and was able to catch free vacations all over the US and England. I would not trade my time for the world. It was an eye opening experience and thought I hate to say it and some here may disagree, but I grew up while in.

My best piece of advise, is if you go in, get a job that you know you will enjoy. If possible, do the job guarantee thing. Don't go in because you want to help others go in because you want to.

Ned Seagoon · #11 January 4th, 2005, 11:53 AM

Just talk to a few of the brothers about how it was in Vietnam, and how it's been afterwards. Then take a long hard think before you act. BF

**Snurfen** · #12 January 4th, 2005, 09:52 PM

What you get out of it depends almost entirely on what you put into it. Same as a life outside the miltary.

I know guys that got nothing from military service, and I know others who really did better themselves.

My nephew is a good case in point. He was an utter scrote destined for a life behind bars. He joined up, put his back into it and now he's a kid to be proud of. The flipside is the whole family still worries that he may come home in a bodybag.

We are lucky that both you and I live in a society where we can do very well if we try hard and get a few good breaks along the way. Don't rush to sign up, think about what the guys in this thread have said first. Then follow their advice and have a SERIOUS talk to a wide selection of ex-military folk.

Good luck, whatever you decide.