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He posts in some of the other websites I lurk at. He tends to post very similar things there and receives pretty much the same answers.
EX :http://www.thefiringline.com/forums/showthread.php?t=210077
Can’t make up your mind for you, but when I was a senior in HS I was considering going into the AF and took all the tests required. They came back and offered me any job I wanted to which I chose midair refueling. I thought about it for awhile that year and decided not to go into the service. The reason was that my ultimate goal was to fly and after figuring out that it was no guarantee I would get into flight school, but if I did I would owe them a minimum of 12 years. I thought that missing out on 12 years of deer hunting and being away from family was too much a scarifice and that I would do my flight training on my own instead.
Well, I have to say that a few years down the road found me regretting that decision BIG TIME. Not for 1 or 2 reasons, but for a multitude of them. The service is one of the best things any individual can do for themselves and their country. You will get the best training anywhere for whatever it is you choose and although it will be difficult at times, you will get through it and never regret it IMO. Do yourself a favor. . . . . do it! Don’t walk away from the chance and live to regret it like I did.
Well, losing about 50 pounds may be a decent test to see how much you want to do it. I talked about putting myself in a position to join for several years, but only now that I’ve dropped about 30 pounds this year do I feel this is at all close to a reality.
Now, I’ve still got reservations too (loans, not using an expensive prof. degree) but if you think you want it, start making moves to get there. You’ll probably discover pretty quickly how much it is worth to you. But, from advice I’ve received from people recently, the idea of what the military can do for you professionally is probably not the strongest attitude to have. My concern is that my most likely military destination is an entirely support position, and I thus question whether or not that is the most significant level of service I could give (as I’ve not served in any capacity, I mean no offense to those who fill support roles).
I have no doubt that many, many people who joined the military solely to advance themselves are very valuable service members. But given people like me and you have some work to do just to get into a position to pursue military service, I think motivation is that much more important.
EriKL,
Its all in good fun. For sure its a very fine line between the two, and only guys who’ve been on the 30th klick of a 10 klick movement would know the difference.
B52U,
I guess I came off as directing that straight at you, but it was just a general comment, as stuff like that is often heard.
Good natured ribbing from other services is one thing, but I often hear derogatory comments about Guard, Reserves and various branches and MOS’s in the Military by people who have never served. So sometimes I go off a bit quick.
Again, he’s 24, if he wanted to join, he would’ve by now. The war has been on for awhile now.
Its different then the guy who joined at 42, when the war started.
In general, guys who go in asking about and seeking benefits, advancement, etc etc are the ones who have and cause trouble.
If you want to be an O, it should because of a desire and ability to lead men, not a desire to be treated better, or get more perks.
I believe you shouldn’t be allowed to be an officer until you’ve spent a few years as an Enlisted man.
When I first signed the papers, I was 17. I had to have my parents sign for me. They were dead set against it. I listened to my Uncles who had served in WW2 and Korea, and signed up to be a small arms repairman, and got the college fun. It satisfied my parents wants, for me to go to college and learn a skill while I was in. Not completely, and they still weren’t happy, butt they gave in and signed the papers, that was early in my senior year.
While waiting, I decided, that wasn’t what I wanted to do. I wanted to be SF, Ranger, etc. So I re-negotiated my contract, and got Infantry with an unassigned Airborne slot. The best decision in my life, bar none.
There is nothing wrong with using the military as a stepping stone to “bigger and better” things. But it should be a side benefit, and not the major purpose.
Bob
I never did go to college, or make Ranger or SF:(
Same here. The day I turned 17 the recruiter came to my house and my parents signed the paperwork. I left for basic 34 days later.
GLP,
The responses you get may very well be from the way you worded your original question. If you had just simply said, “Hey, I’m thinking of joining the service. What are some advantages or disadvantages in the different branches?” Instead you came off as asking what we can give you. Yes we. I pay my taxes to pay for it, am a citizen, and serve so I consider myself part owner. I tell new Sailors Welcome to my Navy. It’s my Navy, but I’m willing to share it.
I love it when new guys or girls join. Everyone one of them are writing a blank check to Uncle Sam. It’s a blank check that could say 8 years of service, an arm or leg, a wheelchair for life, death or worse. I don’t care what branch they join, what job they choose, or if they have deployed or not. They all write that check.
As much as I respect those kids coming to my unit the one thing I can’t stand and don’t tolerate are the high maintenance, prim a dona, what are you going to do for me types. Piss on them. Some came in for the $20,000.00 bonus. Some for the education benefits, and some just because.
I have administratively separated 8 this last year. Some for unsatisfactory attendance at drill, some for failing the urinalysis, some for unrelated criminal charges, and even 1 for failing to pay off his Government Travel Credit Card. If they do not serve for the right reasons I will know it. It will show. They won’t take care of their business and I will send them away when they fail in their obligations.
For those with the desire to serve and the willingness to make sacrifices I will do almost anything in my power to protect, assist, train, and, encourage. It’s more than respect I feel for them. It’s almost a parental feeling towards these new members of our military. They are family.
I might be way off center but I believe being able to serve my Nation is one of the greatest honors I will receive on this earth. I joined at 37 and have never received a monetary bonus. I had to get a waiver just to join. I missed my original opportunity. I had a wife, kids, a career. I got lucky and realized it before more years slipped away. I would like to do 20+ years. I’ll actually be 57 if I get my 20 in. Who knows whether I’ll be able to get 20 in? But until they force me out I’ll continue to serve as long as I can. It’s not a responsibility, it’s a privilege.
If you want to share that privilege and honor I’ll welcome you. If not, no worries. Only you can make the decision. Just make sure you make it for the right reasons.
Exactly…and if you do decide to become an O, then you better be leading by example and from the front. Never make your men do something you are unwilling to do yourself. My junior officers used to get pissed when I made them perform the same job as the EMs, instead of standing around.
I believe you shouldn’t be allowed to be an officer until you’ve spent a few years as an Enlisted man.
Indeed. But there are some officers that can and have been groomed to be good officers by top notch NCOs.
RH,
we are tracking…
Unfortunately, a lot of Officers do not follow that example. Have poor examples in charge of them, & have nothing to go off of. I’ve even seen/heard Capt.'s tell there Lt’s to not listen to there NCO’s:confused:
Many of them believe in their superiority based on education, position, etc. It was always fun to watch when they ran into an educated Pvt. Or VN vet platoon Sgt.
1stLT: “well Sgt, this is how we did it in ROTC/West Point”
SFC: “well Sir, this is how we did it in VN”
I’ve had a few good Lt’s, and believe it or not, they came from West Point. I’ve had some that were indifferent, and some that just sucked,… same as enlisted.
Bob
The days of the difference between commissioned and enlisted being about education and intelligence are long gone.
Now it’s about what career path you choose, the job you want, and the level of accountability you want for yourself.
Plus of course the pay differences.
To the OP. If you do join make sure you do it for the right reasons. I know it’s been said already, but make sure you do it for the right reasons. If you do it just for the benefits as your post seems to imply you’ll have a miserable time of it.
I thought about joining too.
Nope, I’m too selfish to join. Cannot give up all I’ve worked for.
:rolleyes: I’m glad you can sum me up just by a post I made on a public internet forum sitting behind a computer screen. You don’t know me. You don’t know what Im capable of or what my intentions or goals are, or whether or not I’d join and “whine” about it a day later. You dont know shit. I wouldn’t want your type responding to any threads I create, but since youve already graced my thread with your ignorant presence, f’ you very much and have a nice day 
Anyway, all that aside, I didn’t come here for judgment. I don’t really give a shit what people think about me. Someones opinion about what I can and cant handle, or will or wont do based on absolutely nothing but their perception of who I am from reading a paragraph or two is of no use to me.
So…after reading the replies that matter (there were quite a few, after sorting through all the bullshit “holier than thou” posts) Ive decided that if I did join, reserve would be best for me. Im about halfway through the process of buying my first house, and I have a good paying job that I can’t give up. It wouldn’t be wise for me to join full time, at least not right now. Luke AFB is about 20 minutes from here, so it would be a great place for me to try and do my reserve duty if possible.
What kind of things do I need to know about joining the Air Force reserves? What kind of weight requirement do they have? What else can you tell me that will help me? I would want Security Forces or nothing…not sure if OSI has any reserve jobs, but that would be a good ultimate goal, as Im interested in that type of work.
Oh, and btw, Im not doing it for the college money or the sign up bonus. I couldn’t care less about either of those. I mentioned college money as a plus in my first post because it would be nice, but its definitely not what Im after. And the sign up bonus you dont even get right away, so I couldnt give two shits about that. I want to do this to better myself, and learn some real life skills that will help me in the real world. Going through basic would definitely get me in shape, which is something I need to do, as well as straighten me out as a human being. I want to be a better person, and do something that matters, and this seems like a good way to make a start in the right direction. I said I dont really want to go over seas and get shot at, or move around a lot, or get killed or lose a limb. Who DOES want to do any of that? I never said I wouldn’t do it, so don’t take my opening post as me whining about what I might encounter if I ever joined.
Wow I just read through that real quick. I forgot I was ever even considering the Coast Guard at one point in time. How the hell did you remember something like that when I don’t even remember creating it, or having those feelings? Reading that again 3 years later, I can definitely see where Ive changed and grown since then, and where I still need to improve
Dude,
You asked, we gave you an answer. You gotta be prepared for answers you may not like when you ask questions.
Other then your post, what are we to go on? Read what you wrote, nothing from your last post was in there. Now, after reading some posts here, you wanna be a better person? I ain’t buyin it, get butt hurt, cuss me out, I give a shit…
Like I said, when I was your age, I had already led men in combat, what have you been doin the last 6 years, thinkin about it:rolleyes:
You can’t give up your job, you want the AF to help you loose weight, whatever, you sound like John Candy in stripes.
Maybe it will make you a better person, I doubt it though. You need to be a good person in the first place. Your reaction in your last posts, speaks a lot about you.
My drill Sgt, told us, The Army won’t make a man out of you, your supposed to be one when you get here. If your Daddy failed, we’ll send you back to him to try again.
I suggest you think long and hard about what some of us have told you, and don’t get pissy about it.
Bob
To the OP:
You asked a question. You received answers. You did not like the answers.
The military is sort of like that, in a lot of ways. Except when you happen to tell your squad leader, LPO, or someone else “F you very much”, you’ll be lucky to keep your teeth.
This is coming from a guy that enlisted at 26 with two bachelor’s degrees, earned a master’s degree on active duty, and was Marine Corporal, with an MOS of 0331. That’s M-60 machine gunner.
I got no bonus, no college plan, nothing but lots of funny stories, some sleepless nights, and a pair of enemy marksmanship badges.
I’m reading this while drinking a glass of Scotch, raised in memory to a member of my squad. He’s buried in a National Cemetary in California. I folded the flag on his casket. Today is Memorial Day, so I am having a drink. But to this day, I cannot listen to “Amazing Grace” played on a set of bagpipes. Just a fact.
Another fact: A bunch of people with real-world experience, most of it at the pointy end of the stick, are telling you something. That’s generally referred to as a clue.
Here’s another clue. In the military, when you screw up, you often kill other people, that good people care about. I honest do not care what you decide to do. But please refrain from calling honorable men names, who have served their country well, under ddifficult circumstance. That is what they want to avoid, the death of people that they love. A leader loves his men, even as he may have to sacrifice them. That is why command is the greatest, and hardest thing a person can do.
You say that we do not know you. I can tell you right now that you certainly do not know us.
And I am just about certain you never will.
Good luck in whatever you do. If you do pick the military, honestly ponder what you were told.
Bob, you took the words right out of my mouth, as I was typing them.
As always sir, well-said.
GLP,
You’ve been bouncing around the internet asking these same questions for 3 years?
I think you’ve probably over thought this if you haven’t found an answer by now. Get off the fence. Make a decision and live by it. Either way. But make it for yourself and your family. Commit, either way and live with it.
It’s not about justifying it. It’s about service. Service to your community, your nation, and your God. It’s not for most people. But it should be. Taking the population of our country now the total armed forces today doesn’t equal more than a percent or 2.
You mentioned the Coast Guard yesterday when you created this thread.
As for the rest, you asked, and we answered - sorry if we didn’t give you the answers you were hoping for. All the information we had was what you provided to us. Maybe next time, you could explain your position better. If you go into the military, it would be good if you grow a thicker skin than what you’ve displayed here.
Whatever you decide, good luck.
What were you planning on doing if you don’t feel like moving around a lot? Sit in a la-z-boy?
You should really think long and hard about this.
ETA: Im not trying to bring you down, just trying to help
I like his nine to five, weekends off impression of LE. Where he lives there must not be any shift work, callouts, mandatory OT, etc.; I want to live there, I might see my wife from time to time.
Move around a lot ie…live in different places. I mentioned Im buying a house. That doesnt work when Im overseas 8 months out of the year.
You guys are funny lol
…can I get some answers my questions in my previous post before this one please?