whos all in the military?

[darkspork]

It seems like mostly us in the Navy that really hate the military. I can count on one hand the number of guys I know that really love it. On the other hand, pretty much every Air Force guy I've ever met loves their job. It may just be a branch thing.

I'm in the Air Force doing security forces, and I think it's more of a career field thing. I can easily think of many people within my career field that want out. It's very hard to think of people that are happy in their job (myself included). On the other hand, there are many people in other career fields that seem pretty happy.

What do you do in the Navy? I have a friend in the Navy doing something with computers (programming I think) and he absolutely loves it.

 

[Southern_Trendkill]

I'm in the Air Force doing security forces, and I think it's more of a career field thing. I can easily think of many people within my career field that want out. It's very hard to think of people that are happy in their job (myself included). On the other hand, there are many people in other career fields that seem pretty happy.

What do you do in the Navy? I have a friend in the Navy doing something with computers (programming I think) and he absolutely loves it.

I'm Aviation Electrician. I do power generation and distribution, Inertial Navigation Systems, and Autopilot systems. There's a bunch of other stuff that I work on too, but I work on pretty much everything with a wire going to it.

 

[vaskeet]

usn retired Avation Electronics tech 20 years most of it working as a flight deck troubleshooter. knees are shot hearing is bad and I loved the work and most of the people hated the games. There is no Thill like launching/final checking aircraft on carriers If you want bad ass there are two jobs for you in the navy seals or corpsman attached to the usmc Randy

 

[NMB2]

The problem with the enlistment process is, that your recruiters went through basic training and AIT at a minimum of 6 years ago, and they come up with new rules and new ways to train almost daily. Thats the curse of TRADOC (Training and Doctrine Command) bases (the ones where you do Basic and AIT at). So if you really want to get a better idea of the recruitment process and what happens afterwards, ask your recruiters if they have someone there thats doing the "Hometown Recruiting Program", and tell them you'd like to speak to them if there is one. Chances are they have one or two Privates that just got out of AIT somewhere nearby thats in the program.

I just recently got out of the Army myself, so I know how it is.

If your aiming to be a ranger, thats gonna be tough. You *MIGHT* get EXTREMELY lucky and get attached to a ranger unit, and if that happens they'll almost definitely send you to Ranger school. But if not, then you'll have to really haul balls at your job and show them that your high speed and can handle yourself....then you'll have to talk to your senior NCO's to get the ball rolling to get you into Ranger school.

Its a long road, and if you go Ranger... be ready to re-enlist. You may not be able to get it until you re-up. Its not uncommon for "schools", such as Ranger School/Airborne/Air Assault, to be part of a reenlistment bonus.

Not sure what Unit you were in, but In my unit it is EASY to get a chance for Air Assault or Airborne. If you are a squared away and even moderatly highspeed 11 bang bang, Ranger school is pretty easy too. Being ranger qualified doesnt mean you're ranger.

It really just depends what unit you get into, because as you probably already know, each unit is allotted X amount of slots. Go to an infantry unit, more slots... go to a support unit... less slots.

Well I guess my next question then is how are the physical requirements to get in? I'm in shape... clean & jerk 250 but I've had shoulder surgery. And how hard is it to get into say airborne school or to be trained as a paramedic? Do you have a lot of choice or do they just tell you what you're gonna do based off ASVAB?

They are going to give you a shitty little list of jobs and tell you thats all that is open. Trust me.. there is alot more. Just tell them what you want and if they wont give it to you... walk away, they will probably stop you.
Unless your shoulder surgery is obvious... dont tell them about it. Getting trained for paramedic I think is 68W with a mike9 (dont quote me).. Airborne school is SUPER easy to get into.. just make sure they put it into your contract. If you want it, dont accept no as an answer. You will do an airborne physical and if you qualify. You will go after basic or AIT. Depends on your MOS.

do yourself a really BIG, BIG favor... get your degree BEFORE going into service!!! then go in as an officer. the benefits to that are more than worth the wait, imho.

I disagree. Most officers are nearly worthless.. especially 03 and below. The only decent ones were prior enlisted.

Recuiting standards are very high right now, because numbers are up. Chances are if you go talk to an army recruiter right now, you will get mainly the truth. I personally didnt get lied to at all, and alot of the people that you run into that bash the military and how much their recruiters lied to them, and how messed up it is.... are what we call shit bags and shammers.

The Military isnt that bad, I can only speak about the army... it has its up's and downs just like anything else.

 

[Will]

I know everyone that served was in special forces. WHich is weird to me--all the other jobs must be much more dangerous because none of those people survived. All we have left is veteran special forces guys. The guys that worked in motor transport, supply and administration were all killed on duty while the high-speed special ops commandos were behind enemy lines where it's safe--I guess.

We had a guy in my unit way back when that was a radio operator. He wanted to try out for recon. He was a bad-ass dude. He trained to get ready by running on the beach with a couple sand bags in his alice pack; swiming in the surf; running, running, running, running.

He didn't make it. He broke. I couldn't believe it.

The army throws patches on people--Airborne, Ranger, whatever. Look like a Marine general when you get out of bootcamp. No Marine recon guy or Navy Seal is going to brag about their service in any way. Those are extremely elite units and to complete indoctination you have to be able to eat apples and shit fruit salad, and then eat a barb-wire fence and spit out nails. You can be a bad-ass dude but the instructors will demolish you until you physically can't move and then see who can become a zombie and drag themselves up. Your 250 clean and jerk doesn't matter--if you get accepted to even try out they ARE going to kill you cardiovascularly. After you are dead THEN they will see who you are.

It's tough enough to survive regular ol' bootcamp. I only went to marine bootcamp--I don't think it is co-ed yet. But without being commando training it is a large enough goal right out of the gate. I am 24 years removed from it but it's probably not a lot different now. If you aren't used to running all of the time, get used to it. If you are heavy, get ready to be abused. If you require personal space, or personal time--there isn't any. You go to sleep exhaust at the POA and wake up violently. If you have any personal problems they will be assumed to be malingering. When you make it through--and it may not be in the scripted 3-months as people get hurt and recycled--you'll feel like Chesty Puller for a week. Then you will head to ITS and they will start you right back over as a recruit and abuse you more. But you'll be in shape--you will suffer, but you will be able to take it. After that, you will head to your specialty school. And if it's a combat MOS, they will abuse you some more. Your boots will be sacred objects. Once you get your boots sorted out you will pray to them. You will grind the heels away and spend a lot of money to get them re-soled.

When I joined there was no internet and I didn't know anyone in the marines. I skimmed through the Time Life WW2 series in the library and saw the pictures of those guys eaving the landing craft as bullets drumed into it. I though 'If you're going to live with yourself on this planet, that's about the worst anyone has had to face' and there was no other option. I was so naive that it wasn't until I was in bootcamp that I learned that there were no active wars going on. I just assumed that the marines were always fighting somewhere. Now, they are.

The marines are heavy, heavy on tradition. They aren't going to make modern jumps. Joining them is an investment in history as they have never drafted or had recruiting problems. People join because of the tradition. They aren't going to sew patches all over your uniform.

Go to a VA hospital before you enlist and see what the risks are. Make sure you are willing to accept it.

 

[JimJa1943]

Well, guess I should weigh in here. I recently retired after 30 years of military service (My wife is also a 20 year veteran). Two years in the Army as a draftee - one in the U.S. and one on the ground in Vietnam. Four years in the Army Reserve and finally 24 years in the Navy first as a F-4 Pilot then as an Intelligence Officer. Medically cut from flying and moved to Intelligence.

In many ways joining the military service is like joining a college fraternity - in order to get the most from it and enjoy what you are doing you must find a service (and a job) that is compatible with your personality and interests. If you don't you'll never be happy. I counted down every day in the Army and loved the Navy. It was better for me.

Marines: If you want family. If you want a close net group that works and plays hard and together. If you want to know you'll be looked after by your seniors. The Marines expect and demand a lot from their people. Truly "can do." IMO the overall best of the best and their pride shows it.

Navy: If you respond to thinking on your feet to get the job done, regardless of the rules. Make it happen. Self starter. Able to see what needs to be done and then does it - w/out being told. If you can deal with that and working until the job is done, regardless of the hours, before your time off, this is best for you.

Air Force: If you really want the training to work in the corporate world upon finishing your enlistment here it is. A real 9 to 5 organization. Very difficult to rise above your job description.

Army: I won't comment. I'll let others. It's just not me at all, but I'm glad as hell they are there and I've got several friends I still stay in touch with after 35 years.

Coast Guard: if you are considered mature for your age and are able to accept a lot of responsibility this is your place. Because they fall under the Dept of Transportation, not DOD, their promotions are much slower. Different rules.

Keep in mind there are good people in all the services...and there are people you wouldn't give the time of day - some are your bosses and some work for you. The same applies for jobs. There are jobs you hate to leave when your tour is up, and jobs you can't wait to get out of. It's just the way it is.

I can only speak for the Navy and Air Force in the matter of opportunity, but the educational opportunities are limitless...IF... you want to seek them out and go for it. They won't come to you.

Some jobs are perfect for one person others are not. For example, the Navy has difficulty keeping Gas Turbine Tech's. As a result the promotion and bonus multipliers are jaw-dropping. These are the guys getting the BIG reenlistment bonuses. Same for the dental techs that make crowns. Can't keep them. On the other hand the Post Office is manned at over 100% because everyone wants to work for the postal service as soon as they leave the service. As a result promotions are slow.

I urge you to take a full battery of interest and aptitude tests prior to talking to a recruiter. Then ask about jobs which meet your qualifications. You'll be happier in the long run. And for many jobs you can enlist for that job. Remember however, normally enlisting for a specific job requires you enlist for a longer period of time. Navy Nuclear Techs go to school for two years and spend four years in the fleet - 6 years. Be flexible. If you are not, you'll have a tough time regardless of the service you choose.

A very close friend recently retired after 30 years as a Navy Seal Officer. He's still working in the field, now as a civilian. He speaks very highly of the Air Force and Marine Spec Ops. He doesn't care for the Army's MISSION for their spec ops people - SEALs do a lot of Intelligence gathering, and very specific tasks, some not so nice. The Army gets close with the locals and works with them. Great if that's what you want to do. Not disparaging the Army's spec ops, it's like I said about the job. It has to be good for you.

...BUT remember for ANY spec ops in any service you HAVE TO WANT IT or you will never get through training. AND, at least with the Navy's spec ops folks, once finished your life is the SEALS. BUDS is 23 weeks (it's typical for only 23-25 to graduate from a starting class of 140-150) then specific training and once assigned to a SEAL Team, routine deployments are six months followed by a year at home. Of that year 10 months are in training and 6-8 months of that are away from home. Then it's back on deployment. Like I said you have to want it.

The person that indicated you should finish college first and go in as an officer is correct, but keep in mind the standards are currently very high. Civilian jobs are difficult now so people look to the services. At the same time the services are cutting back so there are fewer jobs. Supply and demand.

Now just in case those of you reading this think I am not qualified to talk about other services, 10 of my Navy years were in Join Commands. I have written many Evals (Enlisted) and Fitness Reports (Officers) on people in ALL services. I have worked for seniors from all services. In fact if you read the papers or listen to the news, I was the Executive Assistant for the current retired AF 3-star being considered for the National Intelligence Director. I know him well. He's a VERY GOOD man and I have the utmost respect for him. I'm not a name dropper, just trying to let you know my qualifications to speak about other services. If you have specific questions please ask. I'm very proud of my military background and once you serve you will also.

 

[crusin93]

Very well written. I enjoyed reading your post, JimJa1943. Thank you.

 

[Twizzler09]

Not sure what Unit you were in, but In my unit it is EASY to get a chance for Air Assault or Airborne. If you are a squared away and even moderatly highspeed 11 bang bang, Ranger school is pretty easy too. Being ranger qualified doesnt mean you're ranger.

It really just depends what unit you get into, because as you probably already know, each unit is allotted X amount of slots. Go to an infantry unit, more slots... go to a support unit... less slots.

I was a 91Bravo, and when I went through training, there was only a small handfull of us that we're able to get airborne slots, and none of us got anything else besides ASI (wrecker & recovery ops) training. Even that was only about 15 people out of the 82 that were in my AIT class.

I was part of 2nd ID 5th SBCT, but only for a very short time, as I got out promptly after my assignment with them. Was diagnosed with what the doc's called "Degenerative Meniscus Disease" in both my knees and deemed I was unfit for continued service.

 

[vaskeet]

Four years in the Army Reserve and finally 24 years in the Navy first as a F-4 Pilot then as an Intelligence Officer. Medically cut from flying and moved to Intelligence.


which squadrons were you in Randy

 

[NMB2]

I was a 91Bravo, and when I went through training, there was only a small handfull of us that we're able to get airborne slots, and none of us got anything else besides ASI (wrecker & recovery ops) training. Even that was only about 15 people out of the 82 that were in my AIT class.

I was part of 2nd ID 5th SBCT, but only for a very short time, as I got out promptly after my assignment with them. Was diagnosed with what the doc's called "Degenerative Meniscus Disease" in both my knees and deemed I was unfit for continued service.

Ya its hard to get a slot once you're in training. You have to either get it in your contract at MEPS. or hope you get a highspeed unit.

sucks about your knees

 

[dp88]

Im not in but Im about to start ROTC at Austin Peay up by Fort Campbell. I will be enlisting in the gaurd this year to be in while im at school doing the SMP route. I am really excited. I know what I said didn't help but thought I'd comment. I wish you the best of luck with whatever you decide to do.

 

[JimJa1943]

Vaskeet,

VF121 (RAG at NAS Miramar San Diego) then VF 151 on the USS Midway. We left in the early fall of 1973 for Japan and I detached in Oct 1975. We flew F4N. VF151 is now VFA151 and flies the A/F-18.

 

[feellnfroggy]

The problem with the enlistment process is, that your recruiters went through basic training and AIT at a minimum of 6 years ago, and they come up with new rules and new ways to train almost daily. Thats the curse of TRADOC (Training and Doctrine Command) bases (the ones where you do Basic and AIT at). So if you really want to get a better idea of the recruitment process and what happens afterwards, ask your recruiters if they have someone there thats doing the "Hometown Recruiting Program", and tell them you'd like to speak to them if there is one. Chances are they have one or two Privates that just got out of AIT somewhere nearby thats in the program.

I just recently got out of the Army myself, so I know how it is.

If your aiming to be a ranger, thats gonna be tough. You *MIGHT* get EXTREMELY lucky and get attached to a ranger unit, and if that happens they'll almost definitely send you to Ranger school. But if not, then you'll have to really haul balls at your job and show them that your high speed and can handle yourself....then you'll have to talk to your senior NCO's to get the ball rolling to get you into Ranger school.

Its a long road, and if you go Ranger... be ready to re-enlist. You may not be able to get it until you re-up. Its not uncommon for "schools", such as Ranger School/Airborne/Air Assault, to be part of a reenlistment bonus.

Its actually alot easier than this, but only depending on your motivation. When you get to meps get RIP in your contract. Ranger Indoctrination Program. Its the only way you can be assigned to a ranger battalion without being tabbed. You wont get ranger school 99% chance till your e-4. You can also get assigned to a reg battalion and sign up for ranger school later in your military career but its alot more difficult. THe best way to get shoved into that program is to have a combat arms MOS, preferably 11 series. 11c1p for the win.... yeah!

You have 11b, infantry, 11c infantry mortars, 11m mechanized infantry(bradleys), 11h motorized infantry(humvees and the like) Any of the 11 series will almost guaruntee you a shot at the Tab. The one thing to remember in any ranger program is no matter what happens just dont fawking quit. ANd learn to drink. Rangers have huge ego's so find a recruiter with the tab and play it up, ask him about his badassedness etc. If they dont have a slot for rip or anything else you want for that matter then bail. Go home and come back to meps another day. (your not stuck till you swear in) If your impatient and cant get any ranger nothing, then either go airborne or air assault. These units get a higher amount of slots for ranger school each year.

And the most important thing to remember........after your done enlisting and getting everything you want.....dont ever volunteer for anything LOL>

 

[vaskeet]

Vaskeet,

VF121 (RAG at NAS Miramar San Diego) then VF 151 on the USS Midway. We left in the early fall of 1973 for Japan and I detached in Oct 1975. We flew F4N. VF151 is now VFA151 and flies the A/F-18.

I was in VA176 on the Indy 3 cruises 79-82 (flight deck troubleshooter AT) Pax River Md AIMD 83-86 VA34 87-92 Uss America and Ike 4 cruises (troubleshooter again) 92-95 VA 42 Instructor (Rag at NAS Oceana) VAW123 America again and the GW 2 more cruises for atotal of 9 (Troubleshooter and Maintenance control) retired in 98 and went to work for Raytheon on a black shoe radar system Rothr still there Randy Infinger AT1 USN RET

 

[feellnfroggy]

It's tough enough to survive regular ol' bootcamp. I only went to marine bootcamp--I don't think it is co-ed yet. But without being commando training it is a large enough goal right out of the gate. I am 24 years removed from it but it's probably not a lot different now.

It is actually ALOT ALOT ALOT different now, at least in the army. They treat you real nice, no more shark attack right off hte bus, they cant swear at the privates anymore, they cant mentally abuse them etc. Its be all nice and sweet you can be til the private learns what he needs to. Todays army in vietnams situation would have been worthless. They have these things called stress cards. When the drill sergeant starts to stress you too much you can use this card for a 24 stress break. once a week or something. LOL



When I got recalled for Iraq we had to retrain on the mortar square (requalify basically) and we were slid in with a class of privates. LOL that lasted about two days when one of my guys drew stress card on his joker from a card deck. We all got pulled off hte square, sent to the testing square and nixed all further training, they tested us out, we got expert and they got us the hell away from the cherries, LOL It was awesome.