Thinking about the military. Advice?

[Senoska]

Well, after some deep personal reflection, I'm seriously considering joining the military. I haven't spoken with a recruiter since highschool and am frankly, unsure of the branch I want to look into. For those with experience, I'd love your opinion.

Here's a small list of what I'm looking for:
*Travel - I'd like to see more of the world. For this reason, I was considering the Navy, but obviously I'm still unsure.
*Not a cook or something else meaningless.
*Something decently cool to do. I'd like to look back on the experience and not hate what my job was. Helicopters, guns, or something of this nature

What I'm not worried about:
*Deployment in the war - No big deal
*Being shot at - See above
*Pay - I don't give a damn about the money. Considering doing this for personal development and to support my friends and fellow humans abroad.

My qualifications:
-I'm a senior in college, or rather, was. Recently switched my major from international business to computer science.

-I have a decent resume of programming experience, and have been involved with the IT and programming world for 6 years. Really computer heavy background, etc etc.

Questions:
-For those in the military or former military, what was your job? Did you enjoy what you did?
-Silly question; but how were the people you were deployed with? Were any of them unbearable or was this looked past due to your situation? I don't want to be stuck on a ship or in buttfuck Afghanistan with someone I can't stand.
-I have asthma. It's sports triggered. I can handle it fine in most situations but I've heard that the marines will not allow you an inhaler on deployment. Also, how bad does this hurt my chances for joining.
-How was basic?
-What's the chow like?
-I'm sure a few more will come up in the thread. But thats all I could think of for now.

Thats about all I can think of. I'm going to make a meeting with a recruiter based on replies to discuss this, but I don't want to go into it without knowing shit about what I want to do. Thanks a bunch

P.S. Who is the guy that's pulling the trigger in these types of videos? What's their job title:

[alexisamonster]

quite ironic i recently asked my cousin who's in the air force the same thing (i'm a computer science major also) here's the response i got so far from her

"Ah, so you would be working in communications, same career field I'm in. Best one there is! Who knows, you may end up being my boss, lol. Here's the deal with being an officer though - you are almost guaranteed to move every 2 years. I'm insanely jealous of that because being enlisted we can get stuck in one place forever! If you wanna see the world for free though, it's perfect. You will keep going to school once you join though - there is always some type of training to go to . It usually sends you different places but, I enjoy it. You have to be ready to live by a new set of rules though and enjoy working out (well, to an extent). I'll get with some of my LTs when I go back to work Tuesday and get you info. I'm just gonna tel you the reality of the military and not just make it sound good so you'll join. Its not for everyone but, it depends on what you're looking for."

[scrockstar]

only do it if you can get into an officer training program. having a college degree helps a lot with this. the air force is really the best one to get into as an officer but is also rather competitive. I have a couple friends and a cousin who are officers in the air force and they all love it; best accommodations / low risk. anyways I would just start asking around and see which programs are in your area and go from there. best of luck

[Clash Perez]

If you're enlisted (which is what I was; I can't speak to officer life), don't expect anything close to the ridiculous "Accelerate Your Life" videos.

I was in the US Navy for six years as a nuclear electrician. If you're not the gung-ho military type, shit gets old pretty quickly. I didn't enjoy a lot of it, and it didn't magically infuse me with discipline like I had somehow thought it would.

That being said, I did learn a lot in the program, and I seriously doubt I'd have the (pretty decent) job I have if I didn't have that experience. It's what you make of it.

You're right to skip the basic cook/store keeper/wtfever rates that don't impart you with marketable skills after you leave. I'd also advise against rates that are highly specific to war-fighting, as there is often little non-military work to be had on the outside. Being a Fire Controlman and launching missiles and shit may sound cool, but it isn't going to get you very far if you don't make a career out of the military.

Addressing your questions:

1. Like I mentioned before, I was a nuclear-trained EM; I operated the support systems for the onboard nuclear plants on an aircraft carrier, and was responsible for the maintenance of the power distribution systems. The nuclear field has a reputation of being one of the more stressful and difficult fields in the Navy, but it's manageable, and it has good market value afterward. I left the Navy after my contract was up and landed a well paying (read: Not quite six figures, but pretty damned close) job in mid-2009, during the supposed 'job crisis', largely because of the experience I had received in the program.

2. There will be people with whom you'll have a good rapport, and there will be people who you just can't fucking stand. Learning to work with cool people and fucking idiots alike is something that everyone should learn to do, and you'll very likely have ample opportunity.

3. Asthma may be a disqualification from many things, if not the military as a whole. If it's an on-going problem and not something you've begun to grow out of, you may have to get a waiver to get in. It'd be something to talk about with a recruiter. If the first one says it's an immediate disqualification and won't try filing the paperwork for a waiver, you can try talking to another recruiter in a different district. They may be having a harder time filling a quota, and more willing to work with you.

4. Basic in the Navy's pretty much a joke. For the majority of the time there, you get eight hours of sleep, and there's a lot of classroom-style training. You'll still get yelled at, but they can't touch you and they're not even supposed to use foul language. It's no vacation, but it's nothing compared to the reputation of the 'old days'.

5. The food is edible. That's about it. It can be pretty terrible at times, but who cares? I grew up with a mother who could mess up Hamburger Helper, so maybe I was just used to it before I joined, so there was no paradigm shift for me.


Also, if you know anyone who has some military experience (preferably active duty in the service with which you'll be speaking), try to bring them along. Recruiters are much less likely to throw bullshit at you if they think they're going to get called on it.

[Senoska]

For the record, I won't be joining with a degree. This is something I'd be looking to do in the next month or so after some meeting with a recruiter, that is if I decide to do this. I'm still throwing the idea around, but sadly, due to circumstances beyond my control, I likely will not have graduated by the time I were to enlist. I do however have the credits of a near graduate, if that does me a damned thing. In terms of getting a job after the military, it's not an issue. I own a small business that does rather well (Near six figures a year of services sold and only hiring freelancers.) and I plan to continue this during and after the military, putting my brother in charge of business affairs. Like I said, I'm not too worried about the money or the job afterwards. I'm perfectly employable as is. I worked as a developer for the largest programming company where I live for a short time and managed fine, and have a relatively healthy resume. With that being said, I'm not looking to do this for a career afterwards unless it somehow advances what I'm currently doing.

I figured some people I wouldn't get along with, but typically (And this is what I fear) I don't get along with hard headed douches since I'm one myself. Put two in a room and chaos begins. I am a little worried about the "DUUUURRRR I LIKE GUNZ AND FOOTBALL, I DUN DID GET EDJUMACATED INDAH JEEBUS SCHOOLZ" since I immediately hate these people, and I have a good feeling that the military is full of them. I'm the type to just want to chill and do my own thing, whatever that may be.

In regards to Asthma, that's disappointing to hear. I imagine if I join a branch other than the marines, I would be fine. It's only an issue when I'm playing sports or working out for extended periods of time, and even then it's only annoying. I've had it my whole life and it doesn't seem to be going away regardless of how good of shape I get in. Its manageable, just irritating.

As far as navy basic, I'm glad to hear that. I do well in those types of situations.

In terms of food, I was just asking because when I was younger, my dad had a healthy supply of MRE's which we ate when we went camping, and it was basically "Eat this and shit out your face" type food. Expelling internal organs through your ass is not my idea fun at all. P.S. Avoid the chocolate in these, dear lord.

Also, that last suggestion is a fantastic idea. Thanks for the tip. What kind of bullshit should I look out for in these interviews, by the way? I'm not really sure what to expect.

Thanks for the response.

[ZarakiKujata]

Isn't it like a 6 month+ wait to actually enlist after you apply? Gotta pass background/med checks and such.

[Senoska]

Isn't it like a 6 month+ wait to actually enlist after you apply? Gotta pass background/med checks and such.

Either way, I won't be having my degree as I just switched my major and I refuse to finish my business degree.

[Celestialstrife]

I actually had a lot of fun while I was in. Basic kinda seemed easy to me. I was in the Army. When I first joined I was going to be in the band as a clarinet player, but due to some issues with a band recruiter and such, I got booted from the armed forces school of music. Then I changed my mos to computer graphics, and that was a fun class to take. Got to start out with drawing basics, then we moved onto the computers. It was mostly like web design and power point presentations, but I liked it. Sadly however I left the Army because while I was in I had donated blood twice, and I was not aware I shouldn't have. So that made me anemic! I pretty much have a handle on it now, so once I get my BSN I want to try to get into the Air Force.

[lovehatehero]

You woul dbe MUCH MUCH better off waiting and finish your degree. Seriously, depending on what job you are even looking to get into, they are either not taking any, or long waits for some. Enlisted life is OK. I was enlisted for 7 years as an AW in the navy( Naval Aircrewman- SAR stuff, combat ops, medivacs, anti-sub ops all jobs we do). Made it up to E-5. And even though I was an E, it wasnt bad. Specially that job. Saw lots of the world, did IMO the best job in the navy, if not all of enlisted job in all branches, but obv. Im biased on that. It gets better obviously as you make your way up, but "O" life is the way to go.

As far as people you work with/deploy with its all random. There are so many differnent backgorunds of people that you cant get along with anyone, and after 6-12 months of seeing the same people everyday all day etc etc. It can get old. But on the other hand, military friends are unlike any other friendship you will ever make. You just deal with the people you cant stand the best you can, nothing you can do about it. And i think it also depends what type of communiy/job you get into. Mine was a more elitest/physical group of people. Which is how I am in some regards so I got along so well. It was more people like me, same mentalities etc etc.

Asthma will probably really limit what jobs you can qualify to do, and I'm almost certain it would disqualify you from any Spec Op or physically demanding job ( SAR, SEALS, EOD, DIVER, SWCC etc etc.) Unless its something you can control without an inhaler 100% and just not tell them >.> Thats on your discretion though.

Chow is well..Its dependent lol. On the ships its really dpenedent on the FSO (food service Officer) in charge. If its not some shmuck you can have decent food actually, even the enlisted. But as with everything "O" life is better in that regaurds.

Basic was a joke then and i hear is even more of a joke now, at least navy side.

Anything you need/want to know feel free to ask, Im still reserves and have lots of access to lots of info navy side, and can get it for other branches as well. But really, finish your degree and fucking go officer.

Also, the AC130 gunner are ALL officers.

[SephYuyX]

Oh man, fuck being a diver, they go through some serious training.
Army Ranger Snipers or Marine SOCs ftw.

Seno, id think the military would eat you up, buddy, lol. Try shooting for intelligence 'desk' jobs in the Army or Air.

Also:

[Zoolander]

Air Force has the best facilities and food. My little bro's accommodations in the USAF are a fucking joke, has his own little room to himself that is essentially a hotel room and the food is decent. Getting in can be tricky, but if you have computer skills and are reasonably intelligent you should pwn the tests. Long wait time for USAF though, and idk about seeing the world.

Edit: and I guess you're ready to go cold turkey on weed, eh?

[Indalecia]

Basic in Navy is borderline retarded nowadays.

I was an Electronics Warfare Technician (v3 )specialist before we were force converted to Cryptologist(Technical). Depending on your primary NEC, could work either side of that equation. Short version, you worked on a machine that stopped missles passively and detected radars. Also you're automatically on the ships intel team and in some cases, train them. I personally trained 4 CICO's and intel officers. It was fun and I saw alot of the world. Like previously stated, chow is dependent on how good your cooks/SUPPO is. If they suck, get used to the vending machine. From your perspective, you sound like an IT waiting to happen or a CT(R), I think. CT's have 5 subdivisions or so, hard to remember their respective fields. One of them is counter-hacker type.

All in all, I did enjoy it, standing watch and all. Also, nothing beats aquiring sea-stories. 90% of the time, you'll flat beat anyone in straight story density, you just DO alot of stuff.

Also, never drink the water in a foreign country, drink the alcohol. Trust me.

[Demosthenes11]

I would suggest not enlisting if you do not believe in the government military-industrial complex, personally. Even if you are not a cook, chances are you will still be doing something meaningless in the grand scheme of morality and overall good, if not bad.

[Ksandra]

You woul dbe MUCH MUCH better off waiting and finish your degree. Seriously, depending on what job you are even looking to get into, they are either not taking any, or long waits for some.

I'd have to go with this. I have never been military and I used to be against it. But when I moved right near the base in cali I definitely changed my opinion of it. I feel like it's a great opportunity for people going no where, or need a start, or can't afford school etc. You seem to be none of those. This is not to say you shouldn't join, but because you don't seem to be in financial need, I would finish the degree first then join if you still want to.

[shepardG]

As I write this I'm sitting in Mannas AB, Kyrjikstan, waiting to get on my flight into Afghan...

If your serious, and you sound like you are, being an Officer is extremely good looking on a resume when you get out. However, I'll just describe my enlistment, and my personal good's and bads.

I joined in 2003, went through MEPS (Military enlistment post, where you do all your med/legalizes/take your oath) in 2002, and used the delayed entry program to leave 6months after i commited. I went to MEPS with the intent to get a job in the medical field, radiography or some bullshit, and I had something like an 87 on my ASVAB, so I was qualified for pretty much anything. I go there, they say "we don't have that job right now, here's a list of the 26 jobs we're looking for....fuels, cops, services(cooks), Random flight line jobs, para-rescue, Combat controler, etc. I was like "WELL fuck...what has the highest enlistment bonus...." Pararescue was out, along with Combat Controller, and long story short, EOD was giving 10k to sign up for 6 years, as well as E-3 after like 6 months.

I called my Mom, told her i was going to be in the bomb squad, and she shat a brick.

So cut to basic training: Shit was like 8 weeks of annoyance, and afterwards was like one of the easiest things I'd done. People who say that shit was hard are the fuck wads who never made their bed, or did their own laundry, or had any sense of personal responsability before they joined.

After basic it was 2 months at Medina annex, outside of Lackland waiting to class up to head to Eglin AFB, Florida. It was bullshit busy work, like moping, and painting shit, and trimming bush's around base, but easy shit really. The thing that sucks is that your in the "phase program" meaning, after you graduate basic, you have to be in uniform for the first 4 weeks at all times, outside of your room. After that you hit phase 2 which let's you wear civi's on base, and you can go off base in your uniform and this phase lasted like 3 weeks, after that you hit 3, you can wear civi's off duty off base, but you can't drive a POV (privately owned vehicle). this phase last's like 4 fucking months. after that you hit phase 4, which is pretty much like being in the regular airforce, you can drive, you can wear civi's anytime your not on duty, etc. only if you fuck up some how, that can take you down a phase, or 2 or back to 1. it's all discretionary of your Seargents.

so fast forward to EOD school, got there in July of 2003, school is fucking hard, has like a 73% Attrition rate. Meaning if you show up with 20 folks, you can almost bet that only 5 of them are gonna graduate. Can't take home your notes, as it's mostly classified, and when you fail a test, you re-test the next duty day, and if you fail again, (they call it double tapping) you either get rolled back into another class to repeat the section of school that you bombed (pun intended) or you go to a board. This is a joint services school, so your going through with Army,airforce,marines,navy all in the same class. and when you go to a board, you stand tall in your service dress, infront of the Chief of the school for airforce, the Army Seargent Major, the Navy Master Chief, and the Marine corp. Master Gunnery Seargent. And those muther f'ers are scary. They will grill the shit out of you, and it will not be pretty and it's basically a test of nerves, to see if you even deserve another chance to attempt the school.

So you graduate, you feel like a million bucks, and you head to your "flight", I lucked out and went to the actual EOD shop @ Eglin. It's a big shop (one of 4 range bases in the air force) and you go from the top of the world, to the bottom ...AGAIN. At the flight, you'll actually learn how shit get's done, in school they teach the text book safest way, but in the real world that shit takes time, and EOD guys are the best judges of situations when it comes to keeping people safe, no if and's or but's. That's the entire point of the school. Evalutating situations with hundreds of different variables and making the fucking call to keep you and your guys as safe as possible, while eliminating the shit that could kill you or someone else.

"Initial Success or Total Failure" is the god damnedest truth, and it's what we live and unfortunately die by.

I graduated in May of 2004, so almost a year in school. The Airforce didn't get into the fight until around this time, when the Iraq insurgency started kicking off. I was in DC, for bush's 2nd term Inauguration (did i mention we work with the Secret Service almost daily?) when i got word me and 9 other guys from eglin were headed to Iraq in Aug. of 2005.
We were slated for an 8 month tour (ended up being 9) and my life would never be the same.

You played Fallout? Man say's in the begining, "War...War never changes" and he's god damn right. somethings get better, some get worse, but the nature of the beast is still the same, and always will be. IED's were the main killer at that time (hell they still are) and EOD are the only folks who can disarm them (well atleast we're supposed to be, fuckers blew themselves up enough trying, until big army got god damn serious about not trying that shit) They got complicated, using Long range cordless phones, command wire strung out 1000 meters, christmas tree lights with crush switches spread out every 6 inches, and all kinds of other shit. Hell they where writing the book on how to fight big armies with little armies, and we were writing the books on how to to defeat them. New pages would get written every day, and new gear was getting built out of scrap metal and wood just to try and defeat a new TTP(tactics, techniques, and procedures) that the bad guys would start using.

I got married, ...then divorces, and I deployed again in 07, to baghdad this time, for 6 months. This was when the fight started taking it's toll on everyone, bad guys and us alike. You come into work in florida one day, and your first team chief, the guy who put you in for your only airforce medal (I still only have one airforce medal, but I got 4 army comms, a navy achievment and a joint service achievement) went down outside of Balad. He had 4 kids and a wife, and we burried him in arlington national cemetary that april. It is still probably the most humbling experience i've ever had of my life. This was 2 months after we lost an entire 3 man team to a VBIED (Vehicle Borne IED). I went to school with the female that was on that team... And while i was deployed at FOB mumadiyha outside of baghdad my buddy got hit up north near Kirkuk. He lost his entire left arm at 90 percent of his vision, and his face looks like someone set it on fire and put it out with a wet chain.

But you push through it, because the greatest strength you'll ever know is never giving up.

I got back in december, had a girl that stayed with me through that, and we moved in together in feb of 08. I got work in april that i was headed into Afghanistan, to Kandahar in Nov. of that year. I told her, if we were still as good as we were through this deployment, we'd probably need to start talking about marrige (she stayed, we did, and were married now ^^ girl is bad ass in all ways)

So I head to afghanistan in Nov. down south working in and around the helmand province. It was a different world. I've been in gun fights, I've seen hummers get rocked with 3 80lb 155mm artillery rounds 50m from me, and death is nothing but a thing you get used to, but Afghanistan....man, fuck this place. It was so fucked up and ass backwards and we'd been there almost 3 years longer than we had in Iraq. We are not winning this war, we cannot win, it's our generations Vietnam, and no matter how much they sugar coat any news reports, we are not "making progress".
I worked with British Marines, Canadian Special forces, and Slovakian army. It was an experience, but i'd give it all back, because in April of 2009, we woke up one morning to start are daily routine, and after our 0900 morning meeting, we saw a flash report come across MiRC chat. It said that a british marine had gone down outside of Bastion, and his Pack number (quick refrence number consisiting of First letter of last name, and last 4) M5367 (not his real one) ... we had a team out there supporting the brits, and after a quick check, it turned out to be my buddy phil's number. We were confused becaue he was listed as british and shit snowballed from there. We made some calls and after the 4th or 5th, our senior master seargent spoke a few lines, and the phone fell out of his hands. The entire futility of the Afghan war hit everyone in that instant and there wasn't a dry face in the fucking house.

We carried his casket in the pooring rain into a C-130 at 0200 in the morning. He had been on a flyaway mission (dropped out of a helo, living out of your backpack) and they had found an IED on a foot path near a "strategic area". While attempting to render it safe, it had detonated and killed him instantly. You probably saw news reports of it, back then, as it was the first time media was allowed to film and broadcast the ceremony of the bringing home of the dead, since bush had forbidden them too since 2001. His name was phillip meyers, he was from hampton VA, (4 hours from my house) and he was one of the best guys you'd ever get the privilege to know.
He had a wife, and a boy and a girl.

I'm a team chief now, this go round, and I have guys that are trusting me, and i'm trusting them. I'm the guy in the bomb suit this time, and It is the most honorable thing that i've ever done. I hate big military, because they lose sight of the guys on the ground, and in the airforce it's especially apparent, we deal with stupid rules, and stupid people on a daily, but when push comes, knowing you got good people who wear the same badge you do, on your left and your right, makes shoving back a whole lot easier.

I'd say go for it man, I have regrets, and I got demons (ptsd, bad back, shitty shoulders, shitty sleep) but when I'm an old man, and dying on a bed somewhere, i'll be able to tell my kids that all the bullshit, that don't mean nothing in the long run, was lived by good people who would do it again for each other, not for a god damn line on a map or a fucking flag. I'm patriotic as fuck, and i'll be honest, my shelf life is getting near time (all operators got one, no matter how fast, strong, hardcore you are) but i'd never give any of it up.

If you wanna do something bad ass, I'd say go EOD. It's tough, but if it wasn't every mother fucker would do it.

[shepardG]

Holy shit wall of text.

Appolgies for the mis-spellings, i'm in the morale tent, and fuckers keep distracting me, it's 3 in the morning, 20ish degrees, rainny, and I have to take a shit.

[Dantrag]

Touching story to say the least. Thanks Shep.

[Fievel]

Touching story to say the least. Thanks Shep.

This, seriously wow, thank you for sharing all that.

[antihero]

This, seriously wow, thank you for sharing all that.

yea, thanks shep

[Quixotic]

Does your college have ROTC? Would check that out if its available...friend of mine did Air Force ROTC during his time in college and after graduation he became an active pilot for the Air Force. He's been stationed all over the place (which is fine w/ him, he loves seeing the world and one of his goals is to have someone to call up and have a drink/chill with everywhere he flies to).