Thinking of joining the military

[Jotaru]

So, TL:DR version here, hoping I can get some advice from anyone who's served, knows a lot about the army, the programs, the situation... basically anyone with some insight, as I lack people like that in real life to ask about this stuff. Help appreciated

inb4 see recruiter, I'm going to do that today most likely, but I'd like more than just their one-sided sales pitch of how it'll work for me.

I graduated in 2004 from high school and went to college in Chicago for 3 semesters- I had a scholarship, but the rest was student loans (To the tune of about $20,000 a year). Having no credit, I had to exhaust a large amount of options- I had scholarship money and some grants, but mostly student loans requiring co-signers. After the third semester the loans caught up and my parents decided not to continue co-signing, leaving me dead in the water with a ton of debt, no degree, and an endless cycle of dead-end minimum wage jobs I continue to deal with today.

My parents are convinced the only solution is for me to join the military.

They believe that joining the military will pay off all my student debt, put me through four years of school, put me in whatever job I choose for four years and I'll get out to a perfect life... I'm not sure how reasonable I find this. I know nobody who's joined the military and done any of these things- they join, put in the time usually overseas shooting foreigners, get shot at, come home, and are in the exact same position I'm in now- minus four years of their lives.

How realistic is it to expect that you can walk in, sign a contract, and do (generally) what you want? What type of jobs can I expect to have, having only a diploma and some college credits? Will I be relegated to being shot at overseas? More importantly- how realistic is it to think I can have loans repaid, or schooling paid so that I can get out with a degree and not be right at square one?

Any advice or info from people is appreciated, I know this is brief, but I'd really love to talk to someone via PM or something who may have experience doing this.

Thanks in advance-

[Melena]

Well the jobs you can do all depend on how well you score on the test, avast i think it's called. I'll let one of the actual military people clarify that as I only have a brother in the Army. As for being shipped oversea's, depends on what you sign up to do. If you sign up to be a truck driver, chances are you'll go over there. My brother signed up for Artillery and got lucky and A: Got assigned to a training division which can't be shipped out unless under extreme duress and B: his Sgt liked him enough to offer him a human resources position in a nice climate controlled office so he doesn't have to fire mortar shells all day in wonderful Oklahoma weather.

[Norellicus]

Test is called the ASVAB and it means shit-all for how they place you. Recruiters almost wholesale treat newcomers as numbers to fill a quota. Friends of mine scored in the 98th percentile on the test and they were going to be stacked as desk jockeys and one was going to be sent to the motor pool.

Three friends, three different recruiters, same treatment.

[Salodin]

Yeah, what the above poster said. I think the best way to look at joining the military is this; the military is your job. What you do in your job is entirely up to the company. You can score high on any test you want, but if the position isn't available, you aren't going there.

Now that being said, their are nice incentives for people looking for a higher education, but be prepared to work very hard for it. It isn't a free ride. And no bitching if you get sent overseas.

[Osede]

How realistic is it to expect that you can walk in, sign a contract, and do (generally) what you want? What type of jobs can I expect to have, having only a diploma and some college credits? Will I be relegated to being shot at overseas? More importantly- how realistic is it to think I can have loans repaid, or schooling paid so that I can get out with a degree and not be right at square one?

First, what is your GPA? If your GPA is 3.0 or above, and it is in engineering field, I would recommend you try to go to apply the NAVY nuclear research. They are considered military and will pay for you, including a guarantee job after graduate, if you got the acceptance. The good side is it is not fully military service, so the regular training and military uniform is not required.

My housemate just signed for the military last month ago, but he seems to be satisfied with his decision right now. As far as the application, it is pretty fast. Seems like they still need more people to join to covered up all those "semi-retire" veteran who just came back from Iraq and Afghan. The process from meeting a recuirter until signing the contract, took about 2-3 months. Basically, two months wait is due to they have fix schedule when the physical test will be performed.

I don't believe you can do what you want to, but you can choose which section you want to go, probably depending on your major. Just be aware that, most of the time, you will find you had to follow the command from some one you might hate the most. I have other friend, who is a friend of friend of mine, joined the military during 2000~2002. Theoretical, they will tell you you will graduate in four years, but usually at the 4th year, they will send you to oversea, to delay your regular university graduation. Just be prepare that you may end up in total 5 years of school or so.

[Korietsu]

Just a note on Navy Nuke. If you do apply for that program, beware that you might end up on a sub or sitting on a super carrier for extended periods of time, and that your training time is going to take nearly two years.

[Minnich]

First of all, you say military, but what branch in particular? You mention army first off, but keep saying military as if you aren't exactly decided on which branch. I'm in the AF, but Army does things very similar according to my friends.

The higher your ASVAB score, the more jobs you get to pick from. I got an 86 and they gave me a huge stack of papers with jobs I could get. When you get to MEPS (Military Entrance Processing Station) you will pick about half a dozen jobs, I think it was. You'll then go home and wait for your recruiter to call. You may or may not get your picks, but your recruiter will talk up whatever job comes available and he'll get you to sign for your job. Just keep in mind, if you want a certain job, it may delay your entrance into BMT a great deal waiting for that job to open. While you wait, you are not in the military and do not receive benefits.

Your college credits may mean an extra rank upon entrance, but overall don't mean a damn thing to anyone else (and people will let you know that). I joined with about 80 credit hours, and all I got was E-3 3 months before everyone else. The only thing it means to me is I was a lot closer to getting my degrees. The military does have a program to help you repay your loans, and how far you get into a degree depends on your commitment and your job. I have a very demanding job right now (12hrs+/5days a week a lot of time), and deploy every year and a half or so for 5 months. With that schedule I can take 1-2 classes every three months. I have quite a few Army friends that have started from scratch and completed their degrees in 6-10 years. Remember, you also get college credits from BMT, and other courses the military gives you.

If you have any questions about the AF in particular, feel free to PM me.

[archibaldcrane]

Ugh, people who go to private schools when there are perfectly competent public universities nearby at 1/5th the price for undergrad...

...I just don't get it, unless money isn't much of an object, or you're going somewhere prestigious or specific enough where it might possibly be worth the expense...and even then you'd better be damn sure.

On topic: I thought the military was pretty full-up on recruits at the moment, with the economy crashing and all. Any truth to that?

[Osede]

On topic: I thought the military was pretty full-up on recruits at the moment, with the economy crashing and all. Any truth to that?

I don't think so. We were trying to convince my housemate to go to our university ROTC program, because he can become officer right after graduate, if he still consider to go for military. And besides that, he just only 2-3 more semester away, while he have spent 3-4years to keep switching major around.

However, somehow, the recruiter just keep convince him to go for army. And the recruiter did successfully pursue him, disregard how he has a brother in NAVY become that also telling him to finish the degree first before go into that. (He did change his mind during that time, but the recruiter did manage to convince him to change back)

[archibaldcrane]

To OP: Just know that, for sure, the recruiter will have an agenda that won't be the same as yours, but he will continually lie to your face to assure you that whatever you're looking for the (insert branch here) will provide.

Trust nothing he says. Some of it will be true, but you really won't know which parts.

[aurik]

^ recruiters are essentially used car salesmen.

[Guyverarmor]

Be a man and go into the marines. At least after going through the 15week boot camp, if after your four years you want to be in the military, you can go to the Army, Air Force, or Navy without going through their boot camp !

[Silviya]

Only thing I've heard about the process from my friends that have enlisted is get everything the recruiter promises you in writing. Had one friend who wanted to try for special forces and the recruiter promised him he would have no problem getting a chance. Now 2 years in his commanding officer is continually blocking his attempts to try to get into that program. Basically everything the recruiter says is worthless (and probably lies) unless it is in contractual form and signed.

[Correction]

Someone light the Abandon signal?

[Minnich]

Be a man and go into the marines. At least after going through the 15week boot camp, if after your four years you want to be in the military, you can go to the Army, Air Force, or Navy without going through their boot camp !

Now this sounds like something a recruiter would say.

[lovehatehero]

On topic: I thought the military was pretty full-up on recruits at the moment, with the economy crashing and all. Any truth to that?

This is fact actually. I just got out of the navy after nearly 7 years in. Navy is really tight atm I know for a fact, as recruiters are turning people down. Not 100% sure for the rest but I know the AF is just as tight and they arent just letting anyone in. Also what jobs are open are small. Each job has a quota for billets for each ranking they need to have filled. And with the huge influx of people seeign the military as a steady stable source of an income it had gotten tight. Army Im sure is still taking people, but for what jobs Im not to sure. My aunt is an E-8 in the army so if you are looking to go that route for a specfic job I can figure out if they are looking for people just send a PM. Or any other questions in general.

[Korietsu]

Ugh, people who go to private schools when there are perfectly competent public universities nearby at 1/5th the price for undergrad...

...I just don't get it, unless money isn't much of an object, or you're going somewhere prestigious or specific enough where it might possibly be worth the expense...and even then you'd better be damn sure.

On topic: I thought the military was pretty full-up on recruits at the moment, with the economy crashing and all. Any truth to that?

Costs 11k a year in tuition, 2k for books, electronics, software, materials, 7k for Housing + electric, 2K for gas + Food, rainy day fund to go to school for a year at my public institution. Its not fun having to deal with that kind of debt when your degree prohibits you from even having a part time job.

[Guyverarmor]

Now this sounds like something a recruiter would say.

No, this is coming from my dad, who was in the marines for 26 years...

[aurik]

Costs 11k a year in tuition, 2k for books, electronics, software, materials, 7k for Housing + electric, 2K for gas + Food, rainy day fund to go to school for a year at my public institution. Its not fun having to deal with that kind of debt when your degree prohibits you from even having a part time job.

I like how you list the price of living somewhere and eating as part of the costs to go to school. Good thing you haven't dropped out, you'd be starving on the street.

[Dantrag]

Get a BA, go in as an officer, not enlisted.