Joining the Military

[Seraphise]

I've been weighing this option in my head for a while but I really don't know where to find solid and legitimate information on it. I'd like to minimize the chances for me leaving the country for extended periods of time so I suppose i'll be leaning towards national guard or coast guard, but what are the chances for them to be shipped off? What are the benefits of joining nat guard or coast vs's negatives?

[Xno Kappa]

Coast Guard would probably be your best bet.

[Mizango]

Dog of the military, checking in sir.

No but seriously send Abandon or Neo a pm. He's on my friendslist if you have trouble finding him. Good luck man.

[Mizango]

Chair force?

[Xno Kappa]

Air Force got some hot as chicks plus Air Bases usually hold a higher living standard then an Army post.

[noblemountain]

If your goal is to not leave the country, do not join the National Guard. I have no clue about the Coast Guard honestly, never known anyone in it. I spent my time in the Army, but I joined for different reasons than you are joining I'm sure. If you are looking for college money with the least risk, the Air Force has a reserve program that would probably fit your bill. I have a friend who's been in it for 4 years now and loves it. Same premise as Nat. Guard, one weekend a month...two-four weeks a year annual training. (his has been out of country each time)

[Kryssan]

Air Force got some hot as chicks plus Air Bases usually hold a higher living standard then an Army post.

chAir Force holds pretty much the highest standards for living. It was a running joke for those of us at/around Langley for a while that the USAF builds the MWR facilities, base housing, theaters, and the normal host of a city's anemities, and after they run out of money they remember they were also supposed to build an airfield, too. That being said, USAF is one of the slowest for advancement in rank, so be prepared for that.


Navy and Army tend to stack on top of each other for advancement. Since you don't want to go out though, I would recommend USCG. USAF still gets sent to a variety of bases all over the world, so you're pretty much going to get deployed if you go for the main branches, especially now since they're trying to reduce manning while maintaining a war quota. USCG doesn't really get sent anywhere, and it can be decent enough I suppose. The other forces will make fun of you of for it course, but there are, albeit limited, career opportunities there.

[Korietsu]

I've been weighing this option in my head for a while but I really don't know where to find solid and legitimate information on it. I'd like to minimize the chances for me leaving the country for extended periods of time so I suppose i'll be leaning towards national guard or coast guard, but what are the chances for them to be shipped off? What are the benefits of joining nat guard or coast vs's negatives?

So, if you're looking to join and to not be shipped, your only option is Coast Guard / Airforce. National Guard, Army and the Marines have anywhere from 12-24 month tours that are required. The Navy does 6 month tours. If I recall correctly, Airforce is like a month to three months.

Join the reserves, don't go straight active duty as its one of the few ways to minimize your time overseas. Be warned that you may not recieve benefits such as the GI Bill or Hazelwood act without first serving active duty time.

You also have to consider your MOS or Rate that you sign up for when you join, that may also determine if you travel. Talk to a recruiter, don't talk to /bg/ about this.

EDIT: If you sign up for Coast Guard/Natl Guard/Chairforce, be sure to remember that you're going to be the joke for all of your fellow service men in the marines, navy and army.

[Sonomaa]

NCIS

http://www.bluegartr.com/forum/attac...1&d=1255472490

coast guard is nice, or you might see what you can do about getting into the UAV training program, they look for gamers with good skills. Its 8-12 hour shifts but the work affects men and women in the warzone and they appreciate everything you do with the intel and precision bombing needed. You do ship overseas but its an on base only thing, no military based deployment, just flying toys.

[archibaldcrane]

Why do you want to join?

[Rakiel]

Your deployability is effected also in large part by your job and the unit you get assigned to after basic and job training, and any additional schools you go to before you are assigned (in my case, volunteering for Airborne school landed me in the 82nd, the most-deployed Army unit to date).

And I agree with the above; if you're looking to avoid deployment, the best way to do so (other than NOT joining the military) is the Air Force/Coast Guard.

Also keep in mind that, while they are deployed for 12-18 months (counting train-up time spent stateside), National Guard units are only deployable every 5 years, excepting some high-tempo units like Spec Ops.

Best of luck with your decision!

[Linliel]

not exactly "toys" when they actually kill people :/

[wipers]

Killing people is the only reason I'd want to join the military.

[Korietsu]

coast guard is nice, or you might see what you can do about getting into the UAV training program, they look for gamers with good skills. Its 8-12 hour shifts but the work affects men and women in the warzone and they appreciate everything you do with the intel and precision bombing needed. You do ship overseas but its an on base only thing, no military based deployment, just flying toys.

IIRC, you have to be able to qualify as a pilot to do the UAV program. Which might be a limiting factor considering test scores, vision, etc.

[Linliel]

You should watch this before you join anything:

[Sonomaa]

not exactly "toys" when they actually kill people :/

they make recon only versions of them

[Kryssan]

The Navy does 6 month tours.

Navy enlisted sea tour is 56 months, standard; some ratings are not sea duty attachments however. Officer sea tours vary depending on job and line. You're out to sea depending on your platform and world situations anywhere from 2 weeks to 10 months. Some ships may also go months without ever seeing land. Or even the surface. Definitely know people who've done 90+ days at sea. Tends to be less dangerous than say Army/Marines, while still retaining a reasonably quick advancement rate. That being said its far from safe though.

[Kaelas]

Pretty much what Noble said. The National Guard has really long deployments and they're being called up a lot more than the active forces are. I spent five years in the Marines and if I were to join up again I'd definitely go Air Force due to the fact that the quality of living for my wife and I would be amazing.

The Air Force definitely has the best overall benefits if you're not joining up to kill people.

[Linliel]

they make recon only versions of them

Somehow I get the impression you don't exactly get a choice

[Korietsu]

Navy enlisted sea tour is 56 months, standard; some ratings are not sea duty attachments however. Officer sea tours vary depending on job and line. You're out to sea depending on your platform and world situations anywhere from 2 weeks to 10 months. Some ships may also go months without ever seeing land. Or even the surface. Definitely know people who've done 90+ days at sea. Tends to be less dangerous than say Army/Marines, while still retaining a reasonably quick advancement rate. That being said its far from safe though.

I'm talking about reserves. They do a 6 month foreign tour. My buddy is over in Afghanistan getting shot at right now on his 6 month tour over there. If you're joining and going straight active duty, you're throwing yourself to the whim of where your CO's want to throw you bud.

If you join with a mindset of not going to the middle of fucking nowhere on the boat, you're not going to be on the boat.