Wanting to enlist, torn on options

[stangboy04]

Hey guys, I figured this would be a great place to ask some advice on joining our countrys armed services. In my head for the past year ive been thinking about joining a service, I haveno idea which one but im leaning towards army. Ive been to the recruiters office a few times, theyve told me some good information, yet im still torn on which branch and what direction I want to go. from everyone Ive talked to they say they loved it, all branches. I think its a great idea, early retirement, pretty good pay, full benifits, college payed for, and overall excellent learning experience and grat for me at this age. Please just share overall experiences, and info for somebody that wants to join for a better life :beer:

 

[98 Saleen Cobra]

I absolutley love the Coast Guard.. But last I heard it's over a year long wait to join.. You won't regret it.. that's for sure!

 

[CNTLOSE]

The biggest question is what do you want to do? Each service has its speciality if you will. If you are thinking career the Air Force has it pretty easy compared to the other services.

 

[stangboy04]

I have no idea what i want to do, I think thats why I want to join so much. All I want is to be succesful in life and will do anything to reach my goal, and so far this seems to be the most apropriate option.

Now I just got off the phone with an army recruiter, and recieved some pretty shitty news, BUT im not so sure how much i believe it.. I was told that I am automatically disqualified for the army because of expunged and expelled (completely off my record nothing at all) marijuana and pariphenelia charges as a minor, a MINOR keep in mind, any truth to that? If so im gonna be kinda sad, at the same time the air force recruiter i talked to a few months back said that it shouldnt be a problem, and this was air force which i hear is the hardest to qualify for. I really wanna know if this is true because the website says nothing about it.

 

[Matts00GT]

Could very well be true. We are currently downsizing the Army. What people used to get a pass on is now grounds for denial and dismissal.

Last numbers I heard were around 750k in the Army. They want that number closer to 300k IIRC.

 

[stangboy04]

If true, does that mean thats for the other branches too? or just army? I really hope not

 

[Matts00GT]

If true, does that mean thats for the other branches too? or just army? I really hope not

It would depend if it were DoD policy or DA policy. If DoD, then it would include all branches sans USCG as they are DHS.

Have you tried asking another recruiter to confirm?

 

[Black*Death]

USN or USMC...Army is for people who can't hack the Marines...USAF is for people who really DON"T want to be in the military....

I know I will hear about this one from others..

 

[Fuerza]

USN or USMC...Army is for people who can't hack the Marines...USAF is for people who really DON"T want to be in the military....

I know I will hear about this one from others..

Since this came from the internet is must be true.

 

[stangboy04]

It would depend if it were DoD policy or DA policy. If DoD, then it would include all branches sans USCG as they are DHS.

Have you tried asking another recruiter to confirm?

The guy told me it was fairly recent, but I had talked to an air force recruiter a few months back and he said as long as i brought my record from city hall in my town and it was clean there wouldnt be any problems, Im pretty sure a marines recruiter said the same thing, Although today was the first time ive talked to an actual army recruiter, Ive only looked into air force before, but I still dont see how this would affect anything as i was a minor and it was completely cleared off my record :shrug:

USN or USMC...Army is for people who can't hack the Marines...USAF is for people who really DON"T want to be in the military....

I know I will hear about this one from others..

Navy was my second choice, but being surrounded by weiner in a fairly confined area for 6-8 months isnt exactly my dream job.. lol but I do think other than that it would be a gret experience, i had a buddy that was in for almost 40 years and he loved it!

I have heard some not so great things about marines though, least payed, worst treated, etc. I respect our marines for what they do and how they do it though, badass military force I just dont think im badass enough lol

 

[motorider228]

Most deployments regardless of branch are "surrounded by weiner for 6-8 months" I'm in the AF and I was in Afghanistan for 8 months and I was around all guys, just the nature of the military.

The USAF is downsizing as well, pretty sure every branch is, it will be harder to get in any branch then it was a few years ago.

Also, Marines aren't the least paid. We all get paid the same based on rank and time in service. If anything, it seems like Marines and Soldiers make it through the ranks up until E6 a little faster than the AF, so technically the guys in those branches will probably make more money faster.

Talk to a recruiter from every branch, and make a sound decision. I joined the AF off the persuasion from my Dad, Grandpa, Uncles, Cousin and multiple friends that were all Marines and hated it. The AF is definitely a good life, but I now wish I would have joined the Marine Corps.

 

[jerrad]

USN or USMC...Army is for people who can't hack the Marines...USAF is for people who really DON"T want to be in the military....

I know I will hear about this one from others..

So what do you do in the Navy?

 

[Matts00GT]

The guy told me it was fairly recent, but I had talked to an air force recruiter a few months back and he said as long as i brought my record from city hall in my town and it was clean there wouldnt be any problems, Im pretty sure a marines recruiter said the same thing, Although today was the first time ive talked to an actual army recruiter, Ive only looked into air force before, but I still dont see how this would affect anything as i was a minor and it was completely cleared off my record :shrug:

I meant try contacting a different Army recruiter to see if he says the same thing.

Generally recruiters have a monthly, quarterly, or yearly goal to reach so none of them would purposely try to not accept your application.

Navy was my second choice, but being surrounded by weiner in a fairly confined area for 6-8 months isnt exactly my dream job.. lol but I do think other than that it would be a gret experience, i had a buddy that was in for almost 40 years and he loved it!

I have heard some not so great things about marines though, least payed, worst treated, etc. I respect our marines for what they do and how they do it though, badass military force I just dont think im badass enough lol

Base pay is the same across all DoD branches. That said, the Air Force can receive extra pay if quartered in Army housing. They deem it not "satisfactory" living conditions and add money to their checks.

The USMC and Army are honestly quite comparable. We're both ground troops that do have air assets and most of our training revolves around increased responsibility and leadership.

An NCO in the Army and USMC is a leader. He's responsible for the welfare of other soldiers/marines. An NCO in the Air Force is generally a specialized technician--similar to a warrant officer in the Army.

The AF is much more officer ran whereas the Army is based around the saying that "NCOs are the backbone," which is true. My job would be near impossible if I didn't have solid, experienced, and reliable NCOs to carry out our orders.

Ultimately, decide what kind of field you are interested in. Also try and decide if you think this could be long term or not. That will help us guide you towards your branch choice and occupational specialty.

 

[MrWesson22]

Army is for people who can't hack it in the Marines? Yeah, you'll definitely catch flak for that. Here's some incoming now. Want to jump out of planes? Don't go USMC. Want to be able to choose your job? Don't go USMC. Want to be Ranger or Special Forces? Don't go USMC. Don't want to get stuck on a ship for 6 month floats? Don't go USMC. That said, two of my closest friends are former Marines (both of which I met in the US Army), and I have nothing but respect for Marines and the USMC. In my experience, they are the most disciplined of all branches.

Everyone has their job to do and all branches deserve equal respect. Each branch (and job within) just has different missions. It doesn't mean better or worse. We all poke fun at each other, and there's nothing wrong with that. People from one branch genuinely looking down at another are most commonly junior enlisted REMFs with little time in the service and even less time actually doing anything worthwhile.

I don't want to start a pissing contest. There are some badasses here. I'm not one of them. I'm just a broke dick leg grunt at this point. I am curious though. What do you do in the military, Black*Death?

 

[megameGT500]

He makes sure the Marines don't swallow Seamen!!!

So what do you do in the Navy?

Edited:
Deleted post based on information from wjlane

 

[megameGT500]

This. I have to say Matt, some company grade officers have a hard time with this one. You are wise beyond your pay grade.

My job would be near impossible if I didn't have solid, experienced, and reliable NCOs to carry out our orders.

 

[Matts00GT]

This. I have to say Matt, some company grade officers have a hard time with this one. You are wise beyond your pay grade.

Ha. My new assignment is as an XO of a multi-role bridge EN company. You know how much I know about bridging? I know how to drive over them on the way to work...

 

[dtheo]

Join any of the forces and the rest of us who are not military will respect you for it, inluding myself. We need them all, not one of them is more important than the other so stop with the inter-military mud-slinging.

 

[DaleM]

1. Air Force, great quality of life and post military civilians skills.
2. Marines, pride and knowing you are the best dressed and good looking killing machine.
3. Army, the needs of the nation. Be careful on which MOS you select, lots of bonuses.
4. Navy, you will see places and things you never imagined. Very class oriented/segregated compared to the other services. Some more good civilian applicable jobs.

 

[stangboy04]

Thanks for all the info guys, I really apreciate it. Ive come to terms the way im going to decide is im going to talk to each individual recruiter and choose what branch fits me best. I know that even if i enlist for a 4 year term i know once im in im probably going to love it, and my goal is to ultimately make a career out of it. I will be speaking to different recruiters in all branches, and compare the facts between what they al tell me. Once again thanks again guys, its deeply apreciated, and those in the service on here I salute you guys! :beer: