a_gut

I know a lot of people here are or have been in the military, so I figure it would be a good place to get advice. And although the Army recruiter I've been talking to is a cool guy, every recruiter is obviously biased and I don't think any of them will give me the full story.

When I graduate (year and a half away), I plan on joining the military full time. I'd only want to join the Army or the Air Force. I don't exactly see myself as a front-line Marine, or a sailor on a boat/sub in the Navy. My ASVAB scores are high enough to qualify me for any job, and I think being on a waiting list a year out is enough time to get whatever job I want. I'm also debating whether to go in as a commissioned officer (I have no doubt I'll get my degree wink1.gif ).

So, what kind of benefits and drawbacks are there to the Army and the Air Force, going in enlisted or commissioned officer, and the different jobs? The main fields I'm interested in are electrical/electronics, inteligence, and aviation.

Good advice is from the experienced is appreciated!

CyberShark

You're thinking of being an officer. I went through ROTC when I was in college a few years back. I know that you can take up to 12hrs without commiting but if you want to continue with the program after that, you have to contract. It dosn't mean that you will be an active Lt. you may be a Lt. in the reserves. You will automatically minor in military science. I took 12hrs and I had a blast. Ranger training could be a pain though as we had to be in class at 6:00am every day for PT. you will learn alot about leadership and communication skills. There's so much to do that you wouldn't normally do, like mililtary games with real weapons, living in the wilderness for a couple of days and killing your own food. I recommend it. At least that's how it was in this program. The best part is that your classes will be paid for when you graduate and you may get some dorm or food scholorships like we had over here, in other words, you can live in the dorms and have a lunch pass for free. Ask the ROTC that you plan on attending on what perks you get for attending. I wanted to be a helicopter pilot before I changed my mind. I had aspirations of being CIA or some undercover operative in a foreighn country. Then I met my future wife and all that changed...good luck with your decision.

x7xstring

hehe, Is'nt it funny that woman tend to ruin all of mans goals?.

LOL just kidding
I love woman wink1.gif

Im not experienced, but heres my opinion:

I went to a cadets training thing here in canada when I was about 13 years old (yeah I know its a joke to you americans ) LOL
but huge respect goes out to all of you in the military giving your lives for the country you live and believe in!

javageek

I am in the Air Force, so yeah I may be a little biased too. If you want any sort of stability in your future life I would definately not go Army. I am pretty sure that everyone in the Army is also a Soldier. Meaning, if all breaks loose and they run out of infantry, guess who there going to take? The way I feel, most AF jobs have a pretty good after military equivalant. Try for a Communications or Medical for the best places to work. If you are close to getting your degree hold off and come in as an officer. It's pretty sad that a Second Lt, with 6 months in makes a little more than what I make and I have been in 13 years.

draguntib

Im in the Navy so no bias here really being that u said u didnt want to be on a boat. Actually during your first enlistment you will be but after that not so much! But out of the 2 Army or AF id def go AF. I enjoy the navy very much gives me a chance to learn other things. But like Java said in the army it really dont matter about being front line or not. Something happens with marines u r next in line. Also i would enquire about officer school. I know in the navy that once your within 36 mo of grad with degree they will pay for it and after ull go into OCS for training. And they make a good chunck of money! Good luck!

'treezy

excellent thread. I'm weighing my options right now as well...
My question, what are some benifits you wouldn't recieve after your 2 years (or reserve) that you wouldn't get if you served your full twenty? What benefits ARE there for those who retire once their term is up.

I'm skeptical because all I really want out of the Navy/Air Force (too late for ROTC for me) is paid education. I don't want to just use them and be unhappy. I would enjoy having a job that is aviation related (pilot hopefully but my vision isn't 20-20) and if I did, that's the only way I'd stay in for longer than I needed to.

The Navy is the only branch that garantees you your job. You basically pick three things once you enlist,
what job you want (and they will send you wherever the job is available on earth)
when you want to leave (you can wait a year and kick back instead of leaving right after school)
and....crap....I'm blanking on the third...
But I'm still confused on the process (and everyday life) of someone who joins but still wants to go to college and earn their 4-year degree.

I talked to my recruiter and said I wanted to go to Embry-Riddle in Prescott Arizina while enlisted in the Navy and he said you could enlist and go to Embry-Riddle here in Washington...? I asked how, and he said I would be stantioned here for training and the Navy woudl fly instructors out here to teach me and the rest would be on-line. I think he's full of it because instructorsa aren't going to fly out here to home school me and are they going to fly the aircraft in-flight simulators and wind tunnels/other equipement used to further education in Bachelor of Science in Aeronautical Science?

Has anyone joined a branch and finished their degree that can shed the truth on what life is like...

draguntib

Um yea they are not ganna fly instructors out to teach you. Most likely what they are going to so is have someone thats a training officer or something teach you. I know alot of ppl stationed on ships that get thier degree while enlisted. The best thing to do is to ask about OCS school. Depending on your grade point there is a program we offer that will pay you to go to school full time and do OCS at night. Duble duty but well worth it in the end. Although Navy is down on enlisting ppl right now in my area so depends on what you want to do i guess. But if i were you i would ask them about the OCS deal and see what they say! And the BEST piece of info that most ppl in will give you MAKE sure what ever they promise you is in your contract that you sign. Dont sign it unless everything is there! And once enlisted anything they give you make a copy of it and keep one for your records they constantly loose things! Good luck!

Solo-Baric

benifits- 2 years you won't get a damn thing! they only way to get them is if you retire. Though you can have some benifits if you leave on a medical discharge. You can still qualify for some benifits from the VA after 2 years. But they will be very slim. If i were you i wounldn't join the army. Would you rather fly a desk for fly a Humv in Iraqi dodging IEDs? the choice is yours. Army deployments are 12-18 months most of the time. AF is 4 months most of the time. Depending on your job and your base. AF has higher living standards. Like if your and E3 in the army you have to live on base not so in the AF. Wife get knocked up you probally won't be there for the birth in the army. You also have to look and see which bases are being closed in the next few years. You might get orders some where and have to pack up and move again. But you are the one that makes the decision. My self i'd rather fly. Not all pilots have to have 20/20 although your vision can probally be corrected once you enter so that you can fly. The af will pay for that. The af is more like a normal job unless you work on aircraft or fly them. the army isn't i feel sorry for a lot of army guys but they had the same chance i did.

REDZMAN

I did 11 years in the US Army, proudly, and let me tell you son, it tears you up. I am now 70% disabled, and after the last 2 surguries, I'll prolly be 100% disabled by the end of the year.

The Army is different then the rest, I've been around them all. Only the Marines and the Army get REALLY close, like everyone is your brother, the best friends you will ever have. The Army isn't as stable, lots of changes, lots of quick last minute actions, lots of chances to do stuff you can't anywhere else.

The Air Force would be the best bet if you want a safe service, to get in and out. Then the Navy, but you have to work on ships for LOTS of your time, my dad did 24 years in the US Navy. Ugh. I never saw him.

It all does depend on you troop.

:drillserg

Blu_Drgn

2A6X6, Air Force Specialty Code

Aircraft Electrical and Environmental Systems Specialist

That's all you need to remember.LOL

My $.02