I need advice picking a military career?

Question

I'm 24 years old, and I really don't want to have to shoot anyone. I don't have a high school diploma, only a GED. That most likely disqualifies me from the Airforce, and the Coast Guard. They accept them but rarely from what I have gathered. I have looked at the Army as a last resort throughout my life. Even though I know that I would do very well within it. I want to be in a intelligence or medical MOS since it would help me when I'm done with my term. I want to know if there is any way to go active, but not be in a combat deployable position? I'm just trying to make sure I make a wise decision and not a foolish one to my own personal morals. I want to join, but love my job... not hate it.

Answer 1

I understand about wanting to go into the service. It looks like it might be a way to pay the bills and get some education and a way up. For some of us it was. I was a chemical staff specialist. My job started out being in radiation protection. That was great. It eventually got me where I am today. I teach the stuff in a nuclear power plant.

But wait.

The Army decided that they needed me to make and drop napalm, agent orange, white phosphorus, and other stuff like that. I got sent to Vietnam. I was a good soldier. Did what they told me. Even got tortured in training without talking (South Koreans broke my knee in a training exercise). I dropped napalm on people, dude. Burned them to death. Sprayed Agent Orange that we later found out caused all sorts of genetic defects and liver problems in the Vietnamese and in our troops. I watch a helicopter blade take off my pilot's head when we crashed once.

Did not seem much like radiation protection somehow.

And then when I got back people spit on me. They called us baby killers. The sentiment about the war had changed. There was no money much to treat vets either (a lot like it is now, btw) and my buddies were very screwed up. I hear that US soldiers coming back now 1 in every three are seeking help about PTSD. Yeah, good idea to seek help. I still have it. Fourth of July is hell for me. Hate unexpected fire crackers.

The job of the military is to meet with and kill the enemy. The recruiters will try to tell you there are lots of other things to do, but that is the number one job. Right now we are not at war, we are occupying a country that does not want us there. The Iraqi president and VP have both asked for us to leave, have talked about granting amnesty to those who have only killed Americans. The troops on the ground there are tired. They are there to protect the contractors who are raking in the dough on fat no-bid contracts.

Are you sure you want to do this?

How about something like Americorps or Peace Corps?

If you still are intent on the Army, get everything in writing. When they try to weasel out, show them the paper and leave. Seriously. Recruiters lie and cheat.

Answer 2

With just a GED, you will be the last choice for any branch, period. They only let GEDs in on rare occasions. If you have some college, or VoTech, that will mitigate the GED, but you have to have several hours. You don't mention what you do now, nor do you say if you have any additional schooling, so your question is difficult, in that aspect, to answer.

When you fill out the paperwork, one of the questions asked is "Are you a conscientious objector?" This means, do you feel that you, for moral, ethical, or religious reasons, feel that you cannot shoot the enemy. If this is so, and you say "yes", you will limit yourself to the positions available. I don't know what you will be limited to, I've never heard of anyone that stated that from the beginning.

You need to understand that only combat and combat support units carry "combat deployable positions". If you choose to be in the infantry, then you will deploy with the infantry. If you choose to be an X ray tech, then you may deploy to a hospital in a combat zone. Does that mean you will shoot at the enemy? Only if they are overrunning the camp, but the hospitals are so far in the rear that that idea is hard to believe.

Check with the local recruiters for the GED answer and the Conscientious Objector status.

Answer 3

I served four years in the U.S. Army. My MOS was 11B1P (Infantry). I joined the military for the fact that I love my country, and wanted to serve in its armed forces.
As far as a career it all depends on how well you do on the ASVAB test (I don't know if they still have it). You should look at what your interests are and look into a field that accommodates it. Once you graduate from Basic Training, and your field specialty school, other than conducting PT in the morning, or going to the field, your life is pretty much similar to that of a civilian life.
Keep in mind the recruiters might promise you something, and deliver something else, so be cautious.
I did enjoy the Army, and made close friends. I would not hesitate to do it all over again.

Not to offend any one out there, but keep in mind that you are thinking about joining the military. The prime purpose of the military is to fight wars, and with our current times you most likely will find yourself in a war zone, or close to one. Even as a Xray technician,or a cook you might be stationed in the middle of Baghdad surrounded by savaged terrorists.
The military can also make you or brake you. If you follow orders, do what you are told, and have initiative to do your job, then you will be rewarded both in the military and your civilian life. If a person is insubordinate, or acts like a jack-*** then the military can ruin your life in the form of a general or dishonorable discharge.

Answer 4

You definately do not want to be a Marine. A Marine is a rifleman first. You would want to go into a field that is considered a non combatant. This will not disqualify you from going into combat, however will provide you with protection from being forced to kill someone. As a non combatant I found that being a Navy Hospital Corpsman with a Marine unit is the best experience I could have had. However there is a drawback to that as well.
The good stuff:
Your Job is to save lives not take them
A Marine will storm the gates of hell as long as they have their Corpman because they know if anything happens to them you will be there to patch them up.
A Marine will give you honest appreciation, and respect and give you the world on a silver platter if you ask them, because you are their lifeline.
When you do the right thing and get through the bad, you have shown why this country is as great as it is.
Saving a life is the most rewarding experience you will ever have.
The feeling of a baby that you just delivered taking it's first breath.
The look on the face of that babies new parents.
being known as "Doc" knowing that it is a name that was given but earned.
Now the bad:
When the turbin head shoots at you, and your Marine takes him out, it is very hard to save the turbin heads life. But you will do it
When a turbin head takes out a Marine and then gets hit, it is very hard to save their life. But you will do it
Holding someone who has become like a brother to you as gives his last breath, and dies in your arms.
I'm only being honest with you. Don't be afraid to do it. Go talk to your Navy Recruiter tell him exactly what you want, there are other non combatant roles in the service too.

Answer 5

Desmond Doss is my hero. Soon people of younger generations will hear about him, too. He was an Army medic in WWII who refused to carry a gun, insisted on his Bible and prayer time on Saturdays, suffered much ridicule at the hands of his peers, and then won their great respect because he saved so many of their lives, without a weapon. Be sure to check out the movie about him when it comes out. There's an excellent documentary about him called "The Conscientous Objector".
Anyway, medic and chaplain are obvious non-combatant choices. Also, what about music, food or computer careers? As for the GED, sell yourself. Your education may be fine. Ask recruiters from the different military branches. Intelligence sounds very interesting, too. But what is involved in getting into that?
If you're a member of a religious group, see if their conference leadership can guide you about joining the military as a non-combatant. It's admirable that you want to serve your country and it sounds like you may have the confidence you'll need to be different from the majority of your peers. I say go for it man, if it's what you want. Perhaps your local member of Congress could advise you. Check online or in the front of your phone book for contact info.
Of course, there are alternatives to joining the military like Peace Corps, the Red Cross, disaster relief agencies such as ADRA, and others listed on the first website below. I'd take my time with this decision. Get the straight scoop if that's possible from a recruiter.
Blessings as you make this important decision. Buttercup

Answer 6

Far as a GED, if you can get 15hrs of college (one semester) it doesn't matter, they don't even need evidence you have it. That is the Air Force rule by the way, I assume it's similar in other services. Air Force or Navy are best for quality of life & non-combat job selections that are useful on the outside. Medical isn't the best for outside jobs, despite what they'll tell you. Intell is not as exciting as it sounds & hard to get into. Try aviation mechanic in Air Force or Navy. There are a ton of jobs in all services tho, and you'll have to find the ones you will like. It's not hard to get a non-combat job. Non-deployable is a good bit harder, but I wouldn't worry so much about that, it's not so bad.

Answer 7

The military should be something you join because you want to, not because you don't know what else to do. Have you thought about going back to school? If you have a GED, then you can go to a community college. The higher the education you receive the more opportunities there will be for you, and now a days it is fairly easy to receive financial help if you need it.

Answer 8

sorry but you can leave the intelligence field out with only a ged. you could be a medic and go anywhere but at this point in time medics are needed in combat zones. last i heard all mos was combat deployable. ask your recruitor. he wont lie to you.

Answer 9

My advice is you shouldn't get into the military if you're not ready to do what the military is supposed to do. What if you end up in a situation where you have no choice but pick up a gun and shoot or else your buddies get blasted? Yeah, I know a lot of people want to play military, they don't want to get messy, but they want the full paycheck. You can get a medical career without being in the military.

Answer 10

Try Air Force first, they are still the best option out there.

As far as careers in the Army, 74B is a networking career and a good option if you like computers.

Also, you can't go wrong doing something in the medical field like x-ray technician.

Answer 11

with a ged there wont be much you can do and the army is the only branch that will take you but if you dont wont to deploy then dont join.that is part of the job.infantry will be your best bet and one of the few mos s you can go in to.it is possible to go to korea to serve with a unit there or stateside.