Should I enlist in the military?

Question

If no then why? and if yes which branch?

Answer 1

If you are considering enlisting, make sure that you are doing it for the right reasons.

If you are looking for experience which you can use after your service tour(s), then make sure what you want to do before enlisting, and find which branch has the best program for you.

If you are interested in educational opportunity, make sure that the branch you sign to has a program with the college/school you are interested in.

There is no reason to fear for a draft, or similar conscription, so if you are making a pre-emptive act to prevent forces enlistment, there is no need.

As far as the nay-sayers in other answers, who seem to think that just because you enlist you will be killed the moment you step out of basic training, there is no reason to give credence to those fears. The percentage of troops who are on active deployment in combat zones is relatively low. If this is a concern, then join the Navy, although they get attacked too, even in peace-time (USS Cole, USS Stark).

Answer 2

Oh, yes, definitely. All branches have a number of programs, incentives and benefits including free health care, college tuition assistance, on the job training. The branch and program you choose should depend on your interests and talents. Do A LOT of research. That being said, if you join the Navy, you can be assured of a dry bed, not a cot in the sand, and three square meals a day - not an MRE.

Answer 3

Only you can answer that question. The pride is tremendous... but if you dont have it in your heart, then I would say no. This is a commitment and there is no way back after you take that step forward. There are many many benefits that are not available to civilians, but there are alot of sacrifices. You are pretty much government property. If I were you Id talk to recruiters from all of the military branches, but without knowing you or your personality, its hard to say which would be best for you. Best of Luck

Answer 4

Well this is a personal choice, if your going in just for college money then I have to say no, you will be there for the wrong reasons and will not like it. If its something you always wanted to do and/or have such a deep love of the country you feel drawn to it (like myself) then hell ya go for it man. I went into the army and it was probably the best thing I ever did. I went in as a young messed up confused kid, came out alot better then I ever believed I would. You can even join a guard or reserve unit if you want to say near home and have a more normal life at the same time. Of the two I would say the guards treat you better as you have both the state and fed role. I know when I got injured they were sending the reg army and reserve guys home on a bus, us guard guys got to fly home, that says something to me lol

Go in for something you can turn into a career when you come out, fix trucks if you want to be a mechanic when you come out, fix radios of you want to go into electronics, there is so much you can learn.

of the branches well personally I only really like the Army or the Marines, but the army seams alittle less psycho to me, its what I was in. Air Force, they are considered the wimps of the military lol always got picked on in the bars lol and the navy, well I don’t know about you but I don’t want to be on some crummy ship 6 months out of the year, also I here alot of sick things go on on the ships.

The choice is yours though, that’s just my $0.02
Talk to a recruiter, they will show you your options.

Answer 5

It's up to you. You have to admit, the benefits are good, compared to other jobs. Dangerous? Yes, but so are quite a few other jobs. Now, as far as a branch, it depends on what you think fits you best. Remember what war movies show the armed forces going through? Put yourself in that position and decide if you could do it. But, if you could put up with it, the life gets easier with time and higher rank. You may decide to stick it out and retire. Nice to get that check every month, and not too many jobs do that for you. Military life means going where they need you, not necessarily where you want to go. You'll miss family and holidays, part of what comes with the sacrifice. But you'll see and do things your friends at home can only dream about. I went in the Naval Submarine Force right out of high school myself. I was only going to do enough to get college and some electronics training. I liked it enough, and compared it to what was out in the civilian world, and stuck with it until retirement. Now I get a pension check every month, and I can be picky about what work I do as a civilian. It frees me up to have more choices. I'd still do it all again, if given the choice. Met a lot of good people, saw a lot on nice countries, and have plenty of memories. Good luck with your decision, whatever it may be. Just remember, there's good and bad in everything. It depends on what you want out of life. Me, I wanted something other than social security and medicare when I got old. I got it.

Answer 6

Here's what you need to think about, are you in an area that has a good job market, can you make a living off of what you'll get paid, if you want a family can you support one or contribute with out worrys of losing a job or being laid off. Second, there are a lot of idiotic answers above me, as far as you'll die if you join. There's no guarentee you'll go any of the places we are fighting right now to include Iraq. It's a fifty fifty chance, people who are scared and know they'll go nowhere in life say those kind of things, they want their freedom, but wouldn't put their life on the line if they had to. Next, can you handle being away from home, do you want to basically see the US, Europe, or Asia for free, have a guarenteed pay check, great benifits, and be able to retire at 38 depending on your age now. I'm a Army wife and I love to be able to see places, meet new people, and if anything be able to see where we may retire at, there's nothing at either of our hometowns to go back to except family and they can't pay our bills. As far as which branch, it depends on you, I can't speak for any but the army and it's been pretty good to us, the Navy it seems you'd be on a boat for most your career a Navy recruiter told my husband there's only two jobs that are land only, Air Force well they get to fly planes and that'd be awesome, the Marines have a nice beach at Camp Pendleton. You could always get a feel for any of them and go reserves or guard. Don't rush into anything, write down pro's and con's for going in or not going in.

Answer 7

I very much enjoyed my military experience... It will give you direction and structure for you life.

I went the Marine Corps route, the bonus there is that once you've done Marine Corps boot camp, should you ever want to change branches you never have to do boot camp again. Also, the basic rifle requirements in the Marine Corps are equivalent to expert level shooting in the Army. The instruction is very very thorough though, so achieving expert level in the Marine Corps isn't a far fetched idea.. I missed expert by 2 points.

Answer 8

Yes, I would say they Air Force or Navy or any branch, you will be doing your country a favor and not to mention the benefits you'll get for yourself, such as, traveling free around the world to see places that most people can only dream about and the pay and the benefits you get when you are honorably discharge, Go for it and good luck.

Answer 9

We need a cleanout of all the idiots at the top that said that Iraq was a threat to our national security, then said that the war would be a cakewalk that would take a few weeks and one or two billion dollars, then said that we were winning the war, then said that the elections would change things and are now saying that there is no civil war.. After all of those generals and assorted chicken-hawk dumb-asses have resigned in disgrace, then it will be worthwhile. There is a lot you can do for your country right now, other than take orders from incompetents.

Answer 10

Depends on YOU.

are you a office type who doesn't like outdoors stuff?
are you the Rambo type? Likes the outdoors and being tough?

The Air Force and Navy have the best technical schools.
The Army and Marine corps have the toughest basic training.
If you can make it through you WILL be physically fit I assure you.

If you want a job where helping people is the norm and Warfare
generally isn't theres the Coast Guard. (hope you like water and boats)


ALl of the branchs of D.O.D. have websites on the internet.
Look them up.

Either way thanks for looking into serving your country.