can any military/ex-military people tell me some of the pros and cons...?

Question

of joining the military? your likes and dislikes ect...
was it hard to adjust to being in the military?
what is the joining process like? how is where you'll be "stationed" get determined? im curious what everyone thinks, but im especially interested in what southern californians who've joined think and feel about it.

Answer 1

I like the Job Security of the Military and the Benefits ( Education, Heath, Care Housing, Pay and Allowances)

I don't like the Politics and the Uncertainty of where I will be in 4 years.

Adjusting to the Military depends on the branch, the Air Force for me was easy but it is a very Civilian-like Branch of Military. The Navy would be hard because of the Time spent at Sea. The Army and more so the Marine Corps hold true to their strict discipline Military Traditions.

The Joining process is very easy and casual. Recruiters are very supportive unless you get a dumb ***.

The process of getting stationed depends on your career fIeld or MOS. Different Bases and Posts are determined by what you do ie Fort Bragg NC for the 82nd Airborne.

It is very rewarding to serve this Nation and it is a great Jump-Start for your life and it teaches you to be tolerant of different people and to work with different people successfully.

Answer 2

I'm getting out after 10 years of service. I just can't stand how corporate it's become. What works in the private sector doesn't mean it will work in the military. We're trained differently. It used to be that you were judged on your work. Now, you're judged on how you look. I've seen a lot of people that were really good at their jobs get passed over because they didn't have enough community service in their evals.

The military does have its good points. You get paid no matter what. You can get decent housing. Healthcare, is iffy. Depends on where you're stationed at. I mean, I've been around the world, only places I haven't been is Africa and South America. Which I do plan on going to one of these days. You also get college tuition. I made the mistake of not using it when I was in. But then again, the colleges you choose from, some are iffy. Central Texas College is suppossed to be transferable. But that's not the case. Everyone I know that has taken classes from there, have had to retake the classes at the university they transferred to. But the military will cover all the costs while you're in.

So you have your trade-offs.

As for adjusting to it, things won't seem to make sense at first, but later on, they will. Oh, how they will. I couldn't understand why we folded our clothes a certain way until I got to the ship. Then it all made sense when I saw ho wmuch room I had to work with. If you fold the way they teach you in boot camp, you can get a lot of stuff in you rack. If you fold like you would at home, you run out of room fast. It's a lot of minor details that you deal with, and it's that stuff that makes life bearable on the ship.

Answer 3

Well the benefits are stability, not gonna get fired unless you really deserve it like if you do drugs or kill someone. The no cost healthcare and pharmaceuticals, dental, and optical. Joining process is different for every branch. The coast guard you go take the asvab, get your results, see what jobs you qualify for, pick one and go straight to school, or dont pick a guaranteed school and go to the fleet and see first hand what the different jobs do then pick one. Go to meps get all checked out, swear in, off to boot camp you go. Im not sure iif the other branches do this but the coast guard can give you gauranteed district of choice, but thats for your first tour only. Also boot camp will improve phsical fitness, mental fitness. At first its a culture shock being in the military but after boot camp you pretty much are used to it. Decent pay, room for advancement, never leave the US unless you volunteer for that and then get recommendations. Cant think of any cons, people that dont like moving, or if you have a major authority issue probably shouldnt get in. Nope theres no cons.

Answer 4

I joined the military at 17 (had to get my mother to sign a waiver for me) and I've enjoyed it immensely. I joined the Army Infantry. It is a big change from civilian life, you have to change your whole mindset about somethings. If you can adapt to change, you'll adjust fine. The joining process consists mostly of a small criminal background check and a physical. Your duty post is determined mostly by what type of military career you choose. If you're really not sure, you can try joining the National Guard and then if you like it, transfer to active duty. If you don't, at least you only have to do it once a month =)

Answer 5

It depends on you, on what you wanna join and your job once you get in.

Joining the military is a little bit of a pain in the *** but nothing to hard about it. I would say join the army or the navy. They have a lot of advantages, and jobs. But if its a challenge you want its the marines.

Go see a recruiter. There not all bad. Just ask them what you want to know. Simple as that.

Answer 6

Pros-job security unless you completely fu%$ up
medical, dental, and vision benefits
housing
food
good physical condition
education benefits
diversity of people

Cons-alot of b.s. you have to put up with.
if you're a girl, the stereotypes never stop (at least in the Marine Corps), aka light duty commando, WM doesn't stand for Woman Marine, it stands for walking mattress, you are either a slut, dyke, or a bit%$
the sheer ratio of guys to girls is mindblowing. You aren't sure if a guy is asking you out cuz he's really interested in you or just wants to screw you, literally.
BAS (medical) can be frustrating to say the least. Most of the time you feel like you're being blown off.

Just like everything else, the military has its good sides and bad. If you do join, it will change everything about you, physically, mentally, and emotionally. Right after boot camp, I thought I must have lost my mind having joined. But after I got out, and looked back, it was one of the best decision I ever made. You grow up a lot and are exposed to a lot of things you'd never otherwise see. It's hard to adjust at first, but then you go home on leave and everyone thinks you're strange because you're speaking in tongues (military talk) and you realize that you'v adjusted alot more than you realized.

Where you get stationed depends alot on your MOS and where the military needs you. When you're in MOS school, they give you the "wish list." You get to write down 3 bases you'd like to get stationed. They try and get you stationed on one of those 3 places, but ultimately it's their call. The only person who got the base they wanted was the #1 graduate in our MOS class, they asked for and got Hawaii. If it's stateside, you get stationed somewhere for 3 years. It used to be every year, but it became to expensive for the government so it was changed to every 3 years.

I loved my time in the military, it was a drastic change from anything I'd ever experienced, but I got so much out of it. But like anything else in life, you get out of it what you put into it. Those who get out and talk alot of trash about it probably didn't put too much effort into it. But those who speak highly of the experience put their sweat, blood, and tears into it. If you do think about joining, I would higly recommend talking to an active duty member of what ever branch you're interested in. They will be able to give you a different perspective than a recruiter. BTW, I was stationed in SoCal for 4 years

Answer 7

If I remember properly the Korean military is conscripted . Sucks to be you . right here in u . s . of america provider is by applying decision , inspite of the undeniable fact that sometimes i think of conscription could be a outstanding theory . professional's - provider on your us of a, studying something new , actual coaching . CON's - marching ( i've got considered the way you adult adult males march ), military pay, being dealt with badly by applying superiors who made the militia their profession .

Answer 8

My husband is a SSGT. in the U. S. Marine corps, and I leave for boot camp in Oct. The U.S. military is the only "job" you will ever have that cares about your family, gives you medical insurance from day one, and 30 days vacation, and pays you extremely well.(compared to most civilian entry level positions) they will pay 100% of your college costs during active duty, and you can elect the G.I. bill, for your spouse, kids or yourself.(about 1000$ per mo. for school). I really don't see any disadvantages, you may consider separation from your family as a bad thing, or going to war, but if you pay attention in boot camp there should be no reason for you to worry about your safety. As Americans, we should be happy to serve our country, talk to a recruiter, and if you want to be the best, go to the Marines!!!!

Answer 9

I would recommend joining the reserves. It will give you a chance to see what the military is like, and if you dont like it, its not so much out of your life that you cant live a normal civilian life(pretty much).