Any advice about joining the military?

Question

Hi. I go to school part-time and I work full-time as a retail manager. I been at the company for almost two years now, and everyday I ask myself why I'm wasting my time. Not to be egotistical, but I'm too smart to be wasting my energy working for a greedy, unappreciative company. I've often thought about seving the country, but I've always had a slight phobia for it. It's horrible, I know, but I really don't know if I have the kind of courage it takes to join the armed forces. I think it would be better for me to spend my time doing something that makes a difference. But I don't really know what kind of opportunities are out there. Does anyone have any advice? Thanks!

Answer 1

You have answered your own question and you don’t even know it. In your elaboration to your question you stated that you are “too smart to be wasting my energy working for a greedy, unappreciative company.”

If you are truly too intelligent, and too ethical to be used as a pawn for a “greedy” and “unappreciative” company why trade that company in for an organization, like the US military, which would be even more “greedy” and “unappreciative” of your contributions and your sacrifices. It would be he equivalent of a kid quitting school due to its restrictive environment, only to opt for a maximum-security prison. As a civilian worker, I am sure you, as many, have felt the frustration of working diligently for a company for years, and out performing your peers, and not being rewarded monetarily for it, receiving a perk in lieu of increased salary, or even getting a compliment for a job well done. Do you actually think the military would be more forthcoming with rewards than a corporate entity would be? You would be sadly mistaken.

Think about this sobering fact. The soldier risking his neck to guard Halliburton truck drivers, in Iraq, as they drive back and forth, gets paid half of the salary that the Halliburton truck driver receives for doing a job that is of a lower skill level and risk of that of the soldier. How is that for disrespect or not acknowledging ones worth?

You think you are being exploited now in the corporate world. The military is one of the most exploitive institutions in the world. Currently, they deceive the credulous able bodied youth of this world to join its ranks with promises of adventure, world travel, inculcation of a sound work ethic, skills training, the comradeship of a large extended family, and finally, the honor of defending the freedoms of your country.

Instead of adventure, one now experiences a hail of gunfire and the detonation of roadside bombs for an ill-conceived war. Instead of world travel most of these soldiers get confined to rural military bases in this country, or get stationed in parts of the world that are too dangerous to set foot outside the perimeter of the military base. The recruiter may promise you skills that are relevant to the civilian world, but most of the time those skills are so specific to military objectives, that they have no true civilian applicability, and many times the skills training opportunities that the overzealous recruiter promises you are not truly there when you join, and before you know it you are forced to be an infantry man; virtual cannon fodder for this government. As far as the whole fraternal bond and familial sense you get from the military, part of that might be true. However, those qualities seem to be most manifest when all your fellow soldiers congregate around your casket when they lower you into the ground. Personally, I would rather stick to my own family, who gives me attention when I am still alive and breathing.

Finally, the most duplicitous aspect of the military’s promotional efforts is the idea that you will be partaking in the defense of this country and its freedoms. Truth be told, the last time the military was actually employed to defend the freedoms of this country, and its sovereignty, was in WWII. That is when we actually had adversaries that were powerful enough, insane enough, and ambitious enough for global conquest. Every other conflict since then has been fought in order to increase the coffers of those who invest and profit off of the military industrial complex. You are not fighting for your friend, your wife, or daughter’s right to live and pursue happiness. You are fighting for larger revenues for Halliburton shareholders and CEOs of Lockheed and Martin.

Do you want proof that many of the major conflicts after WWII had nothing to do with preserving our freedom? Just look at two conflicts, that our politicians told us,, we had to win order to preserve our freedom – namely the Vietnam War and the Korean War. We failed to resolve both conflicts, and both combined cost many American lives. Did those failures make us any less free today? No! Those boys were used as unsuspecting pawns. What a travesty. Don’t feel bad or cowardly because you have a hard time lending your body and soul to fight for causes that have nothing what so ever to do with our protection. Feel sorry for those poor – and I am sorry to say it - dimwitted boys who got conned into thinking that they were truly fighting and sacrificing for something noble.

As a civilian, working for a corporation, you forfeit some of your time for pay. In the military, you forfeit your freedom, your moral integrity because sometimes you will be called upon to act in a way that could kill civilians, and you may even forfeit your own life. Quite frankly, working in the civilian world isn’t all that bad in comparison. If you want to do something meaningful with your life, and you care more about the intrinsic rewards that come from contributing to something greater than yourself and corporate America, try joining the peace corps or working as a teacher or social worker. There are many ways in which you can give of yourself to better this world that don’t involve holding a machine gun to uphold ungodly military hegemony over the world. Don’t squander the gifts that God has given you by partaking in actions that he wouldn’t approve of.

Just as an aside, if you need further convincing that joining the military would be a colossal mistake read a small book entitled “10 Excellent Reasons Not to Join the Military”
by Elizabeth Weill-Greenberg (Editor), In it there are short accounts given by actual soldiers and mothers of soldiers, like Cindy Sheehan, concerning how wasteful and immoral military life can be. You can find it at any Barnes and Nobles, or order it at Amazon.com

Answer 2

If you choose to join, don't go as enlisted. That means you need to complete your degree - that's college, not high school - so that you have a proven track record. You'll be elegible for an officer's commission. There are many jobs within the Armed Forces that don't involve combat - for every soldier actually in the field carrying a weapon, there are seven supporting him/her. Those range from commissary officers to medical officers to maintenance and repair, medical records, financial records - the list is long and impressive.
Yes, in almost all cases, you will be required to familiarize with a weapon - there are no ironclad guarantees you'd never be called upon to actually use the thing - but even now, with the country at war, thousands serve without ever seeing combat or going anywhere near the actual combat zones.

Ya know, there are countless honorable ways to serve without entering the Armed Forces. Your local volunteer fire department needs help. Your local search and rescue squads need help. All civic organizations are happy indeed to recruit new volunteers. Even your local SPCA needs volunteers - somebody needs to walk those dogs waiting to be adopted. Is there a nursing home nearby that could use someone to help out a couple hours a week? How about a nearby Veteran's home?

Hon, if you really want to do something meaningful and helpful, I'm absolutely sure you can find a way. Hey, you may not be able to give up the retail management job - we all need an income - but you ain't on the job 12/7. And even a couple evenings a week spent volunteering will earn you a place amongst the saints.

Answer 3

I know exactly how you feel. I once had a Soldier working for me (my driver) who was a 29-year old MP Private. I hate to say it, but he was way too smart for his job. Just from talking to him, you could tell that he could have just about any job he wanted, military or civilian. I asked him what he was doing there, and he explained that he'd been a stock analyst and 9/11 killed a lot of his friends in the WTC. After that, he couldn't live with the thought of just dedicating his life to the bottom line--he wanted to be part of something bigger, more important, and more meaningful. So he dropped a job with a 6-figure salary and enlisted. I'm a captain, and this Private inspired me like no other I've met.

Challenge yourself and find out. The true test of a man isn't that he never feels fear. The truest test is that he faces his fear instead of running from it. Don't believe the hogwash posted here that you're signing away your life and your rights. It's not like that. Sure there's dirtbags--it's no different than the civilian job market in that respect--but in general, you'll work with some very fine people and whatever job you end up going to, you'll have done something with your life that you'll be proud to tell your children about.

As far as other benefits, you said you're working on you degree. Each service has great educational benefits. You can be a part time student with a full time job like you are now--except you'll have a job that makes a difference at the end of the day.

Answer 4

Hey! Just a little advice from an old salt. The military requires every manner and sort of trade in the world in order to function.
You can get incredible incentives to enlist for a specific trade, example: $25,000 sign on bonus for EOD (Explosive Ordinance Demolition), maybe not your ideal choice, but you have options. If you want the best options, go to the library, check out the ASVAB preparation book and study it for about months, do every exercise in it. The higher the GT score the more job selection you will have. Then look at your jobs do you mind being in combat? If that is a yes, get into JAG (Judge Advocate General), typically soldiers that commit a crime are placed in the stockade or jail and await justice under UCMJ (Uniformed Code of Military Justice) which is at the rear---not in a combat zone. You would be trained as a paralegal, or any other job in that service and leave the military with great training, free college, and veteran status. Also, a huge plus, you would be in the Federal Court system. It is easier to get permission to practice as a lawyer in the Federal Jurisdiction than in some states. If you practice in the Federal system for 5 years, you could possibly set the bar for a state without going to Law School. Then seek permission to set the bar in another state waiving the JD requirement.
Not every job in the Military is guns, guts, and glory. Many of them are brains, dedication, and honor. I choose the guns and guts route and unfortunately for me missouri is not at war with kansas or anyone else, so I am really not trained for a civilian career from the Military. Need to think about that as well

Answer 5

Why not go into MI (military intelligence), you could get a job that has the least combat needs, something that you will mainly stay behind a computer for. You can get TA while your in and finish up school plus you can get money for further education from your GI Bill. You may find though, after joining, that your phobia goes away. Mine did. I am a mother and wife now and I don't want to go to Iraq because I don't want to leave my family but something deep down makes me want to go fight. It's the soldier in me. Basic training and years in the military change you, it has made me a much better person. So why not? Try the Air force. They only deploy for 6 months. Talk to a recruiter see what jobs are available and get training in an area that you love. The Army lets you choose what you want to do, I am not sure about the other branches for sure but I have heard that they don't you can request a job but you may not get it. It's not that way in the Army so try an Army recruiter too. I think it is a great idea. Go for it.

Answer 6

There are many jobs in the military. You don't have to be a front line soldier to serve and serve well. Just about about any job that needs to be done in the civilian world needs to be done on an Aircraft Carrier.

The biggest draw backs to the military are family separation and long hours.

Talk to recruiters, visit the websites (don't forget the Coast Guard), and select the job that's best for you. There are big bonuses for a lot of jobs, but they might not be right for you. Also, be willing to accept a relative long wait to get the job you want.

If you ever think your recruiter is lying to you, go on line and ask the on-line recruiter, they'll give you a strait answer.

Answer 7

Being in the military was the one thing that really started my life. I had never met the type of people I had met while serving my country, I had never been to the places that I had been while in the military. In high school, I worked part time, had the same boyfriend for four years, and had never been away from my parents. On the same token, I had never smoked or drank before in my life also. Having served sometime in the military made me a better stronger person and I am proud to have done it. How many people can say they are proud because of their job? Yeah, you can go to war, but because people serve their country, I can sit here in my home, privately, and express my opinion. From my experience overseas, you can't always do what I am doing right now and that's simply expressing my opinion. Think carefully, the military isn't for everyone but it could be for you.

Hey, basic training was the funnest thing I have ever done. And that's from a girl who was a cheerleader and had to have her nails done every 2 weeks.

Answer 8

The only real threat to your life is if you join the army or marines. If you join the navy coast guard or air force you get all the benies without the bullets. The military would like you you have management experience which is a critical skill in any organization. I would suggest the navy it's the easiest physically and if you don't like it you can transfer to another branch. Go for it wage slave see the world have at least some adventure in your life.

Answer 9

From your avatar it looks like you are female, so you will not be sent directly into battle. As long as you do not take a job in the military like logistics you will likely stay a long way from the front lines. I think that joining the armed forces is a great thing to do and would be glad to have you helping to support my brother who is going to be going into the infantry. I know that many people will deny this but all of the jobs in the armed services are there to support the infantry men because they hold ground. the armed services are a great place to learn skills that you will have for the rest of your life. and since you have some college already you will get more pay immediatly than a high school graduate. you will also come out of it with money to pay for college.

Answer 10

While I am pro Army I say that any branch of the militatry will be a great opportunity for you. You can serve your country and yourself @ the same time thanks to some of the advanced training you will receiver. Don't believe the hype of all these haters, the truth is they wouldn't be able to sound off the way they did if it wasn't for the hard working soldiers on the front lines. Yes, it is true you may be called upon to do things you may @ times not want to do, but that is life. Talk to your local recruiters, take a practice ASVAB test with each one and see what they are willing to offer you, but remember that it is their job to lie and lie well. Before you sign any contracts make sure you have everything in writing and when you go to basic, AIT, and your permenant station always keep those contracts with you. You have to do your time, but the Government does have to honor those contracts as well.

Answer 11

The military has been pretty good to us. Honestly though, it's a hard life and not everyone is cut out for it. When you do have a family you have to be prepared to leave your husband and kids for months at a time. If you do decide that it's right for you, finish college and then come in as an officer. Financially it will make life a lot easier!!! Good luck!!