What should i do? i'm 17 yrs old.?

Question

It all started with the Army, i got very interested in it and i wanted to join. I told my parents and they said i was crazy, that the Army is nothing but lies, they made me feel guilty by saying i'm gonna leave them and saying i don't care about them. They think if i go, i won't get to see them for years and years. So then i researched other branches, and the Navy came up, i told them about it and they actually let me talk. I told them i'll be on ships and i won't be no soldier. They were still not happy. It has been sometime now, but now i know about the Seabees and i got interested in it. They are pretty much Marines because they back the Marines up, they train with Marines, and are respected like Marines. My parents are now okay with me wanting to join the Navy. But now i'm interested in the Army again. My mom said Navy yes, but Army no way. They are not forcing me not to go, they are just simply telling me if i go Army, they won't be happy and they will be worried all the time. I don't know but there is something about the Army that makes me wanna join. But my parents aren't gonna be happy and everybody thinks i'm crazy! What should i do?? Should i go Seabees instead? I don't think i will regret being a Seabee, but i'm so curious about the Army.

Seabees go to Iraq too, so either way they are both dangerous. What are your favorite things about the Army? And what are the things you hate? Do you think Seabees are cool?

Answer 1

well, gee, like I DON'T WANT YOU, at least the you that you seem to be by your question, AS MY SHIPMATE!!!!!!!!!

Answer 2

I spent five years in the Marines and trust me when I tell you Sea-Bees are NOT the same as Marines. Yes they do have a great reputation for gettin things built under terrible conditions, and yes they do get a certain amount of respect because of that. But you will never confuse a Sea-Bee for a Marine. If any Navy personnel were close to Marines it would be a Corpsmen. They are the only Navy personnel authorized to were the Eagle, Globe & Anchor. They are also attached to Marine Units so a lot of them DO train with Marines unlike SeaBees. If you want the Respect of a Marine Join the Marines.
As for you original question, You love your parents I'm sure but you have to live your own life. Soon you will be 18 and you can join whether they want you to or not. Make up you own mind. Do a lot of research. Take the ASVAB test and then speak to both recuiters and see what your job options are within each branch. Then make your decision. And once you've made your decision stick by it. Just because you have made a choice you parents don't agree with doesn't mean you love them any less and it doesnt mean they love you any less. It's YOUR life. thank them for all they've done for you and tell them it's time they trust your judgement.

Answer 3

You have to decide which branch of service will give you what you're looking for. Some people are better suited to the army, some to the navy, some to the air force, etc.

Have you thought about/researched joining the reserves, rather than active duty? That way you can get money for college, and there's less of a time commitment. There's also the ROTC programs, which will also get you college tuition, with a four year commitment after you graduate (but you'd be an officer, not an enlisted man).

Personally, if I had the chance to do things again, I'd join the Coast Guard. They have more opportunities, and better chances for transfers to different divisions, than the other branches. One reason for that is because they do not belong to the Dept of Defense, but rather the Dept. of Transportation. They're also the most involved in homeland security operations, being that they patrol and secure the waterways, and investigate smuggling and such. They are also the only one of the armed services that has power of arrest over military and civilians alike. Or if that's not your thing, there's all the ocean rescue work that they do, from lost/sinking vessels, to firefighting. They also have opportunities for foreign language development, with all the foreign vessels that come into the US ports.

Bottom line, just about everything in the Coast Guard can be applied to some kind of non-military career when your commitment is up. So why not look into that as well (they also have reserve units, with the part time commitment).

Whatever you decide, best of luck to you.

Answer 4

Make sure you really know what you are getting into before you join anything. In my opinion, the military is great for single men and women, not so great for families and relationships. Do you have a girlfriend? Might as well say goodbye now. No matter what you do, you will be away alot. Army is more dangerous, marines is even more dangerous. Navy is not the same as the marines, not at all. From what i have heard, the navy gets the least amount of respect from the other branches. But you need to make your own decision, it's your life, and your parents will understand that in time.

Answer 5

This is adive from someone that was in your shoes....

My father is in the AF and when it came time for me to join I brought up the idea of going either Army or Marines and my parents didnt want to have anything to do with the idea. They said they would support me but they didnt like the idea. I decided to just go into the AF. I figured this way I could make them proud and I would still be in the military. Well I spent 4 years in the AF and didnt like it at all. I always felt that I wanted to be the one out there actually fighting for my country and when I deployed I found my self sitting at a desk making sure the Army had flights to get down range. I knew from then that I needed to grow up and do what I wanted to do not what everyone else wanted me to do....

I finally got up the nerve to stand against both my parents and my now wife who really didnt like the idea and go and talk to the recruiter. I am now in the Army as an MP and love every minute of it. It took a while for my family to understand why I made the decision I made but after a while they saw I was finally doing something I wanted to do.

I say go with what you want and only what you want. Your parents may not like the idea at first but its something to will grow to accept. Plus I was lucky enough that the AF was trying to get rid of people and the Army was trying to bring people in so I got in through the "Blue to Green" program which basically meant I just switched uniforms and got a little extra combat training. In the end let your decision be something you wont regret later.....

You are more likely to regret things you dont do rather then the things you did....

Answer 6

It depends what you want to do in life.
The biggest problem with the Navy is personal relationships.
You will be out to sea 6 months to a year out of every 18 months.
That means long distance relationships for girlfriends/wive, etc.
Also no college courses or phone calls home.
At least in the Army you have at least a year on base to study and improve yourself. There is no reason you can't complete an associate degree in the army.
However, the Air Force also has many bases and they spend a lot more money on entertainment. The Air force has better librarys, movies, bowling alleys and such on base as well as better barracks (living space) for the most part.
Also a lot depends on what part of the country you are from and if you want to visit home a lot. There are lots of bases in TX, Calif, and along the east coast, but fewer in Iowa, Nebaska, etc.

One good thing about any of the services is you can retire in 20 years, you get free food, medical, dental, clothing and lodging.
You can save a ton of money on necessaties. College tuition is reduced and many hotels, airlines and other places give discounts for active duty military.

Answer 7

well coming from an ex-marine the navy is OK but the ship time is rough 200 dudes go out to sea and 100 couples come back (lol) the sea-bees are the workers of the navy, they get the things done, as far as training with marines not sure on that one. I enjoyed my time in, gave me a new perspective on life, I am a better for the time I spent. You can choose any field you want(depending on your test scores) The army has a lot to offer as well.

Answer 8

You have to make your own decision, but as for my opinion, I am the wife of a sailor and as hard as it was for me when he joined I accepted what he wanted to do and stood bye him. His mom was worried and still is but she stood by him in his decision. We know alot of people in the other branches as well and just as an honest opinion every branch of the military lies. They tell you what you want to hear to get you to join and then it's hell from then on. So which ever you choose you can be assured that you will have been lied to in one way or another. As far as saftey the Navy is definetly safer, it gives me piece of mind knowing I don't have to worry as much as if he were in the marines or army. The choice is yours and I'm sure your parents will stick by your decision no matter what it is.

Answer 9

My mom cried the day I told her I was going into the ARMY. Today she admits it was the best decision I ever made. Whichever you choose make sure you get an MOS(military occupational specialty) that you want. I think the NAVY chooses for you, don't know about the sea bees but I do know in the ARMY you get a contract for your choice of MOS.

Answer 10

Well, if you want to die in uniform, join the marines.

You are doing a dis-service to yourself and your parents by joining the military while we are losing young men every day for a fake cause. When they ship you home in a box your parents will blame themselves.

I don't expect you to agree, but you are too young to be making life or death decisions. Get an education. Then make decisions.
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Answer 11

why are you looking at only military options?

have you thought of college or a trade school?

a good bet, if you want to be a seabee is to go to school for engineering then join. you will have more to offer them.

it will also buy you some time to make sure this is what you want to do since you are so unsure now.