im thinking of joining the army is it a good idea?

Question

please note i have got a lot fitter since i took that photo

Answer 1

It depends upon why you want to become a soldier. Is it just to escape a dreary future where you are? Is it because you are thinking long term and may want to make the Army a career? Have you read all the literature that describes the huge number of fascinating career assignments, along with the likelihood that you could go straight into battle? As far as battle goes, your chances of returning unscathed are excellent given the small percentage of casualties. Clearly, in Iraq, we are nearing some kind of ongoing peace keeping as opposed to out and out battles. If the Iraquis don't soon decide this daily attrition of Iraqui casualties is an intolerable way to live and join with U.S. forces to stop the violence in each of the three religious territories, then we will see civil war and either pull far back or stupidly get into it. There are other theaters in the wings but with nuclear weapons available, damage will be isolated. The adventure of it alone intrigues the hell out of me.
I joined the Air Force during the Vietnam War as a means to escape the draft. I had four of the greatest, fun, adventurous years of my life. I received a top secret clearance and was trained to analyze air to ground and ground to air communications. I was stationed on Okinawa and did temp duty in Japan, So. Korea and Taiwan. Great adventure. Loved every minute of it. Stateside I was stationed at Ft. Meade for duty at the super secret agency - not the CIA - the other one. (hmm can't recall the name). I managed to see almost all of Washington D.C. in my year at the agency. It does take a year of weekends but really makes you appreciate the talent it took to create this country.
So, your answer will come in deciding what you want to do with your life. Advanced education and/or training is paid for. Virtually any profession in civilian life can be started in the armed services. Serving your country is tops, despite who is in power or what comes after.

Answer 2

That you're actually thinking about joining the military when most people (including, apparently, some participants here) wouldn't, says you're the sort of person we most need -- someone who won't back out of a commitment just because bullets are flying. Nevertheless, my answer isn't a solid yes. I don't have enough information. For instance, I generally discourage people from joining the Reserves because that system is pretty well broken. At some point, we're going to have to rethink how we handle those forces, but for now, I'd rather be active-duty than a reservist. At least in the former case you know you have a job when you get home.

Also, some people just aren't cut out for military work. You need self-discipline and an ability to think on your feet, to improvise when things go wrong (because they do). If you have these things, joining the military will do wonders for you. If you don't, joining the military will teach you discipline, but otherwise it'll be hell, and at some point you'll quit.

Answer 3

I would not join right now if i were you. I would wait a year until Bush or the next president starts to pull troops from Iraq. The army is kind of cool once you get use to it. The other thing is dont just go in as a private, at least get PFC by getting some college credits under your belt, and then you know that you wont get stuck in an infantry unit doing grunt work. Dont be concerned about getting fit because they will beat the pounds off you, and hassle you to maintain it. Also you have to remain in shape to get promoted.
If you are considering going now, I would try the Airforce because they are not as strenuous. The best thing about being in the Army was the camaraderie and friendships that i gained.

Answer 4

Absolutely not. I have both religious and non religious reasons for telling young men not to join the military. If you do, you will have to be willing to fight - and its not a video game. There are no re-plays. Once you are dead you are dead.

If the times were not as they are with World War III looming in the background - I would say join. Of course as I indicated - when a person joins the military there is always the possibility you will have to fight. Its not all about a career - Military always holds that risk.

Personally I believe God has removed his hand from America in light of all she has done to remove God from its government and allowing corrupt organizations like the ACLU to run Christianity in the ground.

I would not fight for a country that has turned its back on God and adopting only respect for other religions.

I really don't care if people disagree or thinks I'm an idiot - I said what I said, and I'm talking to you just the same as I would my own son if I had one. I gave this talk to my daughter and thankfully she listened.

May God lead you to make the right choices.

Answer 5

It depends really. I have a lot of friends in the marines, so their opinion is overall biased. What I hear from them is that the Army tends to not give enough training to their soldiers, and that they have the highest AWOL from all branches. However, the bright side is that they have fewer deaths in Iraq/Afghanistan than the marines do; partly because they aren't in as many combat situations.

Oh, and if you can join as an officer instead of enlisted, you'll be better off. The enlisted people I know often wish they had bothered going to college first. Rarely do I find people enjoying their enlisted career.

Answer 6

That depends, do you want to be respected and noticed in your field for your brains and common sense or treated like a monkey? If its the latter, join the army. If its the brains answer, try the RAF (and I can say that - I was an army kid most of my childhood and am now living with a RAF man!) No offence to army people but the Army is so far behind in the modern world, its quite frightening!

Answer 7

A lot of answers are talking about 'career' or want to know 'which army'!
Its not important 'which army', or 'which career' you will be a puppet, you will kill whoever you are told to kill, or even worse, they will kill you!
You will of course be given a 'propaganda' pep talk telling you all about the 'nasty' people you are going to kill first!"
And all about the massive hoard of weapons of mass destruction they are waiting to unleash on us all!!etc etc!!
At the end of the day its down to you, if you think this is a good 'career' move or that you feel you are 'defending' your country, then go for it! some one has to do it I suppose??
I have done the army thing, active overseas service against 3 separate countries, for 3 seperate issues!!
I can honestly say I didn't enjoy any part of it, in fact I sometimes feel extremely guilty about it all.
I don't feel at all like a 'hero' !!
At times I feel like I was a bully and a braggart! (as indeed I was), but not on my own!!
Of course you can now 'give it a try' and then opt out, I couldnt do that, so if you go for it good luck to you, (I really mean that)!!
Just convince yourself you are doing your duty for your country, and if you can believe that you'll be on a winner!!

Answer 8

ok at first, you do no longer could supply up custody of your new child to every physique. There are alot of unmarried mothers and dads contained in the protection stress who've finished custody of their toddlers. 2ndly, go into the army because you like too. no longer because you do no longer understand what to do in existence. 3rdly and maximum critically. visit a recruit place of work, sit down down and confer with the recruiter approximately all your strategies. Its the single and purely way you will get all your solutions. you will comprehend precisely what must be executed with your son. you will comprehend what you're able to do jointly as contained in the army. Ask approximately your reward...wellbeing, housing etc.. each and every thing which you will desire to comprehend...ask. My husband became contained in the army for 3yrs then joined national take care of. He became a tanker. a guy I graduated with joined the army and went for desktops. there are maximum of fields contained in the army which you're able to do. Be prepare which you and the father of the youngster would be deployed faster or later contained sooner or later. that's advantageous to hearken to that your mom will watch your new child for you. while my husband became deployed to Iraq, he had to make a will. while this occurs to you, verify you comprehend who you like to maintain your new child if something happens to you jointly as deployed.

Answer 9

just because you join the army doesnt mean you will goto war take no notice of everyone else listen to this.......
if you want to get away for a while from drugs from annoying people who say dont do it will mess up your life for good your fighting a lost cause.
just join and get a trade leave after 3 years with a degree and your trade.
all paid for by the government whilst each night you shrink your kidneys with copious amounts of alcohol and wake up with the camp tramp that your mate had not 1 hour before you did.
so in retrospect join live a good life and dont listen to everyone else.LISTEN TO YOUR KIDNEYS....

Answer 10

I don't suggest it. Your fitness is not as important as knowledge, to a certain extent. If join the army I can almost garentee you will kept in this war longer than you wish and you will also lack information nessesary to be successful in any way.