Should I join the military?

Question

I am 27 and I have a four year business degree. Ever since the attacks I have felt this unquenchable urge to enlist. What do you recommend I do? I have a full time job and two children. Should I go reserves active or not at all? Please share your experiences.

Answer 1

Not if you have two kids..that will brake their heart :(

Answer 2

There are many many people in the Armed Services that have their degrees. So don't let that stop you one bit. If you feel the need to serve your country then don't let anybody take that decision from you. Granted it is a big decision, that can't be made lightly. My husband has been in the Army for 16 years, we also have 2 small children. There have been deployments, and a lot of time away. But I would rather know my husband is doing right by his family and his country, then have him work a 9-5 job that he is miserable in. The reserves are a way to go, but you still run the risk of deployments. If you are going to go in, I would suggest Full time, atleast for your first enlistment. You can always go reserves later if that suits you better. But Active Duty, you get the benefits and its better for you families in the event of deployment. They could live in a close knit "society" where we are all in the same boat. Civilians can and will never understand this way of life. Whatever decision you make, let it be one made between you and your wife. Nobody else can or should be involved. Good Luck.

Answer 3

A business degree won't help you very much in the service. Your pay will probably drop quite a bit. At 27 you are almost to old to enlist. If you enlist in the reserves you will probably be called up anyway. Can you leave your family for a year or two and not feel remorse? How does your wife feel about this?
Sorry to give you so many questions, but ultimately the decision has to be made by weighing all the consequences.

Answer 4

In 1998 right after graduating from high school, i joined the army reserves. I was enlisted for 6 years. At the time i didn't have any kids. I joined for a stupid reason. Everyone told me that i shouldn't do it and that i was crazey. I let for basic training in south carliona. The first two nights were scary for me. I stayed for 2 months because i had a cyst in my knee, which i had to have surgically removed. I tried to go back after it healed but was told that it was too soon, which i didn't think so. That time spent that was interesing for me to say the least. Even though it was short lived, i will never for get it. You meet a lot of interesting people, both fellow soliders and your drill sgts. If your heart is telling u to join, join. Make sure u have all the information, and weigh your pro and cons. That shoudn help u determine what u are going to do. Good luck

Answer 5

As the ex of a Military man, if your children mean anything at all to you, if your wife means anything to you, if your family means anything at all to you...dont do it! The military will break a family apart faster then anything. I am divorced now due to being a military wife. When you join, you are literally signing your life, your kids life, and your wife/gf's life over to the military. You do what they say. When I was married (9 years) I lived at 5 different bases. You literally have to move where they tell you. My ex missed out on both pregnancys, was around for 6 months of the first 2 years of our sons life, and 2 weeks of the first year of our daughters. Pay...SUCKS! Some would like to say its good pay..but its not. Yes there are perks to being military, like discounts at motels and some resturants...but something I can remember my ex saying...those discounts dont pay back for the time lost with his family. I have so many friends from all the places I have been...in the last 11 years...I have seen 12 of them go threw a divorce. Why am I divorced...my ex come back a total different time this last time from Iraq. He seen so much, it changed him...and not for the good. We are divorced now and he is stationed in Germany...so yeah...now he dont see the kids at all...unless we get on the computer. And even then...its not the same as a kiss on the cheek from your own child. Or a daddy I love you. Or being their when they have a ball game...dance recitals...or just to get a hug. Its not he same...and sadly enough...it will never be the same again until he is no longer in the military. I wish you the best of luck!!

Answer 6

I would say yes, its a great experience, but since you already have an established civilian life, I would only go reserves or guard. Both are good, and you will still be able to get your taste for the military without losing to much dearly needed family time. Only draw back though is if your unit is called to active status ... however ... you should be able to enlist for something like a 2 or 3 year stint, and you will be able to make up your mind if you actually like the service or not. Good luck in your decision :)

Answer 7

Dude, you hold your age well, you sure don't look 27 ....

Okay all joking aside ... at 27 you may want to consider Navy reserves. In the even of a full scale war you will be deployed to protect your wife and children. Look at it that way. Also, with a BS/BA you are a good candidate to become an officer. That would work out well for you, too. Go talk with a Navy recruiter.

Answer 8

Oh man, please dont.

The military will break up your family! I mean, i cant read the future and cant say 100 percent that it will happen, but the percent of divorce in the military home is above that of a normal one.

My dad was in the military for 20 years, my parents got divorced. I used to work at a military store and saw and heard so many horrible stories. Spouses cheating on each other when one is deployed, domestic violence, etc. Also, at the base where i live, in Fort Riley, Kansas, soldiers would invite 13 and 14 year old girls up to the barracks with them to get drunk. And we both know getting drunk isnt the reason you invite a young girl to your barracks, well, to get them drunk before you do everything else. Now it is mandatory that you show your id card to get into the barracks. You have to be over 18.

Im telling you, its opening a whole other can of worms. You are educated! You dont need the military.

Is free housing really worth the burden on your family? Stress between your spouse?

I think that with that degree you could do something better and more suited for you. Join the national gaurd or reserves if you want a taste of the army. But please, dont sign up full time. Its not worth it.

Take it from a military kid who hasnt seen her father in a year.

Answer 9

I would have to say your suffering the early signs of a mid-ilfe crisis that the military can't solve. All you'll accomplish is torturing your family who will be wondering was that daddy that got blown up senselessly by a car bomb? Is daddy going to come home with all his arms and legs or his wits? what the hell was daddy thinking when he joined the Army anyway ? To fight a totally pointless war in Iraq. Is this the kinda crap you want your family to go through every night when they watch the news ? The people you want to fight aren't being fought in this war those people are safely hiding in Pakistan out of reach for the foreseeable future. So if you need to kill something get a video game and not torture your family with this gung ho BS I'm sure your wife will back me on this.

Answer 10

I think it would be a great decision for you, you will earn much respect, plus since you have a degree you'll be an officer and make pretty good money, just think about it, you don't want to look back 10 years from now and regret not going in, its definately an unexplainable life experience, my husband is in the Air Force and LOVES it, its the best decision he ever made!

Answer 11

if i were you i would stick to your primary obligations, your children. although the attacks were horible and effected many in an heart renching way, the loss of you to your children would be devistating to them. jioning the military right now is not the best thing for anyone. although i support the soldiers in their daily battle to survice and complete their mission at hand, i cant support those whom give these patriotict soldiers their mission. we are not involvrd in these military actions for all the right reasons, and it would piontless for you to risk your life for these so called reasons and you children to have to suffer. we call and our leaders call us a christian nation which christian means christ-like, would christ have done what we did after the attacks. i think if you feel obligated to show your patriotism do so on your on soil in some other way and teach your children what is right and what is wrong, and maybe find yourself a job that from here can assist in the effert of preventing such attacks from happening again or something else. everyone in the army doesnt carry a gun so maybe you can find a job as a contractor with the military supplying them with goods and services. i just think you could play a role in the process of bringing those responsible to justice with out the risk of your children loosing their parent.