Advice for wannabe military person??

Question

ive been wanting to enroll in the military for a long time but my parents did not approve when i was in high school....they even picked out my college....now that i have "found my balls" lol.....i decided i was goin to anyway. Im 19 now and am considered legally a grown up. However my foster parents have decided to disown me if i do. There the closest thing i have to family....well anyway i was just wanting some advice??

Answer 1

Wow what a bunch of negative responses so far. Dusty, if you feel that joining the military is the right thing for you, you should do it. The emotional blackmail your parents are holding over you is a bunch of crap. I was in the active army for 4 years and fought in Desert Storm, yes they are 4 years of my life and there are things I would do differently but that is what life is, an experience. Looking back I think the Air Force would be the way to go. Figure out what you are interested in exactly and follow that dream.
If you want, you can stay in school and give the military a trial run by joining the reserves and doing the military thing one weekend a month and whenever you get deployed. Or you could join the ROTC in your college and when you get out join as an officer, the lifestyle and pay of officers is a lot better.
Remember it is YOUR life and you can do what YOU want to do. email me if you have more questions or want to talk about the military.

Answer 2

Make sure you truly understand what you are getting into as far as the military is concerned if you are dealing with so many hardships on the homefront. I am all about joining the military but many people do not understand much about it before they are trapped in it. The last thing you want to do is join, hate it, and then have a family that has disowned you. If your foster family is so "shallow" that they would disown you over the military it sounds like you don't have such a great thing going with them and they would probably hold a bunch of other crap over your head for the rest of your life. My advice. Get your first two years of college out of the way then join. This way you will be able to apply for virtually all commissioning programs in the military if you want to or if you want to stay enlisted you will have a leg up when it comes to promotions. Plus you will be able to go in at a higher rank, at least in the Army. If your family does disown you, save money while you are in and do not blow your spending money on beer like so many others. I got out after 5 years with well in excess of $100,000 in savings and benefits and I was 23! Money goes fast on the outside if you choose to get out, you will need it! If you stay in all the better.

Answer 3

well, am in the military not as my choice, but as a legal requirement, 2 years every single singaporean got to do ... they will choose whether it should be in the army or civil defence or the police force as singapore the country size is small and population is just 4 million. but for my case, am not a singaporean. i came from india, i am an indian still. i became permanent resident here and that time i was under 21, so they want the second generation of permanent residents to do the national service. but the only advantage is that i can be citizen here after doing that. not necessarily, because there will be an interview for that, if i pass, then can, otherwise cannot. the 3 months of basic militaty training was tough. still cant do a standard push ups. army life sucks. cry everyday, you can be bullied. so many lotsa things, emotional factors. you would like to lie that you cant do certain things etc... reporting sick, go to medical center, the medics all not nice, and you know the whole entire atmosphere is sick. none like to be in the army. why sign on ? forget the idea, enjoy civilian life. If you really want army, be a civilian employee in the camp. Like, you not wearing the uniform.

Answer 4

I assume you've already tried talking to them about it, but I say, try again! Ultimately, though, there's no real right answer. For them to threaten to disown you over something like this seems really wrong, esp. since, as your foster parents, they know your background, and know that family is probably important to you--it seems like a pretty lowhanded attempt at manipulation to me!

Whether they're right or not though, may not make a difference to you. Are you willing to lose your family to acheive your dreams? Especially considering that your family doesn't seem very supportive of you anyway, I don't know if it's a very big loss. But only you can know that.

Personally, I'd say go for it. If they don't respect you enough to want to be a part of your life because you are pursuing your dreams, then they are not the kind of people that it will be healthy to keep in your life. You know more than most that family isn't just who you are born to (or who takes you in as a foster child). A family is something you can create, and if you have to do that, I think you'll have the strength to do so. And the military is a great place to begin making a new family for yourself. Just my 2 cents. :)

Answer 5

Keeping recruitment offices open during a war is a good definition of Darwinism in action. If you've never been shot before, let me share with you, it sucks. Typicaly you die from that sucking. And your death advances a cause that America hasn't supported since the Korean War. Have you ever shot someone else? That would be the only alternative and one you could be facing a lot if you join the Military while we're at war. The Military likes to talk about how you'll get training but really they train you how to be in the military, using modern technology that will never be adapted to civilian use and ancient civilian technology. The Military likes to talk about sending you to college but I know more military personel that have gotten the miliatry to pay for a Gay Cruise than for College. You're 19 now, by 23 you could have a Bachelor's degree and good career prospects. You could be married with a large circle of friends or you might be killed in a war in a desert that has no appearant connection to fighting terrorism. No matter what happens it's 4 years of your life at least. There are so many better possibilities for you.

Answer 6

Its your life and your future. College is great, but where Im from, it doesnt matter how many or what type of degrees you earn. Its too hard to find work these days with a good degree under your belt. Finishing College would be the best answer but at the same time, the military would be just as good for you, and in some cases better.

Answer 7

I served in the US Army. If you can, finish a college degree and if still interested in the military apply through one of the officer candidate schools. Life as an officer is a hell of a lot better.

Also consider not joining the Army and try the USAF or the Navy instead. Not because they are any better, but because you will get opportunities that you won't get in the Army or the Marines.

Answer 8

You are19 years old and it is your decision what to do with your life. Your parents will come around. They are not going to disown you. I'm sure when you finish BT they will be there for you. I joined the U.S. Army when I was 19, it was the best thing I ever did for myself. My parents were all for it and very proud of me. I stayed in for 4 years. I wish I was still in. The biggest mistake I have ever made in my life, is getting out of the Army. Don't listen to all these negative comments on here. Most of these people don't even know what they are talking about. If you have any questions feel free to e-mail me. I went to basic in the Spring of 1991.

Answer 9

That is just a scare tactic. What kind of family would disown what they consider their child because said child wants to join the Military. They'll get over it, and I think you will enjoy a much happier relationship.

Answer 10

i advice u not to enroll if that is going to make u some big problems with ur parents.Here in my country,we are obliged to serve a full year in the army and Ive served my year in the army.Well it is a nice experience for males mainly and gurls wont enjoy it believe me.Eventually ul get bored fo it cz u thnk it is somethign new and cool but it is very annoying especially when u have a bully commander lol.Its nice as a remporaray xperince but not as a permenant job.dats my opinion