Is a career in the army worthwhile?

Question

I am considering the army air corps

Answer 1

I am an active duty soldier. In my opinion, while a career in the army can be fulfilling and worthwhile, you benefit more by using the army as a springboard to learn a job skill and then get a civilian job doing that after your enlistment ends.

Most people pitch army careers based on the "great" benefits and retirement options. I won't bore you with stories about the benefits; you get what you pay for. The retirement option is nice in that you can get a pension after 20 years of service. However, if you count the fact that a soldier's income is drastically lower than that of a civilian in a comparable job, this incentive becomes a wash. Basically, the extra money you would make each year as a civilian can be used to build a better retirement via a 401k or similar, in the same amount of time.

If you do decide to go career in the army, I would HIGHLY advise that you either become an officer or a warrant officer. Their salaries are significantly higher than those of the enlisted soldiers, usually comparable or just short of civilian salaries in similar fields. Plus, the elevated status helps make army life a little more liveable. Most civilian employers also consider officers and warrant officers on-par with managers in the corporate world, which will help you segue into a supervisory or management position if you decide to take another job after your military retirement.

First and foremost, HAVE A PLAN before joining the army. Know the job that you want to do, and choose a job that will give you useful job skills outside the army, even if you are planning to make a career out of it. If you do not have a college education, make plans for getting college credit while in the army (there are several options), and use that to become an officer or warrant officer if you want to make a career of it. Do not let enlistment bonuses influence your decision of which job to get AT ALL. Sign-up for as short of an enlistment as you can, which is four years. Do not believe a recruiter who tells you that you must enlist for more than four years to get a particular job.

Overall, I like the army, and I'm glad I enlisted. Personally, I plan to get a civilian job when I get out. The army has a lot to offer if you know where you want to go in life.

Answer 2

That answer can only depend on you. What are you looking for as a career ?? Just being in the Army is not a career. What Military Occupational Skill (MOS) are you looking at ?? (Not going to berate you for the Army Air Corps comment) THe Army has Aviation assets. Both Helicopter and light fixed wing aircraft. WHat do you want to do in that field ?? Fly ?? Maintain ??

What is the Army going to do for you ?? Well the Army is going to get you into shape. You will learn Discipline, Attention to Detail, Team Work and How to work alone, Loyalty, Duty, Respect, Selfless Service, Honor, Integrity, Personal Courage, How to be a Leader and a Follower. The Army will teach you a multitude of things that while in the Military you will take for granted but which in the Civilian world are highly sought out skilla and attributes.

Downside of Army Life: Combat. combat stinks!!! It's not like playing war as a kid. Real People die and you will probably know some of them.
Pay: Not nearly enough. No Overtime pay.
Housing: This is an area that is improving but is still not all that great.
Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Moving from one duty location to another. Hard for the family to pack up and leave their friends.
It is very difficult to change jobs after you have completed Advanced Individual Training (AIT)
Family Life: Time spent with the family is not as much as you will want it to be.

Positives: You will be trained to accomplish your job.
Pay: You will know exactly how much money you are going to make each payday nevermind how many hours you worked or didnt work.
PCS: You will have the opportunity to live overseas.
Friendships: The friends you make while in service will last a lifetime.
Pride: Not everyone has the intestinal fortitude to join the Military and serve honorably.

I served in the Army for 20 years and loved it, was deployed and stationed all over the world and met alot of interesting people and made alot of great friends. My only advice to you is to get a MOS that you like.

Answer 3

A career in the Army [British Army] is well worthwhile - it is most especially so if you get a trade. The Army Air Corps have lots of trades and you can get your wings. You do not have to be an officer to become a qualified pilot either. Good luck in your new career in the Army.

Answer 4

A career in the army would be worthwhile if British army returns to what it should be meaning an army that defends Britain. Appart from that it is a nice job if you are willing to cahnge locations and carry your family with you. You will surely have a good and stable salary but if you go to war and come back with any mental illness you'll have to find your own way out.
(I assumed that you are British but if you are not almost the same things apply to the army.)

Answer 5

If you want to murder people at another persons request (Prime minister) then go for your life. Personnally I hope that you catch a bullet before you kill someone else. At least that way you won't have to deal with psychological terror from the warzones to which you will be sent.

You need to picture the things that you will see. I have never been in the army but lived in N. Ireland all my life and have seen some terrible stuff and I still carry the mental images every day in my head. This is not cool.

Have you every seen a friend shot 3 times in the face? It ain't pretty, let me tell you that.

Have you been within 20 metres of bomb when it goes off? That is one scary experience. Have you seen the damage an explosion does to the human body? Believe me you will never forget it if you see it. ave you ever been shot at? Now that is one scary moment.

So before you make a career choice like the army just think those things over. You should really get yourself a good education and a normal job. At least that way you still have some choices remaining in your life.

Answer 6

Its worth while if you plan to move into civilian aviation after the army, because you will be trained for free, however because of the state of things, contracts are being extended with no choice so you might not be released from the army when you want to be, although I know somebody that trained in our air corps and is now making good money flying gear and supplies around sheep ranches in New Zealand.

Answer 7

Do you want regular Army, or Air Force? Anyway, it all depends on the job you choose. If you choose something like mortar maggot, then there's not gonna be many options for you on the outside. If you choose something in the electrical field, then a lot more doors will open up for you.

It all depends on what you do with your time. And if you start saying that you're gonna make a career out of it, you should probably keep in mind that probably 90% of the people that walk in that office decide that they want to make a career out of it right then and there, but then after serving a couple years decide that they miss civilian life.

Answer 8

Some of the answers you have received are from wierdos - ignore them. The decision is yours but be aware (if you're a Brit) that despite the recruit shortage, they are still very selective. I spent 25 years in the army and now work on an army camp. If you do join, you should expect to go to a war zone. You may not, but expect it anyway. Forget the films and TV programmes, war is not fun and certainly not entertaining. Being somewhere where large number of people are prepared to kill you, is not fun, you live in a certain amount of fear (if you're not frightened, then you're stupid) Having said all that, I don' regret my service. Before I joined I was a typical teenager, but probably more shy than most. It's a hackneyed phrase but the army made a man of me. Whatever you decide, good luck to you, and ignore these idiots who preach doom and gloom

Answer 9

Army Air Corps???? The Army Air Corps was done away with shortly after WWII.

Go get your lunch and get to the bus. It's time for school

Answer 10

The Army Air Corps? That was renamed "Air Force" WAY back when.

I did my 20 years in the Army, and loved it. I retired at a young enough age that I could start a second career, and still get a retirement check. I saw the world, met/married my wife, met fascinating people, and obtained a HUGE family (comrades).

It was worth it for me.