Women in the US Army?

Question

I'm considering joining the army after high school for money for college. Before I make any decisions, I have some questions I hope you can answer.

> How much money will I get and how long do I have to serve?

> Does it make any difference because I'm a girl? Will there be anything I can/can't do?

> I'm kind of a wuss. I don't mind being yelled at or called a maggot, I mean physically. But I'm not opposed to getting in shape or training for it either.

> I'm not opposed to this either, but for my mother's sake, what are my chances of going to Iraq (etc.)?

> I graduate in May of 2008, but I don't turn 18 until September 2008. Will this cause any problems? (I'm thinking it will)

> Is it worth my time?

Thank you SO much for any answer you can provide me with. I want to go to medical school (preferrably University of Chicago) and I know I'm going to need lots of money.

Thanks again!

Answer 1

If you enlist, you will get basic private pay and then promotions with more pay follow as you pursue your career. You get an increase after 4 months, and most people get at least one promotion on finishing their first specialty school. the web address for the 2006 pay charts is below.

Women are supposedly ineligible for combat positions. Mostly that is just not so.

Your chances of going to Iraq are high - we are at war. By the time you are ready, though, and hopefully with a change of administration, your chances may very well be considerably less.

Under 18, you will need your parent's written permission.

Yes, it is definitely worth your time. Also consider the other services - USAF and USN [not the USMC - I did that - not a good idea at all]

Go get 'em, Tiger !!

Answer 2

Geeze, lots of questions...
1. Using your search engine, type in G.I. Bill, I used to have both the phone number and e-mail address but seem to have lost them. The total amount was just raised. How long will you have to serve? I may be wrong, but I believe the minimum is 3 years active duty with a general or honorable discharge.
2. Laws governing women in combat changed a few years ago and now, most all fields are open to both sexs.
3. I cannot answer for the Army, but in the Marine Corps, drill instructors are not allowed to call recruits names, swear at them or physically touch them (other than to protect them from harm). Each branch has their own physical fitness regime. The Marines are taken on a five mile run right off the git-go to weed out the non-hackers and give everyone a good wake-up call. The Navy runs once a week -- 1 1/2 miles.
4. Dependent upon your job designation, you may never see a country other than the U.S.. The country is however, engaged in a two-front war while maintaining presence in a number of other countries: Korea,Japan, Germany, England, etc. It would be according to the needs of the Army.
5. Your age? Check with your local recruiter. I doubt that it will matter, but it may also be that a parent's signature be required.
6. Is it worth your time? Depends on a lot of things that may be immeasurable. What is your time and life worth to you?

I graduated high school in 1979. I wanted to be a musician. As a musician, I was very good. Toured Europe with an orchestra, played for the king and queen of Sweden, the chancellor of W.Germany, the president of the U.S. (twice) and had recorded five albums before I was 18. Pretty good. I was very immature and academically, I was pathetic, I pulled a C average. I floundered for a few years and then got stoned and jjoined the Navy. They made me a boatswains mate and sent me to sea on an ammunition supply ship. I worked my way across the Pacific chipping paint. I was given opprotunity and became a hospital corpsman (medic). Before I knew what was happening, they sent me to the Marine side of the house.
I retired after twenty years. When I retired, I was the Independent Duty Corpsman Program Manager for 3d Marine Coprs Aircraft Wing. I had clinics at Camp Pendleton, Ca., Mira Mar, Ca., 29 Palms, Ca. and Yuma, Az. I could work circles around most of the physicians. I also had one of the lowest budgets at the pharmacy and llab. As a clinician, I was good enough that I'd been requested several times to take over Camp David. I'd also seen a lot of combat. I've had the great displeasure of losing 11 men in three nights. When I flew special operations, I lost 47 men in 2 1/2 years. There is considerable cost.
Upon my retirement, I discovered that I'm not qualified to practice medicine. The system is set up to keep people like me out. It becomes a matter of dollars and cents. And, because I really don't understand math, I am spacially oriented and wired, I don't get algebra, so calculus and chemistry are just beyond my comprehension, I cannot get into PA school.

So, you want to enlist? Go ahead. Knock yourself out! For the money and college? There are better ways to get that kind of money. Get your degree first. Life as an officer is so much better than as an enlisted puke. And the pay is better too!

This latest military budget that was approved, the enlisted get a 2.2% increase in pay, that's about $30 a month. Sounds good right? The Generals got something to the tune of 8.3% increase. That's about $1,300 a month! Go figure, those that need it least, got the most and those that need it the most are still on welfare and WIC. Get your degree first.

Answer 3

1. Usually the same as the guys, ranging from 16k - 22k for recruits (actually, check that figure cuz I'm not totally sure)

2. You can't fight on the front lines or go on patrols. You'll probably be in a support group if you go to Iraq - you can drive convery trucks, be a medic, fly helecopters, etc.

3. The millitary will get you into shape with several months of intense trainning at boot camp.

4. Very likely

5. You should go to college before going to Iraq. And you have to be 18 before you can join.

5. Depends. Joinning the millitary really isn't all that much about patriotism...it's more about the experiences and the challenges faced in life or death situations.

Answer 4

Your best bet is talking to a recruiter. If you going to Iraq is going to be any kind of problem you can't handle don't join. Before you join make sure you know what you want to get out of the military then make sure you join the right branch of the service. The military is a good way to get some money but it is also a good way to get experience that will help you in a career after the service.

Answer 5

Mostly social reasons, some of them rather gross caricatures. It would upset the good old boys' club, no one wants to see a woman get injured, the men would lose their minds around a woman, they would get pregnant and drop a litter in the middle of battle, etc. There are physical reasons which make the average woman less likely to succeed in the infantry, and there may be some women's health issues that cannot be overcome, but most of the objection is for social reasons.

Answer 6

Im not sure I can help you with any of your question but I will say that any question really needs to be answered by someone already in the service.

A recuiter as wonderful as they are will make anything sound like everything is going to be a piece of cake and the best and easies time you will ever have.

Find someone that is already in the service and ask them what basic is like, they might not be able to tell you about pay but they can give you the best answers to what army life if REALLY like.

Answer 7

this is what you should do; i was in the army 3 years active infantry then 1 year x-ray tech school through the national guard. dont go active duty or you will go to war. national guard has way better college benefits as opposed to the reserves, get an job that can be applied to the civilian world, like journalism comp repair health care ect. hope this helps gl

Answer 8

Go to an Army recruter. They will be in the yellow pages of your phonebook. I am an Air Force wife, so I am biased. Good luck!

Answer 9

Look into th US Coast Guard!
Better Education ...All stateside work ( unless you chose to get on an ice breaker) I never will regret joining!

Answer 10

I'm sorry, are you asking a question regarding 'women in the us army'?

I normally need to hear it 4 times before it sinks in.

Lol.

Good luck if that's what you chose to do.

I wouldn't, but hey, I'm not a girl. ( unless spiders are involved, in which case I'm a total girl )

Good luck ;-)