What should I do?

Question

I just turned 18 and I want to join the military. But everyone tells me I should start college and then if I still want to...join up.

Answer 1

well if your intending to join the Army or Marines I would wait. Wait for us to pull out of Iraq at least part way so you don't get stuck in Iraq for most of your time in the military. Trust me, you'll end up in Iraq or at least Afganistan regardless, but at least this way you won't go their multiple times. I've yet met a soldier coming out of Iraq that wanted to go back.

Plus you can build up some student loans, then get your bonus when you sign up to pay them back plus get your GI bill and thus gain more college money then if you went straight in. Plus you get to go in at a higher rank then E-1, which will increase the money you get while your in the military.

Answer 2

Well it depends on your reason for joining the military.
Do you have money for college? Are you getting scholarships?
If the answer is no to both....then military is a good way to go. You will end up with a large GI bill money to spend on college. My daughter has one year left in Air Force. she's taking college classes this year, and will have about 30-40 credit hours under her belt when she is discharged. Classes are free while she's in. After that she will use GI bill.
She's lucky...she's in Dental in the AF, and wants a dental degree....so her experience is a big advantage.
Also....if you don't want to end up fighting...I'd suggest the Air Force or Navy.....ground forces, like Marines and Army are the ones most deployed.
Then there's always the reserves...longer contract...but less hours.

Answer 3

If college is an option for you, take it and then join the Military as an Officer. Joining as an enlisted soldier is great, but every enlisted Soldier who has worked his way up through the ranks will tell you that if he could have started as an Officer they would have.

Answer 4

It is really all up to you.

If you are not sure, I would reccomend looking into the National Guard or reserve. In that way, you can do both at once.

Or go to a College or University that has an ROTC program. ROTC is a way to get a feeling for what "military life" is like, without the commitment. Unless you are in under an ROTC scholarship, you are free to leave the program at any time (with the usual penalty for dropping a class).

Answer 5

The Military is a big decision in many ways . One of the biggest is the commitment it entails. You are signing up and dedicating x number of years to the military and the way of life that it brings.

There is no real right way to make a decision as everybody resolves issues in different ways. I can tell you how I made my decision and lay it out in a series of steps that you may or may not find useful.

1)Take a real hard look at yourself and assess where you are in life. How mature do you feel when compared to your peers and other people? How self motivating are you? / I was pretty immature and really did not know what I wanted to do with my life when I graduated highschool. So I meant down the middle and joined the Army Reserves. They helped me pay for college and I went to drill one weekend a month. The Reserves also helped me “grow up” a little and learn how to motivate myself. Many people end up leaving college as they simply cannot get themselves to class and get themselves to do the homework and studying that college entails. It is not that it is hard for them to do the work, they just cannot prioritize and motivate themselves.

2)Evaluate your goals. How driven are you to achieve your goals? Do you have goals? / I had a goal to do well in college (grade wise as was always just a 2.8 to 3.5 GPA student – nothing to brag about and some times nothing I wanted to tell y parents about especially during the “rough” semesters) and to take care of myself.. I saw the Reserves and R.O.T.C as a way to achieve those goals. It helped my GPA as I knew military things from being in the Reserves, so the classes were easy. The PT in the mornings helped me stay in shape while buddies of mine from high school grew beer bellies from eating lousy (you will eat terribly in college, it just can not be helped unless you have money and nobody has much money in college), drinking beer, and not exercising. I would watch friends that were physical star athletes finding themselves exhausted from carrying a keg up a flight of stairs after a year of college life.

3)Do some fact finding. Visit a recruiter and let them tell you about the military. Talk to anyone you know that is in the military or has friends / relatives in the military. On the other side of the coin, speak to friends already in college or friends that have brothers and sisters in college.

4)Make a decision. After assessing yourself and your goals in life and learning what you can, make a decision. Do you feel you need to experience some life, grow a bit, help yourself financially… then maybe serving in the military is a choice for you. It is a big commitment and something inside you has to be prepared to serve and make sacrifices. Or if you feel that the military is too scary as someone will be “in charge” of your life and telling you what to do and how to do it until you learn to do it the military way on your own because the business of the military is not earning like a marketing or business job so many college graduates take after college, but it is winning wars and serving the county for a better good and that requires commitment and sacrifice. If that is something you know is beyond you, then maybe service in the Armed Forces is not for you.

For myself, the military has been a great choice for me. It has given me a career that I love, working with people that I enjoy working with. I have seen the world. I have lived in 6 foreign countries and worked in over 20.

Anyway, best of luck to you in your decision and I hope this helped.

Answer 6

I know how you feel I was going to collage and just seemed to not be moving fast ought if you want you can join the Air Force you can got to school and serve your country we have 100% tuition assistance. your job will count as collage credit the Air force is the only service that has it's own Community Collage that may not be that way you want to go but at least you can try the military thing for 4 years and decide weather you want to stay in or go to collage.

Answer 7

Do both. Join the reserves. Go to boot camp after highschool and drill while you are in college. Go active duty during your summer breaks. The Coast Guard is not the safest.

Answer 8

This is not a good time to join the military. They desperately need troops in dangerous war zones like Iraq. Get your education and then see how you feel about it. Look into the Coast Guard. That's the safest branch.

Answer 9

I am in the same boat with you, but I have talked to many Army veterans and the general conscensus is if you have options, take them. I would reccomend that you attempt college for a while. If you find that it is not for you, then consider the army. Especially now, the Iraq war is becoming dangerous, and it might be wise to avoid service during a period of escalating violence.

Answer 10

Hey theused10..... I am glad that you are wanting to sign up and serve your country man!!!! Well I want to be in the ARMY in two years (I am 16) but that is just me wanting to serve!!! Don't listen to everyone else, talk to someone you know that is in the military and ask their advice!! If or when you join up keep safe.
LOVE YA'LL WILLING TO SIGN UP!!!

HOOAH!!!