I am thinking about joining the National Guard.?

Question

I have been thinking about joining the National Guard. I need a way to start making my own money so I can pay for college myself instead of having my mom pay for everything and taking control of my life. I see joing the National Guard as a way out. I will be making my own money, have money for college, and I think it will help me become more independent and a stronger person. My friends tell me that it is a bad idea because I am black, a girl and gay. I do have a friend that is in the National Guard and she says that none of that matters because she is both black and a girl and says that I just don't say anything about being gay. I still am a little hesitant about joining. Do I have good reasons and will it help be become a stronger and more dependent person. If I do join, I will do it during the summer while school is out. When the summer is over, I think I might transfer to a school out of the city. Does anyone have any advice on what I should do or anything I need to be prepared for

Answer 1

Right now the US military is "don't ask, don't tell". Your life will be one of total closeted secrecy with the threat of being discharged should you choose to have a girlfriend or go to a gay bar,should you be called to active duty.
The policy allows gays to serve in the military as long as they keep their sexual orientation private, but punishes those who engage in homosexual acts or take actions that call attention to their orientation.
There are many ways to finance your college education. Some people begin by taking transferable classes at a community college and taking AP courses in High School for college credit. This is much less expensive than attending a four year college. You an probably get your freshman year that way. Look into every single scholarship that you can. Some colleges have tuition scholarships for people with high GPA's that covers a part of their tuition. There are Government Grants and education loans as well. Talk to your school guidance counselor or even call the adviser's office at the nearest university for advice. It is their job to know this stuff.
Bottom line, it is ultimately your decision, but until the military revokes its policy, the threat of punishment and physical violence towards a gay person in the military would be enough for me to advise you to find another way. I know if you were my daughter that is what I would say...

Answer 2

First thing that I have to say is: Don't let uneducated or uninformed people hold you back from anything. What I would suggest for you to do is call a local recruiter to help you out with any questions that you may have.

Now, let's see if I can help you with anything. The National Guard is a great way to help pay for college and give you a little extra spending money. Don't fool yourself into thinking that you will receive enough to really survive on your own. In Florida, they do offer 100% tuition coverage and may cover for room & board. Each month you will receive about $300 from the GI Bill (and an extra $300 known as the 'Kicker' if you score higher than a 50 on your ASVAB), plus your drill pay which will be around $250. That's the great thing about the National Guard. You can get over $800/mo and really only 'work' two days a month when you go to drill. If you think about it, there are a lot of full-time students that also have part-time jobs. So, if you can find yourself a nice little job to work maybe Mon-Fri that could be an extra $250/ wk. Not bad for a college kid, right?

BUT, yes, there is always the possibility of getting deployed overseas. However, the National Guard offers something called the "College First Program" which entitles you to go to school first and become undeployable for two years. After those two years, you might want to enroll into an ROTC program (if your college offers it) which will actually give you another two years of undeployability. After that, it's give or take. You might go, you might not.

OH, and as far as the 'gay' thing goes, there's a policy called "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" which pretty much says "if you're gay and in the military as long as your not flamboyant about it or go around telling your entire brigade - we don't care," On top of that, Washington has been giving a lot of thought to lifting the 'Gay Ban in the Military'. No one gives a **** that you are black, no one cares that you're a female and no one cares that you're gay. You're not the first and you're not going to be the last. If no one asks then don't tell.

If you still have a few questions, feel free to message or email me (I'm not sure how yahoo does it lol) and I'll do my best to answer them. Hope I could shed some light. Good luck.

Answer 3

HEY PEOPLE! LOL (like your username!)

But anyway, I am considering joining the Air Force when I graduate college, So I do know the decision you are facing. I did TONS of TONS of research on this matter and here where the issues that I was facing:

1. Will I be able to completely hide my "life" which means from my millitary friends, internet, and any personal belonging that I bring. (I've heard horror stories of military searching a appartment and any thing that was releated to gayness, would get you kicked out)

2. Will I be able to handle a very VERY private relationship (finding a initmate partner) that I might have once I get in?

3. Will people suspect that I am gay just by my personality? If they do will I be able to handle the torment that they might give me if the suspect I am gay?

4. Yeah I will be discipline and get money, but can I get the same thing even if I dont join the military?

5. Am I ready to go into Iraq?

If you can answer these questions, and still determined to join the military, THEN GO FOR IT. REGARDLESS of what any body tells you, YOU KNOW if you want to be in the military or not, and dont let anybody tell you of horror stories, because the military in general is scary place, regardless of who you are.

And the plain and simple facts are that THOUSANDS of gay men and women are serving right now, and you wont be alone. Some very helpfull websites that you should look into is:

http://forums.military.com/eve/forums/a/frm/f/27819558

BE SURE TO DOWNLOAD THIS GUIDE, IT HELP ME OUT GREATLY!:
http://www.sldn.org/templates/get/index.html?section=19

I TRUELY hope I helped you, the thing I hope you remember is homophic, and racist people are everywhere NOT JUST THE MILITARY, and if you are just joining the National Guard, you can hide yourself alot better. What I am trying to say is personally I think you should do it, the military has excellent opportunity, and it IS something that you can put on a job resume, and have alot of people looking UP TO YOU. You will be GREAT in the Military (if you join)!

Answer 4

Friend, I was in the National Guard for 2 years. Don't belive all the bs about paying for college...sure if you live long enough. The National Guard folks are poorly equipped, you will get sent over to Iraq to die for a bunch of old men who are making lots of money over there.

Besides, you are black, gay AND a female...why do you want to die for a govenment that considers you as LESS than a 3rd class citizen.

As far a going to college...it will be REALLY hard to attend classes when our 'Fueher" in Washington keeps on calling you back to active duty, because that is exactly what will happen.

Do NOT , I repeat, do NOT enlist. Look for other ways to go to college, besides becoming a "bullet stopper. The government doesn't say too much about it, and you will have to do some research (the internet is a GREAT place to start) but there ARE other ways to pay for college BESIDES the military.

Answer 5

You'll be going to school, unless you get pulled into active service. My sister joined the army last summer active duty. One thing she's mentioned is that reserves, etcetera is a bad idea. So few people are joining active duty military and making a career out of it that all the reserves are being thrown on the front lines and in war zones like Korea and Iraq because they want to keep the career active duty people alive and safe. Also, until "Don't ask, don't tell" goes away, I wouldn't suggest anyone join the U.S. Military. Why join a group where you're not accepted and treated unequally?

And, there are other ways to pay for college. I had no help, no money, no job, and I managed to finance my college education, get a job, and make it through college myself. It is possible and is a crash course in what it's like to live in the real world too.

Answer 6

While this would be a fantastic idea to help put you through college and make you financially stable.. I would suggest not joining unless you're prepared to completely closet your sexuality. Being black or female has no real hindrance on your military participation, but if they find out that you're a lesbian they will immediately discharge you, and most likely go after any benefits or money you received while with them. I don't know if it's such a good idea to join any branch of the military at this time with all of the controversy with international issues and the military. If you are prepared to hide your sexuality at every turn, and really want to go through it.. Then go for it. Personally I would not want to be obligated to hide my sexuality for my career, I think that's very unfair.

Answer 7

Easy, don't join, especially now. The military has had a long history of resentment for anyone who is homosexual. And now with the war on in Iraq, even the Guard is being called over there (A friend was sent there) and is that someplace you really want to go to?

Answer 8

Join if you think it would benefit you. It is not a bad decision. Being black or being a female has no impact. You will meet people from all different backgrounds. You're not going to get in if you are out about being gay. They wont ask ~ you don't tell.

Answer 9

You need to be prepared for a lawsuit for when they discover you are a lesbian and ask for all their tuition money back.

This happened to an associate of mine, who got put through medical school by one of the armed forces. They came after him for about $250K.