Whats the Army like as a Career?

Question

My brother is thinking of going in the Army but is unshure due to mix reports he has heard what do you think?

Answer 1

A career in the Army is like anything else; it has its good points and bad. I am in year 8 of a 20-30 year career. I love it and wouldn’t want to do anything else. So far what I have read here is all negative. It is true you could be killed but the chances of that are extremely low. I know that last statement will raise some eyebrows but here is my logic. We have been in Iraq for 4 years and have had 130,000 troops there on a rotational basis so to make math simple that is 130,000 x 4 which is 520,000 troops. I know some of those are repeaters so lets same we had a total of 300,000 different troops there and just over 3,000 deaths. If you do the math; that is one percent death rate. One percent of the troops that are sent into Iraq will be killed, that is very sad but very low compared to past wars.

Ok so now we got the dangerous stuff out of the way lets look at some benefits. GREAT job skills, it is true that there are some Army jobs that do not translate into civilian jobs but the majority does. If your bother is looking to join to learn a skill then he should stay away from combat arms jobs. There are too many jobs to list here but he could work in communications, radar repair, air traffic control, electronic equipment repair, helicopter mechanic, and many many more.

After your first few years in the pay is actual not bad at all. Take me for example:
Base pay----------- $2685.00
BAS (for food)-------272.00
BAH (housing)-------1101.00
Total-------------------4058.00 per month

There also all kind of allowance that you get on a one time basis like when you move from one duty station to another I would get $1997.00 on top of my regular pay. There are also a lot more financial benefits that would take a while to explain them all (i.e. lower taxes, free medical/dental care, free legal services food on post is much cheaper and so on.)

The Army has been good to me but the choice if different for everyone. The Army can be a though place and you have your good days and bad but overall it is a smart move for any young person trying to get a foothold in life.

NOTE: do not believe everything you hear on the news and do not listen to people talk about the army if they have never been in.

Answer 2

Joining the army or indeed any branch of the services be it army, navy or RAF is one which should not be taken lightly. Whilst I will be the first to admit that the army has had some bad press recently these are merely isolated incidents and should not deter your brother. The army along with the other forces is a good way of forging social bonds as well as being a part of the community. Also I must add that the Army's role is not to shoot first, ask questions later. Infact in modern times the british army has acquired a more peace keepin role.

My advice would be for your brother to join a TA regiment.

Answer 3

You get training in only specific areas that the Army wants you to know. Applying that in the real world becomes difficult, as the niche you filled in the army doesn't exist many other places.

You'll feel wanted, like you're doing something worthwhile, but you'll reconsider that when you're bored out of your skull wasting time doing nothing but waiting. Prepare for tedious tasks done repeatedly until you forget what the word 'why' means.

Overall - choose a different career. Be a mechanic for Toyotas and Jaguars. Sell rugs. Repair air-conditioning. Whatever. You'll be glad to be not bored and not shot at while you make more money.

Answer 4

Well apart from getting bullied etc at barracks, if thats not bad enough u never know when u r going 2 get a bullet in ur back.
I respect the guys and girls who do the job, but what motovates someone to do a job knowing fine well that one day they could be blown 2 bits, 2 hell with that too bloody dangerous 4 me.

Answer 5

I agree with the people above my answer. But would like to point out That after coming back from Vietnam I was hated for serving my country. And frequently forced to fight The very people I thought I was serving.

Answer 6

I'm sure it's great, but the bottom line is that part of the job means putting your life on the line.

Answer 7

Bottom line is people shoot guns at you. If that doesn't put you off, you're probably ideal for the job.

Answer 8

It can be a very short career.