Should i join the Army?

Question

I've been thinking about joining the Army and I'm not really sure on what I should do! I'm currently attending Westchester Community College and majoring in Criminal Justice, Corrections. I've spoken to a recruiter and I'm still unsure on what is it that I want to do, as of now. Please help me out with your answers because I'm really desperate and in need of guidance.

Answer 1

My opinion is yes. But before you do, figure out what you want to do with your degree. Also take a look at the other three services, and what they have to offer you and your future plans. All four services can offer you various benefits between school and experience. Judging by your major, your looking to be a police officer or corrections officer, well the academy will teach you alot about the criminals right the Marines will teach you alot about keeping your a** alive if it comes down to it. I would do this in your shoes, collect a bunch of recruiting pamphlets from all services, go to the various recruiters and let them see the pamphlets and basically say "what can you do for me?" When they see the other pamphlets they are more liable to take you seriously and work to your interests. Either way though, you will never get the experiences, discipline, sense of honor, duty and courage you can get from the services (Marines most of all but I'm a little bias).

Answer 2

Well I am a Recruiter Assistant for the Army National Guard and I would say that it could be very bentificial to you. The are several options you can choose from reserve,guard or regular army, depending on what you are looking for. The guard is great if you like living at home. After basic training and your skill training you could come home and serve one week a month and 2 weeks every summer unless other wise needed. Not only do you serve your country but you also serve your state in it's time of need. They are offering a 20,000 sign on bounus right now and have alot of options for benefits such as 100% tuition assistance wich with you being in school could help you out a bunch. College is very expensive. I suggest you think long and hard about any decision you do make though for the military is not for everyone. You can check out the guard online at 1-800-GO-GUARD.com

Answer 3

I've been in and with the Army as a Civilian for 34 1/2 years now.
It's a good life, with great pay and benefits.
If interested in criminal justice, you could be in the Military Police Corps, CID (Criminal Investigation Division), etc.
Just make sure you tell your recruiter what career field you want and you won't accept anything else.
Good luck (maybe I'll run in to you someday!!).

Answer 4

You are going to get a lot of crazy answers on this one, but the fact is ultimately it is a huge and personal decision.
Inorder to be in the Army and thrive, you need to have drive, committment, and strength.
It can be a hard life, especially if you are going to make a career out of it.
The pay is horrid, the hours are cruel, and the things you will be told to do may go against some of your beliefs.

But it is one of the most rewarding things you can do. You can get up every morning and know you have accomplished something, gone through the hardships and survived. You will never know what you can acheive until you try. Forget the recruiter, its their job to talk you into it.
If you choose to enter the military, they have lots of options to help you through school and get you established even after you leave the military. Your resume will be a lot more convincing and you will have the experience that will be necessary, especially if you want to put the Criminal Justice Degree to work in a Govt. field.
Just make sure the recruiter doesn't push you into a MOS that you aren't going to be happy with. You know what you want to do in life, thats what you should pursue. Also, ask about bonuses for enlistment for each MOS and future necessity of that MOS. That will determine future bonuses and where you will be stationed.
So I have given you the pros and cons if you need anything else I can help with let me know.

Answer 5

YES!! It will be the greatest move you'll ever make. Continue the same course while attending college on active duty and when you graduate from the College course, you may be able to apply for OCS(Officers Candidate School) and use your degree in Criminal Justice
by applying for JAG(Judge Advocate General)
Office which is a lawyer for a Commander and/or any legal proceedings for the US Military.
Good Luck!! US Army(RET) 21 Years!!

Answer 6

I salute you for your deserve to serve and protect your fellow citizens. With 8 years of service in the US Army, I'll begin by saying that nothing can prepare you for the cultural and lifestyle adjustment required for military service. Your inclinations toward Criminal Justice and Corrections indicate strong possibilities in security positions either in law enforcement agencies or in the Military Police arena of the military. But don't let the phrase "military police" throw you off about the nature of their work. More commonly known as MPs, they are more soldiers than police, engaging in dangerous extraction and protection operations. A very mean "bulldog" with SAWs (vehicle mounted machine guns that can slice through a great many things), M16s, and HumVees, this group executes missions in groups of 10-20 to secure operational areas, and small areas for short durations in the capture of human and equipment targets of interest. They also protect secured bases and interests, and regulate access to/passage through roads and bridges.

If you want to use force against foreigners in the defense of American foreign policy interests (whether or not you agree with them), then the military (Army) may be a good option, but even as an officer your pay and benefits will not be comparable to your civilian counterparts, and your military experience will not likely prove very valuable in the civilian arena, except perhaps in law enforcement work.

However you choose to serve and protect, you will need to explore the possibility that you may have to terminate human life. This has serious psychological effects on most people (especially those who don't think that it will be an issue), and it typically permanently harms the way your friends, family, and society look at you.

Answer 7

If you are a student in college, I would join the Army, go to Basic Training, then AIT, then contract with ROTC, then you would make so much more money plus half of your enlistment bonus. But you really do need to think about it. When I first enlisted, I loved it, I loved Basic Training, and really do think that BCT should be open to everyone, it was such a great experience. But now I wish I hadn't enlisted. Although I'm in ROTC now, I really wish I hadn't. It's like a burden on my shoulders, but I thought I'd be okay with it. I think I would be if there weren't so many other things going on...

Answer 8

Well it depends on how one would look at it...you are in college,the military all branches of course give personnel money towards more education,which is good. However the Army is the largest of our military forces, chances could be you could enlist,be sent overseas. You could check out the other branches of service as well, I was in the Navy. Out on a ship!!! Well depends on what training you want for your field in school.I hope to have helped you Good Luck...Take Care.

Answer 9

Don't join, but If you do make sure that they guarantee you a school in writing. If you go in as just a grunt with no schooling to be trained for a specific job, then you'll be the first person to go to a war zone. The guarantee in writing is to ensure they'll give you what you want otherwise it is breech of contract.

Answer 10

Joining the Army takes a lot of courage and willpower; but I would imagine that it would be both a positive and proud life event to put on your resume. Think of the things you will learn, the people you will meet, the places you will visit. Of course, this isn't the best of times to sign-up for service because of all that is going on the in world - but if you've got the guts, then go for it!