Why did you join the branch of military you did?

Question

And why didn't you like the other ones?

Answer 1

Originally I planned to join the USAF. I went to the recruiting center (hitch hiked 45 miles) but when I got there, the USAF recruiter was out. I knew the USN recruiter (my gf babysat his kids). I went in to say hi, and left in the Navy. I just wanted out of Delaware and to be able to see the world. I did both. I've been in 32 countries, some more than once(stationed in 3), been on 5 ships, 6 continents (including 13 months in Antarctica), 8 oceans/seas. I've picked up several languages. I've been as far west as Thailand and as far east as Pakistan, as far north as Nova Scotia and as far south as the South Pole Base (ate the most southern fried chicken in the world). I can go to 7 countries and not have to stay in a hotel (Japan, Taiwan, Kenya, Mauritius, Sardinia, Sicily, Turkey). I'm pretty much still doing what I did in the Navy. Out of the the 6 jobs I held since retired in '85 (longest was 7 years and this one over 13 years) I used my Navy experience in all of them (leadership experience as a Little Caesar's mgr and supervisor of a cemetery...short term jobs). I drove truck for almost a year and got that exeperience in the Navy. I worked as a gov't contractor doing equipment validations on Navy ships, and ran a warehouse for US Navy ships in a local ship yard. I presently do logistics for foreign navies when we sell one of our old ships to a foreign gov't.
It's not that I didn't LIKE the other ones, the Air Force and Navy had more to offer that I wanted. Every branch has its own particular mission and all do a bang up job, too.
There is very little of my Navy career that I would change if I could do it all over again.
(USN, retired since 1985)

Answer 2

I joined the Navy

I am not a physical person, I hate strenuous exercise. 15 mile runs with a 80 lb pack is NOT my Idea of fun.
So the Army and Marines were not for me.

Dont get me wrong, I do try to keep in shape and love taking long hikes and riding bikes, swimming, caving, rock climbing.
but the situations the Ground soldiers face were a bit extreme for me.

That leaves Airforce or Navy

I love planes so I looked at the Airforce. Except a small percentage that are Pilots or Aircrew, the vast majority of Airforce personnel all fall into a few catigories. Administrative, Supply, or Mechanics
Not
For
Me
besides they are all stationed back at base far from the fighting with little to see but watching the planes take off and come back.

So I joined the Navy.
I loved reading about Naval history and capabilities. Even if I wound up being just a cook or Supply guy. I was still right there with the rest of the crew on Ship in harms way. I still got to see the live missile shots. the gunfire. the radars and sensors.
When I joined the Navy I picked a rate (Job, MOS,) that put me in a position where I knew what was happening. where I could actively do something about it. If I was the aforemetioned Cook, I may be right there with everyone else, but when the ship goes to GQ (Battlestations) I would not know why, and other than providing paperbag sandwiches or manning up a damage control party I would be able to do little about it.
I Chose EW. Electronic Warfare
I stood watch in CIC on the ESM ECM gear. the AN/SLQ-32 (V3). I would know where we were, what we were doing, what the threat and tactical suituation was. and in the case of an Anti-ship missile attack. I would be the first to know it. It would be me telling the Captain we are under attack and the first to do something to stop it.

Unfortunately there is not much call in the Civilian world for the operator of what amounts to a multimillion dollar "Fuzzbuster"
LOL

Answer 3

When I first joined the Army, I was still in high school, and the Army reserves has a program called split-option that lets you join and go to boot camp as a junior in high school.

A few years later, after I was kicked out of the Army for something stupid and not entirely myself, I joined the Navy. The reason I chose the Navy was because they were willing to give me a second chance.

After I served four years in the Navy, I went back to the Army because the Navy was starting to turn into a job. The Army training I did was more fun and diverse than I had in the Navy. Not that the Navy was bad, but it was more boring for me.

Answer 4

Well, a long time ago, as I was walking home, when a green vehicle pull up along side of me and offered me ride. He
said before I take you home, I have to stop by my office. So I said OK, Once there, I saw all these posters, and everything that represented the branch of service. Man, I was hooked and week later I ask my dad to sign me in. Thus began my life in the U.S.M.C.. I say that it was my destiny to have only one choice.

Answer 5

My husband shopped all the recruiters and the Marine Corps gave him the only guarantee that he would be an MP (he had an associates degree in Criminal Justice) and that he would be a sgt by the time he was in 2 yrs. Best deal he was offered by any recruiter so he spent 20 yrs in the Corps.

Answer 6

I went into the Navy as my parents would not sign for the Army [he was at that time serving] they would not sign as at that time ALL the British troops basically left basic and went straight to Northern Ireland [you remember them OUR terrorists] so they said Navy or nothing....which was fine with me but my brother wanted to be an officer in the Army.so he went Navy as well.

When it came time for my son who wanted to join I gave him the choice of USAF or Navy......he picked USAF.........

Answer 7

USMC- I wanted a challenge and their marketing definitely catered to my demographic at that age.

All of the other branches have their pros and cons.
I respect those who serve in any of the U.S. Armed Forces Uniforms.

Answer 8

My family is army. So the choice was made for me when I decided to go in.

Answer 9

navy in my family its army or navy so followed in my gramdpa's foots steps and became a sea bee. what else is there besides the marines?

Answer 10

Navy - better educational choice and guaranteed school/specific job.