Should I join the military? if so what branch?

Question

I'm 20 years old.

I am in good physical shape but could use a little working out. I have no girlfriend (anymore) so I wouldn't have to worry about leaving anyone. My family supports my decision should I decide to go. I don't have a job that could be a career (I work 40 hours a week in a Wood Mill).

Also, I have a very high education. I made a 96 of 99 on my ASVAB (military test) and I scored a 36 (of 36) on my ACT and I scored a 1510 of 1600 on my SAT. I graduated in the top 10% of my class. I've have more than a year of college but I'm not 100% sure which direction I want to head.

The reason I'm considering this is because I'm young, I'm intelligent, and I'm not really headed anywhere with my life and I thought perhaps a branch of the military could teach me even more discipline and build my character and I could get training for a job that I could later pursue as a career.

Any input would help! Thanks a lot!!!

Answer 1

It's your life, do what YOU want to with it...Make the most out of life!
GOOD LUCK AND GOD BLESS with whatever you choose!

Answer 2

It's up to you really. Nothing anyone else says should have a say in your descision to join the military. there is always the chance of dieing, or getting seriously hurt, however you also get the benefits. You make better friends than you probably have ever had, and those friendships will last a lifetime. You'll get to travel places you would never have seen before, and many people may never see, and you will certainley have stories to tell. You will also get alot of benefits money wise, while your pay may not be much, you get alot of military discounts and get to shop on base with not tax.

I would suggest the Air Force if you want to have the most opportunities. in the air force, you don't always have the same chance of being deployed, you have a lesser chance, so it is considered safer. Seeing as you are twenty, you might even try to get into one of the military academies. I'm pretty sure you would still aplly. that would ensure a free education and afterwards, you would go on active duty. this will also ensure you are an officer, something you most definently want to be.

Answer 3

Craig, Which service you join depends on what you want to do while you're in it and afterwards.

The Army has the widest variety of jobs which means you can change up after you're in if you don't like the one you chose from the video at the MEPs station. It has rear eschelon as well as infantry positions. Used to be, it had the best GI Bill (college money) but I think the others started paying more as well. If you join the Army, you still have to decide how close to the fighting you wanna be, but even our REMF's can expect to see it.

The Marines have the best camaraderie and are primarily combat forces. They're a bit more disciplined across the board. It'd be sorta like joining the Infantry in the Army.

The Navy has no serious threat to it these days and while there are a few stationed on the ground, most are safely out at sea.

The Air Force is the least militant (least disciplined) and known to recruit the smart people (nerds and such) but unlike their commercials, not too many people are pilots. Mostly they just support the pilots but these days, they also find themselves in combat sometimes. They have the best accommodations and the best food as well as the most women.

If you join the Navy or Marines, you'll see more places of the world for a few days at a time. If you join the Army, you'll probably get to live in a few countries for a few years at a time.

You might want to revise your question to include what kind of career field you're after. Your goals are an important part of your decision as to branch. Personally, I recommend Infantry as the place to start and that means Marine Corp or Army, but if you wanna be in a safe job, that wouldn't be the job for you.

Answer 4

I am an old soldier. When I was young, I was like you. My first piece of advice to you is to finish college. With only a year behind you, and with your desire to join the service in front of you, consider taking ROTC. It is a way to sample the military to see if certain things appeal to you. If ROTC is still the same institution, I don't think you have to agree to anything until the junior or senior year. If you do not desire being an officer, you can always enlist at any time. Stick with the college for as long as you can.

The service can teach you a lot about yourself and about others. It will make you rise above your individuality. The most intense experience you might ever have is the bonding aspect of being in a tight unit. More so, God forbid, should you see war. I think it is the bonding aspects that I miss most about the military. Closeness, familiarity, combined with excitement and danger MAY make you a more focused person.

But your service need not be in the ground forces to achieve a sense of purpose or to fulfill your honorable ambitions to serve. As for the branch of service, I am grappling with advising my own children these days on this same topic. For a variety of reasons, let me suggest the air force.

You will achieve honorable service. Your contribution to the nation will be no less than it would be were you to join the army or marines. You will likely meet smart people such as yourself. I personally hold the view that the right air force job will equate to a bigger payoff for you when you eventually leave the service.

Also, as a former soldier, I can tell you that war is no fun. You will find that deployments are fewer. They are typically six to eight months and not the 15 months the army enjoys. In short, your odds of being wounded or killed will be a lot less in the air force then they will be in the army or marines. Let's face it, in the air force, the officers primarily fight the war whereas the bulk of the fighting is done by enlisted in the ground services.

Finally, the airforce is usually situated at air bases. This means airports. In our society, so many air bases are within major metropolitan centers. Quite frankly, as a young man, you might find your socialization aspects greatly improved were you centered in a large metropolitan center that also had a university or college nearby.

At any rate, I wish you the best of luck in the difficult choice you are facing.

Answer 5

I was in exactly the same position as you about 18 years ago. Good grades, good scores, not sure where to go. I got a job working around planes and soon wanted to join the Air Force. Listen, go to all of the recruiters, and talk to them. Find out if you can get a guaranteed job or a guaranteed career field. For example, when I enlisted, I was guaranteed a job in Avionic Electronics. The higher your scores, the more likely you'll have the options to tell them what you want.

The Army and the Marines have much higher physical demands. There are highly technical jobs in all services, but just remember that in the Army and Marines... if the people that I knew in those services were telling me correctly, you can gain and lose rank very quickly. You also WILL go to a combat zone, so if that is NOT for you....you know the rest.

The Navy... very cool, but remember that you will be on a boat, destroyer, carrier, sub.... for months at a time. Not necessarily a bad thing.... but just know about it before you sign.

I may be biased, but the Air Force has the most options, the best assignments, and the best overall deal out there. More people switch services and go from other branches into the Air Force than any other. There is a reason for that.

So, my advice to you is to talk to all services.... find out what they can give to you, find out if you can get a guaranteed job in a field you will enjoy, and also weigh your other options outside of the military.

Oh, and by the way.... the Air Force put me through college...... and the BEST friends I have ever had we in the Air Force and Army (I was stationed at Pope AFB which is incorporated by Fort Bragg...an Army base).

Answer 6

My cousin just joined the military and it changed his life. He has become an independent, self sufficient young man. He does not regret his choice, he loves what he does. He became a communications specialist! Also when you join the military they take care of any debt that you may have! They also pay for any schooling that you might be interested in after you become a marine. I think you should do it if you feel like it is something you would enjoy. Just to let you know it is a LOT of hard work and it is something that you will have to work on for a while. You have to stay in basic training for three months, then you get to go home for ten days, then you go back out for combat training for a little bit over three weeks, then you go to California or Atlanta for eight months! After that you get to come home for three weeks, then you have to go back to the military for anywhere from six months to a year over a five year period of time with periodic breaks. Every month you are in the military you get two days of break time, but you don't get to use them at the end of every month they build up. That is about all the information i know, i hope that i have helped you in your choice.

Answer 7

I think possibly the Air Force might be the best way to go. They're usually not as hardcore as the army or marines, but there's still just as much variety careers wise.

You have options of aircraft technicians, structural fitters, Avionics technicians (electronics/weapons systems etc) military police, emergency response, fire fighters, signals, communications, information technology specialists, medics, dentists, airfield defence guards, accountants, the list is really endless.
Nearly all positions will give you a good standing in regards to a civilian career once you decide to leave the forces too.
All of the technical trades come with nationally recognised civil qualifications or at least an equivilant.
Whatever you end up choosing, make sure it's something you enjoy, becuase you will be required to serve a minimum period, be it 4 years or 6 years etc... thats a long time to put up with a job you dont like, regardless of how much you're making.

Please just make sure you use your smarts, dont let them go to waste. Think of something you enjoy (do you like working with computers - IT? do you like adrenalin rushes - Emergency response unit) and then stick with it.

If you do decide to join, and have a job in mind you would like to do, make sure you stick with it and dont let your recruiter tell you you should be doing something else. They will tell you you're more suited to a position THEY NEED to fill, rather than caring about what YOU WANT.

Good luck, go for it and be proud!!!

Answer 8

Your way to smart to join the marienes. If yo go Army, make sure you get MI status offered to you. Maybe CID. You basicly want to make sure that your skills and brains are both equally used, and avoid being a grunt. Maybe ROTC for an officer position if you are considering career. If you want a stupid easy boot camp, and be guarenteed to not see combat, then I would go Air Force. If you want education, Navey is an excellent choice. I think they have the most aggressive education program in the military branches. I think Air Force is second to that. If you care about travel, deffinetly join the Navey. You will see the world. Don't know too much about the Coast Guards... They don't advertise too much.

Best of luck.

Answer 9

Well I don't know what country you are from but the chances of you going to war are very high about now if you are in the U.S. If you do decide to go make sure it is the right decision for you. I think the air force would be the safest. How ever the marines will leave you with a good head on your shoulders. Hope I helped a little.

Answer 10

If I could, I would join he Air Force. My Dad was a combat pilot and a commander, and he not only made an amazing career out of it,he met and married my Mom and had a great life traveling the world. He saw it not as a way to use up time,but as a way to use his time wisely. He earned many medals, including the Flying Cross and Congressional Medal of Honor. I think in order to make a career out of the military, you need to be really devoted to America! My Pop was a genuine Patriot and he lead his life accordingly.
All of the reasons you state are reasons for making the military of life choice...just not the ones my Dad would be looking for. Pray. That's the real answer if you want to understand what's in your heart. My dad was lead to join the Air Force. There is a path just for you. Be patient, kiddo. You'll find it.

Answer 11

I'd say, Join the UNITED STATES MARINE CORPS.
I joined the Navy and was disappointed, they have no spirit. It's just a job, (I spent 9-years in the Naval Security Group).
In the Marines, you are part of a bigger family. OK, it's a "tough-love" type family, but you feel you're part of something.
The USMC would build your character and provide you with with enough discipline to fill several books.
I have regretted not joining the Marines ever since I got older. Now that I'm in my 50's it seems kind of wimpy to tell people I was in the Navy. I could have said "I was a Marine!" prouder.