To join or not to...?

Question

I am very athletic, I have a lot of endurance, I want to do a job that not only involves mental ability , but physical ability as well. I love the water but don't want to live on it for long periods of time. I have no idea what I want to do career wise ;however, the military has so many job and career opportunities. I was curious to which branch is best suited for me, and why, and if you believe the military would be good for me?

Answer 1

There are many careers that will give you the excitement you seek. When you consider joining the military, you must consider, many things. Do you feel like you can live in an environment where you will work long hours, where many of the freedoms you have now, you will not have? (ie. you can't just wear anything you want or do whatever you want)

If the answer to that and many other questions is yes. Then you should consider joining the military. Some people (like me) love it and it gets in you and you can never fully let it go. Others want to leave after the first 2 minutes of boot camp and never really adjust to that lifestlye.

My suggestion would be to talk to all of the recruiters and see what each branch offers. Then take the ASVAB and talk to the career counselor. If nothing that they offer you appeals to you, talk to a different recruiter. Remember, when you go to MEPS, you are under no obligation to leave with a signed contract. Just like going to a car dealership and test driving a car. They will try to pressure you into signing the contract, but they can't hold a gun to your head.

If nothing you like is available, tell them no thanks. Recruiters are paid to put people into jobs that the Army needs to be filled. So once it looks like you might walk because nothing interests you, other MOS's that they don't have a giant need to fill may magically become available.

Last thing. If you do decide to join, be prepared to deploy to a war zone somewhere in the world. No matter which branch you are in. Don't think that just because you are in the Air Force you will spend your days at an air base far away from the front. They are starting to train airmen to escort convoys. So just because your jobs is as a admin or something else, don't expect that it will always be that way.

When you sign up, you sign up for the military, not for a job. They will put you where they need you. Don't be like some of the pansies that I have met that joined the Army post Iraq war as an admin clerk and then call crying to their mommies that they are being trained to go kick down doors in Baghdad.

Answer 2

That is up to you. The Armed Forces are 100% voluntary. If you don't want to join, then don't. Nobody is drafting you.

Army was the best branch for me. In 1988, all four services offered the GI Bill, but the Army was the only one to offer a college fund on top of that. Today all four offer the same benefits. I liked the Army because you are land-based and you can actually live overseas and enjoy foreign culture and learn new languages. Navy seemed to spend too much time on the water and not enough days in each port. Army gives you a rifle and teaches you to move under fire. That was most exciting to me.

Air Force will also station you overseas for long periods of time, but very little of it is actually combat-related. Air Force is mostly logistical-fly supplies and transport Army, etc.

It all depends on what you want to do. To be honest, Navy is not entirely sea-based. I am sure there are veterans assistant jobs and payroll specialist positions that you can take and be stationed in the Midwest.

But a lieutenant of mine (a West Point grad) told me once, and I fully agree, that the military is the chance to do something that you would never get to do in civilian life. Where else can you train to go behind enemy lines by helicopter, set up and fire an intermediate-range nuclear missile and hoof it back across the lines as infantry? Answer is: Nowhere.

I thoroughly enjoyed my time in the Field Artillery!

Answer 3

I'm a nuke in the Navy and let me say this, first of all not all jobs in the Navy have you on ships. My instructor is a Lt. JG but was formerly an air rate and she was on a ship only 28 days. Also, I had to fire a pistol and shot gun at boot camp, awesome for someone who's never fired a gun before, but I'll never have to touch a weapon again, mainly because I'm engineering department. I would say if you're dead set to enlist, join wither the Navy, Air Force, or Coast Guard. I'll say that the Navy has the best program for intelligent people looking to jump start their education, which is namely the nuclear propulsion pipeline, though I could be a little biased. As for being on a ship, no ship is ever out to sea longer than 6 months from what I hear. This would be aircraft carriers with longer sea times and that isn't anything when you can't even feel the ship rocking unless you lie completely still. I don't know if this long post helps but if it does then that's good.

Answer 4

The first question to yourself is, how well do you take orders? The military is a great way of life if you can adapt and overcome a lot of what a lot of people would think is senseless, but what the civilian sector doesn't have is structure and that is how things get done in the military. Keep it simple, follow orders, and remember you decided to raise your right hand and take the oath. Life is different and at times can be difficult, but the experiences you will gain are priceless and most branches of the service have a program for the athletic type, it's a matter of filling the paper work and submitted it for approval.

Answer 5

Well I'll tell you what you sound like me when I was your age I was very athletic in school I had a very bad home life I did not want to end up in the streets or worst in jail or dead so what did I do I joined the military because my father and uncles also served during the Korean War.I myself served in the U.S.Army & the U.S.Navy,I served in the Army,first and I loved it the only thing I did not like about it was being stationed at the same duty station for my entire enlistment I wanted to travel and see the world so once I was done with the Army I joined the Navy,and of course I had to go through there boot camp as well because one is ground force the other Ships and Submarines totally different but I did not mind.
It all boils down to this all branches are good for you and the schools in any branch are great it all depends on what field you want to train for and what else you want out of the military if you want to travel and see the world than the Navy,is the way to go I have been all over this world I was stationed with a squadron aboard the U.S.S.Nimitz CVN-68,and trust me on a carrier or its task force you are all over the world if traveling and see other countries is what you want this is it,but it is all up to you it boils down to what you want and what your looking for the one thing to remember is don't let anyone talk you into something you don't want to do you decide for yourself because this is your career and life were talking about okay and be true to yourself because once you raise your right hand and take the oath your in and that is it especially with all that is going on in the world now with the U.S.military be absoutely sure this is what you really want to do and listen to yourself and your heart be true to your self because (there is one Certainty that nothing is Certain) good luck on what ever you decide.

Answer 6

if you really wish to enter the military i would recommend the air force. it still has politics like all other branches of the military but at least it's a little laid back depending on your job. and the chances of you getting caught up in the war is unlikely, just don't become a cop. I've been in for 4 years and it's not that bad, I've been to Korea for a year and japan for 2 years. a lot of good memories that i wouldn't trade for the world, as long as you know going military isn't a permanent thing.

Answer 7

Only you can decide which branch is best suited for you. And I have no idea if the military would be good for you, I do not know you or anything about you. It's up to you to decide.

The Army was great for me.

Answer 8

I think only you are suited to decide what career path you take. Inform yourself by going to the websites of whichever military service you choose. If you are really serious about it, go talk to a recruiter. You are under no obligation to enlist. Take the ASVAB, depending on your score, you can at least see which job positions you qualify for.
The military is not for everyone, it is a lifestyle and a job. Best wishes on finding what you are looking for, whatever that may be.

Answer 9

You would do very well in the military. Since you don't like water that much you're pretty much left with army or air force, both offer many opportunities for just about anything you want. It's just a question of which uniform you like best.

Answer 10

You may consider the Coast Guard - though not a branch of the military - for service if you enjoy the water, though don't want to be on a ship for extended periods of time.

Besides that alternative, it sounds like the Army would be your best choice.