should i join the armed forces?

Question

I am 16 years old and not doing so well in school and its getting time to decide what i want to do with my life. should i join the armed forces at 17 or take the chance of failling at schooland not make anything out of my life. I really dont care if i get deployed or not because i would do anything to help the best country in the world the usa even if it means i have to die. both my grandfathers served one in veitnam and one in ww2.

Answer 1

You sound like you've already given up.
If you can't handle high school, you'll never be able to handle military life.They have no use for peoplewho have given up. You're going to really have to do some work, and I suggest you see the guidance couselor.

By the way, as a soldier you job is not to die for your country. That's why they teach you to shoot.

Answer 2

Clearly, you're not satisfied with your school grades.

Clearly, you're an all-American patriot and maybe you could put this to good use.

Here's my advise: Get back on your feet with your grades, and once you graduate, and if you've gotten your grades up high enough, you can try your luck at college, and then become an Army or Navy Officer. You practically have to be a genious to be accepted into the Air Force these days. As an officer, you get a higher paycheck, more respect, and it looks better in the future anyway- both my cousin and my dad are/were captains in their branch of service (Army and Air Force respectively)

I strongly advise that you work on your grades over this one, but if you don't think college is your thing, then go for the marines, army or navy as an enlisted man. It's tougher and less enjoyable, but it can do great things in the long run.

Hope you make the decision right for you, Good Luck!

Answer 3

Please don't. You are too young to make a life and death decision at this time in your life. You are still too young to understand what death means, and what having to shoot and kill another person means. You are also too young to think about the other possibilities -- like being captured and tortured, or being crippled for life, losing more than one limb or part of your brain. All of these things can happen to you, and have happened to our troops.

You start out by saying that you are not doing so well in school. A LOT of people your age are not doing well in school. The fact that at 16, you already think that your grades up until now mean that school is "not for you" shows that you are immature. Do you have any idea how many great artists and writers flunked out of school? Not to mention how many dropped out? If you think that not doing well in school at your age is any indication of how you have to spend the rest of your life, and what you have to settle for in life, then you aren't ready to make any life or death decisions.

You also say that it is getting to be time to decide what you want to do with your life. Many people make that decision at 21, or 25, or 30. Not many people already know at 16. If you want to help out, think about joining an organization like Habitat for Humanity, and helping to rebuild New Orleans. You'll meet good people, learn some skills, and feel like you're contributing to something important. That is just one example of what you could do. There are others, where you can help out and do some real work. If, after 4 or 5 years, you still want to join the military, then go for it. You'll have a better idea of what it means, and you'll have more to offer. Including being in good physical and mental shape. These things are very important. Don't ever join the armed forces in a dejected state of mind.

Answer 4

You're 16. You see where your weaknesses are. If you're truly interested in the military, you need to shore up those weaknesses before you can think about the next step forward. Straighten out your school life now - meaning do what it takes to get the job done. Find a tutor, stay after class, ask for and complete extra assignments. Take charge of your own life now. Doing a job half assed and escaping into another life because your current life is hard is NOT the military way. Face your obstacles and overcome them.

And then? When you've found personal victory? Welcome.

Answer 5

Well there are three views on this.

My friend Will who was in a similar situation. He joined the US Army and sat in Bosnia for three years with a UN beret on. He didn't goto school and is managing a Hollywood Video.

My father joined the US Army, was sent to Vietnam. Came back with no legs, but led a very prosperous life and let the military develop and form the rest of his life. He is buried in Arlington National Cemetery.

My grandfather who was part of the Army Air Corps, always told me if you are going to join the military joing the Navy o the Air Force, they tend to die less.

So good luck kid. GO Navy/Air Force!

ps. how many astronauts are from the Army anyways?

Answer 6

The Armed Forces isn't a place for people who are failing high school. I have never known a high school drop out who did not regret doing so - it's only a couple more years, that is not a long wait at all.

It's all in your head, keep going, enlist when you graduate if you're still up for it. Besides, you'll need to have completed high school to enlist, or some form of equivalence.

Answer 7

So it's in your blood serving the country...there's nothing wrong to go into military but the question is, are you ready for it? Your still young and so much store for you probably your just in a confused situation now. Why don't you give a little more time to think what you really want in life and when you make a decision go for it.

Good luck to you!

Answer 8

think about this carefully because once you sign that contract youre pretty much stuck. before just giving up on school (which you need to actually graduate or at least get a ged to continue with you military career) talk to some people who are in the army. get a feel for what goes on and what the army lifestyle is about. talk to your recruiter and see what jobs you might be interested in and what they have to offer. (dont believe what your recruiter tells you about going to war or not and dont rely on them to tell you what the army lifestyle is like either) dont join if youre not up to live the lifestyle. signing a contract is a big deal no matter how much thought you put into it. i thought i would really like the army and i cant freaking stand it. if you want to do better in school then get a tutor or just try a little harder. joining the military isnt a band aid for your school situation. youre going to need a degree for AFTER you get out of the military. military experience helps after you get out and looking for a job but you really need some kind of degree. think about it before you join. if you have beef with authority and dont like people telling you what to do for years before you earn a little rank, then dont join. if you cant stand the thought of waking up early in the morning to do PT everyday, then the army is not for you

Answer 9

At your age, you should not be making any life-changing decisions.
I admire your selflessness; more people should be that way.
I served in the Army and all of my brothers served in the military. They do offer excellent training.
Does your school offer R.O.T.C.? You might investigate that, talk to recruiters, your school counselors, and of course, friends and relatives.

Answer 10

Yes, serving your country will give you self motivation and disipline you will need if you decide to return to school to further your education. The military will not let you fail as long as you do your best.