what are some reasons to NOT join the military?

Question

i am planning on enlisting in the air force soon on my own free will, but my parents are telling me to research it long and hard. What are some things the recruiters don't tell you? what are some negative aspects of joining the air force?

Answer 1

Bullets, bombs, guns, explosions

Answer 2

My husband is in the military. It was a good choice for him. It isn't for everyone.

You need to be prepared for the fact that it is a very stressful career. If you have trouble handling stressful situations, you may want to rethink your choice.

Also, keep in mind that you will be away from your family A LOT. Not just for deployments, which are pretty much guaranteed the way things stand now, but also for training and other temporary assignments. Some of those times you will not be able to contact your loved ones for days, weeks, etc, except by snail mail.

Remember, too, that your assignment in the military makes all the difference as to how enjoyable it is. Some assignments you will get to travel (ex., my husband has been to Austrailia, New Zealand, Singapore, Hawaii, etc., as well as the Middle East), get to learn how to use and maintain new and exciting equipment, etc. Other assignments will sit you behind a desk or in a kitchen or a myriad of different things that you may not enjoy so much; and the assignment you get is very rarely up to you.

You may end up getting stationed somewhere you don't like. Granted, most military families don't stay in any one place longer than 3 years, 6 if they're lucky. Some people end up moving pretty much once a year.

Either way, I don't think you'll get a whole lot of objective answers on this site. My advice is to go to Military.com, create a profile that says you're interested in joining and want some more info, and post some questions in the Air Force forum. Those guys will tell you what it's really like, and they'll be honest about it.

Good luck to you.

Answer 3

I'm probably the wrong person to ask that question--my husband is an AF major and it has been a very positive experience for him/us. The question just caught my eye.

Seriously of all the branches, the air force is probably overall the safest--they keep the planes carefully guarded away from the front lines, so unless you are in security forces you will most likely not be "boots on the ground" in a combat zone.
The deployments are also still shorter than the other branches as far as I know.

If you don't care for structure, discipline, order, short hair, keeping fit, and such, it's probably not for you. Also you would have to get used to moving around a lot--most career fields (especially active duty) change assignments and bases about every 3 years or so.

You could explore the possibility of going the Air Force Reserve route instead--you'd only be committing 1 weekend a month plus about 2 weeks in the summer that way (unless you get deployed--and again unless you are security forces, you will most likely have the choice to volunteer rather than being forced to go).

Answer 4

First, finish your degree and become an officer.

Second, if you don't go officer and go enlisted ask to be a flier. Do not ask to be security forces or services or numerous other jobs. Being a flier gives the ability to travel all over the world.

Third, try to learn as much as you can about what job you do want to get into. Talk to people and find out what they like and dislike about their jobs in the military.

Good luck to you.

Answer 5

well first off, never believe a recruiter. I never knew anyone who actually got the job the recruiters told them they would. Always assume you are going to end up in a combat related field. You may not, but if the crap hits the fan you may end up carting a rifle or wish you were. It's not all fun and games. My service years were full of discovery and comraderie but they also had some very low points and extracted their personal costs. Like anything in life, there are good and bad associated with it. What you really need to decide is, are you happy with just knowing the little corner of the world you live in now, or do you want to see the rest of the picture. There is a great big interesting world outside of your own back yard. The question is, do you want to see it?

Answer 6

I was going join a few years back before the whole 9/11 thin, but after geting the recruitment details, i discovered that my fitness was not up to their standards, and while considering how to overcome this, the whole iraq and afghanistan thing broke out and I had to consider whether or not I could destroy another persons life throough the stuff that come with war, and decided that I couldn't actually kill another person.

Answer 7

What the othe people are telling you is true, You MIGHT risk your life, If you have a combat M.O.S.
The question you have to ask yourself is ' Am I prepared to offer my life for my country, For the beliefs of my country and the beliefs of my leaders, wether they are right or not? Am I ready to live my life for the next 2-6 years under the complete control of other people? Am I willing to do things moe important than I have ever done before? If you can answer yes to those questions, Then the Air Force may be right for you. B ut listen to me kid. the U.S.A. has been in Iraq for 4 years and the U.S. military hasn't lost .25%(one quarter of one percent) of the fighting force.

Answer 8

Let me help, I enlisted in the USAF when I was 20 years old. I had two years of college, and did not have a clue what I wanted to be when I grew up but realized that time was going by fast. So I just went and talked to the air force recruiter and he said, hey lets go and take the entry test and see what you are qualified for. So I took the test, and did real good. I enlisted on the spot, my parents had heart failure. SMILE, The first few months are very tough, its called basic training. I hated myself but hey it was only 6 weeks, and I got through it. Looking back, it was one of the smartest things I ever did in my entire life.

While I was in the Air Force, I went back to college, and got my BS in Electrical Engineering and they paid for most of it, and later I got my Master degree in a Computers field.

The Air Force was really good to me, I was a hard working and it was amazing, the hard working men and women that I got to know did very good. The lazy one and the drug user found it to be a hard life.

So, I say go and join, the Air Force, its a great way of life, and its a good way to start your life out on the right foot.

Answer 9

Be sure to tell the truth when you meet with a recruiter. Make sure your health condition is outstanding. Be sure that any legal concerns are taking care of even traffic ticket. Be sure to do some intensive research and prepare your self for the fitness exam. If you are really interested be sure to start to working on the push ups now!

Answer 10

1. Are you up to the physical challenge?
2. What are you leaving at home? (friend, girlfriend, family, opportunities)
3. What are you going to within the army after you enroll? air force is usually not flying jet planes.
4. Do you want to spend 4+ years in the army?
5. Is your live worth it?

I Have family in the forces (Canadian), a brother who married my sister in law (also in forces) they have a 1 yr old (my neice). They take turns doing their tours, theyr happy, but once their commitment is over im pretty sure they want out. It puts me through stress whenever they are are out on mission, whether its the persian golf or the north pacific.

Answer 11

It requires a committment.
If you don't like it, you just can't quit. Maybe you can do that with a job at McDonalds, but not with the Air Force.
You will probably be a thousand miles from home. that means, no coming home every weekend. The other members of your group will become your new famly. You have to lean on them as they will lean on you.
The Sgt will not be forgiving if you screw up. You mess up, EVERYBODY pays.
And, no one can tell you, how proud you will be when you graduate from basic. That you'll have to see for yourself. And you'll like what you see!