What branch should I join?

[nativeXb12Rbuell]

to add some on what someone else said here top-10-MILITARY-lessons-that-all-men-can-learn-from
good read for the young and old alike some good info & aspect to think about .
I'll give away part of #1
No.1 Appreciate your friends
Most servicemen are patriots, a few may be religious, but none of them die and get injured for their country or their God; they do it for the men on either side of them. ..........

 

[kbwood1008]

I am ex Army and the son of a Submariner. I will give you the same advise my dad di me. Decide what you want to do in the military, decide out it works to post military life, then talk to all the branches until they show you in wirting how they will get you where you want to go. For me, it was airborne and ranger training with college money.

 

[ctmallam]

Being in the Navy and a former Navy recruiter and Air Force brat, join the Coast Guard.

 

[iman501]

semi thread jack

ctmallam funny you mention the CG, I'm wanting to join the CG, I've talked to a recruiter (along with recruiters from other branches) and I've taken the asvab, and scored a 67 on it. the recruiter said i need at least a 75 or something to even be considered these days. well once the recruiter found out my score he wont return any calls or emails, and i tried switching recruiters from the Chicago office to a recruiter in the st. Louis office, but the st Louis office didn't want to deal with that and didn't give me the time of day before saying they cant help me.

just a week and a half ago i wrote to a bunch of congressmen and other representatives to see if i can get any letters of recommendation or advice on how to get in with the CG

a little history I'm 19 years old graduated HS, am currently enrolled in my second semester of community college, and am an eagle scout. I work at pools during the summer as a life guard, I've been on multiple swim teams, coached swim teams, and have taught, and partook in many water/boat related Merritt badges within boy scouts. so water is no problem for me to say the least

any of you guys know anything about the coast guard or have any advice for this guy???....

 

[delta one]

Ian
study up on what was tough and take the asvab again for a better score, I was mid to high 90's on mine and had all the branches calling me.

I was Air Force and it was great but now that they are full so watch you ass, the Clinton administration put through a force reduction plan that was never overturned and they will take any excuse to get you out.

I was diagnosed ADD when I was in the 4th grade (1994)and never retested, I was not on meds or in need of them but I was unable to reenlist and discharged (honorably) with a reason of "convenience of the government" (2005)
I had planned on going career, some days I truly miss it, and once I get my bachelors I may go back again.


what branch you choose is a very personal choice and nobody can really make it for you, it comes down to who you and and who you want to be. each one is very different but also very the same (I know that probably doesn't make much sense but I don't know how else to describe it)
the traditions are different and the way you act is different in each but they are all fundamentally the same, the jobs can be the same in any of them but some jobs are only in certain branches.

no matter what you choose know that anything you do in the military makes a difference and is important. anybody in a service uniform is a hero.

POLICE
FIRE
EMS
RESCUE
ARMY
NAVY
MARINES
COAST GUARD
AIR FORCE
RESERVES
GUARD

any one of these jobs have my uppermost respect.

 

[BuellRiderX]

also you must have NO drug use too, You can forget it. , other than maybe MJ once older than 6yrs is what I was told , but dont hold me to that, Recruiter said that. but i hope & doubt you have to worry about that.

Never tried any drugs or even smoking for that matter. So no worries there

 

[DahKGB]

Id say Air Force of those 2 options. Im in the Coast Guard and love it. (im at work right now ) I ran with the Navy for about 5 months and made me even more glad to be Coast Guard. Good luck and thanks for serving.

 

[stewart2]

I'm a marine and I love it, but its not for everyone. Its one of the most respected and revered branch. You get the Navy, Airforce, and Army all in one; the best of them course which makes the Marine Corps. All the pride and brotherhood to go with it. Its really how high of a standard for yourself you want to set. And in any branch Four years of college gets you twice the pay and respect from others. Or you get paid half that and work for a living and gain true respect from others. Either way get it all in writing

 

[buellbee]

@Iman
I sent you a PM, hit me up.

 

[TooFst]

I know it's old but I was searching for something this AM and stumbled across this thred.. Started readin and reminded me of a this one time I was in the chow hall. (Airforce vet). Every Thursday was steak night and the last Thursday of the month we got crablegs. These 2 Marines walk in the door, BURNTOUT!! Dirty faces, uniforms clearly haven't been washed in a while.. Ect... "holly ****" one says, I've been sleeping in the dirt eating Ramen heated over a sterno can and you fuckers are eating steak and crab... I knew we were spoiled but at that point I was SO GLAD the Marines wouldn't take me. (I'm missing the tip of a finger and went to the Marines 1st)... Pretty much summed up my "career". Anyway, ex is so correct. To anyone who is thinking about joining it is a huge commitment. We had it EASY but I did work 18hr. shifts for 37 days straight once. Oh and no we didn't get paid overtime. Don't get me wrong wouldn't trade me experience for the world but there will be sometimes you ? Everything.

 

[Loki]

Anything but the Army, its the biggest joke of them all now. Im so disappointed to find out how it runs and operates.

Air force is for ******* who like it easy but get paid more for it.

Navy are tough and get paid more for pushing buttons.

The choice is yours.

 

[vanson1200r]

I have been in the Navy for 18 years......yeah, I'm ready to retire.

 

[BuellRiderX]

I have been in the Navy for 18 years......yeah, I'm ready to retire.

lol My brother in law was in the Navy from 18 years to 34. Now in the Army as a dentist.

BTW, I'm currently working on getting into the Navy [cool]

 

[UH60CrewDawg]

Good luck in the Navy.
I'm in the Army and i guess out of blind pride i should encourage you to join.....but no.
If you like common sense and a rank structure that promotes based on what you know about your JOB then stay away from the army. The only down side to the Navy and Air Force I've seen is they really separate the officers and enlisted. The enlisted seem to do the bitch work of officers. (Keep in mind this is a outsiders opinion) But smart choice with the Navy.
In short just wanted to say as a fellow service member.. Thanks for volunteering and serving and welcome.
Oh and get ready to have your eyes opened to how much of the tax-payers dollar the U.S really wastes.

 

[iman501]

I'm coast guard,....it's alright it's not all I hoped for, so be sure if you join you dot only have good expectations, there's a bunch I don't like about being in the military/coast guard

 

[thrstrmech]

I'm a Navy/Army vet...like prior postings, "it's what you make of it", my favorite place to work was the flight deck as a final checker/trouble shooter on S3 Vikings. Through the years, have worked with all the services in different capacities. Have seen/heard the ups and downs of most...again it's what you make of it and what you want out of it. A bit of advice...question everything that's asked of you, go into it with as much knowledge as possible to get the job done right the first time. Don't be afraid of senior members just because they are a higher rank, stand your ground, but make sure you have the right info to back your stance and where to find it when asked to prove or produce it. Be an individual, but yet a team member, at first you'll follow everyone, but as your experience grows you'll understand what I mean. Take advantage of your down time and further your education...get the G.I. Bill, and use it wisely. Set realistic goals that you can actually achieve. Enjoy the leave/liberty time, take in the different cultures you'll be exposed to. You will have both good and bad days, it will be up to you to make the best of whatever the situation is. "Attention to detail" remember the phrase, I promise you'll hear it your entire career and after.

Good luck

 

[McMurphy]

I'm in the Army, and while it's mostly been fun...I won't reenlist. To many people get promoted by sicking dick vs.doing their work.

I can't complain to much though, got to live in India for a month, see the Taj Mahal. Was pretty fun.

If I had it t do over, I'd go Air Force. Better living environment while deployed, only deploy for 4-6 months, more civilian job opportunities when you get out, and hotter chicks by far.

Navy can be alright too. Especially if you're interested in doing radio/satellite stuff. All of the commo equipment the other branches use is developed by the Navy, so the opportunities in that field are there if you know your ****.

Coast Guard...I'd probably give it a try. Seems like it'd be alright.

Marines...well I'm not elligible to join. Recruiter said something about my IQ being higher than a chimp, and that made me unusable to them.


But in all truthfulness...go get your degree and join as an officer. The pay is better, you get out of 90% of the actual work, and most of the people above you got.promoted by performance...not a broken point scale.

 

[xtreme]

Go US Coast Guard right now there is a almost 2 year wait list. I have been in almost 13 years and its the best decision I ever made.

Iman- not sure what you do in the USCG or how long you have been in. But there is alot you can do, I haven't done the same type of tour twice.

 

[maronz]

Air force.

Best technical training and real world opportunities. AKA avionics technician or A/P mechanic.

 

[iman501]

I'm on the Chippewa in Buchanan TN (bouy tender) it's a boring life on here....