Military or Not?

[NYrr496]

I tried to join the Coast Guard but was turned down because I wasn't 6 feet tall.

I asked my friend Josh about a height requirement and he said there used to be a "too tall" clause where they wouldn't take guys who were 6' 6" or more. Josh is just barely 6 feet. I thought he was shorter cause I'm like 6'5". But he said he doesn't think the under 6 foot thing stands.

[ski]

I tried to join the Coast Guard but was turned down because I wasn't 6 feet tall.

I asked my friend Josh about a height requirement and he said there used to be a "too tall" clause where they wouldn't take guys who were 6' 6" or more. Josh is just barely 6 feet. I thought he was shorter cause I'm like 6'5". But he said he doesn't think the under 6 foot thing stands.

You missed my post after that one.  It was my Coast Guard joke. 

[Jim_Lusk]

Ok, now for the other question. How many total units do you have? Have you talked to someone about what those units may translate into. You can get a degree in Liberal Studies (not in the political sense) that, at the very least, is a degree.

YOU DON'T HAVE TO KNOW WHAT YOU WANT TO DO.

[green67cuda]

I was in the Navy from 1996-2002.  I was a nuke EM, and have lots of insight in that area, if that's something you may have considered.  PM me and we'll talk about it if you want.

[wilddriver]

I like this thread too,now you can get some good training in which ever service you choose.I do agree Airforce and Navy have better training.I did 3 years in the reg.Army and another 3 in the reserves.This was peace time though and i do know that a E-3 during peace time doesn't make alot.The benifits make up for it some, free room and board,med,dentail etc.You can't just call in sick ,you go on sick call and the doc. decides.If you live in the barricks (your single i guess) When i was in the Army and single you had to maintain a room in the barricks.You can see alot of the world  while in the service,i did 8 weeks in Korea dead of winter sleeping in the trailer i pulled behind my jeep(before we got the hummers they have now)Liked to frooze my butt off  In the reserves i did 3 years as a MP.Hint city cops,state troopers etc. don't make much when you get out so choose your mos carefully.I'm in no way trying to talk you out of this in any way,just remember this when you sign i do,they own you.If they say your staying up till midnight cleaning your room again you do it,if they say drop and give me 30 push ups you do it.On the other hand if you do your 20 years you can retire.I do agree go in as a officer and make more money and less hassel.One more thing somebody made a comment about pilots,i didn't care for either (Airforce or Navy) only time i got to deal with either one they hualed my  out to the middle of some where and made me jump out of the danged thing and walk back  .

[Ciscodog]

I've been enlisted in the Air Force for over 18 years now, so I'll give you my quick data dump and you can decide what you will.  Either way - finish that degree NOW.  If you wait you won't do it - trust me

- It's a DoD pay scale.  Whoever tells you that the Air Force gets paid more than another branch is full of shit
- You get 30 days paid vacation a year.  That's every year, from your first to your last.  Show me a civilian company that does that
- Free medical.
- Free dental.
- 100% tuition assistance up to $4500 per year (Air Force unique - the Army college fund is much better, don't know what the Navy has.  Ask your recruiter)
- You'll travel the world - that's pretty much guaranteed.  Just remember that wars aren't fought in the cool places.  They're fought in the armpits of the world.  Still cool to see
- Free housing - if you want it.
- Get your degree and if you want to be an officer, go for it.  Some people have no business being in charge of anything no matter how many degrees they have. 
- It's true the AF is currently making some cuts, but guess what - that's cyclic and it happens in all the services.  Don't ever make a decision based on that.

Hope this helps.  If you feel like asking me any direct questions, shoot me an email (chillydog@charter.net)

Carter

[383man]

All I can tell you is my 18 year old son leaves March 7th for the Navy as he just signed up.  He is very happy as its just what he wants to do and he feels he will get an education on what he chooses as he has done real good on all his testing.  Ron

[Glow Worm]

A co-worker's son is entering the militaary to become a Doctor, but I think he has to stay in for 8 years afterwards to "pay back" his cost of training.  That ain't a bad deal.......  You gotta be somwhere for 8 years......  Then the BIG DOUGH kicks in!

[urchinhead]

- You'll travel the world - that's pretty much guaranteed.  Just remember that wars aren't fought in the cool places.  They're fought in the armpits of the world.  Still cool to see

It's not like you choose where you go. I'll pass on sightseeing in Fallujah.

[Glow Worm]

A journalist that was "embedded" with some of the units (82nd Airborne) in Falluja wrote a book, and he mentions my son in the book 2 or 3 times!!
He went along on a weapons rain in Falluja, and my son was the Humvee driver that night.
My son is a Forward Observer with the 82nd, but spent most of his time with the Infantry.......

[WRAITH]

I joined the US ARMY in 1995, served in Bosnia and have done 6 tours in Iraq. I am still active duty and I love my job,... every minute of it. There is a great satisfaction in making sure the rest of the world sleeps well at night (regardless of their oppinions about what you do, that's what you protect,... their freedoms). Army, Navy, Airforce, Marines,... we are all one team. I've proudly worked along side every branch and have good friends in each. It is an honorable thing you are considering son. My suggestion is, get as much as you can upon enlistment and do what's right by you. Good luck and God Bless.

WRAITH

[DaBigNuttedMan]

A journalist that was "embedded" with some of the units (82nd Airborne) in Falluja wrote a book, and he mentions my son in the book 2 or 3 times!!
He went along on a weapons rain in Falluja, and my son was the Humvee driver that night.
My son is a Forward Observer with the 82nd, but spent most of his time with the Infantry.......

Glow worm To you and your woman for giving birth to your son,  , and for your son being in the service and giving service as so many have done before him the word REPRESENT means alot and I think you guys do. A First Class Salute, from......DaBigNuttedMan
   Honor Duty Country.

[flyboy01]

So as the title say I need your advice, the question is weather to enlist in the Navy or not. I am at a crossroads in my life, I've spent the last four years of my life in college trying to find a major unsucessfully, nothing realy "grabs me". And I have always thought about joining up but not overly seriously. My parents support me in no matter what I do so there is no problem there. I guess I'm just looking for advice, your opinions, and that final "push" if you will. It seems to me that alot of the members on this site have either served or are still serving in the military so I'm realy looking for you experences, and recomendations. I've basicly gotten bored of college and feel bad spending some of my parents money and quite a few loans, and have nothing to show for it except a bunch of college credits, and a pretty bad A$$ ! I've talked to the recuiter and I'd go in as an E-3 and have my choice of jobs because of my practice ASVAB score 89, I guess thats high for the practice one from what I'm told. But anyway I'm lost and need some direction so please help!!  Feel free to say anything. To me the olny drawback of enlisting to me is not getting to wrench on my car, which has sadly become a big part of my life. I have no ties here other then family, no girlfriends, just the Dart.

I regret not joining the Air Force when I was 18, now I'm 37 and finally starting to get my career together, I'm in the aviation biz, but I wish I ended up being a mechanic. I love airplanes and I love wrenching. COmbine the two and become a super-mechanic. Aviation mechanics make more money, have a high job satisfaction, and have a lot of responsibility. If you have a choice, stay away from combat and get into electronics or mechanics, when you are out in four years, there are not a lot of job opportunuties for Patriot Missle specialists (just ask my nephew, he is laying carpet for a living now). Think about your future and how your service will apply to it.

[WRAITH]

So as the title say I need your advice, the question is weather to enlist in the Navy or not. I am at a crossroads in my life, I've spent the last four years of my life in college trying to find a major unsucessfully, nothing realy "grabs me". And I have always thought about joining up but not overly seriously. My parents support me in no matter what I do so there is no problem there. I guess I'm just looking for advice, your opinions, and that final "push" if you will. It seems to me that alot of the members on this site have either served or are still serving in the military so I'm realy looking for you experences, and recomendations. I've basicly gotten bored of college and feel bad spending some of my parents money and quite a few loans, and have nothing to show for it except a bunch of college credits, and a pretty bad A$$ ! I've talked to the recuiter and I'd go in as an E-3 and have my choice of jobs because of my practice ASVAB score 89, I guess thats high for the practice one from what I'm told. But anyway I'm lost and need some direction so please help!!  Feel free to say anything. To me the olny drawback of enlisting to me is not getting to wrench on my car, which has sadly become a big part of my life. I have no ties here other then family, no girlfriends, just the Dart.

I regret not joining the Air Force when I was 18, now I'm 37 and finally starting to get my career together, I'm in the aviation biz, but I wish I ended up being a mechanic. I love airplanes and I love wrenching. COmbine the two and become a super-mechanic. Aviation mechanics make more money, have a high job satisfaction, and have a lot of responsibility. If you have a choice, stay away from combat and get into electronics or mechanics, when you are out in four years, there are not a lot of job opportunuties for Patriot Missle specialists (just ask my nephew, he is laying carpet for a living now). Think about your future and how your service will apply to it.

I'd have to agree with you there. It's best to have a job that you can apply your learned skills upon ETS (exiting the service). I'm a Wheeled Vehicle Mechanic in the Army. if you go Naval Aviation Mechanic, GET YOUR A&P LISCENSE WHILE YOU ARE IN[i][/i][u][/u]. That's an Air Frame and Power Plant Liscense. The Helo Mechs I know all do  this,... it will put you above your peers $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$ if and when you leave the Military. Partner,... if you got no ties, go see the world, go see new people, cultures, countries. There's craft shops when yer home to get wrenchin' done, and gearheads are always gearheads,... you WILL make buddies that swing wrench, even if they're sorry Chevy guys like my buddy! If your like me you'll go home after a few years (12) and see everyone else you grew up with doin' the same old thing. If you are bored,... you'll be really bored home in a few years. Plus hey, %0%percent retirement at 40 years old?! Just a few more years to make my 20! Oh yeah baby, my next career is all about Hot Rods!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Good Luck,

WRAITH

[Ciscodog]

Very good point - forgot to mention the retirement in my post.  Who else has a pension at age 38 (give or take a couple years)?  If you make it a career, look at it this way:  you'll have a guaranteed house payment for the rest of your life.  A pretty damn decent one at that.  That's a big load off my shoulders in 2 years

Carter

[abqdart]

  amen to that brother

[flight704]

74dds

hard questions take time to figure out.  i read alot of the opinions above and all are worthy but this is your life.
 
 I served 9 yrs in the us army..1st infantry division / 101st airborne division and the 82nd airborne division . I had some absolute great times. Ive been in 22 different countries by the age of 25.  I drove a porsche 911 turbo on the autobahn / climbed the zugspitz / skied in austria and the alps /  paris FRANCE eifel tower / the giza plateau and saw the pyramids and the sphinx / I went to st katherines monestary where moses  talked to the burning bush  /  The french riviera including monte carlo./ laurette del mar SPAIN and some other places less popular but still a blast..  And the friends you have in the military are like none others you will ever have in your life!!!!!!!!

 All that said  BE CAREFUL WHAT YOU WISH FOR YOU JUST MIGHT GET IT!!!!!!!!!

 I also ended up in PANAMA for operation just cause when we invaded and threw noriega out and i spent 1 yr in SAUDI ARABIAi / KUWAIT & IRAQ for operation desert shield and desert storm.

[flight704]

  PS  I also spent my last 18 mos as a recruiter..  if you have any questions referencing the  army i would be glad to help you any way i can.. I know you were interested in the navy and i am not trying to steer you in any direction just offering..


good luck which ever way you decide to go sincerely.


For all those above who have served as well and those who have children or family serving now  THANK YOU!!!!!!!

[Duster Five-O]

Im currently in the Army as an M1A2 Abrams Tanker, stationed at Ft Hood Texas. Im 20 years old and been in for 2 years, and been to Iraq for 13 months. I now have 1 1/2 years left, and very possibly another deployment. I miss working on my dart more than anything though...

Hey mopardude. My son is in A-Co 1/22 Infantry. We were there for the homecoming in Dec. That was really cool. Small world.

That said with my boy and I both being Army guys......Get an MOS that you can use when you get out. We were both infantry and while it is cool when you actually get to do your job. When its all said and done there is not much call for a trained killer in civillian life.



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[Duster Five-O]

If you need discipline or you need a some form of commitment, there are alternatives to selling yourself as, "government property," especially during wartime.

I find this statement surprising coming from you after all I read on the "Buy American" thread.

Pro-american but anti-military. Kind of a contradiction don't you think?

[urchinhead]

I support American industry and I do what I can to boost the economy. I disagree with the current military situation and the agenda of those who have imposed this on us. I would advise anyone to stay out of the military, based on both personal objections and the experiences of friends and aquaintences who have served in 'Desert Storm.'

I didn't intend to turn this into a political thread, but I strongly disagree with what is going on in Iraq. I was in Paris on 9/11, when America gained the symapathy of the world. When I returned to Europe after the Iraq invasion, I was not surprised to discover that America had turned the sympathy of the world into the worldwide hatred of a greedy, selfish imperialistic menace. People in every country were I went, Italy, Hungary, Slovenijia, England, Ireland, etc. would either be angry with me for being an American, or they would question my motives, and ask how I could vote for Bush. All I could do was apologise, and try to defend myself for being an American.

I love my country but I'm disgusted by most of the politics here. The people who are gladly sending kids like 74DDS off to die are the same bunch of Vietnam dodging cowards who love to reward big business and underminere the American worker. Honestly, the more they kill, the less excess population they're responsible for. Oil company controlled big business politicians' wet dream was hurricane Katrina, when all the poor people were washed away.

We undoubtedly need a military, but even Clinton used and abused our military might. In different times, I would be the first to enlist ( World War I and II ), but what's going on right now is a sham. Imagine how much more productive this country could be if the government had invested the trillions of dollars that Iraq is costing into domestic technology both in education and employment. I will never sacrifice my life so that others can profit. Young people often feel directionless, lost and even useless, but you have the freedom to do what you want with your life, and nothing is stopping you from living your dreams and realizing success. When you sign your life over to the military, you are, "property" and will be treated as such.

I'm 25, and I've been on the Autobahn, I've been to Stonehenge, the Vatican, The Dalmation Coast. I had a flat in London, I drove all over the country, I've lived above the most popular bar in the Haight-Ashbury, I've built cars, partied with rock stars and have done many other things that I can't even think of right now - and I never had to sign life away to some govenment who couldn't care less if I live or die.

[Ciscodog]

So you're advising a young guy on why the military is bad and you've never spent a day in uniform?  Where do you get off doing that?  Sounds like you need to take your vast 25 years of life experience back to Europe.  Oh - right, the freedom to express yourself is an American security, which promotes your ability to spout off crap about things you have no clue on.

I can't believe you can be so informed an opinionated when you still have drool on your chin.  Send your email address to the president - I'm sure he'd love to tap your extensive wisdom next time a big decision comes around.

-WZ

[Ciscodog]

Oh and you say you'll pass on sightseeing in Fallujah.  I will tell you this - there are Americans - REAL Americans with BALLS between their legs who WANT to go to Fallujah and other places over there.  REAL Americans who aren't ashamed to say why they voted for President Bush.  Why you ask?  Because it's the RIGHT thing to do so the guy down the street can go on with his life undisturbed.  That's why.

I'm done with this...

-WZ

[Bakaruda]

I second the above.!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[11secs]

urchinhead


I have served for 20 years in the Air Force. When you join the military you do not sign your life away to the goverment. I have the same Bill of rights as every other citizen. I can tell me C.O. to ^&ck off. Just as easily as any other citizen can tell their boss to %^ck off. But guess what there are severe consiquencies(spelling) for this action in either case.

As for the "war" no matter what your stance on it I don't believe anyone thinks that we can leave now without a total colapse of the middle east which would bring our troops back to the regoin this time to fight a full scale war with Iran and Syria. Most Likely this would lead to world war III. So it's an choose fight agianst Terriost now or fight against the world later.


74DSS

If money for college is a problem the military can help pay fo most of that. It will take a little longer to complete due to deployments and such. You are leaning toward the Navy so if you don't want to be on a ship for 2 years seek a land based job not all navy jobs are on ships.

Gene     

[ski]

All I could do was apologise, and try to defend myself for being an American.

When you sign your life over to the military, you are, "property" and will be treated as such.

Urchin, I wholeheartedly support your right to express your opinion but I really don't consider myself government property no more than If I worked for IBM would I be IBM property.  As far as apologizing and defending myself for being an American, That's something I'll never do and i'm sorry that you had to.  It must have been humiliating for you. I

[urchinhead]

I've got plenty of balls between my legs, but thanks for your concern. I have no problem telling people in person what I post on , and I've gotten into plenty of physical conflict for being so opinionated.

I have no trouble justifying voting for Bush, because I voted for Nader and I voted for Kerry. I have no worries about my stance on the conflict in Iraq, because I stood against it from its first inception - I'm no Hillary Clinton. If I thought that the United States was physically threatened by Iraqis, I would have supported the effort, but nothing has led me to believe that anything this country is responsible for in the Middle East is justified, with the partial exception of Afganistan. They deservered a counter attack, I agree. But the carnage brought on to them was unneccessarily exaggereted with no real resolution, and it's not like the country wasn't bombed by the U.S. before Sept. 11.

None of this is anything new, look back at the Bay of Pigs, Cambodia, etc. I just don't agree with it. If I felt that it was neccessary to run around shooting everyone in Iraq, I would be a part of it, but I don't. I would have fought against Nazis 60 odd years ago, but the situation is much different now - we're not combatting evil that's trying to take over the world. Saddam was no saint, but he actually surpressed the threee primary militant groups in Iraq, who are now wreaking havok beyond anyone's control.

When it comes to signing your life away, that is exactly what you do. A friend of mine's bunkmate tried to get out of the Marines by breaking his hand in a locker. He was court marshalled for damaging "government property." Another friend of mine was in his 5th year in the Electrician's apprenticeship program, and the Army was trying to 're-activate' him after he watched his friends get blown away during his tour of "Desert Shield/Storm" some eight years earlier.

If joining the military is something that someone wants to do, that is their own decision, and no one, including myself, should tell them what to do. As many people on who were in the military have said, it's important to look into all your options and get all the facts before making such a huge and substantial commitment. I know people that joined the military because they didn't know what else to do, and they were even more miserable. On the other hand, I know people that have served in the armed forces, and loved it.

[mopardude318]

Hey Duyster Five-O, Im in Dco 1-67 Ar Bn. We arrived on Nov. 10, 06, but i also went to the Homecoming in Dec!

[VT_Dart]

VERY good post to read.  I'm currently 21 and have a year left before I tie up my degree.  I've pretty much decided on joining the military upon graduation, but am taking this last year to figure it all out.  Haven't decided definitely on a branch yet, but I've