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Should I join the military?

I was an officer in the Royal Navy for 5 years and I had the best time ever. The camaraderie was amazing and I met some great people with a real zest for life. In addition getting to play with some very expensive gear was pretty fun too, :p Sure there were times when it wasn't so great, but 90% of the time I really enjoyed it.

Like others have said though, you have to join for the right reasons. It isn't for everyone. Still it isn't a bad option at all. And as for the money, officers are paid quite well actually and there is good job security.
 
leekohler said:
If you really want this, Dukey- go do it. Regret is not a good thing. I don't think you'd regret this no matter what. You might regret NOT doing it.
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Yea I have feared that in a sense. You only live once. Damn if I will just be an engineer for my career

My original goal was

hs-> USAFA-> down the road, a commercial pilot
was told my eyesight would kick me out pilot wise

then it was
hs-> embry riddle-> commercial pilot
i even had 10k a year to go there but still too expensive

then it became
hs->CSU, get my mech engr degree-> learn to fly-> pilot

now it seems with debt and stuff

CSU-> engineer-> forever

sushi said:
Maybe he is being held hostage by a cute Marine! :)
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haha lol just a little:p

JNB said:
Only if you enlist once. Have a break in service and go through the first day a second time, and that's the longest one. :eek:

Duke - having had a 20-some odd year multi-service career (including some, um, "joint" tours…), I can tell you that the trite expressions about serving are true, those being that you only get out of it what you put in, and that you should never plan on a career. It's most definitely a one-day-at-a-time thing. Feel free to PM me should you have any questions.
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Ill belive you. I just feel it would be more rewarding than what im doing now at this point in my life

I dont want to look back when I am too old to ven consider joining and be like "bummer, what was i thinking?"
 
dukebound85 said:
Yea I have feared that in a sense. You only live once. Damn if I will just be an engineer for my career

My original goal was

hs-> USAFA-> down the road, a commercial pilot
was told my eyesight would kick me out pilot wise

then it was
hs-> embry riddle-> commercial pilot
i even had 10k a year to go there but still too expensive

then it became
hs->CSU, get my mech engr degree-> learn to fly-> pilot

now it seems with debt and stuff

CSU-> engineer-> forever



haha lol just a little:p


Ill belive you. I just feel it would be more rewarding than what im doing now at this point in my life

I dont want to look back when I am too old to ven consider joining and be like "bummer, what was i thinking?"
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Sounds like your mind has been made up. Go for it!
 
leekohler said:
Sounds like your mind has been made up. Go for it!
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now the question is....

do i do it now, stick out the year with my job (so i wont have to pay back relocation and stuff) or in a couple years?

I am still very unsure in a sense as its a huge jump. But I have come close to joining a few times now so I just need a push over the ledge lol
 
dukebound85 said:
now the question is....

do i do it now, stick out the year with my job (so i wont have to pay back relocation and stuff) or in a couple years?

I am still very unsure in a sense as its a huge jump. But I have come close to joining a few times now so I just need a push over the ledge lol
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The military has engineers, believe it or not. ;)

Engineers get to do some cool things from blowing up things, to building all kinds of facilities and infrastructure.

You can even work for the government in a civilian capacity with the Army Corps of Engineers. They have offices around the world and are responsible for military construction projects for all branches of the service.

Here are their locations.

Check out the JED (Japan Engineer District). :)

Many opportunities for engineers. You might want to check them out.
 
sushi said:
The military has engineers, believe it or not. ;)

Engineers get to do some cool things from blowing up things, to building all kinds of facilities and infrastructure.......

...........Many opportunities for engineers. You might want to check them out.
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I have a friend who was an engineer in the military. He said his job was just like any other desk job he's every had......it was just on a military base :eek:

which is fine if that's what you're looking for
 
Just do it. You're young enough & the longer you wait the more difficult it will be to rejoin civilian life if you don't like it. Heck, I did six and was out by the time I was 24 - a whole lot wiser and ready for the world.

It was a good experience for sure.
 
Macky-Mac said:
I have a friend who was an engineer in the military. He said his job was just like any other desk job he's every had......it was just on a military base :eek:

which is fine if that's what you're looking for
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In the military, there are different types of engineering positions. In simple terms, you can separate them into two types: combat and non-combat.

For the non-combat type positions being stationed overseas is much different than being stationed stateside. While you may be on a US military base, you are in a foreign country. :)

dukebound85 said:
i dont want to be an engineer at a desk

i dont really want to be an engineer tbh
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I see.

Well there are plenty of other opportunities in the military. You can always get out after your commitment if you don't like it or want to continue to pursue a military career.

If you need motivation, just ask that sweet little Marine to give you some size 10 motivation, aka, a swift kick in the butt. :D
 
sushi said:
In the military, there are different types of engineering positions. In simple terms, you can separate them into two types: combat and non-combat.

For the non-combat type positions being stationed overseas is much different than being stationed stateside. While you may be on a US military base, you are in a foreign country. :)
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I had another friend, a former roommate, he was stationed in Turkey for much of his time in the air force. He was a technician who dealt with fixing electronics of some sort........he said it was very much a 9 to 5 type of job, get up, go to work, do your 8 hours, go home..........and then go eat goat for dinner.

he said he eat so much goat while in the air force that he would never eat it again! :D

I've read Duke's posts about his being homesick and such, the unpleasant reality check that "adult" life isn't all that it's cranked up to be. It's easy to be seduced by commercials showing guys rappelling out of helicopters all day long; just make sure you know what you're getting into. Military life may be great, but for some it might not be all that much different than other jobs.....if you aren't being shot at all day long that is.
 
First thing about joining the military... it's not about what YOU want, it's what THEY want. They are going to get what they want out of you, and if that's in line with what you want to do, all the better. But don't disillusion yourself into thinking that you're going to have full control over what happens after you sign that dotted line. To serve means that you are at their disposal. I'm not saying that you can't sway the direction you're sent, but just be prepared to accept their decision.

I'm in the United States Air Force, eight years Security Forces. I enlisted as Explosive Ordnance Disposal and my course was greatly changed from what I anticipated. But i can honestly say that I am a better man for it, and when I look at those I grew up in high school with, I feel like I am from another planet.

You should join the military. At the very least, it will teach you to better appreciate your freedom.
 
dukebound85 said:
now the question is....

do i do it now, stick out the year with my job (so i wont have to pay back relocation and stuff) or in a couple years?

I am still very unsure in a sense as its a huge jump. But I have come close to joining a few times now so I just need a push over the ledge lol
Click to expand...

As far as I am aware, the Soldiers and Sailors act will prevent you from having to repay anything. In fact, your employer will have to hold your position for you just in case you ever decide to return after your time in the military is up.

And as far as the military being a 9-5 job, I guess it all depends on what you end up doing. My career as Security Forces has been anything BUT 9-5. In fact, on average I've worked 13 hour days for the majority of my career. And much of that has been spent in deployed locations and field environments. But again, it's all in what you end up doing.
 
Each service has it's own flavor if you will. Additionally, within each service, you have positions that run from ash and trash (admin/REMF) type jobs to the snake eaters.

So while you may have one AF type who was stationed around the world in air-conditioned portable buildings at the same time another was out supporting SPEC OP type units in the field.

It's very true that the needs of the service outweigh the needs of the individual. So while you may want a particular position the assignment folks may have a different idea in mind. Clearance, specialty training and prior experience can affect assignments as well. There are no guarantees. Always be sure to read the fine print. :)

Macky-Mac said:
I had another friend, a former roommate, he was stationed in Turkey for much of his time in the air force. He was a technician who dealt with fixing electronics of some sort........he said it was very much a 9 to 5 type of job, get up, go to work, do your 8 hours, go home..........and then go eat goat for dinner.

he said he eat so much goat while in the air force that he would never eat it again! :D

I've read Duke's posts about his being homesick and such, the unpleasant reality check that "adult" life isn't all that it's cranked up to be. It's easy to be seduced by commercials showing guys rappelling out of helicopters all day long; just make sure you know what you're getting into. Military life may be great, but for some it might not be all that much different than other jobs.....if you aren't being shot at all day long that is.
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No offense, but your friend was a REMF. :)

FYI, all the services have REMF positions.
 
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