What would keep you from joining the military?

[RakuraiTenjin]

it doesnt strike you as odd that you seem to know more about enlisting than kelt'ar (knghenry) does? you'd think that anyone making such a huge decision would at least understand the basics

Haha yeah. But on the off chance it's not at least I'd like to help someone out with whatever they do, and avoid making a mistake. If he's going to enter the service, he needs to know how everything works and what he needs to have ready/do in advance. The only reason I know really anything much on the subject is a lot of family/friends past and present military and researching all the information for my career.

 

[^Ben]

OP

Wow, the army propoganda machine works with people.

You sound like a commerical for the army.

 

[CptStern]

Haha yeah. But on the off chance it's not at least I'd like to help someone out with whatever they do, and avoid making a mistake. If he's going to enter the service, he needs to know how everything works and what he needs to have ready/do in advance. The only reason I know really anything much on the subject is a lot of family/friends past and present military and researching all the information for my career.

I've always wondered why you havent entered the service (I'm serious, not being sarcastic/condescending) ...I cant remember but I think you've said your brother or family member is in iraq ...out of curiosity how come you didnt join as well?

 

[RakuraiTenjin]

I've always wondered why you havent entered the service (I'm serious, not being sarcastic/condescending) ...I cant remember but I think you've said your brother or family member is in iraq ...out of curiosity how come you didnt join as well?

Going ROTC, getting my degree first and enterring as Second Lieutenant.

 

[CptStern]

ok break it down for a non military guy ...come again?

 

[RakuraiTenjin]

ok break it down for a non military guy ...come again?

In colleges, the military runs the Reserve Officer Training Corps, to further you along as you earn your bachelors degree. After I get my degree I'm enterring as a commissioned officer. You have to have a Bachelor's or greater to earn a commission. Your rank while in ROTC is cadet.

Current MOS I'm concentrating on is as a Combat Controller (Same field as my grandfather) or Security Forces so I've changed around my courses to suit those better. Planning on it as a career rather than a single term of service

 

[AmishSlayer]

In colleges, the military runs the Reserve Officer Training Corps, to further you along as you earn your bachelors degree. After I get my degree I'm enterring as a commissioned officer. You have to have a Bachelor's or greater to earn a commission. Your rank while in ROTC is cadet.

Current MOS I'm concentrating on is as a Combat Controller (Same field as my grandfather) or Security Forces so I've changed around my courses to suit those better. Planning on it as a career rather than a single term of service

Apart from that they'll pay for your school and give you a stipend for finances, books, etc.

If I go into the Army I'm going to enlist after college and go for the 18x program (If I remember correctly) and try for Special Forces. It's a very slim chance of getting in (like 5%) but that's why I'm training now to make sure I have perfect PT scores if I decide to go for it. If I go in for Special Forces I'd need every edge I can get.

Still not even remotely sure if I'm gonna go for it though. Gonna gather information and mull it over for another couple years while I get my degree.

 

[RakuraiTenjin]

Apart from that they'll pay for your school and give you a stipend for finances, books, etc.

If I go into the Army I'm going to enlist after college and go for the 18x program (If I remember correctly) and try for Special Forces. It's a very slim chance of getting in (like 5%) but that's why I'm training now to make sure I have perfect PT scores if I decide to go for it. If I go in for Special Forces I'd need every edge I can get.

Still not even remotely sure if I'm gonna go for it though. Gonna gather information and mull it over for another couple years while I get my degree.

Interesting I haven't met many people who enlist after degree rather than going for a commission.

I've been debating and juggling things. I'm going for two years at community college and transfering to Arizona State University for the second two years for my Bachelors. So I wondered if I should miss a semester in between and enlist in the reserves in the meantime rather than do ROTC. Then get commissioned and already have some time under my belt. People have told me both ways are good but ROTC is better for finances during college, enlisting after an associates degree or whatever is better for experience though. I still have a while to choose though. Either way enterring the service is solidified in what I'm doing.

 

[kelt'ar]

You need to sign up specifically for OTS if you're looking to become an officer outside of ROTC and you have a college degree.

If you just enlist, you won't be commissioned, you will however be automatically promoted. (In the Army to Specialist, Air Force I believe Senior Airman, not sure what it is for the others)

Thanks for clarifying that. My first thought, btw, was to join the Air Force Academy, but being older than 23, that's already an impossibility (like it's easy to get into!). I wasn't specifically thinking of the Army, but now that you say I would be automatically promoted to specialist by virtue of having a college degree, I have a question for you. A specialist is someone who has technical skills... but in the end, don't they also end up fighting in the front lines with the rest of the soldiers?

 

[RakuraiTenjin]

Thanks for clarifying that. My first thought, btw, was to join the Air Force Academy, but being older than 23, that's already an impossibility (like it's easy to get into!). I wasn't specifically thinking of the Army, but now that you say I would be automatically promoted to specialist by virtue of having a college degree, I have a question for you. A specialist is someone who has technical skills... but in the end, don't they also end up fighting in the front lines with the rest of the soldiers?

Specialist is more of a rank, but with certain training. Equivelant to Corporal on the paygrade. The friend I talk about who was in Iraq finished up as a Specialist, and he was an M249 Machine Gunner, Infantry.

There are no real front lines anymore, there's direct combat roles like Infantry, etc, and other jobs where you're a clerk. But nearly all see some fighting in today's conflicts. However, they don't go out on combat missions. Infantry does the actual raiding of houses, hunting down and killing terrorists, etc.

 

[[Dragoon]]

While I do believe that a military is necessary, I also believe that they are far too often misused for the personal gain of influental people. I'd rather not be a part of that.