would you recommend the military for a career?

[Icey101]

my son is approaching that time in highschool and i am looking out for a good trade for him to get into, another avenue i thought might be the military but i dont see to many good comments in here about it...

Are there any good outcomes chosing a military career for a young guy?

[pedroims]

Why u choosing it? This should be a decision made by your son, anyway, I am a believer that military life it is only for those that have "the call" for it. It is not a career only but a complete different life style , if your son has the call to be a soldier then he should pursuit but if he decided that what he wants to do in life is drive a trash truck then you should support him.

[T-Bird]

Hi.

Better than pushing him to become a professional musician or a bass player I guess.



Seriously though, ^what pedroims said.

I was strongly considering it back in the day, but the mandatory (for every able male) 11 months was enough for me. Even the stripes didn't turn my head, and I haven't regretted the desicion since.

Of course, we have a very different military system over here.

When looking at the volatile world situation ATM, if I had a son or a daughter, I wouldn't want them to be fighting in the kind of wars they would have to fight.

Regards
Sam

[BassChuck]

My daughter is considering this. She's 27 so there's no 'telling' her what to do, but she does listen to me. Of course I would not want to see her in a dangerous situation, but really my main concern is the basic training and mind set that is required of military people. True, there are many people who need that kind of life and there are many who work very well in that system. But its not like a good job. The military (any military) has centuries of experience in creating an environment that controls self choice...and that is as it should be, you can't opperate a military on commitee actions. So for me, it comes down to whether or not being in that environment and mind set is a plus or a minus.

[kanonfodr]

Ultimately I believe that it is your son's decision, but the military can be either very good for people, very bad, or he could come out like me . I'm not very knowledgeable about the Australian military (only met a couple of their soldiers when passing through Kuwait) but the people I did meet seemed pretty cool.

Peace,
Greg
(Currenty a twice-deployed E-4 Radio Guy, US Army)

[Jim Nazium]

You could do a lot worse. I've never been in the military, but my dad and several of my cousins are / were. All of them said they had good experiences, learned how to grow up and be responsible, etc. One of my cousins is a doctor, and the Army paid for his college and medical school. Your son can learn a trade, make some good friends, get money for college, all while earning a salary and receiving health insurance.

[VitalSigns]

The US military has tons more non-combat jobs. Worth looking into I guess. But like someone else said, why are you making the desicion for him?

[carlos840]

You should let your son decide for himself!

If i had listened to my family i would be an engineer or a lawyer by now instead of a bass player! So glad i didnt listen to them!

[Pacman]

Absolutely! I've been places and done things I never would have without the military - all while drawing a decent check and benefits along the way. Now, I don't even have to get out of bed to take home a check - at 42 years old.

[Topspin]

It's his choice, but it appears to be a great choice- at least it was for me (joined the Navy in September). Job security, better pay than what most high school graduates will make for years, see different parts of the world... if you can live with discipline and aren't tied down, it is an excellent option.

[Phalex]

Originally Posted by Pacman

Absolutely! I've been places and done things I never would have without the military - all while drawing a decent check and benefits along the way. Now, I don't even have to get out of bed to take home a check - at 42 years old.

How's the sushi in the heartland? Are you missing Japan at all?

[Texan]

The military is a good start, it teaches loads of responsibility and will give you an idea of where you want to go, at least it did for me. I served in the Marines and the Army and would still be in if not for an injury. However, if I had to do it again I would go for the Navy or Air Force. If my kids were making the same decision, I would push them towards the Navy or Air Force.

[Funky Ghost]

For a ton of reasons it's a good experience. But, it's certainly not for everyone.

I was in 5 years ( went a bit extra due to a certain sandbox incident ) and don't regret it a bit. My brother was in and it has certainly paid off for him too. Our father was career military and was able to "retire" at 50, draw a full pention and teach at UTEP. Not a bad deal.
As was mentioned there are many many tech fields in the military. I was combat arms but my brother was a radio operator/repair. My pops was a combat engineer ( yeah, a nut job fo' sho ) at first then changed MOS after Korea and was an machinist.

[stratovani]

While I can't speak for the Australian armed forces, I can say that my time in the Canadian Armed Forces was a good experience for me. I learned a few things, had some interesting experiences and met some interesting people. Ultimately, I realized that a career in the military just wasn't for me. BTW, my avatar is the hat badge I wore in the service, the Logistics Branch of the CF.

[MEKer]

He certainly should look into it for all the beneficial reasons already stated. And he could also enlist in the National Guard for 6 yrs, get full-time college paid for 100% during his time, plus be very choosy about his job (MOS) he want so that he gets training in that as well---which he could perhaps apply to a job while he both serves and has a civilian life as well. After a couple years, if he wants to jump in the deep end, he could transfer to full-time Army. Plus I believe there are still some multi-thousand dollar bonuses be paid for enlisting. Have him check out a Nat Guard recruiter if interested at all. Its a great career for those amenable to the military life. I had 27 total years of it,both regular Army and full-time Army Nat Guard (AGR), and am very grateful that I did. Whats cool to me is that I served in 5 decades: late 60's, early 70's, then last half of 80's, all the 90's and then up to 2008. Crazy!

[tplyons]

My parents were both US Air Force. Mom spent nine years before getting out to have my brother and my Dad retired an E-7. I had every intention in following in their footsteps, finding a school that had USAF ROTC. Then 9/11 happened and my parents strongly urged me to reconsider, and I did.

Ten years later, I'm out of school, with a TON of student loan debt, have a great career and am considering Air National Guard. I feel the military is a calling for me, part of me wishes I kept pursuing in high school, but then again, life would have turned out very different.

I feel that if it's a calling, it's a calling. There are a lot of troubled youth in today's military that have benefited from their time, but they typically do their commitment and leave. Or, they make a career out of it.

Icey101, any particular reason you're looking at the military? Is he a troubled child? Were you military? Or is he just lost in his future and you're looking for his next steps?

[fhm555]

First (and most important) question. What does your son think about the military? If he's interested it can be a very good thing and as Pacman pointed out, the long term bennies ain't bad either.

Also, if the current volatile world situation worries you, does Australia have an equivalent to the US Coast Guard? Service in the USCG counts the same as military service here, and unless war comes to the coastal US, they will never be in harms way.

That said, I spent many years in the USMC and would NEVER encourage any young person to go that route if they had not already decided on it. If they are not champing at the bit to get some without outside encouragement, IMHO the Marine Corps would be a mistake.

[bigboy_78]

If he can get a trade in the ADF and is suited to that lifesytle it can be good. A trade that is useful in a mine will set-him up in Oz at the moment.

I knew 2 guys who joined the Army out of high-school, one was a confident popular guy, father served, grandfather served, he had no doubts about it. He loves it and is very succesfull in his civilian life as well.

The other guy was always picked on at school, was weak and a little bit simple. Pretty sure his home life wasn't great. He hanged himself 2 weeks into basic training.

[Bongolation]

Originally Posted by Icey101

Are there any good outcomes chosing a military career for a young guy?

Yes, but not predictably and probably not usually.

[Pacman]

Originally Posted by Phalex

How's the sushi in the heartland? Are you missing Japan at all?

Haven't had the heart to try it, to be honest. And I miss it at every meal time. Seriously. Oh, and when I go out and see the women walking around in Omaha. Not exactly hot asian chicks....