Should Money join the air force?

[WarofAges]

I was in the same situation, the only thing that kept me from joining was i found a pretty good band that had potential.

It has some benefits, then the definite downsides.

Some branches theres actualy real jobs. You can be a consstruction worker, electrician, plumber, mechanic. I might be joining the national guard soon and they will train me to be a heavy eqipment operator and construction worker.

When i talked to an army recruiter, they told me that in contract they can give you the job you want to do. I wanted to do sometihng in construction or engineering, they said that though. If i joined, i would want to see that contract and have other people, like my parents, look at it. I wouldnt want to get out of basic and be shipped out to iraq as an infantryman

 

[MJ5150]

I'm getting University of Phoenix ads in this thread.......go to college!! Or pretend college like UofP.

-Mike

 

[hbarcat]

I'd do well... I'm fairly mechanicly inclined... I don't get homesick... I can handle being told what to do with no issues.
I'm not in school... Probably won't ever be.
The more i think about it, the more sense it makes.

They will force upon you a habit of DISCIPLINE. If you can handle being told what to do EVERY DAY OF YOUR LIFE FOR FOUR YEARS then go for it. You will be a much better person when you get out.

BUT... if you go into this lightly and then decide that this is not your thing then you're screwed!


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Choose wisely . . .

 

[lump]

Dude... don't join the military if your only motivation is because you're bored.

A life in the military is serious business, and not to be taken lightly. Join only if you know the risks and what you are potentially going to be asked to do. You may think it will be an easy job, but you never know if you are going to be called on to defend your country, or to invade another. As a member of the military, you become a tool of the government to be weilded in whatever way they may see fit, good or evil. Don't do it if you are unwilling or unable to accept this giant responsibility.

The military is not a social program. If you're bored, join a softball league or a sewing circle.

Very well said.

AF CMSgt here. PM me or Jon before you take the plunge. Frankly, I'm not surprised though. Intelligent underachiever. You're singing our song...

 

[Pacman]

Chief is pulling back the veil on our secret. As he's said before, never was there a more professional group of misfits, underachievers and artists (or something like that). Mike, you'd probably do well....after the initial shock.

 

[Marley's Ghost]

No dude, don't do it. You don't seem like the type who will enjoy the discipline and regimented lifestyle.

Why don't you just join up one of those boot camp style health clubs?

-Mike

+1 Get disiplined and in shape first. Decide if you like that lifestyle. Then, the "shock" Pacman refers to will not be as great.

 

[Pacman]

+1.

I've gone as far as talking to recruiters from a few branches. Playing music with a steady income sounds great, but I'm up for paying my dues and doing it in the civilian world [no offense Pac or the other guys].

Not to be too picky, but I've also paid my dues and do it in the civilian world, too. I hear what you're saying, but you can do both.

 

[Freddels]

They will force upon you a habit of DISCIPLINE. If you can handle being told what to do EVERY DAY OF YOUR LIFE FOR FOUR YEARS then go for it. You will be a much better person when you get out.

Actually, once you finish bootcamp and whatever tech school you go to, life is pretty much normal. It's just that you have signed a contract to do your job and cannot just quit b/c you don't like it. There are other rules/laws/regs that you must abide by but nobody will be telling you what to do EVERY DAY OF YOUR LIFE FOR FOUR YEARS.

I was able to do it and even enjoyed most of it and I'm someone that doesn't trust the gov't, has problems with authority figures, etc. and you wouldn't believe the assignment that the AF chose for me.

 

[Freddels]

Chief is pulling back the veil on our secret. As he's said before, never was there a more professional group of misfits, underachievers and artists (or something like that). Mike, you'd probably do well....after the initial shock.

That's so true. When I was in, we would meet others and say "I know why I joined . . . what's wrong with you?"

I've gone as far as talking to recruiters from a few branches. Playing music with a steady income sounds great, but I'm up for paying my dues and doing it in the civilian world [no offense Pac or the other guys.

I recently got in contact with one of my friends from NT that I had lost contact with. I found out that he's been in the Army for 19 yrs and plays in the Jazz Ambassadors. He really enjoys it.

Playing music in a military band is probably a better way of life than trying to hustle up gigs on your own. The pay, benefits, retirement, etc. cannot be beat (unless you happen to make it in a very popular band). If I could do it over, I'd definitely go for it.

 

[username n/a]

Go watch "Full Metal Jacket" and ask yourself your question again.

 

[cassanova]

There is more to the military than not getting homesick, being able to take orders, or not being in school.

Each and every one of us take some form of orders from others on a daily basis. So thats a fairly moot point. Not getting homesick isn't really a big deal to me either. I did get homesick when I was in the Marines. Like Pacman said, once you get over the initial shock its not nearly so bad.

You're a bit off the mark though when you said you'll probibly never be in school. When you join the military you're constantly in a class room environment. Basic training involves many class room hours, then you have your MOS school. (military occupational school) Then when you graduate that, you'll also be required to attend classes to keep up with educational requirements for your particular MOS. There is more schooling than you might think involved in the military.

I went Marines, however my MOS school was at Lakland AFB in San Antonio Tx. Its a very nice installation, the weather is quite hot and dry, and though I didn't go through the air force's basic training, it seemed like gravy both physically and mentally compared to marine corps training.

You need to sit back and think long and hard about what it is you want to do in the military, what advantages will it give you when you become a civilian again, and most importantly, why you want to go into the military. Also talk to all 4 branches, you never know, you might find yourself being more interested in the Navy or Marines than the USAF. It's the recruiters job to get you in and a lot of them will lie or fabricate the truth to get you in so they can meet their quota so definitely talk to other people who are currently serving and who have served in the military to get a more unbiased view of life in the service(s).

All that being said, say to Hell with the USAF and join the Marines.

 

[Visirale]

I wouldn't join the military unless you really wanted to do it. Spend 4 years at a college, get a degree in pretty much anything (the more obscure the better) and you can land an financial analyst job making $60,000 with an easy road to $100,000+ a year.

I honestly can't relate much. I'm almost 20 and I've been driven since middle school.I considered the coast guard academy for a short while, but decided it wasn't really meant for me. I've had friends join and do well in it.

For me it was always this. The potential of signing up and not liking it... Not only would I have a job I hated, but I would be legally obliged to complete it, and not have time to start pursuing something else.

Talk with friends/family and make sure you really know what you want. I wouldn't show up to boot camp with anything less than 120% certainty that it was what I wanted to do.

 

[Freddels]

Go watch "Full Metal Jacket" and ask yourself your question again.

It's more like Stripes, in reality.

 

[cassanova]

Go watch "Full Metal Jacket" and ask yourself your question again.

Though that's a great movie and depicts an accurate life of Marine Corps recruit training, it depicts just that, Marine Corps recruit training. The bulk of Marine Corps life is nothing like boot camp. Once you're out in the fleet it's a bit of a different ball game.

 

[The Golden Boy]

If'n I were to do it over again, I'd have joined the Air Force instead of the Army.

That being said, when I ETS'd in 91- there were NO reenlistment options. Six years PDA doesn't really count. But if I'd have gotten the opportunity to have a REAL MOS instead of 11C I would have reenlisted.

 

[Mike Money]

Chief is pulling back the veil on our secret. As he's said before, never was there a more professional group of misfits, underachievers and artists (or something like that). Mike, you'd probably do well....after the initial shock.

My buddy travis was in during the 90s.... You think im a rebel? This guy is the best.


Now he has a degree in airplane mechanics, english, music, and computer technology.


He's quite the bassist, too. Actually, he kind of looks like you pac.

 

[Gubna]

If you are bored, why don't you go play your bass?

 

[Marley's Ghost]

It's more like Stripes, in reality.

Don't let them call you Francis!

 

[XtreO]

Do it, do it!


Give us a full account after a few months.




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[cheezewiz]

Mike, I don't think it would be a bad way to go. I work with quite a few ex military guys, and to a man, they all liked it once they got the hang of the military way. Of course, they didn't like it well enough to make it a career, but there are a lot of benefits, including tons of College money when you get out. I'd definitely go Air Force.