graduated highschool (questions for military people)

[JOMO]

No problem, we are all here to help.

And also, when you see the recruiter tomorrow ask for the list with all the jobs and the AFSC on it and what jobs are available to you with your ASVAB score. Go home and google the AFSC and you will get a description of that field. It Will help you make a decision and see all the different jobs out there.

And I dont know the shape you are in, but the graduating standards for basic are as follows:

Pushups- 45 in one min
Situps- 50 in one min
1 1/2 Mile run- 11:57

Even if you cannot do this before you get there, you will be able to at the end of basic for your final evaluation. You will rotate Run days and strength training days throughout the week. Run 15 min around the track for a consistant 2 min lap, then 15 min self paced run, then sprints for about 10 min. And the strength training is a joke. Just get used to doing Pyramid pushups. Get used to doing this at 4:45 am on an empty stomach and you will be good to go. J/k.

 

[twizyours]

If I had to do it again. I would go navy

 

[JOMO]

If I had to do it again. I would go navy

What service are/were you? And explain, might give some insight to the thread opener.

 

[twizyours]

Well I was actually Army National Guard. If he is just looking for school reserves of some sort would be the best option. I was deployed for a one year and a half. So like someone else mentioned before, if you are going to the army or marines be prepared deploy quickly. When I was on active duty for deployment, I learned that the going Navy or Air Force have much better technical jobs. You will have more job possibilities to leave either with a career even without college in the real world. You can find those in the other services, but not too many in my opinion. Air Force in my opinion is just civilians with a uniform. To me the Navy had the the best of all worlds. Just my two cents. Navy and Air force have great technical jobs that can be applied in civilian life and you will have the GI school benefits. Also Air Force has a lot more benefits, like extra pay if you are stationed at a post that is not up to air force standards.

 

[JOMO]

Well I was actually Army National Guard. If he is just looking for school reserves of some sort would be the best option. I was deployed for a one year and a half. So like someone else mentioned before, if you are going to the army or marines be prepared deploy quickly. When I was on active duty for deployment, I learned that the going Navy or Air Force have much better technical jobs. You will have more job possibilities to leave either with a career even without college in the real world. You can find those in the other services, but not too many in my opinion. Air Force in my opinion is just civilians with a uniform. To me the Navy had the the best of all worlds. Just my two cents. Navy and Air force have great technical jobs that can be applied in civilian life and you will have the GI school benefits. Also Air Force has a lot more benefits, like extra pay if you are stationed at a post that is not up to air force standards.

The plane I work on supports army and marine ground troups down range. I wouldn't consider myself or my fellow airman civilians, we are troops and In my AFSC I get deployed frequently. I respect your opinion, but its a hit in the nuts when comparing me to Civilians.

 

[twizyours]

Well you took to offense when I was referring to the manner of treatment within the branch. Lets be honest army and marines don't get treated well by there branch. I was trying to give a general idea of my opinion of benefits and treatment for his/her to make a rational decision which is best in his/her interest. Any service men knows that each branch needs each other. If someone were to tell me the army sucks I know the job I had to do, I dont have to question my relevance.

 

[JOMO]

Well you took to offense when I was referring to the manner of treatment within the branch. Lets be honest army and marines don't get treated well by there branch. I was trying to give a general idea of my opinion of benefits and treatment for his/her to make a rational decision which is best in his/her interest. Any service men knows that each branch needs each other. If someone were to tell me the army sucks I know the job I had to do, I dont have to question my relevance.

Understood, I just took it the wrong way. And I respect all the branches and have nothing bad to say about any of them.

And good point on the Reserves. If school is the main focus, you should look into it NJ Msp. Probably get a signing bonus also. I know there is Mcguire AFB right in New Jersey, but am not sure which jobs are available for that base.

 

[twizyours]

It is inside of Ft. Dix. I went to PLDC at FT. Dix. I heard it is not to bad to be posted there. I dont know for certain personally. As far as reserves for school it is great. If he is looking for that full blown military experience, active is the way to go. You always have the Air National Guard. I heard that is a great deal. Then again you know, some join the reserves then want to go active duty and visa versa. Its easier though to go reserves get promoted quicker and then go active. Also the best kept secret in the military is getting a active job in the reserves.

 

[GiJoe]

Also, air traffic control is great but has the highest wash out rate of any career field in the Air Force..

It also has the highest suicide rate in the AF, Second Is Security Forces for some reason, being Security Forces was freaking awsome, but then again I took advantage of everything that career field had to offer.

Also, you dont even have to set in a class room for most of the college classes (All of the basics anyway); Math, English, etc... theres a test out there called Klep (SP) someone else I am sure can back that up. It is just like your CDC's in the AF, but ALOT easier... they give you a book, you give them 100 bucks and you study for a test, take it, if you fail, you have to wait 6 months before you can take it again.

 

[Sport23]

IMO National Gaurd has the best college program and active gaurd jobs are the best kept secret, you can have a lot of deployments depending on your job. The new active duty college program is simular to the gaurd program. Active reserve jobs are great to but I don't think the college program is as good. There are CLEP and DANTES test that you can take to test out of many college courses. The tests are free on base for military and the base library has study guides you can check out. I have one more test to take and then I will have an associates degree without taking any actual classes. Think about if you want to do active duty or gaurd or reserves. If you want to stay in NJ gaurd or reserves would be great, with active duty there are no gaurentees for where you are stationed.

 

[GiJoe]

I was active and I had to pay for the first clep test... the rest were free after that...


Yeah the wish list of bases you'd like to be stationed at, is just that a wish...

 

[JOMO]

I was active and I had to pay for the first clep test... the rest were free after that...


Yeah the wish list of bases you'd like to be stationed at, is just that a wish...

I got my first choice on my dream sheet. Hit or a miss though.

 

[kickniteasy]

maybe coming in late on this one and I'm saying this with a preemptive "this is just what I've heard/my opinion and you need to do the research yourself to decide what's best for you"

I was considering joining before I became medically unable to and I have family/friends that have been in all of the branches from reserves on up and I was told that navy or air force were the best options for someone looking to face more mental challenges and create a base for themselves to enter the civilian world as a marketable tool while army/marines were more for the ones that want to go out, get their hands dirty, and go out on the front lines. As my dad (current 28 years navy) and grandad (ret. army and marines) put it to me "Look, you're a thinker, not a fighter, go navy or air force and you'll be much happier". After talking to many current and retired military personnel I found these generalities to be true, but that's not to say what I'm writing here is worth a lick. Good luck and the best advice I could give is to be sure to talk to real world people, not just recruiters.

 

[bradboyd80]

I wouldn't recommend the guard or reserves unless its in an active position. Depending on where you go, and whether its a traditional slot (1 weekend a month, 2 weeks a year) you'll get a nice fat pay check of about $150-$200 per month. If you go to an active reserve slot (basically same as active duty) then you get normal pay check.

 

[NJ MSP]

So I met with the Air Force recuriters yesterday and they were shocked about the questions I was asking them, and wanted to know if I had family currently serving...and my response yeah...something like that. But anyway I was really impressed with the Air Force from the jobs, education, pay and places you could end up. However I'm still meeting with the Navy later today and I'll let you guys know how it goes. Thanks again for all the new info guys you don't know how much I appreciate the help.

 

[bradboyd80]

That's what we're here for!

 

[JOMO]

Thats good. Make them work for you if you decide to go with AF. I went in with the same questions you did and they were also shocked. Good Luck.

 

[GiJoe]

I got my first choice on my dream sheet. Hit or a miss though.

lol I filled out bothe sides, state side and overseas... and I got stationed at Minot N.D.... wasnt one of my picks... but then again I only spent about 6 months in the U.S. so it wasnt to bad lol

 

[JOMO]

lol I filled out bothe sides, state side and overseas... and I got stationed at Minot N.D.... wasnt one of my picks... but then again I only spent about 6 months in the U.S. so it wasnt to bad lol

Wow, I hear everyone joking around that it would be the worst if they were stationed in Minot. But know its what you make of it.

I picked 3 overseas, and 6 stateside. I got my first overseas choice, so Im happy .

 

[GiJoe]

man you really can't make anything of Minot... there is nothing there, theres one club and it's a tiny room. oh and the whole negative 60 without a windchill in november is'nt to great...

and BTW... I loved the whole 2 weeks I was in Germany, and I've been wanting to go back.