hey guys well I just graduated from high school. Literally like two hours ago. I've been thinking about joining the military, namely the marines and i was wondering if there are any current or x military men or women on the forum that could give me some advice since i feel like some....or 90% of what the recruiter was telling me was bs.
graduated highschool (questions for military people)
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Ricktalife
Member
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- 2012 Subaru WRX
well don't listen to the recruiter. they make a lot of money off referrals, so of course they'll tell you anything you want to hear. GL to you.
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- 10 MS3
It depends on what you want your end goal to be. Joining the Marines is great and everything, but you have to be ready to fight and deploy upon graduation. You also have to see what the Marines can offer you (job wise). I would suggest staying away from Army. The Navy is great, but again, do they offer what you want to do?
Well looking at the long term picture I want to get an education. The only problem is paying for my education and that respsonibility falls on me. So them paying for my school is a huge plus for me. Secondly I'm very interested in their aviation jobs, more speciffically air traffic control. But like I said I'm having trouble in beleiving in what these people say cause its like buying another honda, they're always answering my questions with another and the fact that they're always giving me the run around to the answers I'm looking for.
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- 10 MS3
Ask away and I will answer your questions. As far as education, you'll be lucky to take 3-4 classes in 1 year(college classes). Right now the deployment tempo in the military is fast. But for the Air Field, the Air Force and Navy are good choices. Although the Marine Corps also offers jobs in the Air Field.
thanks man. the navy and army were also two I was looking at. Anyway what I was told by the army has something called college first. What this does from what i was told by army recruiters is as long as your enrolled in a college they can't take you period at all till you finish your education. Next the marine recruiters said they've never heard of anything like that. And The navy recruiters told me all their schools they can send you for your education are equivelent to d1 schools and I wanted to know if that was true or if their was some kind of catch to that
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- 2003 Black Mica MazdaSpeed Protege
I would look into the AirForce and Navy first...
Maybe post in the Off Topic section so you'll get a bigger viewing/answering audience on the forum?
Maybe post in the Off Topic section so you'll get a bigger viewing/answering audience on the forum?
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- '13 CWP MS3 & '16 Mazda6 GT
moving to OT to get you some better responses. good luck!
Im currently active duty air force. Go talk to a recruiter and see which jobs are available in higher demand right now. Not all of them BS you. Dont sign anything right away, and make sure you recieve a guaranteed job on your enlistment contract. Cause If you go in open gerneral you most likely will become security forces or services.
About schooling though..You come out of basic as a 1 level technically. Then you go off to your tech school to learn the basics of your job(can range from 8 weeks to 2 years depending on your AFSC). When you grad tech school you are a 3 level(apprentice). When you arrive at your first duty station you have to do OJT and complete your CDC's(career development courses) and become a 5 level (journeyman) before you can start taking college courses. And you have about 12-15 months to complete your cdc's. But you can finish them quicker. Cause they want you to focus on advancing in your field and then take college courses as you wish.
Now I have only been to Air Force bases so far, and from what I am told by other service members is that we are treated the best from any other(not knocking any other branch, just from what I am told) Best facilities, bases, dining facilities(see..we dont even call them chow halls) movie theatres, dorm rooms, etc. The benefits are great, they give you a chance to see the world. Im in Germany right now
. Oh, and there is no infantry in the air force. So the probability of being on the front line is slim even though there is the possibility.
I know you just Graduated high school yesturday, but do your research. See which branch fits best for you and go from there. And MAKE SURE YOU ARE GUARENTEED a job on your contract with whichever service you choose. Cause Iv'e seen to many people thrown in a field that they never thought they would be put into.
If you have any more questions, feel free to pm me.
About schooling though..You come out of basic as a 1 level technically. Then you go off to your tech school to learn the basics of your job(can range from 8 weeks to 2 years depending on your AFSC). When you grad tech school you are a 3 level(apprentice). When you arrive at your first duty station you have to do OJT and complete your CDC's(career development courses) and become a 5 level (journeyman) before you can start taking college courses. And you have about 12-15 months to complete your cdc's. But you can finish them quicker. Cause they want you to focus on advancing in your field and then take college courses as you wish.
Now I have only been to Air Force bases so far, and from what I am told by other service members is that we are treated the best from any other(not knocking any other branch, just from what I am told) Best facilities, bases, dining facilities(see..we dont even call them chow halls) movie theatres, dorm rooms, etc. The benefits are great, they give you a chance to see the world. Im in Germany right now
. Oh, and there is no infantry in the air force. So the probability of being on the front line is slim even though there is the possibility. I know you just Graduated high school yesturday, but do your research. See which branch fits best for you and go from there. And MAKE SURE YOU ARE GUARENTEED a job on your contract with whichever service you choose. Cause Iv'e seen to many people thrown in a field that they never thought they would be put into.
If you have any more questions, feel free to pm me.
yeah thats what i heard is the air force and navy are treated really well and the marines have to make dew with what they got. Im going to google air force recruitment building in NJ today cause I have no clue where any are. But anyway thanks for the information guys and I'll keep you all updated.
bradboyd80
Member
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- '12 Velocity Red MS3
If school is your main concern, I'd def recommend Air Force. Other branches have the same education benefits (100% TA), but don't have nearly the same amount of "down time". LOL. Marines and Army spend a ton of time deployed; which puts a strain on trying to complete school. Not impossible, but not easy either. Depends on the job you choose also. Some careers deploy much more than others. Luckily, I landed a special duty that doesn't deploy. And I'm here for 3 years. But in the last 2 years I have been able to complete my AAS and about 20 semester hours toward my BS.
One other thing you might want to think about is your future. Are you planning to make the Air Force a career? Or only use it to complete school? Because there are several jobs within the Air Force that have absolutely no civilian counterpart (like me). So when it comes time to separate, it'll be much harder finding a job. And other jobs require high level clearances, which are a huge bargaining tool when you separate (something to think about). Its a major life changing decision. Feel free to PM me if you want. There are a TON of options and information available that a recruiter probably won't tell you.
One other thing you might want to think about is your future. Are you planning to make the Air Force a career? Or only use it to complete school? Because there are several jobs within the Air Force that have absolutely no civilian counterpart (like me). So when it comes time to separate, it'll be much harder finding a job. And other jobs require high level clearances, which are a huge bargaining tool when you separate (something to think about). Its a major life changing decision. Feel free to PM me if you want. There are a TON of options and information available that a recruiter probably won't tell you.
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scottie137
Member
Former Navy here. When going to a recruiter (no matter which of the services) make sure that your entry agreement has everything on it that you talked about (in writing). Don't fall for the, "Oh, you'll find out more about that program when you get to basic" line. I both enjoyed and hated my time in the service. Not having any say in certain aspects of ones life is very difficult. However, if you put in the effort, it will reward you. The Navy does have some very nicely located installations (Panama City, Florida, San Diego, Ca, Pensacola, Fl) etc. The Navy does provide opportunities to take classes at fully accredited universities, even at sea. Depending on your job, you may even be assigned to shore duty your first two years in. Basic for the Navy is easy from the physical standpoint, but mentally challenging. Good luck with your decision! Have you considered the medical field. I was a corpsman (medic) in the Navy. They deploy with Marine Corps (Marine's don't have their own medical personnel) units into the field. Its a way to go out with the Marines while still having the benefits of Navy Training...just an fyi. Plus, the medical field is still growing, even in this down economy...
Really??? I got "new gear" once... and that was a week before I went to my deployment training... and all the new gear was ammo pouches, to go on our reserviced lbv's (load bearing vests) and I never really understood why they were called that since the damn thing weighs 80pounds without any ammo or gear on it...
But if I could I would rejoin the AF and do the same thing while I was in, Security Forces Tactical Responce Force. I wouldnt trade any of my experiences or the friends I've made for anything.
The bottom line is, if you want to join the military do the research yourself, and make a decision that is right for you. sure the recurters will lie to you, but so will the folks that are in the military, they may not mean to, but them saying for example the AF is the best service you could join, while it may be right for them, it might not be right for you.
and I can agree with everything in this statment, and I think everyone in the military (pior or active) can agree with this lol, we have all heard and trained with the folks that didnt get there jobs guranteed...
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Hey guys sorry I haven't been around in awhile I've just been busy with work the car and everything else. I appreciate all the information you guys have provided me with. I'm meeting with Navy recruiters in two days and the air force tommorrow, but just to hear what they have to offer. If I think or find anything else to ask you guys I'll make sure to post it or pm you guys. Thanks again everyone.
+1 for getting everything in writing. Also, I would highly recommend getting a guaranteed job and have it in your contract. You can also have a guaranteed career field. You can also stay in the delayed enlistment program for up to a year while you are waiting for a job to open up. Recruiter's normally won't tell that, they just want to get you to basic to fill their quota for the month. Also, air traffic control is great but has the highest wash out rate of any career field in the Air Force.
If you want to go to college a desk job such as information management may be the best thing for you. I think that being a paper pusher is incredably boring but it is typically a 7-4 job and may not deploy or does not deploy as frequently. Also, on August first the education benefits are changing. Basically the Air Force will pay for you to goto any state school for the state you are stationed in. There are a lot of other details but that is the basics of it. Good luck, take your time and don't be pressured into making any decisions.
If you want to go to college a desk job such as information management may be the best thing for you. I think that being a paper pusher is incredably boring but it is typically a 7-4 job and may not deploy or does not deploy as frequently. Also, on August first the education benefits are changing. Basically the Air Force will pay for you to goto any state school for the state you are stationed in. There are a lot of other details but that is the basics of it. Good luck, take your time and don't be pressured into making any decisions.
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