What branch ?

[Jasonboy]

This question is Directed to members who have served In the armed forces or have some knowledge of them.

As a young man is there a certain branch that would be better to join then the other ? Are some branches under funded ? harder to move up in ect ect.
And how did you decided on what branch you were going to serve in ? Also your views , thoughts and experiences would be helpful

 

[kickniteasy]

Great question. My family has a long history of members serving in the military in every branch there is. My dad, a 24 year Navy man, and grandad, ret. army and marines, both said that air force officer was the way to go. My dad works with air force guys all the time (he does work in intel so works with all the branches) and says that if he could do it all over again he'd go air force. I have many friends that have gone that route and are very happy with their experiences thus far. They just seem to treat their members a lot better when it comes to promotions, orders, etc. I'd have gone air force if I could pass the medical (hernias and kidney stones FTL).

 

[laracroft]

As a young woman, I'd say not to join the Marine Corps. Girlie girls would never make it, if you're not used to the attention you get from being one girl out of hundreds of male counterparts, then don't join. Statistically we're more liable to get hurt, killed or ***** than any other branch. But if you want to be part of the only fraternity that accepts woman and be more fewer and prouder... then the Marine Corps is the branch for you - which is why I decided to join.

With THAT out the way - best branch overall is the Air Force - girl or guy wise. They get the best of everything and move up in ranks fairly quickly and easily. Then Navy - great ship & shore destinations - also good benefits. Then Army is good for scholarships and whatnot. All these branches have plenty of room to move up in rank, good health care and good job placements - so long as you do well in the ASVAB. And then, of course, the Marines...

...if you like to get the bottom of the barrel from all the other service leftovers...like to pop Motrin for all the pain you're gonna be in because we only get Corpman - not real doctors, like eating green eggs and ham for breakfast - literally - because we don't have "dining halls" and usually only get a few minutes here or there to eat, like to clean and buff floors every night because you ARE your own cleaning crew, don't mind NOT getting promoted for 2 years at a time because your MOS field is closed, and don't mind sleeping in a tent near a bush, in the middle of the desert in 20 degree weather in the morning with temperatures soaring to 100 degrees at night with nothing but a rifle, a pack of cards in your cargo pocket and a canteen full of stale tasting water... it's just the right place for you! BUT with all that, the actual pluses are... kicking ass and taking names McGuyver style, the damn nice dress blues that everyone in the world recognizes, protecting government officials because no other branch can and would want to do the job and retaining the title Marine for the rest of your life. The job's not for everyone. So depending on your choice, or for me, the high road I decided to choose for myself and the things I wanted to experience and learn with the toughest branch I could find - there's a place in the service for everyone.

 

[joka1]

Yup, Air Force IMO.......... I have been in the Navy for 10 years and have advanced pretty quick but my first squadron went to Air Force bases and they are so much better than any navy or marine bases I have ever been to! The Air Force is the way to go and I tried to switch services but they said I was over qualified

Rob

 

[sprinter119]

Coast Guard been in for 2 years. You get to save lifes instead of taking them. Air Force is good but yostill gotta chance of going to Iraq or any other war zone. Army and Marines go to fight. Coasties dont go out as long as the navy and we get paid the same as everyone else same benefits just dont get much recognition. Its very small military force only 30000 active duty coasties its like a big family.

 

[speed1585]

I am currently in the Air Force. the comment made about making it up the ranks fairly easily and quickly, is not exactly correct. The AF actually has the slowest promotion rate of any branch, as far as how easy it is, each branch tests in their own way. we take 2 tests 1 for job knowledge and 1 for AF knowledge. The bright side of the AF promotion system is that we do not get demoted very easliy like some other branches, we normally have to be formally charged with something to lose rank.

But this is how I see it, if you have a true desire to serve, then any brach will suit you. Every branch has pros/cons. right now regardless of the branch, you will most likely deploy, but its our job to do so.

 

[freekwonder]

As a young woman, I'd say not to join the Marine Corps. Girlie girls would never make it, if you're not used to the attention you get from being one girl out of hundreds of male counterparts, then don't join. Statistically we're more liable to get hurt, killed or ***** than any other branch. But if you want to be part of the only fraternity that accepts woman and be more fewer and prouder... then the Marine Corps is the branch for you - which is why I decided to join.

With THAT out the way - best branch overall is the Air Force - girl or guy wise. They get the best of everything and move up in ranks fairly quickly and easily. Then Navy - great ship & shore destinations - also good benefits. Then Army is good for scholarships and whatnot. All these branches have plenty of room to move up in rank, good health care and good job placements - so long as you do well in the ASVAB. And then, of course, the Marines...

...if you like to get the bottom of the barrel from all the other service leftovers...like to pop Motrin for all the pain you're gonna be in because we only get Corpman - not real doctors, like eating green eggs and ham for breakfast - literally - because we don't have "dining halls" and usually only get a few minutes here or there to eat, like to clean and buff floors every night because you ARE your own cleaning crew, don't mind NOT getting promoted for 2 years at a time because your MOS field is closed, and don't mind sleeping in a tent near a bush, in the middle of the desert in 20 degree weather in the morning with temperatures soaring to 100 degrees at night with nothing but a rifle, a pack of cards in your cargo pocket and a canteen full of stale tasting water... it's just the right place for you! BUT with all that, the actual pluses are... kicking ass and taking names McGuyver style, the damn nice dress blues that everyone in the world recognizes, protecting government officials because no other branch can and would want to do the job and retaining the title Marine for the rest of your life. The job's not for everyone. So depending on your choice, or for me, the high road I decided to choose for myself and the things I wanted to experience and learn with the toughest branch I could find - there's a place in the service for everyone.

WM = Woman Marine or Warming Mattresses (don't shoot me)

She is right about being a woman in the Marine corps, you will get a LOT of attention, especially if are deployed and be prepared to have rumors about you being a ***** going around. Sadly it happens.

I personally choose the Marine Corps, I have lost a lot of respect for the Army over the years (except for SF), but general Army is overall a bunch of s*** bags.

A/F is good if you want to be career orientated and want a good education. Don't get me wrong A/F has a few badass fields that take names (PJ, and another one my friend does), but overall it is the preppy group of the services.

Navy, nothing wrong with the Navy. My wife almost joined. Lots of science/biology stuff. Plus they are low on recruiting numbers I think.

I wanted to be a Marine, I LOVE the Marine Corps. Even though I got out 7 years ago I'm still working for them (hell I'm in Iraq right now) I love the brotherhood/sisterhood you get in the Marine Corps. Most of the Marines treat me different out here because I was in. You can hear them every now and then say to another guy 'hey man it's cool, he's a Marine too man. Once a Marine always a Marine.' And it is true. We don't get the best duty stations (except for MSG), we got some of the oldest crappies equipment. We do more with less. Just remember, you may be in the navy, air force, or army, but you ARE a Marine.

 

[speed1585]

I really could not agree more then with what freekwonder said.

its funny to me cause if you ask someone in the army what they do its, I am a Soilder, Navy is a Sailor, Marines is GET SOME! lol IF you ask me what I do, I would say I am a Network Technican haha. when it comes to brother/sisterhood the AF comes in last place, I do think its better for a full career though

 

[Notorious]

I'll throw my 2-cents in. My father was in the Navy, my uncles in the Army, and my brothers were in the air force. A regret of mine is not following suit and joining the service. It worked out well for me but a part of me still wishes I joined.

It depends on what you want to do in the future. Want to join the tech industry then I would say Navy or Air Force is a clear choice. Depending on what you do there there is a greater civilian calling. As a manager in a Fortune 500 company that constantly interviews candidates in the department I would suggest that you select a job in any branch that has a future in the civilian world, especially if you only plan on staying for one term. While the armed forces does need people firing artillery and charging up hills there isn't much of a calling for that in the corporate environment. Plan your future, you'll appreciate it later.

 

[freekwonder]

One thing I will say is you can pretty much anything in every service. I'm not trying to convince you to go into the Marine Corps, just that you get out of the service what you put into it. The services only have a couple select jobs that they have that others don't. I am a sys admin right now and got the job because I was a programmer in the Marine Corps and I have Marine Corps experience (that is why i work for the Marine Corps lol). What ever service you go into, put your heart into it and you will have a good experience.

 

[laracroft]

After the Marines I worked for the Feds, then in communications, then finance, then Law Enforcement, then back to finance and property management. Full circle kind of. But I will say that everyone is pretty impressed with military people once you get out in the "real world". Hell, they don't even have my MOS anymore. I think it went from what I was doing to SAT communications. At least I can say that I went to anti-terrorism & jungle warefare training, 3 "floats", one deployment with the MEU, broke 3 hummer axles and and went spy-rigging. Fun times. lol But it's not without its injuries. I aggrevated some previous injuries from the Marines while taking Tae Kwon Do and now I seem to keep water in my knees when they're overworked. So it does have its drawbacks being in the Marines rather than the Air Force or another branch per se.

And going back to the rank moving... my specialty was closed without promotions for 2 years. My brother was a crew chief on the flight line in the Air Force and made staff sgt in 4 years. Some Marines don't make that for almost 8.

 

[RODSCALIP5]

I chose the Navy because they offered a career path that I wanted and have no regrets. While it is true quality of life is better in the Air Force, the Navy is not so far behind. Everything depends on what NEC/MOS you choose and whether it's what you want to do in life(after the military). As far as picking up rank, I have known some motivators who have picked up E7 in 8 years through passing advancement exams and taking advanced schools with promotions. One thing is for certain, if you are married and don't like leaving your family, do not join. This is a different military now and deployments happen at least every month. But if you dont mind leaving, deployments are the greatest experience you will ever have........... BTW, the pay is great and benefits can't be beat.

 

[speed1585]

Ya I made SSgt In about 4 years myself. But we also have some that take 8 years or even 12, and at that point the Air Force will kick you out haha. Statistically I think the Air Force has the slowest promotion rates, I think we also have the best promotion system. We just take 2 tests and they factor in your evals. PT tests and extra schooling dont really mean s***. Unless your career field gets locked down like Laras did, if you bust your ass you will make rank.

On the topic on deployments: every branch now deploys, the Air Force deploys almost as often as the other branches, but most of ours are 4-6 months. So that is a huge advantage. I went to Baghdad for 4-5 months or something, and that was a couple years ago. Another advantage we dont always rotate right back into deployments, but this is almost 100% dependant on what career field you are in, and its manning.

Ok thats enough of a reply for now lol

 

[jordan.t.hamill]

not qrmy

ive been in the army 4 yrs im a communications tech and its okay but deployments are long as hell my units okay but the army doesnt have much to offer in enlisted side if anything go warrant officer or officer i really recomend national guard there offering $20,000 bonus and goverment job while your not active duty plus a security clearance if needed

 

[speed1585]

Ya WO's are awesome, wish the AirForce still had em'

 

[mikeski]

MARINES. The Few The Proud!

 

[freekwonder]

Ya WO's are awesome, wish the AirForce still had em'

If I were to go back in, I would definitely go Warrant Officer.

 

[laracroft]

We used to have a saying about the differences between an AF deployment and a Marine one. When you deploy with the Air Force, you take your Samsonite suitcase, stay at a hotel and get a queen bed. When you deploy with the Marines, you take your rucksack, rifle and get a tent in a bush. lol

And it's kinda funny... because on one deployment it was pretty damn close to it. Our camp was on the outskirts of Ft. Bliss. The AF got the closest air conditioned "field office" vans and stayed in the barracks nearest the PX & chowhall... then further down the road, the Army camp had small private tents that slept about 5 but only had about 2 people in each, the larger tents had A/C units & cotts, showers, and chowhall privledges... and of course, at the VERYYYY end of the other camps... about a 1/4 mile down the road from everyone else... there WE were... we got large tents that sleep 20 but they stuffed about 40 of us in em (I would've done anything for some A/C.. it smelled like hell), we ate MRE's - most of the time they didn't come with the heat packs, showers were baby wipes & a "water bull" with soap next to it (bring your own hand towel), we slept on the floor with isomats & pancho liners and we were banned from the PX. The funny thing is... some genius decided to line our camp with constatina wire to keep the other branches out. I was thinking.... you know... this is probably more than likely to keep US IN... who the hell would even come OUT this far and what are they gonna do... steal our Isomats & MRE's from the Vietnam Era!? lol

 

[EMPIRE]

Yup, Air Force IMO.......... I have been in the Navy for 10 years and have advanced pretty quick but my first squadron went to Air Force bases and they are so much better than any navy or marine bases I have ever been to! The Air Force is the way to go and I tried to switch services but they said I was over qualified

Rob

Your not lying about being over qualified. They train a person to do one thing on jets while the NAVY trains you for everything on the jet. Myself 8 years NAVY.

 

[speed1585]

I think it akk depends on your job tho. for my job (IT) I get trained on like 20 different things, each one in itself a job. Some stuff, we might know 1-2 things about it, but we are experts, vs knowing everything about it but being just ok at it.