Thinking of joining the Military

***TaeBo_Master*** · Posted On: 7/13/2011 1:51am

Originally Posted by hapkido_keith

No one thinks about recruiters screwing you by putting you in a rate that has zero advancement opportunities, but I've seen it happen. However, if your asvab scores are as high as you say, the Navy recruiter is going to try like mad to get you into the nuclear program. Nuke is a 6 year commitment, the first 2 years are training. The training program is TOUGH (I've heard attrition numbers of 30 and 50%, but these are rumors).

I went through an advanced electronics program, also a 6 year deal (I don't have a military tag because I generally don't like to wear it on my sleeve and didn't ask for one). It was a pretty intense program too, my guess would be 10 to 15% dropped out. The 6 year enlistments come with an automatic advancement to E-4 when you pass your training. This sounds like a good deal, but you will actually advance slower than if you took a 4 year enlistment, as you only have to spend a minimum of 6 months as an E-3 before you are eligible to test for advancement.

If you have any more specific questions I can try to answer.

I've only talked to them once so far, so I don't have as much detailed information as I'd like. For example, I didn't know that different job selections carry different length-of-service requirements (though they did tell me that Nuclear is a 2 year training program). I've been reading the threads that IIF posted, and one of the big things that stands out to me is that your job selection really matters.

So for a specific question.. I guess, what can you tell me about selecting a job/MOS/etc that I won't readily hear from the recruiters? Also, I am not naive and I know that recruiters' job is to get you to recruit, they're salesmen. So what kinds of things should I prepared for when dealing with the recruiters? Are there specific questions I should ask, tactics I should be prepared for, etc?

**hapkido_keith** · Posted On: 7/13/2011 2:38am

Originally Posted by TaeBo_Master

I've only talked to them once so far, so I don't have as much detailed information as I'd like. For example, I didn't know that different job selections carry different length-of-service requirements (though they did tell me that Nuclear is a 2 year training program). I've been reading the threads that IIF posted, and one of the big things that stands out to me is that your job selection really matters.

So for a specific question.. I guess, what can you tell me about selecting a job/MOS/etc that I won't readily hear from the recruiters? Also, I am not naive and I know that recruiters' job is to get you to recruit, they're salesmen. So what kinds of things should I prepared for when dealing with the recruiters? Are there specific questions I should ask, tactics I should be prepared for, etc?

The advancement opportunity is the biggest thing to watch out for, I think, that recruiters won't tell you. I had a specific problem myself that they told me my training would take place at a Naval facility in the Bay Area and when I got to bootcamp I was greeted with a rude surprise that that base had been closed and my training would take place at the Naval Training Center in North Chicago. The type of training was guaranteed to me in my contract, but the location was not. I don't know how you would check for this though.

Otherwise, try to get a job you're interested in and don't take something you don't want no matter how much they try to shove it on you.

**Cullion** · Posted On: 7/13/2011 3:12am

I hope you have given serious thought to the fact that you might get blown to pieces in some sandy shithole for no good reason, yes ? Especially if you join the SEALs.

**judoka_uk** · Posted On: 7/13/2011 4:11am

When I was at school and thinking about joining the army there was one consistent thing the former servicemen we had talk to us wanted us to take on.

Unless your family has a lot of money or a good business you can fall back to, ensure you join a branch of the military that gives you a skill and or trade; signals, engineers, mechanics, farriers whatever.

They wanted us to remember that when you come out of the army you had to have something more to offer an employer than an array of weapons qualifications and a marksmen's badge.

Although coming in at 27 you may already have some skills that you could use after serving.

**Gidi** · Posted On: 7/13/2011 4:40am

J_UK is correct.
I left the army and my only skill is the ability to teach people how to shoot assault rifles. Which didn't really make me the most employable person. Whereas friends of mine who worked in a bullshit radio station got work in the media the second they left. Not to mention the ones who worked with computers, they got work really fast.

If you want to be a combat soldier (I don't the technical term there) that's cool and very understandable, but be sure you're aware of what it entails, both career-wise and the actual combat part.

**Soldiermedic** · Posted On: 7/13/2011 6:31am

Obviously I would be a little partial to the Army and AMEDD in particular, but of all my varied friends and relatives the happiest are invariably the coasties. The Coast Guard in general has a high rate of advancement and just as many job opportunities as the other branches. After a few months out of my last contract with the Army Reserves, I just started the process to re enlist with the National Guard, but I thought long and hard about the CG(but then I remembered I have an intense fear of the ocean and a hatred for all creatures that dwell in it).

If you joined the Army and went into the medical field, you'd be able to do AIT right at home, which is something to think about too.

**Tom Kagan** · Posted On: 7/13/2011 6:57am

Here's an idea: Screw going into the military.

You want to do something hard? Go back to college. At 27, I guarantee it will be harder than the military.

Still have your heart set on the military? Go back to college and join ROTC. Screw the recruter. He doesn't give a **** about you.

**Cullion** · Posted On: 7/13/2011 7:10am

Originally Posted by Tom Kagan

You want to do something hard? Go back to college. At 27, I guarantee it will be harder than the military.

Hands up who thinks SEAL training would be less challenging than getting a University degree.

<puts hands deep in pockets>

You should probably listen to the people suggesting you join a branch of the military where you will learn something of use in the outside world though.

I understand that you want to test your physical toughness etc.. but in the British military signals specialists, combat engineers & all kinds of other 'technie' people can and do take tough selection courses and join airborne or commando units. I'm sure the US military has equivalents.

**Hiro Protagonist** · Posted On: 7/13/2011 8:56am

Originally Posted by Tom Kagan

Here's an idea: Screw going into the military.

You want to do something hard? Go back to college. At 27, I guarantee it will be harder than the military.

Still have your heart set on the military? Go back to college and join ROTC. Screw the recruter. He doesn't give a **** about you.

This.

THIS.

THIS!!!

**Tom Kagan** · Posted On: 7/13/2011 9:59am

Originally Posted by Cullion

Hands up who thinks SEAL training would be less challenging than getting a University degree.

He wanted to do something hard, not fail at something impossible due to a bait and switch.

A 27 year old civilian thinking about joining the military isn't going to be a SEAL. It's just something the Navy dangles to trick people like him into hanging off the side of a boat to scrape barnacles or never see the light of day while restocking the candy machines.