Thinking of joining the Military

***TaeBo_Master*** · Posted On: 7/14/2011 10:21am

Originally Posted by devil

Meh. People put too much emphasis on personal comfort. Nothing makes you tougher than being in the suck. It helps put life into perspective.

See, this is kinda my thought as well. I've lived a relatively easy life so far, and I think maybe I could use a little difficulty, and discipline.

**wetware** · Posted On: 7/14/2011 10:26am

Originally Posted by TaeBo_Master

Of course if I were to go the career route, it would be with the intention of being an officer. Either by completing my degree beforehand, or doing the degree during my first couple years as Enlisted, or going through OCS.

Getting picked up for OCS, even if you're a stellar sergeant, can be difficult. Do ROTC. They pay for school and besides... the first year you do ROTC there's no obligation to stick with it. You get school paid for and all you have to do is go run early in the morning, assuming they still do that.

On further point on choosing an MOS that's employable afterwards. Sure, I could get a job using my military training, but I don't particularly feel like doing law enforcement. (Not that there's anything wrong with that.)

**Devil** · Posted On: 7/14/2011 10:35am

Originally Posted by TaeBo_Master

See, this is kinda my thought as well. I've lived a relatively easy life so far, and I think maybe I could use a little difficulty, and discipline.

Definitely. Finish school. Become an officer. Be a groundpounder for a while. It's not like you'll be stuck doing that your entire career. Then you can walk around the rest of your career with a fruit salad on your chest while all your pogue buddies have three ribbons. It will be the most rigorous time of your career and probably what you will look back on with the most pride.

**Gezere** · Posted On: 7/14/2011 2:29pm

Originally Posted by wetware

Getting picked up for OCS, even if you're a stellar sergeant, can be difficult. Do ROTC. They pay for school and besides... the first year you do ROTC there's no obligation to stick with it. You get school paid for and all you have to do is go run early in the morning, assuming they still do that.

Getting picked for OCS is EASY! Its about following directions and turning in a COMPLETE packet. Most of the time if a person gets turned down for OCS is because the didn't properly complete the packet. Best way to ensure that you do is to get the packet of someone who has got picked up AND completed OCS.

Tae_Bo,

Finish school, period. I don't care what route you take a degree will help you out. It gives you a bargaining chip when dealing with the recruiter in picking a MOS (don't let them BS you. If need be give me a call and I will call them.) If you go Officer you will be like all other College Ops but you'll be an Officer.

Also **** all that Infantry BS (mind you even though I'm not Inf I spent most my enlisted career in Infantry units). There is enough suck to go around. If you really want to hard come here to Bragg. Go to Airborne school and/or Ranger school and there is a wide spectrum of badass here to go around. It better to be badass AND have a useful skill set to fall back on.

Also,

Spoiler:

**Tom Kagan** · Posted On: 7/14/2011 5:12pm

Originally Posted by TaeBo_Master

See, this is kinda my thought as well. I've lived a relatively easy life so far, and I think maybe I could use a little difficulty, and discipline.

Are you a person who is not happy unless you are miserable? Then go for it. Some ~~mouthbreathers~~ people love being in infantry. After all where would this country be without people who get off on being underpaid because they can get discipline with the suck?

**Devil** · Posted On: 7/14/2011 6:24pm

If pogues got it, they wouldn't be pogues in the first place.

***TaeBo_Master*** · Posted On: 7/14/2011 7:14pm

Gezere, I appreciate that, quite a lot. You'll have to tell me how you accomplished all of that. Side note, a good friend of mine, a captain serving the Army, just recently moved to Bragg. And she's a reasonable hot fitness model too so... bonus.

Took the ASVAB for real today. Got a 99. I can share the scores in more detail if you think it matters.. but I'm not entirely sure how much the ASVAB does or doesn't matter.

**Gezere** · Posted On: 7/14/2011 8:24pm

Originally Posted by TaeBo_Master

Gezere, I appreciate that, quite a lot. You'll have to tell me how you accomplished all of that. Side note, a good friend of mine, a captain serving the Army, just recently moved to Bragg. And she's a reasonable hot fitness model too so... bonus.

Hot Captain at Bragg. If she's single she won't be for long.

Took the ASVAB for real today. Got a 99. I can share the scores in more detail if you think it matters.. but I'm not entirely sure how much the ASVAB does or doesn't matter.

It won't matter its about getting what you want from the recruiter. I scored a 99 and the first thing the offered me was Cook, Infantry, and Heavy Mechanic. I looked at him sideways. When you figure out what you want stick to that. Remember you are not obligated until you swear in.

**Gezere** · Posted On: 7/14/2011 8:48pm

Also VERY important point,

No matter what route you go plan your exit strategy from the star. There is way too much out there to join the military and get out without a plan. If you don't have a degree, get one or two I, if you have one get a grad degree, get certifications, NETWORK head hunters are always around. SAVE YOUR MONEY!!!!!! Put something away so when you get out you have a next egg so you have time to look for your next job.

With ROTC, PLEASE keep in mind that if you are NOT in the Army/Navy/Air Force/Marines/Coast Guard/etc none of that time counts. You might be a little, very little, better than someone off the streets. If you come in acting like you been in because you were in ROTC you will be eaten alive. I will do it personally. I try to get this through cadets heads 4 yrs of West Point means just that not 4 yrs in the Army.

**It is Fake** · Posted On: 7/14/2011 8:49pm

Originally Posted by Gezere

Finish school, period. I don't care what route you take a degree will help you out. It gives you a bargaining chip when dealing with the recruiter in picking a MOS (don't let them BS you.

You have 70 hours. I completed 62 in 15 months because, I wanted more grant/scholarship money. If I went to that final semester of summer school, it would have been exactly a year and a few days.

Googling various colleges in your area, the undergrad range is 120-126 so, enroll and by this time next year you'll be done.