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I am considering joining a branch of the military, and I was hoping for a tad bit of advice regarding it.

First of all my main two choices are Army and Air Force. I choose these two cause I'm not really nautically inclined, and the marines seems a tad too intense for me, so the

questions are.

1) First which do you think are the pros/cons of each branch?

2) What are the requirements for enlisting in either, and what is the difficulty getting in getting into either of them?

3) I am married how does this effect (affect?), me joining, if at all?
A> Do they get to travel when I am deployed somewhere else, IE is there a housing fund or something?
B> What other things are done if anything is different.

4) Am I able to choose where I do basic, or where I am stationed? (Assuming there is a base).

P.S. I am unsure of career wise what I want to do.

*There maybe more questions I just can't think of at this time.

Air Force unless you want to be on the ground in a war zone. Air Force is easier and has better food/housing.

Dave said:

Air Force unless you want to be on the ground in a war zone. Air Force is easier and has better food/housing.

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Weird question but do you think there is any... mm respect differences between the branches? In terms of one being lesser than the rest (not that it is a factor just curious).

The army tends to be a bit more blue collar than the air force. The air force doesn't usually get too dirty and tends to blow shit up from a distance.

The army, though...Digging ditches builds character.

Thanks, wasn't sure if anyone from the Air Force could give me any tips about it either.

3) I am married how does this effect (affect?), me joining, if at all?
A> Do they get to travel when I am deployed somewhere else, IE is there a housing fund or something?

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Being married should only effect you joining if your spouse doesn't want you to join or doesn't think she could handle the lifestyle changes (like deployments, not being able to put your family first, etc.).
I'm not sure what you mean about your family traveling if you are deployed elsewhere. Your family would be able to live in housing on or near the base where you're stationed. You get a basic allowance for housing (BAH) in your pay. If you're in military housing, it gets taken right out of your check to pay for your rent, water/sewage, garbage pick up, and electricity. It's like you really don't get the money, though there are some housing areas that charge less than BAH so you do get some of it back. You could also opt to live off base or "out in town". You still get the housing allowance, but you're totally in charge of paying your own rent and utilities. Both have their advantages and disadvantages. We lived in housing when we first came to San Diego, but moved out to a regular rental after a couple of years because we had shitty neighbors.
When you're deployed, you would still be stationed wherever your command is based out of and your family would still live there. For instance, if you were stationed at a base in Texas then got deployed to the Gulf your family wouldn't have to move away because you're deployed. You're still stationed in Texas until you get orders to go to a different base (and then your family would normally go with you). Some spouses choose to go "home" while their husbands are deployed, though, so they can be closer to family. I'm not sure if the housing management has to be notified that they would be gone or if it varies from branch to branch. When my husband deployed when we were first married, I went to visit with my parents for 2 weeks and came back to CA. After that I decided it wasn't worth the hassle (my parents are never home, so I spent most of the time alone in their house rather than alone in my own house).

Wasabi Poptart said:

3) I am married how does this effect (affect?), me joining, if at all?
A> Do they get to travel when I am deployed somewhere else, IE is there a housing fund or something?

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Being married should only effect you joining if your spouse doesn't want you to join or doesn't think she could handle the lifestyle changes (like deployments, not being able to put your family first, etc.).
I'm not sure what you mean about your family traveling if you are deployed elsewhere. Your family would be able to live in housing on or near the base where you're stationed. You get a basic allowance for housing (BAH) in your pay. If you're in military housing, it gets taken right out of your check to pay for your rent, water/sewage, garbage pick up, and electricity. It's like you really don't get the money, though there are some housing areas that charge less than BAH so you do get some of it back. You could also opt to live off base or "out in town". You still get the housing allowance, but you're totally in charge of paying your own rent and utilities. Both have their advantages and disadvantages. We lived in housing when we first came to San Diego, but moved out to a regular rental after a couple of years because we had shitty neighbors.
When you're deployed, you would still be stationed wherever your command is based out of and your family would still live there. For instance, if you were stationed at a base in Texas then got deployed to the Gulf your family wouldn't have to move away because you're deployed. You're still stationed in Texas until you get orders to go to a different base (and then your family would normally go with you). Some spouses choose to go "home" while their husbands are deployed, though, so they can be closer to family. I'm not sure if the housing management has to be notified that they would be gone or if it varies from branch to branch. When my husband deployed when we were first married, I went to visit with my parents for 2 weeks and came back to CA. After that I decided it wasn't worth the hassle (my parents are never home, so I spent most of the time alone in their house rather than alone in my own house).

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Ah, I just wasn't sure how everything factored in and was curious as to what would happen if I was stationed out of state or deployed to another country or what not. How much is the BAH, such as does it easily cover rent if you do 'live in town'?
Also what branch is your husband in?

He's Navy. He's been in for 15 years, but we've been married for 6 years.
The BAH amount depends on your rank and whether or not you have dependents (your wife counts). The dependent amount of BAH is the same if you have just 1 dependent or if you have 10 dependents. You should be able to look up the BAH chart online to get an idea of the amount. That is in addition to your base pay. You should be able to find a base pay chart online, too. The highest rank you could start off as is an E-3 (and this might have changed, so just use it as an estimate of the highest pay you could make). Whether or not you're going to find something affordable if you choose to go with a regular rental is going to depend on where you live and how big of a place you're going to need. I know in Navy housing, they only have up to 4 bedrooms, so if you have more than 3 kids you may need to look into renting in town. We got lucky and found a townhouse for rent that is less than our BAH. There is a site (AHRN.com) that deals specifically with military friendly rentals and has a search feature for rentals within your BAH amount. I found it helpful when I was looking to get us out of housing.

Wasabi Poptart said:

He's Navy. He's been in for 15 years, but we've been married for 6 years.
The BAH amount depends on your rank and whether or not you have dependents (your wife counts). The dependent amount of BAH is the same if you have just 1 dependent or if you have 10 dependents. You should be able to look up the BAH chart online to get an idea of the amount. That is in addition to your base pay. You should be able to find a base pay chart online, too. The highest rank you could start off as is an E-3 (and this might have changed, so just use it as an estimate of the highest pay you could make). Whether or not you're going to find something affordable if you choose to go with a regular rental is going to depend on where you live and how big of a place you're going to need. I know in Navy housing, they only have up to 4 bedrooms, so if you have more than 3 kids you may need to look into renting in town. We got lucky and found a townhouse for rent that is less than our BAH. There is a site (AHRN.com) that deals specifically with military friendly rentals and has a search feature for rentals within your BAH amount. I found it helpful when I was looking to get us out of housing.

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It would be just me and my wife, so not many bedrooms are needed, thanks for the tips .

I nearly forgot that BAH also varies according to where you're stationed or living. When you look at the chart, you'll see it goes by state and zip code.

I really enjoyed my time in the Army, and while there was some ditch digging (for crawling into and shooting out of, dirt is a great bullet stopper.) It was mainly a 9-5 job for me, but I had a communications specialty. Your job in any branch of the service will determine more than anything how much digging/manual labor you do. I enjoyed being in the woods, still do, so for me training exercises were actually quite pleasant, if a hell of lot of hard work and next to no sleep. At the time though we were training for fighting Ivan the Russki, the current training emphasis for desert combat, not sure how I'd feel.

I wasn't married in the Army, but I did talk with many spouses when visiting off base and such. The hardest thing for the spouse to get used to, is a lack of control they feel over their own lives because of their spouse's job/career. Uncle Sugar says go, and the spouse is gone, forget whatever plans you may have whether it's for a family get together, vacation, or a career move to a nearby town-they are suddenly having to deal with it alone with their best friend gone and in harms way.

As for recruitment restrictions requirements, etc. best stop is a recruiter and the ASVAB test. This test will be the main decider on what job paths are open to you, next followed by physical limitations (such as color blindness-something I didn't know I had). I had great mechanical, spatial, communications scores, but a just above minimum mathematics score. Still my choices were pretty much wide open.

So at this point the recruiter lied to me and I got screwed. Now I have to admit, I helped. I helped a lot. I did not research my career choice. I passed up jobs that would have helped me in the then nascent networking field, general electronics work, or even satellite communications. I believed him when he said all forms of communications in the army were state of the art, and would help me for decades after leaving. So I became a 31c10-Radio Teletype Operator.

Had I known that I was basically someone that types messages sent from one location to another over an AM radio, something that was done much better and cheaper by a Fax machine I would have picked a wiredog position, field radio repair, or pretty much anything else. A recruiter gets bonuses for filling hard to fill slots, like this one would be. It had no promotion points assigned for it's higher enlistment levels, and very few training classes. It was a job that is being phased out. So the promotion points for my field were always 999-an impossible to reach figure. To ever make Sergeant, I would have to change jobs in the army, go back to AIT and learn a new field. This is not difficult to do, I just did not want to do it. Protip: Ask to compare promotion points to E5-Sergeant on any job fields you may consider these will change as openings in the field change, they are not set in stone.

Basic training for the army is held in several TRADOC command posts in the US. I think the Air Force only has one specific place. Your wife should not expect to follow you to them. It's a short time (2-2 1/2 months) and they would only get to see you on graduation day anyhow. This looks like a good article. I read through the Army basic Training section, and it fits quite well whith what I remember/saw. "Next to Marine Corps Boot Camp, Army Basic Training is the most physically intensive. If you are not physically active, you'll want to start preparing yourself a couple of months before leaving for basic training. Concentrate on running (both sprints and distance), push-ups, and sit-ups." You will have little time to write home, but every letter you get from outside will be worth more than jewels and gold.

You should both expect your thinking to change, no matter what service while in basic and advanced training.

You should both expect the way you think to change no matter what branch of service you enter, during basic and advanced training.

Yes I put the same point in twice, it's very important to both of you. Basic training is a form of mental indoctrination. This is deliberate, and specifically done for many reasons, trainers for the military have done this for a long time, and are very good at it.

You need to learn to think the (Air force/Army) way. Zero tolerance for "good nuff" thinking-go to a get it perfect the first time. This is to save your life and the lives of your teammates. How does folding your sox a certain way save your life? It gets you into the habit of doing things right the first time every time. A missed bolt can with a little help from murphy can deadline a plane or a track, a scrap of paper on the ground can give away a concealed fighting position and invite lots of high caliber death. Another reason for doing this is to get the teamwork frame of mind, the group can work in coordination, and multiply it's effectiveness. This is one of the main points for what this does, imagine one of those office team building jaunts on radioactive steroids. For the Army, if you were walking around town and suddenly heard a lot of shots being fired, would you move toward or away from the shooting? Yah, they change that.

Since your way of thinking changes, you will react to things differently, and yes, your wife will feel this. Discuss!

Also, it should be clear that almost any branch involves you giving up your freedom, and they can do anything with you that they choose no matter what they may tell you. If you sign up to be some technician behind lines, you could be in a desert anytime they choose. And as far as time spent, I have heard lots of people getting their tours of duty extended beyond what they signed up for. Just in a nutshell, if you join the military, you're handing your ass over to an institution that will use you as a piece on their chessboard.

Dave said:

The army tends to be a bit more blue collar than the air force. The air force doesn't usually get too dirty and tends to blow shit up from a distance.

The army, though...Digging ditches builds character.

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This is becoming less true with all of the Mideast stuff we're doing these days. When Calli's son joined the air force, I was surprised to learn that like 65% of recruits are for security forces to do base guard duty and stuff.

The hardest thing for the spouse to get used to, is a lack of control they feel over their own lives because of their spouse's job/career. Uncle Sugar says go, and the spouse is gone, forget whatever plans you may have whether it's for a family get together, vacation, or a career move to a nearby town-they are suddenly having to deal with it alone with their best friend gone and in harms way.

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There is a saying among military spouses and SOs that I learned even before Mr. Wasabi and I were married - "Plan in pencil". You cannot make definite plans because they are guaranteed to be ruined by the military.

Thanks for all the tips, sadly I can't think of any more questions currently :/.

Above all else, make sure that if your recruiter tells you that you're getting something, GET IT IN WRITING. If you have a contract that says you are signing up for underwater basket-weaving, make sure that's the contract that you sign.

Beware such phrases as "open contract" - that makes you a peg that will fill whatever hole they want you in.

I would advise the Air Force over the Army, simply because the Air Force is, on the whole, a more comfortable experience, with better technical training. If you want to go a bit more gung-ho, as a Marine I have a LOT of respect for their Security Forces MOS: bear in mind that the higher-end of this MOS is responsible for guarding our country's nuclear weapons supply. Just sayin'.

If you can get something with some technical training, see if it's something that can be applied to the civilian world. A lot more jobs are looking at military experience over degrees. Of course, if you can get BOTH, then that's all to the better...

One more thing for the people who have served. Would you recommend it, and would you do it again?

Yes.

I didn't like being in the navy when I was in.

But now that I'm older, I wished I'd have stayed in longer.

Most emphatically, yes. The only thing I would have done differently would be to have gone active duty from the start, rather than piddle around with the reserves, and volunteer for various duties. Sounds like a good idea, really is not.

Then again, my career route led me to my wife, so I can't complain OVERLY much. *grins*

My husband said he would have done something else. However, this is the only job he has had since he was 17 years old. My father, who was also in the Navy but only served his 4 year contract and got out, would tell you it was the best thing he ever did.

crono1224 said:

One more thing for the people who have served. Would you recommend it, and would you do it again?

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Yes, the only reason I "got" out was that I got caught in a three-way (get your mind out of the gutter) bad luck situation, changing job code (basic job was changing around the Air Force and less people needed to run it), base closure act (my base was in the second round...) and at the end of my first enlistment. Three strikes, I went home.

Sparhawk;395730][QUOTE=crono1224 said:

One more thing for the people who have served. Would you recommend it, and would you do it again?

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Yes, the only reason I "got" out was that I got caught in a three-way (get your mind out of the gutter) bad luck situation, changing job code (basic job was changing around the Air Force and less people needed to run it), base closure act (my base was in the second round...) and at the end of my first enlistment. Three strikes, I went home.[/QUOTE]

You couldn't reenlist or you just didn't feel like it because of all those factors combining?


Also I'm not sure if there is a certain mentality or maybe general type of people in the military but would i fit in well as a fairly liberal agnostic/atheist(strange statement i know).

"crono1224 said:

Sparhawk;395730 said:

crono1224 said:

One more thing for the people who have served. Would you recommend it, and would you do it again?

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Yes, the only reason I "got" out was that I got caught in a three-way (get your mind out of the gutter) bad luck situation, changing job code (basic job was changing around the Air Force and less people needed to run it), base closure act (my base was in the second round...) and at the end of my first enlistment. Three strikes, I went home.

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You couldn't reenlist or you just didn't feel like it because of all those factors combining?

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Basically couldn't re-enlists due to the changes and that my position was considered expendable. I also, since I was being forced out, negotiated that I wouldn't serve any time in the reserves, since if I did get called back up it would be open season on being placed ANYWHERE that they needed a body and I wasn't taking chances of being in a real shitty job and stuck in the desert during Operation Desert Shield/Enduring Freedom.

crono1224 said:

Also I'm not sure if there is a certain mentality or maybe general type of people in the military but would i fit in well as a fairly liberal agnostic/atheist(strange statement i know).

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Like what has been said before, your attitudes and thinking will change. So don't expect to be unchanged. I personally think that more people in the military are of a more conservative bend because you are dealing more directly with the basic notion of this country, freedom, and being willing to follow legal orders to uphold that freedom.

The Lovely Boner said:

Also, it should be clear that almost any branch involves you giving up your freedom, and they can do anything with you that they choose no matter what they may tell you. If you sign up to be some technician behind lines, you could be in a desert anytime they choose. And as far as time spent, I have heard lots of people getting their tours of duty extended beyond what they signed up for. Just in a nutshell, if you join the military, you're handing your ass over to an institution that will use you as a piece on their chessboard.

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Yes, this is correct, the military is the dictatorship that protects the freedoms. They will tell you and show you in the contracts where this can and may happen. These are not hidden things. Anyone who says it is did not pay any attention during their first two weeks in training.

You will be expected to follow any order that is not illegal, and to actively refuse/combat someone who gives one. You will be authorized to use deadly force to prevent the commission of a felony.

Sparhawk said:

Also I'm not sure if there is a certain mentality or maybe general type of people in the military but would i fit in well as a fairly liberal agnostic/atheist(strange statement i know).

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You will become more comfortable with using weapons and force in general, due to the training that shows you not only how to use it properly, but also tells you when and how it is legal to do so. I never had any issues, No one ever forced anything on me, and I am quite agnostic. I was liberal because I was a huge SF fan, and my way of thinking became more libertarian.

There were many in the military that are quite religious, not just christians but many pagan followers as well especially Nordic faiths, but by and large the population will be young men and women just like a college campus. On your day of worship a religious leader will be made available to you for the time of worship, and then you get your butt back to the barracks and get to cleaning during training. After training, it would be like any office situation, if your boss is a big church goer, you nod politely, make necessary noises and change the subject. Granted the platoon sergeant I had that worshiped through blacksmithy taught me a lot, had great steaks and mead and homebrew beer at all times made those noises a lot easier to make.

One more question was thinking bout intelligence, not like a spy per se but someone that maybe analyzes it or something, does either branch do it, or is it maybe more specific to one or the other?

All branches do it to some extent, depending on the type you want to go into will be the service you would choose, SIGINT (signals intellegence) communications, HUINT (Human Intelligence) Criminal Investigation, OPINT(Operations Intellegence) G2, and PINT (Photo Intellegence) Cartography- some if not all of the names may have changes in 20 some odd years since I was in-were the main ones I saw in the army, but those were at battalion level. Eventually though you would want to wind up in one of those alphabet groups that may or may not exist-ahem-The ones that do exist like CIA go to their jobs website, see what you want to be doing in 15-20 years and see what the qualifications are. All of these groups in the army were loaded with warrant officers that were making a career of it as well without "going Beltway" too.

crono1224 said:

One more thing for the people who have served. Would you recommend it, and would you do it again?

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Yes.

Dave was right by the way. The Air Force is looked at as the white collar military service (not necessarily true, but compared to the other 3). It is my understanding that the Air Force tends to offer more for families so that would be something you would want to look into.

I'm Air Force and your experience really depends on the job you choose.

Intel for example is mostly "in an office"...now that office will often be with an Aircraft squadron or it could be in the DC area at Ft Meade.

KNOW THIS FOR A FACT. No matter which Service you join YOU WILL DEPLOY somewhere, sometime...it could be a year in Korea, Qatar, Afghanistan or MacDill AFB, FL..it will be time away from your wife/family.

The job you choose should be tied to what you REALLY want to do... you like computers, there are sys adm type jobs. You like guns...Security Forces. Mechanical..Aircraft or vehicle or ICBM maintenance.

Talk to the recruiter...then come back here and let us know what they said/promised.

Forgot to mention housing...most bases have some, you might have to wait a few months until a spot opens up but you get a "housing allowance" that is added to your base pay. You get the "housing allowance..or BAH" if you live off base. If you live on-base the goverment keeps that allowance since you live ON-BASE.

For your wife, if you do deploy there is MANY support entities on base that are designed to help her out...in addition to the folks/family of your unit.

Would I do it again...yes..even if it meant coming back to the pentagon again.

Jonzac said:

I'm Air Force and your experience really depends on the job you choose.

Intel for example is mostly "in an office"...now that office will often be with an Aircraft squadron or it could be in the DC area at Ft Meade.

KNOW THIS FOR A FACT. No matter which Service you join YOU WILL DEPLOY somewhere, sometime...it could be a year in Korea, Qatar, Afghanistan or MacDill AFB, FL..it will be time away from your wife/family.

The job you choose should be tied to what you REALLY want to do... you like computers, there are sys adm type jobs. You like guns...Security Forces. Mechanical..Aircraft or vehicle or ICBM maintenance.

Talk to the recruiter...then come back here and let us know what they said/promised.

Forgot to mention housing...most bases have some, you might have to wait a few months until a spot opens up but you get a "housing allowance" that is added to your base pay. You get the "housing allowance..or BAH" if you live off base. If you live on-base the goverment keeps that allowance since you live ON-BASE.

For your wife, if you do deploy there is MANY support entities on base that are designed to help her out...in addition to the folks/family of your unit.

Would I do it again...yes..even if it meant coming back to the pentagon again.

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A couple things, I have been warned that recruiters can be slightly unscrupulous in their recruiting, being that their job is to fill their quota so saying things that aren't completely true isn't that huge of a deal to them. Is this true, and if so what should I do to combat that?

Second, why is air force 'better' for families than say army, I heard that the deployment time is shorter usually, but are there other things?

Third, I was looking into Intel cause I think it could be interesting helping in the support of whats happening, where troops should go, and what not. But I wasn't sure the difference between army and air force Intel, such as is one more of a main focus of the branch and one maybe an addition. I can't really think of how to phrase it. But like the army's intelligence is more all encompassing, and air force is very specific? (If anyone could crack what i was saying feel free to answer if not it's fine.)

*edited* Forth, regarding BAH I thought simply having a dependent made me eligible to receive it? If not would it not be smarter to live off site so that I have access to the money?

A couple things, I have been warned that recruiters can be slightly unscrupulous in their recruiting, being that their job is to fill their quota so saying things that aren't completely true isn't that huge of a deal to them. Is this true, and if so what should I do to combat that?

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1. Know what you want to do, guide him toward that goal. If you and he have a similar goal, that will make it easier for both of you. If you go in with 'I Dunno, whad ya wanna do' attitude, he will smell blood in the water and drop you in something he needs numbers of folks in for his bonus. The more you know directly about your chosen job choice, the better for you. You can try getting in touch with former members of your field via Veterans groups, such as online groups, or your local Veterans of Foreign Wars.

2. Get ANY PROMISE or any ASSURANCE in writing on your contract. Especially if it is a deal breaker for you, or affects the location of yourself from your family. He's not out to cheat you specifically, but if he can get another notch on his quota and look good to the boss, he will.

A recruiter is like any other salesman, he has a product, he wants to have you take that product and make his quota. Just because he can't fully lie, he may not tell the full truth either. He's there to make his nut, and get you in uniform. Also be aware, there may be some things he simply cannot promise, he may indeed be able to put in a back channel request, but if it's not in your contract don't expect it to happen. If you go in "prepare for the worst, hope for the best" will become a very comforting phrase.

Another phrase you will become very familiar with, "Hurry up and wait." Life in basic is just this.

Dusty668 said:

A couple things, I have been warned that recruiters can be slightly unscrupulous in their recruiting, being that their job is to fill their quota so saying things that aren't completely true isn't that huge of a deal to them. Is this true, and if so what should I do to combat that?

Click to expand...

1. Know what you want to do, guide him toward that goal. If you and he have a similar goal, that will make it easier for both of you. If you go in with 'I Dunno, whad ya wanna do' attitude, he will smell blood in the water and drop you in something he needs numbers of folks in for his bonus. The more you know directly about your chosen job choice, the better for you. You can try getting in touch with former members of your field via Veterans groups, such as online groups, or your local Veterans of Foreign Wars.

2. Get ANY PROMISE or any ASSURANCE in writing on your contract. Especially if it is a deal breaker for you, or affects the location of yourself from your family. He's not out to cheat you specifically, but if he can get another notch on his quota and look good to the boss, he will.

A recruiter is like any other salesman, he has a product, he wants to have you take that product and make his quota. Just because he can't fully lie, he may not tell the full truth either. He's there to make his nut, and get you in uniform. Also be aware, there may be some things he simply cannot promise, he may indeed be able to put in a back channel request, but if it's not in your contract don't expect it to happen. If you go in "prepare for the worst, hope for the best" will become a very comforting phrase.

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Gotcha, ya thats why I went here first to see how much info I could be provided with because I knew a lot of you have been in the military before and I was hoping to have some light shed upon the things I was thinking about. Thanks for the advice though .

@Sparhawk
I've worked a bit in construction and cooking, I have become familare with that term .

With regards to housing, I've seen it in all the major services (although, admittedly, on in limited amounts for the Army). It goes in descending order of quality, without question: Air Force, Navy, Army, Marine Corps. Marine barracks suck ass, and family housing ain't much better. I hear a lot of junior Airmen griping about the quality of their "dorms" (the fact that they call them "dorms" gives you an idea of their relative quality), and I want to laugh. Then I tell them about how at French Creek, in Camp LeJeune, NC, Marines were getting reimbursed for living in the barracks there, because they started detecting toxins in the water supply.

I love my Marine Corps, but they can pinch a couple pennies together tight enough to make Abraham Lincoln a siamese twin...

Officer_Charon said:

With regards to housing, I've seen it in all the major services (although, admittedly, on in limited amounts for the Army). It goes in descending order of quality, without question: Air Force, Navy, Army, Marine Corps. Marine barracks suck ass, and family housing ain't much better. I hear a lot of junior Airmen griping about the quality of their "dorms" (the fact that they call them "dorms" gives you an idea of their relative quality), and I want to laugh. Then I tell them about how at French Creek, in Camp LeJeune, NC, Marines were getting reimbursed for living in the barracks there, because they started detecting toxins in the water supply.

I love my Marine Corps, but they can pinch a couple pennies together tight enough to make Abraham Lincoln a siamese twin...

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So what you are saying is get out of their housing and move into our own with the BAH they provide?


Also random question to the ones i asked before, I hear that there are bonuses for joining quickly when you speak with an recruiter. My question is if you speak with them first for facts, can you go in later (couple weeks later) and then actually sign up quickly for the bonus?)

Honestly, I would try to get a place of my own instead of living in housing if it's affordable. Navy housing is nice since they have been renovating most housing communities. However, we lived next to some of the most ignorant, trashy people I have ever dealt with. The management was no help in resolving the situation. So, I found a new place and moved us out of housing (my husband was in school at the time). I am not looking forward to living in housing when we go to Hawaii, but I don't know that we will be able to. I haven't checked rent for houses there yet.

crono1224;399406][QUOTE=Jonzac said:

I'm Air Force and your experience really depends on the job you choose.

Intel for example is mostly "in an office"...now that office will often be with an Aircraft squadron or it could be in the DC area at Ft Meade.

KNOW THIS FOR A FACT. No matter which Service you join YOU WILL DEPLOY somewhere, sometime...it could be a year in Korea, Qatar, Afghanistan or MacDill AFB, FL..it will be time away from your wife/family.

The job you choose should be tied to what you REALLY want to do... you like computers, there are sys adm type jobs. You like guns...Security Forces. Mechanical..Aircraft or vehicle or ICBM maintenance.

Talk to the recruiter...then come back here and let us know what they said/promised.

Forgot to mention housing...most bases have some, you might have to wait a few months until a spot opens up but you get a "housing allowance" that is added to your base pay. You get the "housing allowance..or BAH" if you live off base. If you live on-base the goverment keeps that allowance since you live ON-BASE.

For your wife, if you do deploy there is MANY support entities on base that are designed to help her out...in addition to the folks/family of your unit.

Would I do it again...yes..even if it meant coming back to the pentagon again.

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A couple things, I have been warned that recruiters can be slightly unscrupulous in their recruiting, being that their job is to fill their quota so saying things that aren't completely true isn't that huge of a deal to them. Is this true, and if so what should I do to combat that?

Second, why is air force 'better' for families than say army, I heard that the deployment time is shorter usually, but are there other things?

Third, I was looking into Intel cause I think it could be interesting helping in the support of whats happening, where troops should go, and what not. But I wasn't sure the difference between army and air force Intel, such as is one more of a main focus of the branch and one maybe an addition. I can't really think of how to phrase it. But like the army's intelligence is more all encompassing, and air force is very specific? (If anyone could crack what i was saying feel free to answer if not it's fine.)

*edited* Forth, regarding BAH I thought simply having a dependent made me eligible to receive it? If not would it not be smarter to live off site so that I have access to the money?[/QUOTE]

Recruiters CANNOT lie, if they do and get caught they could easily be brought up on charges....that doesn't mean they will TELL you everything either.

I haven't lived on other bases so I can't say that the Air Force is "better" housing...I can say that the AF has put an ass ton of money to build new on-base housing in most bases and married airmen are eligible for a 1200sq ft 2-bedroom on base.

Intel for the Army is oriented towards close threats and things that affect their troops. AF Intel is focused on Air Threats, Satallite Imaging, and they have tie in with all the Services. Be warned all Intel AFSC (or job codes) are in high demand and could mean several deployments. I"m not saying its guaranteeded you ALWAYS be gone, but Intel is a career field with higher than average deployments...I've heard nothing but good thoughts from Intel guys though so most seem to like their jobs.

Regarding BAH... you CAN live off base but remember if you do you now have to pay Garbage, Electricity, Water, Property Tax (if you buy), etc. On-base you pay for TV, phone, internet. Even the new privateised houseing you only pay utilities if you go OVER the average of all peoples usage.

I've ALWAYS lived on-base except for this tour at the Pentagon...and I do like it...you behind a fence for security, people to take care of your family when you deploy, a 2-mintue commute to work....VERY NICE.

Wasabi,

I've known some folks that have been stationed there and the rent is expensive. It does get cheaper the farther from Honolulu you get...if you lucky you could be assigned to the Marine base on the North Shore

Jonzac - I had a friend who was there with her husband and she loved it! My husband's going to be based out of Pearl Harbor, though. Here in CA were were in privatized housing. That fence of security was non-existent. They had a private security company who had to be called in if there was a problem. They rarely came, but would tell management that they did show up and didn't see anything going on. I used to call the local cops instead because at least they would take care of business.
Once, there were guys with air guns running around in the common grounds shooting at each other at 11pm. Seeing a group of men with guns running past your living room window that late at night when your husband is gone and you have a 1 year old asleep upstairs is a little unsettling. Not to mention they were yelling and cursing at each other. Once I realized they were playing war games that late at night, I went from scared to annoyed. I called security. No one came for over 30 minutes. I called the cops. They came out within 10 minutes and were giving these guys hell once security finally rolled up. The security guard told me he didn't understand where the common grounds area in my part of the complex despite my description including cross streets.

Bah, privatized housing is a complete cop-out from the Services to take care of its people. They were talking about doing that in the last base I was at, and I'm sure it will happend because some pencil pushing goverment employee has bought the bill of goods that somehow a private company will do it cheaper than the Services will...cheaper and better....its bullshit!!

I know from when my husband was in Sicily (before we were married) that base run housing is pretty good. You don't screw around or they will go to your command and you can get kicked out of housing all together if you're a constant thorn in their side. Not so much with privatized.

Jonzac;399683][QUOTE=crono1224 said:

*SNIP*

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Recruiters CANNOT lie, if they do and get caught they could easily be brought up on charges....that doesn't mean they will TELL you everything either.

I haven't lived on other bases so I can't say that the Air Force is "better" housing...I can say that the AF has put an ass ton of money to build new on-base housing in most bases and married airmen are eligible for a 1200sq ft 2-bedroom on base.

Intel for the Army is oriented towards close threats and things that affect their troops. AF Intel is focused on Air Threats, Satallite Imaging, and they have tie in with all the Services. Be warned all Intel AFSC (or job codes) are in high demand and could mean several deployments. I"m not saying its guaranteeded you ALWAYS be gone, but Intel is a career field with higher than average deployments...I've heard nothing but good thoughts from Intel guys though so most seem to like their jobs.

Regarding BAH... you CAN live off base but remember if you do you now have to pay Garbage, Electricity, Water, Property Tax (if you buy), etc. On-base you pay for TV, phone, internet. Even the new privateised houseing you only pay utilities if you go OVER the average of all peoples usage.

I've ALWAYS lived on-base except for this tour at the Pentagon...and I do like it...you behind a fence for security, people to take care of your family when you deploy, a 2-mintue commute to work....VERY NICE.[/QUOTE]

Gotcha, it does sound like air force would be one of the better fits. I ask about the Intel thing because I am unsure how long I would be in the service if I go, but I was hoping that my time could transfer to outside jobs (it appears like NSA,CIA and stuff have jobs for Intel people). So I was curious if one or the other would be better for that, and if either one was more of the primary Intel.


Another question, are the weight requirements in effect still to be recruited? (I'm not very out of weight, but I maybe 10-20lbs over).
Second is there any other requirements that I should know about, and in addition how is recruiting currently are they in need of people or no?

Air force height weight chart: http://usmilitary.about.com/od/airforcejoin/a/afmaxweight.htm
Army: http://usmilitary.about.com/od/army/l/blmaleweight.htm

Don't know how old they are, or how official. The army one looks right for when I was in though around the 69 inch height range. The Army will compensate for body fat though, if it is lower than a stated amount.

I am actually thinking more strongly of the army, because I would be able to specifically pick my job, and there seems to be arguments (on this air force forum) over their Intel jobs and some being useless (1N0X1- Operation Intelligence). So I was thinking of applying to be a 35F in the army (intelligence analyst).

Also I heard that having more college credits can get you enlisted at a higher E rank (I have an associates, and like 2/3s of 2 others).

I'm not sure about how the Army works, but do "watch out" for large single MOS or AFSC...they often have many subcatagories that will land you somewhere you don't want to be.

For Example.

I'm a 21A/M (Aircraft/Munitions Maintenance)...sounds simple..but I could work on everything from fighters, to cargo aircraft, to bombers, to conventional munitions to nuclear munitions to ICBMs. Even though I just waned to work on fighter aircraft

Like I said...talk to the recruiters...then come here and we'll help you through it.

Dusty668 said:

Air force height weight chart: http://usmilitary.about.com/od/airforcejoin/a/afmaxweight.htm
Army: http://usmilitary.about.com/od/army/l/blmaleweight.htm

Don't know how old they are, or how official. The army one looks right for when I was in though around the 69 inch height range. The Army will compensate for body fat though, if it is lower than a stated amount.

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Probably still accurate. The chart says 5'8" needs a minimum weight of 125. Calli's oldest is 5'8" and was 123lbs when he first started talking to the recruiter, and he's been fighting like mad to stay above 125.

Dusty668 said:

Air force height weight chart: http://usmilitary.about.com/od/airforcejoin/a/afmaxweight.htm
Army: http://usmilitary.about.com/od/army/l/blmaleweight.htm

Don't know how old they are, or how official. The army one looks right for when I was in though around the 69 inch height range. The Army will compensate for body fat though, if it is lower than a stated amount.

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22%, I get taped every time I take the APFT. To the best of my knowledge the only difference between someone who is under the maximum weight for their height, and someone over who has a low body fat percentage, is the person under will not have to constantly get a tape test.

They went back to the tape test? It was a pinch caliper test when I was in. I kept getting reprimanded cause I'm ticklish.

I know for the Navy they weigh you, if you aren't within standards then you are taped. If you don't make the standards when you're taped you get put on FEP (Fitness Enhancement Program). The only way you get the calipers is if medical recommends it and if you ask about it. Otherwise they don't use them.

My MOS when I was in was Administrative - Financial Accounting. When I got to my first duty station, I found out the subcategory of my job also included such "accounting" things as inventory. I ended up in the storeroom of a chow hall giving food to cooks. The only good thing about it was that I had the keys to everything and could go in anytime I want & make myself a steak.

Dave said:

My MOS when I was in was Administrative - Financial Accounting. When I got to my first duty station, I found out the subcategory of my job also included such "accounting" things as inventory. I ended up in the storeroom of a chow hall giving food to cooks. The only good thing about it was that I had the keys to everything and could go in anytime I want & make myself a steak.

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So what you are saying is make sure when I talk to a recruiter that a subcat doesn't include 'toilet engineer' or something?

heh, when I went to MEPS they tried to offer me the MOS of Petroleum Supply Specialist.

Using words like specialist, -ologist, engineer can make even the shitties job sound important. heh

I figured I give a little update on this thread if anyone cared. I am in the middle of going through Navy, I took the ASVAB and scored pretty highly which they said lets me have the pick of the litter. The job I am really thinking about is something in Intelligence, but apparently a 'Nuke' job is open to me. I'm not that huge into it, but I know it's in high demand and gets either 12k sign up or 12k a year additional bonus. The draw back is 1.5 years of schooling nearly 3-5 times the average for other jobs, and it maybe out of my league in terms of intelligence requirements.

So anywho, I am currently waiting on getting operative reports for the 20+ surgeries I have had, cause apparently the military wants documentation of everything that has possibly occured to you, and it sucks cause for one of the hospitals it is going to cost ~40$.

Lastly, anyone have any tips for basic, what to expect, what are the workouts like, what should be focused on for getting into shape? Is there going to be like 100+ pushup days, cause I am awful at them.

Once again, make sure you have it in writing for anything that you agree to and read what you are about to sign and make sure you understand it.

Nuke jobs can be good for when you get out of the military, but be assured that you will spend time underwater for that assignment, also a fairly high washout rate for the tech school stuff.

Basic, make sure you are in a least a decent shape before entering, be able to run 1.5 miles, do a decent amount of pushups, be able to LISTEN to what your DI is telling you to do, don't assume what he is going to tell you. And most of all, be prepared to work with all kinds of people, you will encounter them from all over with all kinds of backgrounds.

Oh, one more thing, learn to be patient, there is lots of "hurry up and wait" stuff that will happen through basic (paperwork, paperwork, paperwork, shots, classes, paperwork, and if you're going into a field that requires a security clearance more paperwork).

What happens if someone washes out of a school? Also ya, I gotta wait for my stupid stuff to get in order to make sure there is no problems, the majority of my surgeries were for cleft-lip and palate, which I can't see how it would affect joining, I did have one shoulder surgery but that shouldn't be an issue. Also I guess I gotta work on swimming to :/. The nuke job is probably not, just doesn't seem something I am interested in, but it is a fairly decent job in general.

Washouts usually get assigned to whatever job they are needing filled the most. I knew a guy in tech school in the Air Force that washed out of the Air Traffic Control program that ended up going to cooking school and working at a mess hall in Kuwait.

A guy my husband worked with a few years ago had the cleft lip/palate surgeries when he was a kid. Didn't affect him joining in the least. I don't know what the Navy's swim qualifications are, but I did the open water swim test for PADI scuba certification. I had to do 200 yards free swim and 10 minutes of treading water. It was pretty easy, but I also used to swim a lot.

Ah that shouldn't be too hard, I am going camping on Lake Huron this coming week, so I should have time to practice both of those. That's good that the surgery didn't affect them joining, I am close to getting everything in order to get in .

just FYI, nuke is a much more demanding qualification than many of the other jobs offered.
If it's anything like when I went in, you'll also have to pass the nuclear qualifying test, which was a fair bit harder than the asvab. And yes, there's a high wash-out rate.
U.S. Navy Nuclear Power School

This little article scratches the surface, but like everything you might read about boot camp or military life, you'll realize later that while everything in the article true, it really doesn't give you any idea of what it's actually like

you will also tend to work longer hours and have less of a life than an equivalent non-nuclear field. Up to you to decide if that extra pay is worth it. 12K is nice....when I went in, it was only 5K

I figured, I got a wife currently, so I don't think a super demanding field such as that is for me. The money and the possibility for life outside of it seemed decent but not really my cup of tea. Were you in the navy as well Tin?

Being a nuke is not for everyone. It is a highly technical field, requiring you to be apart from your family for up to 6 months at a time, if not longer as necessary. It's good that you can make the assessment of what you're after now, rather than later on and be regretting it.

Intel is a good field to get in, but is highly deployable, depending on your specialty, and has limited applications in the civilian world. May I suggest something of a more technical nature, giving you skillsets that can be applied in a civilian engineering position? (assuming, of course, that that's what you want to get into... *chuckle*)

crono1224 said:

I figured, I got a wife currently, so I don't think a super demanding field such as that is for me. The money and the possibility for life outside of it seemed decent but not really my cup of tea. Were you in the navy as well Tin?

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yup

Officer_Charon said:

Being a nuke is not for everyone. It is a highly technical field, requiring you to be apart from your family for up to 6 months at a time, if not longer as necessary. It's good that you can make the assessment of what you're after now, rather than later on and be regretting it.

Intel is a good field to get in, but is highly deployable, depending on your specialty, and has limited applications in the civilian world. May I suggest something of a more technical nature, giving you skillsets that can be applied in a civilian engineering position? (assuming, of course, that that's what you want to get into... *chuckle*)

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I got an associates in Criminal Justice (doesn't really mean shit), but I like the socio/psychological sorta analysis sorta stuff, so that's why I figured it would be intresting. I'm not as huge on the techincal side, although worst case I could be Network Intel, which could probably translate to a Network job, or Network Security job in the civilian world. Also maybe at worst I could go into one of the 3 letter organizations, and I would already have security clearance (not sure how rare or hard it is to have).

Tinwhistler;425035][QUOTE=crono1224 said:

I figured, I got a wife currently, so I don't think a super demanding field such as that is for me. The money and the possibility for life outside of it seemed decent but not really my cup of tea. Were you in the navy as well Tin?

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yup [/QUOTE]

Something about that picture just makes it seem like it was taken forever ago. So what did you do in the navy?

EMN (eletcricians mate nuclear), pic was taken almost 20 years ago.

When I went in, you didn't get to choose your career path in nuke...you were randomly assigned to ET, EM or MM. Most folks got MM (like 65%) and only 10% got the coveted electronics tech job.

Tinwhistler said:

EMN (electronics mate nuclear), pic was taken almost 20 years ago.

When I went in, you didn't get to choose your career path in nuke...you were randomly assigned to ET, EM or MM. Most folks got MM (like 65%) and only 10% got the coveted electronics tech job.

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How did you enjoy being a nuke. I think the navy is the same way now? I am not really sure next time I talk with my recruiter I will have to ask if you pick specific jobs or just the semi general field.

honestly, I hated the military. I wasn't big on following other people's rules. I've become a lot less of a wild child as I've gotten older. I've also come to recognize that I got some good value, character-wise, out of my time there. I kind of wish I'd have stayed in longer.

Tinwhistler said:

honestly, I hated the military. I wasn't big on following other people's rules. I've become a lot less of a wild child as I've gotten older. I've also come to recognize that I got some good value, character-wise, out of my time there. I kind of wish I'd have stayed in longer.

Click to expand...

The real question is would you recommend someone to join?

I would

Tinwhistler said:

I would

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How was your time on a boat, it seems like being on a boat would be interesting as you travel the world, but the sleeping arrangements are terrible.

Depends on the boat... I mean ship *nods to Tin* I've done a VERY brief ride on an LPD and a carrier... the racks were stacked 3 high on the carrier, 4 high on the LPD (gotta cram us jarheads into the accommodations as much as possible! *laugh*). It actually wasn't horrible... kinda like being in a close-in dorm setting, but I can see how it would get a bit wearing after a while. Carriers are small cities unto themselves, though. I can imagine that being on a DD or FG might be a bit less impersonal.

That about sums it up. It really depends on the ship and your shipmates. You could be assigned for duty on a ship with a half-dozen crew, or on a carrier with a few thousands.

My husband was on a carrier when we first came to CA. Prior to that he was on a smaller ship (LPD). He preferred the smaller ship because your work tends to get noticed more. On the carrier, he felt he was just another body even though he carried much of the work load himself (I think it's pretty bad when the CO requests you by name to work on the bridge equipment because he knows you're that good, but your immediate supervisors don't recognize you for it until you're about to get transferred to another command). He's looking forward to being on a smaller ship again (a DDG this time) when we get to Hawaii.

Arghl Bargl I hate filling out the Security Clearance paperwork, at least the Navy's is online but it still is annoying to go through all that info, and I feel bad for people who keep awful records of things. Also fun fact the certificate for the website I have to go is out of date or something, so every time I go there I get a warning about the website.

Every military website is like that.

Yeah... enjoy your clearance check.


... fuck... just realised if I get another one, I've got to tell them about my foreign friends here... *eyeroll*

Officer_Charon said:

Yeah... enjoy your clearance check.


... fuck... just realised if I get another one, I've got to tell them about my foreign friends here... *eyeroll*

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Well, I know from mine (that I've managed to keep) that the US was just a few questions that were basically, "Has anyone solicited you to provide information? Meet in person? Provide access to facilities?" type stuff.

Quick question and hopefully people are still reading this. Due to one of three possibilities (miss read question, ambiguous questions, or question didn't ask) on one of the forms the recruiter initially turned in I didn't mention that I used to take Ritalin a few years ago (started around 15 years ago ended ~8 years ago). Now I went through all this hoopla to get a letter from my doctor stating I no longer required the use of Ritalin. When I told the recruiter that I got the letter, he said it turns out we turned in a paper that didn't state I took it, and because it's been so long since I took it that I don't need to worry about stating that I did or need the letter (I will get the letter regardless though).

My question is should I force the issue with the Ritalin even if it extends me joining or whatever just to make sure it doesn't come back to bite me. As a note whatever field I join will probably require secret to top secret clearance (at least at some point) and I'm not sure how apt they are to finding out and if they would consider it lying.

Since you're getting a top secret clearance, you probably want to get that straightened out. Otherwise I probably wouldn't worry about it.

Anyone else have any comments as well? I figure with Intelligence job or Nuke job I am going to be at least possible for the SSBI, and I have no idea if it would find it.

The recruiter stated that since it has been so long it shouldn't matter but I am unsure if the military wants to know if i am still taking it, if I should still be taking it (ie suffering from what it cures (ADD or ADHD)), or if they just care that I took it period.

Get the letter from the doctor...hold on to it...if any questions come up during your clearance interview you can show them the letter.

crono1224 said:

Anyone else have any comments as well? I figure with Intelligence job or Nuke job I am going to be at least possible for the SSBI, and I have no idea if it would find it.

The recruiter stated that since it has been so long it shouldn't matter but I am unsure if the military wants to know if i am still taking it, if I should still be taking it (ie suffering from what it cures (ADD or ADHD)), or if they just care that I took it period.

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Get the letter, keep it in your personal records just in case they ask about it. The SSBI is basically an investigation where they go and talk to your neighbors (scared the crap out of a little old lady that I lived next to, she was scared that I had done something wrong when the agent identified himself) and recent employers to find out if you have any history that needs to be looked into more. Basically you don't want to be going through this and a smart-ass former boss or friend pop off with something like "He used to sell drugs to make money" or "He was always trying to borrow money for more whiskey each day."

Sparhawk;430890][QUOTE=crono1224 said:

Anyone else have any comments as well? I figure with Intelligence job or Nuke job I am going to be at least possible for the SSBI, and I have no idea if it would find it.

The recruiter stated that since it has been so long it shouldn't matter but I am unsure if the military wants to know if i am still taking it, if I should still be taking it (ie suffering from what it cures (ADD or ADHD)), or if they just care that I took it period.

Click to expand...

Get the letter, keep it in your personal records just in case they ask about it. The SSBI is basically an investigation where they go and talk to your neighbors (scared the crap out of a little old lady that I lived next to, she was scared that I had done something wrong when the agent identified himself) and recent employers to find out if you have any history that needs to be looked into more. Basically you don't want to be going through this and a smart-ass former boss or friend pop off with something like "He used to sell drugs to make money" or "He was always trying to borrow money for more whiskey each day."[/QUOTE]

I was joking with my friends that I put as references these very things. Alright I will get the letter regardless and have it so if something does happen I can say the recruiter assured me there was no reason to disclose it and although I have this as a record.

I think you'll be fine, just be honest and truthful. They are looking for things that would make you vulnerable to being blackmailed or bribed and therefor a risk to having access to information or sensitive equipment.

Just remember if your going Nuclear...that means nuclear reactor work and such...also a good chance they are going to want you to go to sub school for that as well. Nuke guys or "push button POs" as us BM's used to call them....yes that's what I said BM3 before I left the Navy for the Air Force.

Sparhawk said:

I think you'll be fine, just be honest and truthful. They are looking for things that would make you vulnerable to being blackmailed or bribed and therefor a risk to having access to information or sensitive equipment.

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This - it's why I don't qualify for a clearance right now, because my credit history is fookin' shot. *chuckles* They want to check to make sure someone doesn't have leverage to use against you. Integrity is the biggest thing you can use, and it's a guaranteed killer if they find out that you actively lied on something.

My credit is pretty good, I'm not exactly sure where it is at but the most debt I have is ~3k in student loans currently. The ritalin thing I am just going to get the letter and hold on to it, and if for some stupid reason they mention it I will show I was actively taken off of it and the recruiter said not to worry because it was over 7 years ago.

Okay a little follow up in case anyone cares . I am almost there in terms of getting to the MEPS for the physical, I just got a doctors note turned in for one of my sets of surgeries, and currently I will probably need a doctors note for my shoulder surgery which I am waiting to start until I know exactly what is wanted in terms of the note. So hopefully I will be joining shortly assuming there is no issues that come up.

In follow up the recruiters are still heavily pushing going Nuke, which I am still unsure about I definitely leaning more towards the intelligence side of things, but it gets slightly annoying that pretty much everything revolves around nuke related ideas (I am sure they probably get a bigger bonus for signing people up for it).

Before I do make a decision, how is the nuke field I understand it is very hard and intensive, but is it worth it?

From everything I hear for x-navy the guys that went on the nuke boats loved their time. the ones that served on the surface hated their time. Because of the added stress of being underwater for months at a stretch, the navy goes out of its way to treat you well.

^^
What he said. Almost word for word from the ex-Navy friends that I have.

I not sure but I could volunteer to do intelligence or something on a sub, so win-win (sort of). Also do subs dock as often as ships? Just kinda curious about the options, I honestly am not sure I am smart/dedicated (to that field) enough to be a Nuke. I find I am fairly smart and I guess quick in mild math (up to geometry), but past that I haven't really done much and am not a huge fan.

So not sure if that factors in.

Also I greatly appreciate all the advice, it is nice to be able and kind of bounce ideas/suggestions off of people that either may have first hand knowledge or at least access to get advice. Not that I don't also browse navy forums and what not, but not exactly the same.

Boomers basically go out and stay out, Six to Nine months at a stretch. The Attack Boats don't stay out so long, and they will make a few port of calls. But the Boomers are much more comfortable.

So a little bit of an update, they accepted my doctors note regarding the cleft lip surgeries and the doctors now wanted something regarding my shoulder surgery. Weirdly enough they didn’t want a doctor’s note regarding it but instead wanted me to do a hand written statement essentially detailing how it feels. So the recruiter set up an appointment for me at noon today, and here is where my mini rant starts.

[rant]
I went in at noon and my usual recruiter wasn’t there it was just his boss, in which I had to fill out the paperwork in front of. Now I like my recruiter he is nice and what not, but his boss is short tempered and generally unpleasant (at least was today) and he made the whole process annoying. First apparently you can’t squiggly out mistakes that you make while writing (was using pen), and they have to white it out, and I got bitched at twice for doing it, which really only happened because we were free writing it so to speak.

Secondly I had to give examples basically of how my shoulder didn’t affect my day to day routine/work out, so I put down my general workout which isn’t too intensive in general but I usually do say 5 sets of 20 push ups and he decided that didn’t sound good enough so he had me say it was 5 sets of 50 instead. This sort of thing happened a few times and made me feel slightly uncomfortable since it was annoying that a guy I hadn’t dealt with before felt he needed to be so brash so to speak and embellish what I can do. I understand by the way that both A) people are assholes and B) in the military I won’t be coddled. But when they are the ones trying to woo me especially to be a nuke, they could at least try and be pleasant since I am sure it will get them some sort of bonus.

Lastly I am getting tired of telling them I’m not doing nuke and instead am probably doing intelligence, but anytime they reference my future job it’s in regards to nuke like “lets finish this up so we can get you shipped off to be a nuke”, I have given up on correcting them and when I get to whoever signs me up I will just tell them what I want to be. But it is annoying that they basically don’t give a fuck what I want and just assume I will do the thing that will probably get them a bonus.

Alas though I am unsure where stuff will go the recruiter boss guy seemed unsure of what this meant, apparently it could take up to a month to get word and I may need to see an ortho-doctor to get checked out but who knows what will happen. Also annoying that the apparent big obstacle medical related thing was the last thing they wanted done rather than the first.
[/rant]

What you sign up for and what you get are two totally different things.

I don't think so, you get whatever rating you sign up for, it's not you submit a set and they pick.

Unless you are referring to the fact the job might not be what I think it is.

Tinwhistler;442240][QUOTE=sixpackshaker said:

What you sign up for and what you get are two totally different things.

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When I signed up, I signed a contract guaranteeing my job(provided I didn't flunk out or otherwise disqualify myself) and giving me a sign-on bonus for the position.[/QUOTE]

Ya that's what I have been reading, maybe way in the past it was different or Air Force? I'm not too sure, I have heard about having other options in case there is a long time on getting in for the current one.

This is what we've been talking about with regards to getting it on paper. Make sure you look any contract over with VEEEERY carefully.

You might have thought that we were exaggerating about how shady some recruiters can be. Stick to your guns, and don't sign anything until it says exactly what you're trying to have happen.

Roger, I have heard that from many sources and I will try to make sure it says everything it should like what bonuses I should get and what job I am signing up for, if they try and keep pushing nuke and won't let me do anything else I may just threaten to walk away.

Random question after basic how intensive is the physical side of the military (more specifically the navy), do you PT regularly, semi-regularly or rarely? Also what would happen if you got injured or needed surgery during service how would they handle that (assuming you are already on the job. I know randomish question but I figured it doesn't hurt to ask such things.

How about after boot camp going into A school still a lot of pt? Also after A school when you actually started working did you still do much PT or not?

Yep that sounds just like RTC Great Lakes...only I seem to remember far more "MASH"ing...as in Make A Sailor Hurt, or PT in dungarees until your covered in sweat.

Roger thanks for all the help tin, I am currently actually looking into network intel as well to regular intelligence and just kind of deciding.

Interesting look at how boot camp is, how many hours a day were you doing PT? 5-6?

Also how did you deal with the separation, did time just fly by or were there any specific ways, just curious.

crono1224 said:

Roger thanks for all the help tin, I am currently actually looking into network intel as well to regular intelligence and just kind of deciding.

Interesting look at how boot camp is, how many hours a day were you doing PT? 5-6?

Also how did you deal with the separation, did time just fly by or were there any specific ways, just curious.

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When I went through Army Basic we did PT for about an hour every morning and would generally get smoked an average of once an hour for doing something wrong.

I hope you enjoy reading and writing letters. If not you will. Mail time was the highlight of our day. It always sucked when you didn't get anything :'(

Smoked I assume is doing push ups or something to that effect? I will have to remind my loved ones to spam me with mail .

Being smoked is usually, but not limited to: push-ups, running in place, rifle PT, sandpit PT, low-crawling across the squad bay, Supermans, squad pushups (for when someone just doesn't Get It, and the squad has failed to police him up), duckwalking, duckwalking with a mattress on one's head, squad bay laps, Drill Instructor Pong ("GO AWAY!" "GET OVER HERE! GO AWAY!" "GET OVER HERE!" etc), Island-Hopping, plus whatever a drill instructor's devious little mind can come up with that won't get Mothers of America crying to the CG.

Ahhh, good times.

The one that sticks out in my mind is having to lunge race around the barracks in what our Drill Sergeants called the Carolina Speedway. The losers got smoked, and the winner got to take a victory lap.

Covar said:

The one that sticks out in my mind is having to lunge race around the barracks in what our Drill Sergeants called the Carolina Speedway. The losers got smoked, and the winner got to take a victory lap.

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Ooh, NICE one.... I'ma add that one to my tool box.

The only thong scarier than a Lance Corporal with an Idea(tm) or a Lieutenant with a Plan(tm) is a Drill Instructor with imagination...

Can't spell wimp without the MP, can't spell lost without the LT.

Alright hopefully turned in my last letter and now just gotta wait for them to get back to the recruiter and him to get back to me, he is still pushing the nuke thing but I don't even care. Currently I am just debating intel specialist or network intel, so have to see where that goes. For the next time I meet with my recruiter before the MEPS what key things should I make sure are stated, that I get in as an E3, my job possibilities, and what else?

Be sure your contract is for the length of time you want. Most tend to be 4x4s (4 years active, 4 years Individual Ready Reserve (IRR). Depending on your school requirements, your active time might be longer. You CAN get it shorter, but at the expense of your Montgomery GI Bill. Choose wisely, and good luck!

... Squid. *grins*

Jesus this thread is covered in Seamen!

---------- Post added at 07:23 AM ---------- Previous post was at 07:23 AM ----------

Oh and watch out for freshwater jelly fish in the shower

Bah update so apparently my 3 year old release of care letter from my shoulder doctor wasn't good enough they want a more recent one, which means a new exam. Now currently I don't have insurance because that stupid new healthcare hasn't taken effect with my parents insurance, and I didn't sign up at my job because I figured I would just wait till I got into the navy. So I am going to have to pay how ever much it is to get a general exam and pray he doesn't require a x-ray or mri, else I would be fucked.

Alright one more update to anyone who may actually check this thread, I went to MEPS for the medical stuff, when I met directly with the Chief Medical Officer he asked if I was ever diagnosised with ADD or ADHD and I said yes and he asked about Ritalin which I also said yes to. Now previously I hadn't stated that I had because I miss read one of the questions or something on the original thing and my recruiter told me not to tell them, and I decided that outright lying about that was probably not the best choice given any of the 3 fields I am looking at require a variance of Security Clearance and that losing that would probably mean i would have to be reclassified or simply discharged.

Any who so now I need to get some papers from the doctor on all my Ritalin prescriptions, and I am just waiting on my recruiter to call me back (not sure if he is pissed off if i told them or not). But at least once i turn that stuff in I wont have to do the overnight thing for MEPS again.

God I hated MEPS.