Life in the Army

you have no freedom and that that there is to do is go to strip clubs and drink. sometimes you can train but then you go to the field for a month or two and cannot run so your training goes to crap don't do it finish school.

trailmix wrote:

you have no freedom and that that there is to do is go to strip clubs and drink. sometimes you can train but then you go to the field for a month or two and cannot run so your training goes to crap don't do it finish school.

and, ummmm, not to mention the whole killed or wounded thing...

I joined back in '72, but I imagine a lot of what I'm saying would be the same today. Go into an MOS (military occupational specialty) that will prepare you for a career when you get out. I don't know what the procedure is now, but at the time I joined you took an aptitude test. Based on the score you could choose whatever field you wanted to go into if the score was high enough. So do as well as you can on that test. Don't go into any combat arms MOS (infantry, artillery, etc.), unless that's what you really want to do. Also, take advantage of all the opportunities you have for taking college courses. And don't be a "barracks rat". Get out and go places. I was in for 6 years. I was stationed in Germany the last 3 years. Just about every weekend I was going someplace new. The main thing is to take advantage of every opportunity you have to improve. Adjusting to army life wasn't too difficult for me. Yes, you give up some freedom, but you can get a lot out of the Army too. For me it was one of the best experiences of my life.

Best thing I ever did. I was in the Marines for four years. Yeah, it will suck sometimes. You will get treated like a little kid most of the time. But you will be able to do a lot also--depending on what you go in for. I got sent to 10 different countries and learned how to speak a foreign language. After I got out, the GI Bill and my state's Veteran's Benefits paid for four years of college. I graduated with out having any student loans to pay off. If you do enlist, the Army will be what you make of it.

Spent 4 years in the AirForce and 4 years in the Army..

Air Force much, much, much, much better...barracks life stinks..

Go overseas (ypou may not have much choice...If you have a girl break it off, but don't burn bridges, time goes by faster than you think....

Don't come home on leave..biggest mistake I ever made..for a year, i had as girl friend at Ft. Bragg and I was in Germany..I came to Brag twice to visit, she broke it off later anyway..big mistake..the places I couldhave seen!

MILITARY CHOW HALLS ARE GREAT! Stay over christmas, put the class a's on and go to the chw hall..they really go all out for the troops on christmas...

I wasn't much, but I thank the miltary for everything I got..I would not do it again..there will neverbe any mvies about my mediocre career...I did my best.

If you really want to join the military, I strongly advise you to forget the Army and try Air Force or the Navy. The Amry is just cannon fodder, taking the majority of the casualties in places in Iraq, just sitting there like ducks getting ready to be shot, and when the going gets tough they beg the Air Force to save their asses. Plus the pay in the AF and the Navy is also usually higher than the grunts in the barracks.

placido wrote:

trailmix wrote:

you have no freedom and that that there is to do is go to strip clubs and drink. sometimes you can train but then you go to the field for a month or two and cannot run so your training goes to crap don't do it finish school.

and, ummmm, not to mention the whole killed or wounded thing...

Does anyone else think serving your country is very honorable? The know it alls on here have mostly made it sound like you must be an idiot who just wants to get himself killed to join. I'm not in the military, but thnk it can be an admirable way of serving your country.

I spent 5 years in the Army, they helped pay my university tuition. I saw some of the world, met lots of people.

Sure you might get killed or wounded, but you can get it crossing the street or downhill skiing....

forrest gump,

The base pay is equal in all services across the ranks, in other words, E-1's all get paid the same as all E-1's, E-2's get the same pay as all other E-2's, etc. as a matter of fact, if you are in the grunts, or on the battle ground, you get hazard pay, Sailors on ships get a special pay also, but the base pay is determined by rank and years at that rank. There are special pays or "bonus" pays, for being a doctor, dentist etc. If you qualify to live off base and have a family you get substinance for that as well depending on the economy of that city, country, whatever.

I've been an active duty Sailor for 13 1/2 years and still serving, most of us in the Service long enough, learn that each service is unique and we respect our fellow service members, sometimes we have cushy jobs, and sometimes we don't. I never assume any longer that someone has it easier in a particular service, but I have a particular respect for ALL my fellow service men and women that are facing danger while I'm safe and sound here at home, I'm humbled and grateful, and the individual thinking of joining, do your research, ask many questions of the various services, there is so much more to think about than get college paid for or visiting countries. Good Luck

Listen to Stamina Boy and GI Joe. My son "morphed" mentally, physically, spiritually, and character-wise after joining the Corps. He went into the reserves, but obviously was activated - he was ready to drop college anyway. Stamina Boy and the others have already said it.

COAST GUARD!

bump

I just served in the military and got out in 2003. You have no time to train and you go out to the field for two or three months with no training. So finish school. Do not join!!!!! Especially if you are concerned about running good!!! Because it will not happen in the Army they just don't give you any time.Paul Tucker

trailmix wrote:

you have no freedom and that that there is to do is go to strip clubs and drink. sometimes you can train but then you go to the field for a month or two and cannot run so your training goes to crap don't do it finish school.

Don't join the military!!! I got out of the Army in 2003 and they gave me no time to train. There is no free time to yourself. As far as running is conserned forget it!!! They send you out to the field to get fat off of MRE's. Your out in the field for about two months. They will not let you run out in the field. So forget training and stick with college you can train a lot better in college.

bbtnik- well my name is Paul Tucker