Military guys I need some advice

[Jersyboyy]

Hey guys iv been away for a week now visiting my brother who is recovering from one of the largest and most rare types of brain tumor.

We've been talking and im finally ready to dive in the military. I have always been split about it and im finally at the point where I want in.

A few years ago I wanted to be a badass, a Marine, but iv always wanted to be in the Air Force and that is where I plan to begin my military career.

My brother, my brother in law and my brothers friends who have or are in the military have given me a lot of advice on the whole thing.
One thing they strongly advice me to do is have someone with a better understanding of things go with me when I sign that contract.
In hopes that I get the best for myself and not get bitten in the butt by the recruiter.

I was told to almost negotiate my terms for enlistment including, payment for school,the specific job I want to do, where I want to be stationed, my sign on bonus,the term of my contract, vacation time ect ect.

Well if anyone has experience and would like to throw some tips my way or even want to go with me to the recruiter that would be awesome and id really appreciate it.

[MonmouthCtyAntz]

Air Force is the way too go...less bs and the closest thing to a civilian life...Ex Army here and the BS and politics can get to ya after awhile.

[bcgetfresh]

Hey guys iv been away for a week now visiting my brother who is recovering from one of the largest and most rare types of brain tumor.

We've been talking and im finally ready to dive in the military. I have always been split about it and im finally at the point where I want in.

A few years ago I wanted to be a badass, a Marine, but iv always wanted to be in the Air Force and that is where I plan to begin my military career.

My brother, my brother in law and my brothers friends who have or are in the military have given me a lot of advice on the whole thing.
One thing they strongly advice me to do is have someone with a better understanding of things go with me when I sign that contract.
In hopes that I get the best for myself and not get bitten in the butt by the recruiter.

I was told to almost negotiate my terms for enlistment including, payment for school,the specific job I want to do, where I want to be stationed, my sign on bonus,the term of my contract, vacation time ect ect.

Well if anyone has experience and would like to throw some tips my way or even want to go with me to the recruiter that would be awesome and id really appreciate it.


GL with that dude. Im currently waiting to leave for basic training for the air force. Unless you do special ops your not getting a sign on bonus. They will also tell you your not guaranteed ANY job. They say IF you dont get 1 one of the 4 jobs you listed you will get a job in the field you did best on for the ASVAB test. Either General, Electrical or Mechanical. Your schooling is automatically paid and you have several different choices on how to pay for it which they will tell you about. DEFINITELY get the GI bill (one of the choices) You paid $100 a month for one year ($1200 TOTAL) and they give you like $39k for schooling, no idea why though lol. Where you get stationed is the same as your job title your not guaranteed anything, but they will tell you most likely you will get one of your first three choices. Im not too sure about vacation time but i THINK its the same for everything.

Remember your test score on your ASVAB test is what opens up a lot of different options for jobs. The higher you score the more jobs you can choose from. And last thing about the Air Force is that they have a huge waiting list unlike the other branches. After you go to meps plan on waiting like 4-6 months before you leave for basic. It took them 3-4 months to even get me to meps and now i have to wait like 4-5 for basic training. All the other branches get you out asap, so if you want to leave right away the Air Force isnt the way to go.

One thing id like to know if there any guys already in the air force here, what is the AVERAGE length of time for deployments? Ive heard 2 months from one recruiter and 4 months from another so i kinda think they have no idea. I know it varies depending on your job title but id like to just have some kind of idea.

[LTb1ow]

Marines. Do it.

[DevilDougWS6]

Be a badass Marine. its hard work, if you like getting dirty and working long hard hours the Marine Corps is for you. If you like coziness and air conditioning and the more technical end of the military then the air force is for you.

[7pointoh]

I was a Marine and I did a lot of Technical stuff. To the OP, find out what you want to do? Active duty, reserves? Do you eventually want to become an Officer? I wanted to be a badass Jarhead when I enlisted, so I went for infantry. It took me seven years as a grunt to find out I can do Communications real well. Only you can figure out what you want? But when all is said and done, get it in writing before you sign. That way you have proof and and it will give your senior enlisted personnel some ammo to fight for you to get what you are entitled to. The only thing that can trump that is time of emergency when needs of the service branch you decide to go with outweighs personal needs. But in that situation everyone gets hosed.

[Jersyboyy]

7point0 I have thought about it long and hard and as much as id like to move to Florida live on the beach and do reserve, active duty would be the best thing for me at this time of my life.
Not only will it give me a place to live good money and a permanent job itll be what I have wanted to do since I was a kid so active is the way to go.

I want to do something technical because honestly thats where I feel im best suited at, even tho I have this burning anger inside that would make me a badass marine I dont think that would be the right path for me. I want to do something with telecommunications ie:voice network systems so thats what im going after & ill def get things in writing.

Btw I def want to get a degree while in the military and if I can become an officer after that then its on like donkey kong

[NastyEllEssWon]

my friends father was a marine and served two tours in vietnam. i asked him lots of questions about the marines during my teens. he said this one quote that sticks out in my head....''if your not 100 percent sure you want to be a marine, then your 100 percent sure you dont want to be a marine''

[johnjzjz]

101st AIRBORNE 68 69 VIETNAM - marines as well as all special forces today is a commitment you have to be up for - to say you think you want it is not good enough - if your not hard core to the bone then stay away ( you wont come back ) - the Air Force is a gentleman's job < no mud hole in a monsoon eating a non dry lunch < no living with a the threat of death every day - BUT all the services have what you want just a different way to go about it - if you want to become an officer than do that up front skip the grunt thing and go into OCS BUT thats a 6 or 8 year up front enlistment i think
-- having said all of that the service is the only way a young guy should start out his life,
the things you will do the people you meet will influence you in your life forever and help you be strong in all the decisions you make -- good luck -- jz

[rscamaro73]

-- having said all of that the service is the only way a young guy should start out his life,
the things you will do the people you meet will influence you in your life forever and help you be strong in all the decisions you make -- good luck -- jz

That's MONEY right there....take that to the bank....

12 years USMC here....still thinking about going back....

Anyhows....whatever you want/discuss/decide/etc with the recruiter, its in WRITING on the contract. Otherwise, its BS. The thing with the 'jobs' is the same with all branches....they'll TRY their best to get you that, but that's why you list others as backups. I wanted to be a C-130 navigator/lodemaster....ended up as crash crew (firefighter). No issues, but kinda wish I had went flying though....

I'd personally recommend that you get into something that'll be transferrable to civilian life......infantry is galant and cool, but the only thing you can 'really' get into is police related work....

EDUCATION - don't screw this part up - get the GIBill....and use all the Tuition Assistance you can get to get as MANY classes under your belt in as quick a time as you can. DO IT....and get your degree quickly...then it'll open a chance to become an officer if you choose to do so. If not, it'll help if/when you get out. I kick myself in the ass for not doing it myself....but I had no 'guidance' when I was younger on my future planning...other than when the party was :drool:

Have fun, take TONS of pix, enjoy yourself....as some of the places you'll go are a once in a lifetime experience....

[7pointoh]

I have this burning anger inside that would make me a badass marine I dont think that would be the right path for me. I want to do something with telecommunications ie:voice network systems so thats what im going after & ill def get things in writing.

Why can't you be both? MOS's 0614/0618 are Switchboard Operators and there is a reserve Comm Battalion in New York (I believe). You could also be a 2821 Technical Controller which is pretty much what I did after I lat moved out of the grunts. PM me if ya want. I did Marine Comm for 5 years before I got out. To tell you the truth, I worked with almost all Service branches and they almost always use the same type of equipment.

[Jersyboyy]

that right their makes me feel i donno STRONG about this decision makes me feel confident and good about it! YEA


That's MONEY right there....take that to the bank....

12 years USMC here....still thinking about going back....

Anyhows....whatever you want/discuss/decide/etc with the recruiter, its in WRITING on the contract. Otherwise, its BS. The thing with the 'jobs' is the same with all branches....they'll TRY their best to get you that, but that's why you list others as backups. I wanted to be a C-130 navigator/lodemaster....ended up as crash crew (firefighter). No issues, but kinda wish I had went flying though....

I'd personally recommend that you get into something that'll be transferrable to civilian life......infantry is galant and cool, but the only thing you can 'really' get into is police related work....

EDUCATION - don't screw this part up - get the GIBill....and use all the Tuition Assistance you can get to get as MANY classes under your belt in as quick a time as you can. DO IT....and get your degree quickly...then it'll open a chance to become an officer if you choose to do so. If not, it'll help if/when you get out. I kick myself in the ass for not doing it myself....but I had no 'guidance' when I was younger on my future planning...other than when the party was :drool:

Have fun, take TONS of pix, enjoy yourself....as some of the places you'll go are a once in a lifetime experience....

[transamkid]

im enlisting in the army tomorrow ;)

[Jersyboyy]

Really dude? Im going to talk with a recruiter tom. Why the army if you dont mind me asking bro?

[transamkid]

my good buddy went in, not in the best part of his life, and he just came back from basic. he got a really good bonus, gets good pay (hes an e-3, i will be also because of jrotc that i took in high school) and got 25 college credits just from boot camp. i woulda got only 10 in my first semsester of college until i dropped. most of all he has his **** straight and learned alot. i wanna go in and be an MP or a helicopter mechanic. and once your out, getting a job is pretty easy and they will pay for your college and all that. ive wanted to join the military since i was a lil kid and now its finally going to happen. and a good part of that bonus is going to fix the ws6 ;) lol

[Jersey_TA]

I'm currently in the airforce. Have been for the passed 12 years. Vacation time is a given. You get 30 days a year and you can save up to 75 days before they make you take a vacation. You can take it anytime you want depending on your unit. Deployments range from 2 months to 4 months depending on your job. I don't see why you can't get a garaunteed job. I did when I came in. Definitely pick a job that you want to do. If you do something you don't care for then your whole experience in the AF is goign to suck. Like everyone has said, definitely get the GI bill. Feel free to ask any questions you need. I'd go with you, but I'm deployed until feb.

[DevilDougWS6]

i got college credits from the Marine Corps. Im pretty sure your MOS school counts for something as well. dont join a service jsut for the money. because you dont make **** unless you are an officer. bonuses are just the army's way to get recruits that dont get trained properly. they have the biggest budget but the narrowest minds.

Army = 1million+ soldiers strong in numbers only no real training here.
Marine Corps = 300,000 Marines Do more with less.

My unit (in Redbank) has comm guys. we have a little bit of everything actually. and its right off the parkway.

oh yeah and another thing to think about:

Air Force Deployments: 2 - 4 Months
Marine Corps deployments: 7 - 8 months in country
Army Deployments: 12 - 20 months

[rscamaro73]

Just to touch on the deployment things - you gotta base that off of 'mission' of those services. The AF is really just transportation and specialized 'services' that the other branches can't provide. Marines are the 'first to fight' for a reason - they're usually the ones that go in first and secure the place....where as the Army has been doing SOME of that, but not to the extent the Marines always have. Then when the 'initial' fight is over, the Army comes in and establishes things and really makes 'the base' the way it is.

Hey - nothing saying you guys can't get together and go talk to several recruiters on the same day, compare notes, etc. No need to sign anything at that time. Everyone is hurting for numbers....(recruiters, that is) so you'll be basically 'the buyer' in the market. Don't just get jobs with bonuses....i had ZERO bonuses in my 12 years....but at least I had a job (which is more than some can say now).

If you need to bounce info back off of us that the recruiters tell you, post up and we'll help you guys out. Personally, I think that every 18-24 year old (male and female) should enter the services for 2-4 years just to 'get their heads right' and learn some things....then get out and help make the country better, and not they way it is now. And helping someone with their life decision is more than many of us had when we signed up. Some it was for the better, some prolly shouldn't have been in....some should have seen the brig (or some sort of 'CCU/Motivational Platoon' like the Marines have at Cherry Point). I'm here for you guys....anything I can help you with, by all means, ask.

[DevilDougWS6]

actually recruiting has been way up because of unemployment in this country.

[ar0ck]

Now I have a question for you Enlisted Marines, did you guys like your Officers?

And as enlisted guys, anythings you wish Officers learned or knew prior to entering a unit?

[LTb1ow]

Their place. A lot of newbie Lts will try and just take over. Never worked for em.

[rscamaro73]

Their place. A lot of newbie Lts will try and just take over. Never worked for em.

X 2

Never had to deal with many directly....since most of the O's in the Air Wing are either pilots or the other 1/2 prior enlisted.....(not counting WO's).

Seen a few that needed their heads screwed on correctly though. Met many good ones to overshadow them. I have a couple WO's willing to help me out to this day :mrgreen:

[jims69camaro]

-- having said all of that the service is the only way a young guy should start out his life. the things you will do, the people you meet and kill will influence you in your life forever and help you be strong in all the decisions you make -- good luck -- jz

like they say, join the armed forces: travel to exotic locations, meet new people and kill them.

i spent my time in hell, as have quite a few on the board. only piece of advice i can give is to research what you want to do, that way you are telling the recruiter what you want, not accepting what where he wants you to go...

don't sign anything until you are absolutely positive that this is what you want to do. and never raise your right hand until you've been though it frontwards, backwards and side to side with the recruiter. as already stated, get it in writing with his signature on it.

[Jersyboyy]

Well I spoke with the recruiter and I have to get my criminal background report as well as my dmv records then I have to handle a pending traffic violation before I take the asvab. He said their is no way of getting in writing where you are to be stationed and the job is not guarenteed. I still have to talk to him about the bonus tho, I have a feeling he is going to say their is none offered but we shall see.

[bcgetfresh]

Well I spoke with the recruiter and I have to get my criminal background report as well as my dmv records then I have to handle a pending traffic violation before I take the asvab. He said their is no way of getting in writing where you are to be stationed and the job is not guarenteed. I still have to talk to him about the bonus tho, I have a feeling he is going to say their is none offered but we shall see.

Told you man. The Air Force pretty much tells YOU what you are going to get, not the other way around :| And if you have a record even if its juvi, its gonna take a long time to get it waived. I think it took me 3-4 months to get to meps after the asvab.

[transamkid]

i went to meps yesterday, 2 days after the asvab, and im offically in enlisted now.

and definitely find out about the bonus, they werent going to offer my buddy anything, being a combat engineer. at meps, when you negotiate your contract and they tell you no bonus, act like your gonna leave and stuff, and watch how many phone calls and how much of a bonus they get you ;)

[SteveR]

He said their is no way of getting in writing where you are to be stationed and the job is not guarenteed.

Yea, you can have a list of places you want to go, but there's no guarantee you'll ever get stationed there. I know for the AF, the waiting list for Aviano AB, Italy is retarded.

[Jersyboyy]

Yea, you can have a list of places you want to go, but there's no guarantee you'll ever get stationed there. I know for the AF, the waiting list for Aviano AB, Italy is retarded.

yea i just want to be stationed in cocoa beach florida

[rscamaro73]

i went to meps yesterday, 2 days after the asvab, and im offically in enlisted now.

You're not 'offically' enlisted yet....you're just in the delayed entry program. You can still walk out....

You're "OFFICIAL U.S. GUMBIT PROPERTY" when you swear in again at boot camp. Then its all said and done. They'll try to mess with some of you and get some to take some crappy duty or mess with any 'open contract' types....

Anyhows, congrats.

[NjbadSS]

Now I have a question for you Enlisted Marines, did you guys like your Officers?

And as enlisted guys, anythings you wish Officers learned or knew prior to entering a unit?


I recently got out of the service, US Marine corps, and the best officers we had were mustangs, guys who were enlisted before going officer. A lot of new officers that I had worked with were clueless about things, yet walked around with a chip on their shoulder because as much of a dumb ass that they were, us enlisted still had to respect them, salute them. Dont get me wrong, some that we got that were fresh new Lt's were good to go and I would go anywhere with, but others I, as an NCO, would have to put in the right direction and wouldn't trust them going anywhere in charge of other marines.

[NjbadSS]

My advice to anyone who is considering joining the military is to find people, other than recruiters, who have or do currently serve in a specific branch of military and talk to them about their branch. You walk into a recruiters office and they are all just trying to snag you up and will tell you anything just to get you to enlist, that is their job. Once you talk to people about the different branches, you really need to think long and hard about what type of job you want to do. Every branch has different things to offer and every branch is very very different from the others. I joined the marine corps because I have relatives who were marines, had relatives who were killed in the marines, and I wanted to join to honor them. Everyone joins for different reasons. Make sure that when you do finally go and talk to a recruiter, you bring someone who knows what they are talking about so that you dont get screwed. They really cant offer that much, but there's lots of "fine print" to your contract. You need to make absolutely sure that you pick an MOS that you qualify for and that is on your contract. They screwed me with that when I joined. Anyone needs anymore advice feel free to message me because I have a lot of knowledge about military stuff..good luck and thanks to all that have served and are joining currently