Were you in the Military?

[Darrell]

SEALS, Rangers, SF, FR, PJ, etc. all have insanely high attrition rates, and a good portion of the people who are washed out are non prior service soldiers. So yeah, Doc is right.

 

[Johnfromokc]

Chances are he wont make it, and will be re-classed after failing to some shitty job that he doesnt want. I hope he gets a stipulation in his contract for the event that he fails out. Not trying to be mean bro, but most of those guys who are trying out with you have been in the military for a while. They can all most probly out PT you. Any single little medical issue or misdameanor crime will disqualify you. Get ready to lie at MEPS. Instead of trying to be a Navy Seal, Army Ranger, SF etc.. pick a job where you learn a certified skill to leave the military with.

This ^^^^^^^^^^

And especially this:

Instead of trying to be a Navy Seal, Army Ranger, SF etc.. pick a job where you learn a certified skill to leave the military with.

Not much demand for rifelmen, machine gunners and snipers in the civilian workforce. But they do now have the GI Bill for college when you get out. We didn't have it during my time. We had a crappy program called VEAP.

 

[The Doc]

This ^^^^^^^^^^

And especially this:



Not much demand for rifelmen, machine gunners and snipers in the civilian workforce. But they do now have the GI Bill for college when you get out. We didn't have it during my time. We had a crappy program called VEAP.

Pretty much Infantry soldiers dont have very awesome skills to leave the military with, but their points are very low for promotion, they get promoted much faster then the rest of us. Thise guys can make an easy career of the Army. Same with my guys, Cavalry. Go to as many schools as you can, Air Assault, Airborne, Pathfinder etc... Air Assault/Path Finder is very good. The whole assaulting/striking from Helicopters/ Repelling from Helicopters isnt all too useful but if you know how to Sling load vehicles and equipment from a helicopter and Setting up a PZ/Landing Zone you can get a decent Job. Jumping out of a plane, though very fun (The most fun you can have with your pants on!) is pretty fucking useless and dangerous, you sustain many injuries and fatalities from it...just for an extra 150 a month.

 

[Joe the meek]

Jumping out of a plane, though very fun (The most fun you can have with your pants on!) is pretty fucking useless and dangerous, you sustain many injuries and fatalities from it...just for an extra 150 a month.

You'd be amazed at what the running and jumping can do to your lower back years after you get out. Then again, it doesn't get more dangerous to your health then when you're in a war zone like today.

I'd tell my son that if his ultimate goal is to join a SFG in the military, plan on putting in 4 years before you think of applying, get an MOS in linguistics or communications, and do your best at everything you put your hands to. It usually doesn't come down to how tough or physically strong you are (you damn well better be in shape beforehand anyways LMAO), but how sharp and strong you are in your head, and how you work with others.

 

[The Doc]

You'd be amazed at what the running and jumping can do to your lower back years after you get out. Then again, it doesn't get more dangerous to your health then when you're in a war zone like today.

I'd tell my son that if his ultimate goal is to join a SFG in the military, plan on putting in 4 years before you think of applying, get an MOS in linguistics or communications, and do your best at everything you put your hands to. It usually doesn't come down to how tough or physically strong you are (you damn well better be in shape beforehand anyways LMAO), but how sharp and strong you are in your head, and how you work with others.

Yeah lots of 20 year career soldiers in the airborne have lost an inch or two of their height due to jumping.

SF can be a sweet deal, everyones an e-5. Only shitty part is their are only 5 jobs in SF, and ur job gets picked for u. I am currently looking at sci-ops/civil affairs

 

[stonedmechanic]

I wear contacts would that disqualify me for joining the army reserve?

 

[The Doc]

I wear contacts would that disqualify me for joining the army reserve?

Depends on the job you want. You cant be a sniper. Oh if you have a working set of balls you cant join the reserves you have togo active (Thats a joke, we always make fun of the reserves and national guard---weekend warriors).

I am assuming you want to be a mechanic. No vision wont affect that job and you can get it. Also remember the army is over staffed and low on money so we are very picky who gets in now. a tiny misdameanor theft cant get in rightnow

 

[Johnfromokc]

I wear contacts would that disqualify me for joining the army reserve?

The Marines are always looking for a few good men. They can teach even the visually impaired like me to hit targets at 500 yards with an M-16.

Go see a recruiter, and he will set you up for the ASVAB test - Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery. The ASVAB will determine what jobs you are suited for.

Check out this link:

http://www.military.com/ASVAB

 

[Darrell]

The Marines are always looking for a few good men. They can teach even the visually impaired like me to hit targets at 500 yards with an M-16.

Go see a recruiter, and he will set you up for the ASVAB test - Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery. The ASVAB will determine what jobs you are suited for.

Check out this link:

http://www.military.com/ASVAB

The Air Force may think about taking you, but we are the pickiest out of all.

 

[The Doc]

The Air Force may think about taking you, but we are the pickiest out of all.

The airforce is as much apart of the military as the coast guard is

 

[Darrell]

The airforce is as much apart of the military as the coast guard is

Walk to Afghanistan next time. :fing27

 

[The Doc]

Walk to Afghanistan next time. :fing27

Lol but the commercial airlines get you up to kyrgzstan....

 

[Johnfromokc]

The airforce is as much apart of the military as the coast guard is

Walk to Afghanistan next time. :fing27

Lol but the commercial airlines get you up to kyrgzstan....

:24: LMAO!

 

[stonedmechanic]

Depends on the job you want. You cant be a sniper. Oh if you have a working set of balls you cant join the reserves you have togo active (Thats a joke, we always make fun of the reserves and national guard---weekend warriors).

I am assuming you want to be a mechanic. No vision wont affect that job and you can get it. Also remember the army is over staffed and low on money so we are very picky who gets in now. a tiny misdameanor theft cant get in rightnow

Why is it that someone with corrective lenses/contacts have limited jobs?

The Marines are always looking for a few good men. They can teach even the visually impaired like me to hit targets at 500 yards with an M-16.

Go see a recruiter, and he will set you up for the ASVAB test - Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery. The ASVAB will determine what jobs you are suited for.

Check out this link:

http://www.military.com/ASVAB

I'll take a look into the marines and talk to a recruiter:thumbup

 

[The Doc]

Why is it that someone with corrective lenses/contacts have limited jobs?





I'll take a look into the marines and talk to a recruiter:thumbup

Marines are pretty full rightnow, and you dont get to pick your job. Goto bootcamp, you were aiming for infantry and they said you might get it, etc... and you get orders to be a cook. Too bad, thats the marine corps.

About corrective lenses, everyone has them nowdays. It doesnt limit you from a whole lot, but lets say you wanted to be a sniper and goto sniping school. Thats something you cant do due to your vision, same with if you wanted to be a fighter pilot or something.

 

[Johnfromokc]

Marines are pretty full rightnow, and you dont get to pick your job. Goto bootcamp, you were aiming for infantry and they said you might get it, etc... and you get orders to be a cook. Too bad, thats the marine corps.

There's always room for qualified people in the critical MOS's. Our stoned mechanic needs to take the ASVAB and see where he fits, and get a written agreement as to placement.

Strong advice - NEVER enlist under "Open Contract" in any service. In the USMC, if you want to be infantry, you can get it, just get it in writing and ask for MOS 0311. "Open Contract" is where supply clerks and cooks come from. I'd be willing to bet they have immediate openings for basic rifeman billets.

The USMC has a "Delayed Entry Program", which I enlisted under in 1982 - It's still in effect today. If they have a training program you want, but it is not available at present, but will be within a year or so, you can reserve your training billet, and delay entry into boot camp to coincide with availability. The delayed entry time counts toward your time in service for pay purposes after you enter active duty.

http://www.marines.com/main/index/making_marines/recruit_training/delayed_entry_program

Some programs are more specific than others. My program was known as the "Z-4 Electrical-Mechanical Program" at the time. I landed a billet as MOS 2145 Tracked Vehicle Repairman - Tanks. I rebuilt tank engines from the crank shaft up, as well transmissions and final drive components. The 2145 MOS has different "Echelons" of expertise. I was 5th Echelon, which is the highest level, but I had no idea that is what I would be doing when I enlisted under Z-4. I could have been assigned "Battalion Maintenance" which is essentially tune-ups and oil changes and such. Either way, hands on mechanical skills are gained quickly.

Know this - If you fail your Technical MOS training - you're most likely headed to an infantry unit as a Basic Rifleman, 0311. That's what they threatened our slackers with back in my day. I suppose you might wind up as a cook - probably the worst job in the Corps - working 16 hour days. That's why the USMC has the worst food of all the services.

Bottom line: Take the ASVAB before you sign anything. Then, pick a position you quaify for that you think you will enjoy, for the shortest enlistment period possible. Get it in writing - recruiters will embellish information to get you to sign up for something you did not intend to. "Ebmellish" is a nice way of saying recruiters will lie.

If you can't get what you want, or something you are willing to commit to for 3-4 years - walk away - because once you sign and take the oath of enlistment, they own you for the term of the contract.

Best of luck to you.

 

[Zorak]

The Marines are always looking for a few good men. They can teach even the visually impaired like me to hit targets at 500 yards with an M-16.

Go see a recruiter, and he will set you up for the ASVAB test - Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery. The ASVAB will determine what jobs you are suited for.

Check out this link:

http://www.military.com/ASVAB

I was hoping the test there would tell me what jobs I'd be good at in the US military.

Instead it just made me remember I'm not very good at algebra.

 

[The Doc]

Make sure not settle for anything. If you fucked up on your ASVAB you can always take it again, and study ofcourse. Get Airborne in your contract, its hard as shit to get once u make it into the real army. Once you have airborne, they will throw ranger at you immideatly. Air Assault and pathfinder are easy slots to secure once airborne also

 

[Accountable]

US Air Force Feb '82- Oct '02

Went for an 18 month tour as a ground transportation troop at Kadena Air Base, Okinawa. Met and married my beloved. They drug me out of there kicking and screaming 7 years 3 months later.

Went to RAF Greenham Common, UK. Newbury was beautiful! Drew down and then closed the base. I understand it's a park now.

in 93 went to Griffiss AFB, NY. Longest 18 months of my life. Who voluntarily lives in places like that??

Force crosstrained for a few years as an admin troop aka 702 aka skirtless wonder. My lowest score was admin. Organization is not my strong suit. Assigned to Travis AFB, CA. Now there's a choice assignment.

Applied for and won a special duty assignment back at Kadena as an instructor at the NCO Academy. Fell in love with teaching there & thought I had my whole post-AF life mapped out as a leadership development trainer.

My final 18 months was at Hill AFB, UT, managing the vehicle fleet at the Utah Test and Training Range. Good assignment, not great. Retired Master Sergeant, E7.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

My older brother joined the AF then got out after 4 years. At 35 he joined the Army, then qualified Special Forces. He was an E2 and I was an E5. We made E6 at the same time, then of course he got his E7 line number ahead of me. Instead of taking the stripe, he opted for Warrant Officer School, anti-terrorism something-or-other hush hush. He retired a year after me as a CW3.

We attended each others' retirement ceremony and pinned each other. That was great.

 

[Accountable]

Anyone planning to join today, remember: they offer those bonuses for one of two reasons:
1. It's a crappy and/or dangerous job that nobody sane wants to do, or
2. It's something you can earn twice as much doing it as a civilian.

Go in with a level head and eyes wide open. Find someone who will tell you the unvarnished truth (like a prior military person) before signing anything.