decisions, decisions...

Jason von Evil · Post by **Jason von Evil** » 2003-06-26 01:31pm

I'm trying to decide whether or not to enlist in the military. This mostly stems from when I registered with the local recruiting office and started getting calls from a recruiter for the Marines. I think I could make it through seven weeks of basic training and the idea of being a soldier and laying the smack down from an M16A2 or an SAW for my country seems pretty sweet to me.

Oh yeah, then there's that $20,000 enlistment bonus.

So, I'm open for some advise. Shame Bean is still deployed in the Gulf, he'd have some pretty good advise to share.

jegs2 · Post by **jegs2** » 2003-06-26 01:32pm

Don't know much about the Marines, but if you're considering the Army or the Coast Guard, I can assist you with information.

Jason von Evil · Post by **Jason von Evil** » 2003-06-26 01:35pm

jegs2 wrote:Don't know much about the Marines, but if you're considering the Army or the Coast Guard, I can assist you with information.

Jegs, what the hell do you do? Hit the refresh button all day?

Anyways, I can't stand boats, so the coast guard is out. The army seems like a good bet.

And before anyone says it, I know the army sometimes uses boats to transport soldiers, but the marines tend to be at see longer than I care for.

Knife · Post by **Knife** » 2003-06-26 01:36pm

In general, military service is good for people. The rub is that you have to get an MOS that you can live with. I had a blast being a grunt, roling in the mud and shooting things. But some people did not like it. Also, keep an eye on your future, 0331 did not exactley give me any marketable skills in the civilian life (legal skills anyway).

Choose a field that interests you and would advance your life when you get out. If you don't have any particular carreer in mind after military service, then by all means be a grunt. It will be an experience that will follow you all of your life.

Knife · Post by **Knife** » 2003-06-26 01:40pm

Anyways, I can't stand boats, so the coast guard is out. The army seems like a good bet.

And before anyone says it, I know the army sometimes uses boats to transport soldiers, but the marines tend to be at see longer than I care for.

Depends on the MOS. Infantry will go out on six month deployments, some on ship as part of MEU's and some will deploy to various oversea locations, like Korea, Oki, ME ect. Even if you do go out as MEU, you can expect to only be on ship for about half of that time.

If you are in a support unti, ship board service is even less. It you get tagged for a MSSG (support unit for a MEU) then you'll be on ship with the MEU.

That all said, a majority of Marines never see the inside of a ship. Desk jockies and the sort usualy stay in their head shed offices.

Jason von Evil · Post by **Jason von Evil** » 2003-06-26 01:48pm

I should probably make this thread in HAB aswell.

jegs2 · Post by **jegs2** » 2003-06-26 02:27pm

Aya wrote:Jegs, what the hell do you do? Hit the refresh button all day?

Something like that

Anyways, I can't stand boats, so the coast guard is out. The army seems like a good bet.

In the Army, you learn to be part of a team. Enlistment can be boring at times (just ask some of our enlisted folks), unless you push yourself to excel, seizing opportunities to learn and advance. Free college courses on off-duty time is hard to beat, and you can do some of those over the internet for when you're deployed.

Trytostaydead · Post by **Trytostaydead** » 2003-06-26 04:46pm

So Jegs, what's the deal with college graduates if they decide to enlist? Are they shipped out to OCS? And how exactly banal are some of the services selected? Two of my friends who graduated college and ROTC got their job placements: One's in aquisition the other will be spending the next four years as a Recreation Officer!

Post by **Dalton** » 2003-06-26 05:28pm

...Bean's not in the Gulf.

Jason von Evil · Post by **Jason von Evil** » 2003-06-26 07:22pm

Dalton wrote:...Bean's not in the Gulf.

Where is he then?

Post by **Ghost Rider** » 2003-06-26 07:23pm

He's back...just not here and now posting as much

Post by **Sea Skimmer** » 2003-06-26 07:28pm

Bean also is only one of at least twenty-five members currently or previously in a military service.

jegs2 · Post by **jegs2** » 2003-06-27 08:44am

Trytostaydead wrote:So Jegs, what's the deal with college graduates if they decide to enlist? Are they shipped out to OCS? And how exactly banal are some of the services selected? Two of my friends who graduated college and ROTC got their job placements: One's in aquisition the other will be spending the next four years as a Recreation Officer!

Got my commission through ROTC, but yes, OCS is also an option. In either case, your branch is somewhat of a shot in the dark -- you tell the Army the branch you want, and they put you in the branch in which they want you -- if the two coincide, it's all good. If not...

Recreation officer? Haven't heard of that one...

Superman · Post by **Superman** » 2003-06-27 08:50am

Aya, if the bonus is what you are after, the Army offers 50K. Check into it.

Trytostaydead · Post by **Trytostaydead** » 2003-06-27 09:07pm

jegs2 wrote: Recreation officer? Haven't heard of that one...

Helping to run the recreation center at the base he'll be stationed at

jegs2 · Post by **jegs2** » 2003-06-27 10:03pm

Trytostaydead wrote:
jegs2 wrote: Recreation officer? Haven't heard of that one...
Helping to run the recreation center at the base he'll be stationed at

Sounds like an extra duty. Would be interested in knowing which branch of service.