Discussion: Joining the US Army

[JujuFish]

Originally posted by: DonVito
I would frankly be wary of joining the Army under most circumstances, but particularly under the Bush administration.

College is an incredibly fun, broadening experience, and I would recommend it to most people over joining the military.

All that being said, I would strongly suggest you test for the Air Force before joining the Army. It offers a much better quality of life IMO, the same benefits, and a much lesser chance of having your nuts blown off by an IED.

A fate worse than death. :Q

 

[Svnla]

OP, why don't you PM TallBill? IIRC, he is in the Army and did a tour or two in Irag/Afg.

He could tell you from his own experience about the Army and real life combat/situation oversea. I think it is much better than any of us here or the recruiter.

Whether you join or not, good luck to you.

Hummm, now the OP make me thinking whether to take a job from KBR for 70K in Iraq or be a cop for $55 in Plano, Texas.

 

[Svnla]

Originally posted by: Fmr12B
....did not relaize people from the Deep South or those from West Virginia were as backwards as they were.

.......Avoid strippers at all costs

.......Always use a rubber no matter what the chick tells you

LOL @ statement about the South. Very true. I live and grew up in the South and I still can't believe how dumb some of these folks are.

Hey now, strippers are people too.

You mean there are chicks that tell you NOT to use rubber? Where do you meet them fine girls? LOL.

 

[scottish144]

Originally posted by: SarcasticDwarf

Originally posted by: PrinceofWands

Originally posted by: SarcasticDwarf

Originally posted by: PrinceofWands

Originally posted by: SarcasticDwarf

Originally posted by: DonVito
I would frankly be wary of joining the Army under most circumstances, but particularly under the Bush administration.

College is an incredibly fun, broadening experience, and I would recommend it to most people over joining the military.

All that being said, I would strongly suggest you test for the Air Force before joining the Army. It offers a much better quality of life IMO, the same benefits, and a much lesser chance of having your nuts blown off by an IED.

Of course, as AF you get the (often deserved) reputation of being a REMF pansy who can't hack it in the *real* military

Compared to dying at 18 on foreign soil for no valid cause? Thanks, I think I could live with the shame. Emphasis on LIVE.

If your concern is dying at a young age on foreign soil for "no valid reason", you should not be in ANY BRANCH.

Currently agreed, though truth is that AF (and to similar extent Navy) are going to have lower rates of injury.

Yup, though it would really depend on what war we were fighting. The current war? Yeah, it is mostly Army and Marines. If it were say with Iran, you would be looking at a lot of AF casualties as well.

Uh, F-22 + F-35 v Old Soviet Crap = teh PWNAGE.

 

[scottish144]

Originally posted by: MorbidSteve
I'm thinking that I'm goin'. I just need to at least start getting in shape..

I've never been remotely related to any branch of service, but good luck. I'm more of the typical HS Senior going to a major university, so I honestly can't understand why you chose the Army. Still, its people like you dying for us over there, and no matter how pointless the cause may seem, or how stupid the people may be, anyone willing to sacrifice themself for the whole is entitled to my highest level of respect. Best of luck, and bag us Bin-Laden while you're there

 

[bmacd]

forgive me for not sifting through all the posts, but OP, if you have any questions, I'd love to talk to you. I'm currently enlisted and will be doing my first tour in Iraq soon.

SPC bmacd
11B, Infantry
A Co. 1/125 Inf.
-=bmacd=-

 

[OREOSpeedwagon]

Originally posted by: MIKEMIKE
you didnt ask at the right place

a lot of the ppl here would run up to canada if they were forced to serve.

not me. i'd go to england.

 

[dorky82]

After reading this disscussion, I dont know if I really want to join army.
Going to talk to local Army recuiter and air force recuiter tomorrow.
Some stuff that local army recuiter told me was totally different from recuiter I talked to in goarmy chatroom.
also seems like air force will less likely to goto war.

 

[scottish144]

Originally posted by: OREOSpeedwagon

Originally posted by: MIKEMIKE
you didnt ask at the right place

a lot of the ppl here would run up to canada if they were forced to serve.

not me. i'd go to england.

Aren't they occupying Basra now?

 

[Svnla]

Originally posted by: MaxFusion16
why not hit up the national guard instead? seems like a safer bet

A lot of soldiers in Iraq/Afg right now are from Army National Guard.

If you want to be safe <from combat>, don't join. If you really want to join, then AF, Navy, Army, Marines <in order of combat risk IMO>.

 

[FelixDeCat]

Originally posted by: Fmr12B

People, well, the Army accepts the lowest forms of life, and lemme tell you, it is complete culture shock as I was a west coast native and did not relaize people from the Deep South or those from West Virginia were as backwards as they were.

Your post would have been fine without that. Your time sucked because the people thought you were a judgemental assmunch who thought his sh|t didnt stink, walking around acting like a know it all.

Their service was a valuable as yours.

 

[Doboji]

Originally posted by: PrinceofWands

Originally posted by: Fmr12B
Here goes & PM with questions:

In 1992 I was 17, I joined the Army at 17 & 4-months of age. I enlisted and took the job 12B, Combat Engineer. I received close to $40K for college from the Army College Fund & GI Bill.

I departed at 17 1/2 to Missouri for Basic Training in the dead of winter. I got my training and ended up staying in Missouri for my entire 3yr term.

I met the stupidest people while I was in the Army and I was partly to blame on that as i chose one of the lowest MOS's. My GT score was extremely high but because I wanted only 3yrs active and the maximum college money my choices were extremely limited. Although I qualifed for all 220 jobs only 3 were available to me because I wanted college money.

The Army was fine, the people were not. I was a bright kid, and people really resented me being bright, and coming up with better ways or not understaning why we had to do things the Army way. Army way is the only way.

I learned to play the game, it was tough, but I became indoctrinated.

People, well, the Army accepts the lowest forms of life, and lemme tell you, it is complete culture shock as I was a west coast native and did not relaize people from the Deep South or those from West Virginia were as backwards as they were.

Overall - I learned a few things.

Always do what your told.
Rarely ask questions
Own your own car, ensure it is extremely reliable, making formations is the most important thing you do
Don't use drugs, they randomly piss you monthly.
Don't drink and drive
Don't speed while on base
Don't get caught drinking underage
Don't spend all your money on alcohol and strippers
Avoid strippers at all costs
Save up money each month
Pay your $100 in each month for the GI Bill even if you never plan to go to college
Find hobbies to keep you occupied in the evenings or you will end up drunk, passed out and will miss your formations. Go to the gym, find a decent girlfreind, anything!
Always use a rubber no matter what the chick tells you


I matured a great deal, learned a lot about people, learned even more about myself, and overall had a decent time.

I started college 6-months after I left the Army and enede up with a 4yr degree. College was a piece of cake after dealing with Army BS.

Before you enlist I suggest you have a plan, and recuriters are nothing but professional liars. Anything they tell you is most likely untrue.

I'd have to say that's absolutely true and the best advice anyone could give...with two exceptions:

Always do what your told.
Rarely ask questions

Now, I'm not trying to make your life difficult or anything, so feel free to ignore me, but I have to speak out against that in principle.

If you're ok with being a servant, and a pawn, and have no morals whatsoever, and care about nothing, and just want an easy time of service, then go for it.

But if you have your own mind, your own beliefs, your own soul...then you should never EVER accept those two axioms. EVER. Not in the military, not in life, NEVER.

You are a sentient being and it is ALWAYS your right to question and decide for yourself. You have to be willing to face the consequences of your actions (which in the military when talking about those two things could be VERY severe), but you do not EVER give up the right to question, or the right to decide.

Ask the poor enlisted pawns serving time for torturing prisoners in Iraq how they feel about questioning and following now. Ask an old German. Ask a Jew.

You do NOT have to follow an unlawful order. Ever. You might get lynched, beat, court martialed, or shot...but you do NOT have to obey an unlawful order. Just be DAMN SURE it's actually unlawful. If you have personal morals that you will not compromise, then stand by them at all costs. You'll pay for them (dearly), but it's more important to have a code than it is to get another stripe or even an honorable discharge.

Why don't you stop acting like this thread is about you.... let the OP answer... we've heard your point of view. Thankyou. I see where you stand. Now STFU

-Max

 

[dorky82]

i thought marines are the first line inthe war.
I could be wrong.

 

[Schadenfreude]

I'm still going to join . . . as an officer by the end of this year hopefully.

See you soon (maybe)

 

[Dr. Detroit]

Originally posted by: FelixDeKat

Originally posted by: Fmr12B

People, well, the Army accepts the lowest forms of life, and lemme tell you, it is complete culture shock as I was a west coast native and did not relaize people from the Deep South or those from West Virginia were as backwards as they were.

Your post would have been fine without that. Your time sucked because the people thought you were a judgemental assmunch who thought his sh|t didnt stink, walking around acting like a know it all.

Their service was a valuable as yours.

My time didn't totally suck. I was tired of dealing with ignorant assholes who could not lead by being a respectable human being. Instead I had power hungry leaders who gave a rats ass about anything but their ego. Dealing with my platoon Sgt who had a 5th grade education from Alabama and join in 1978 meant I was dealing with a racist dickhead. According to others he had flunked out of DI school.

I watched my peers blow every ounce of cash they had onm beer & strippers by the 10th of each month. They came to me routinely and tried and bum cash for haircuts. I watched these guys have their cars repo'd, watched em get Beavis & Butthead tattoos, watched 8 of em bang one whore in 1 night. Watched em beat their wives, get chased by the MP's for their rabid dogs being off the leash.

Look, I'm not gonna act all high & mighty, and I might have my kinks and issues, but these group of soldiers were the most pathetic group of people I have ever met in my life.

There is no chance in hell these guys had a valuable service, they did their time but few of them were productive.

 

[dorky82]

heres what they offered me
$20,000 cash for joining bonus
place to live and food and work 4 days a week for around $3000 month.
is this true?

 

[imported_Scourge]

Originally posted by: dorky82
heres what they offered me
$20,000 cash for joining bonus
place to live and food and work 4 days a week for around $3000 month.
is this true?

Enlisted? If so, read on- The work will vary by your job, your duty station, and where you job is- but expect to put quite a few hours in regardles of what you do I wouldn't trust the 4 days a week thing. You will get the fine details of the bonus when you get to MEPS, and this also depends on your enlistment length, job, and a few other things(ASVAB Score, time in DEP, other things). but 20,00 sounds possible considering how hard up the Army is at the moment. Is that cash, or exra money to the college fund, or? What form does it take?

Enlisted base pay is much lower than $3000 a month. For an E-3 I believe it sits right around... exactly half of that. Now, $1500 a month plus medical, food, housing, and everything else that goes along with it is very good money for a highschool graduate, but you won't be seeing $3000 a month for quite a while.

Gonna' head to sleep, hope that helped and is readable. G'night

 

[Schadenfreude]

Originally posted by: dorky82
heres what they offered me
$20,000 cash for joining bonus
place to live and food and work 4 days a week for around $3000 month.
is this true?

The bonus depends mostly, if no entirely, on what MOS you pick/qualify for.
As far as payment, are you looking into going enlisted or officer?

Here is the enlisted pay chart.

DISCLAIMER: I've not joined yet, but I did a fair amount of research/reading into it because I am serious about joining - through a lot of help from the members of ATOT and research on my own, I've become a little more familiar with how it works.

 

[Dr. Detroit]

Originally posted by: Scourge

Originally posted by: dorky82
heres what they offered me
$20,000 cash for joining bonus
place to live and food and work 4 days a week for around $3000 month.
is this true?

Enlisted? If so, read on- The work will vary by your job, your duty station, and where you job is- but expect to put quite a few hours in regardles of what you do I wouldn't trust the 4 days a week thing. You will get the fine details of the bonus when you get to MEPS, and this also depends on your enlistment length, job, and a few other things(ASVAB Score, time in DEP, other things). but 20,00 sounds possible considering how hard up the Army is at the moment. Is that cash, or exra money to the college fund, or? What form does it take?

Enlisted base pay is much lower than $3000 a month. For an E-3 I believe it sits right around... exactly half of that. Now, $1500 a month plus medical, food, housing, and everything else that goes along with it is very good money for a highschool graduate, but you won't be seeing $3000 a month for quite a while.

Gonna' head to sleep, hope that helped and is readable. G'night

No chance your gonna get a 4-day work week or $3,00 month in pay. Your recruiter was problay including the free housing, food, medical and all that in the $3K figure.

Here is the pay chart: http://www.army.com/money/payrates_enlisted_a06.html

 

[PrinceofWands]

Originally posted by: Doboji

Originally posted by: PrinceofWands

Originally posted by: Fmr12B
Here goes & PM with questions:

In 1992 I was 17, I joined the Army at 17 & 4-months of age. I enlisted and took the job 12B, Combat Engineer. I received close to $40K for college from the Army College Fund & GI Bill.

I departed at 17 1/2 to Missouri for Basic Training in the dead of winter. I got my training and ended up staying in Missouri for my entire 3yr term.

I met the stupidest people while I was in the Army and I was partly to blame on that as i chose one of the lowest MOS's. My GT score was extremely high but because I wanted only 3yrs active and the maximum college money my choices were extremely limited. Although I qualifed for all 220 jobs only 3 were available to me because I wanted college money.

The Army was fine, the people were not. I was a bright kid, and people really resented me being bright, and coming up with better ways or not understaning why we had to do things the Army way. Army way is the only way.

I learned to play the game, it was tough, but I became indoctrinated.

People, well, the Army accepts the lowest forms of life, and lemme tell you, it is complete culture shock as I was a west coast native and did not relaize people from the Deep South or those from West Virginia were as backwards as they were.

Overall - I learned a few things.

Always do what your told.
Rarely ask questions
Own your own car, ensure it is extremely reliable, making formations is the most important thing you do
Don't use drugs, they randomly piss you monthly.
Don't drink and drive
Don't speed while on base
Don't get caught drinking underage
Don't spend all your money on alcohol and strippers
Avoid strippers at all costs
Save up money each month
Pay your $100 in each month for the GI Bill even if you never plan to go to college
Find hobbies to keep you occupied in the evenings or you will end up drunk, passed out and will miss your formations. Go to the gym, find a decent girlfreind, anything!
Always use a rubber no matter what the chick tells you


I matured a great deal, learned a lot about people, learned even more about myself, and overall had a decent time.

I started college 6-months after I left the Army and enede up with a 4yr degree. College was a piece of cake after dealing with Army BS.

Before you enlist I suggest you have a plan, and recuriters are nothing but professional liars. Anything they tell you is most likely untrue.

I'd have to say that's absolutely true and the best advice anyone could give...with two exceptions:

Always do what your told.
Rarely ask questions

Now, I'm not trying to make your life difficult or anything, so feel free to ignore me, but I have to speak out against that in principle.

If you're ok with being a servant, and a pawn, and have no morals whatsoever, and care about nothing, and just want an easy time of service, then go for it.

But if you have your own mind, your own beliefs, your own soul...then you should never EVER accept those two axioms. EVER. Not in the military, not in life, NEVER.

You are a sentient being and it is ALWAYS your right to question and decide for yourself. You have to be willing to face the consequences of your actions (which in the military when talking about those two things could be VERY severe), but you do not EVER give up the right to question, or the right to decide.

Ask the poor enlisted pawns serving time for torturing prisoners in Iraq how they feel about questioning and following now. Ask an old German. Ask a Jew.

You do NOT have to follow an unlawful order. Ever. You might get lynched, beat, court martialed, or shot...but you do NOT have to obey an unlawful order. Just be DAMN SURE it's actually unlawful. If you have personal morals that you will not compromise, then stand by them at all costs. You'll pay for them (dearly), but it's more important to have a code than it is to get another stripe or even an honorable discharge.

Why don't you stop acting like this thread is about you.... let the OP answer... we've heard your point of view. Thankyou. I see where you stand. Now STFU

-Max

Ummmmm, no?

 

[Stuxnet]

Originally posted by: MorbidSteve
Well, the US Army is trying to recruit me

Congratulations. Your pulse has been verified.

 

[kranky]

I know two people personally who have joined the Army in the last three years. Both of them were just out of high school, didn't want to/weren't ready to go to college right away, and felt they could get experience in the Army that would translate into job opportunities when they got out.

Both of them are happy with their choice and plan to go to college after their enlistment time is up, and although I don't know the details apparently they get a ton of money to use towards college.

 

[AnimeKnight]

I strongly suggest you to think about the Air Force if you are joining.

You will more time to experience the world and getting your education done.

I am stationed in Germany ans so far I have spent me xmas and new year at different countries.

 

[AnimeKnight]

Originally posted by: dorky82
heres what they offered me
$20,000 cash for joining bonus
place to live and food and work 4 days a week for around $3000 month.
is this true?

$20,000 cash bonus depends on what job you get

Place to live and food.. that's the same with all branches

work 4 days a week is a LIE unless you are SP or something. They have a weird schedule rotation work 4 days of 12-16 hrs and get 3 days off.

$3000 a month probably including your insurance, housing, and food. As an E-4 I am getting paid about a little under $2000. But think of it this way.. $2000 is your spending money. Everything is paid for, except your personal entertainment items such as: car, car insurance, cell phone, internet...etc.

If you play your cards right, by the time you separate from military you should have a lot of money saved up. Not to mention you either will have your degree or almost finish with your degree. You could just use your GI Bill to finish up your degree.

If you decide to join, please don't be those dumba$$ live paycheck by paycheck and spending all their money on alcohols.

You mentioned joining the Air Force will have less chance of going to war. That's incorrect.
I am about to deploy pretty soon. It's just what your definition of war. I will not be at the frontline shooting and dodging bullets. I will be in the AF base fixing air planes and watch them bomb the crap out of the terrorists. I am still at war and have direct impact on war missions.

 

[jlbenedict]

Originally posted by: Fmr12B

Originally posted by: FelixDeKat

Originally posted by: Fmr12B

People, well, the Army accepts the lowest forms of life, and lemme tell you, it is complete culture shock as I was a west coast native and did not relaize people from the Deep South or those from West Virginia were as backwards as they were.

Your post would have been fine without that. Your time sucked because the people thought you were a judgemental assmunch who thought his sh|t didnt stink, walking around acting like a know it all.

Their service was a valuable as yours.

My time didn't totally suck. I was tired of dealing with ignorant assholes who could not lead by being a respectable human being. Instead I had power hungry leaders who gave a rats ass about anything but their ego. Dealing with my platoon Sgt who had a 5th grade education from Alabama and join in 1978 meant I was dealing with a racist dickhead. According to others he had flunked out of DI school.

I watched my peers blow every ounce of cash they had onm beer & strippers by the 10th of each month. They came to me routinely and tried and bum cash for haircuts. I watched these guys have their cars repo'd, watched em get Beavis & Butthead tattoos, watched 8 of em bang one whore in 1 night. Watched em beat their wives, get chased by the MP's for their rabid dogs being off the leash.

Look, I'm not gonna act all high & mighty, and I might have my kinks and issues, but these group of soldiers were the most pathetic group of people I have ever met in my life.

There is no chance in hell these guys had a valuable service, they did their time but few of them were productive.

If 8 soldiers "running a train" on one barracks whore constitutes you calling them a "pathetic group of people".. what does that make you, since you did mention you watched them

 

[piasabird]

If you are thinking of a career and guns and the off chance that you might die do not scare you enough to keep you from joining keep in mind that it takes about 2 months for basic training and then you have to pick a specific skill to train in and that will take one or two months to train in that (Up to one year). Then it is off to a unit.

A lot depends on the Primary Skill the Army has vacancies in. The more vacancies the faster you get promoted. Infantry and Combat Engineer are two of the more needed skill areas in combat. Then there is Army Aviation as well as Airborne Ranger Training. If you are really fit Airborne Ranger training is both intense and not very dull. The Airborne Ranger route is the fasted on the career track for promotion and you get Special Pay for Jumping, assuming parachutes sound like fun.

EOD Explosive Ordinance Disposal can be exciting if you want to get a bang out of life, but the training is like 6 months long and a lot of studying. You get to practice taking nuclear bombs apart.