So, I want to join the military...

[thehstrybean]

So which branch? At first I thought Army, but I reall wanna fly helicopters, and Army didn't do that...a lot. So I looked at Navy, mainly because it's in my town. Air Force looks the best. I'm not in the best physical shape, but I'm workin on that now that I'm in college. I'm starting to run and work out more.

Like I said, I really wanna fly helicopters...I would love to fly Blackhawks (they kick a$$)...


Opinions? Who's done it?

A little info: I'm a freshman at the University of Tennesse Chattanooga, but I might transfer next year to UT Knoxville. They have AFROTC, FWIW. I'm an anthropology (concentrations in cultural anthropology and archaeology) or history (concentrations in prehistory, ancient near east, and classical) major. Can't decide quite yet...

EDIT: I added another question

 

[OrganizedChaos]

my worthless advice is to stay away from the reserve. you need to assume that your going to be activated and when that happens you want the best equipment and the best training you can get, thats not going to happen in the reserve.

 

[da loser]

um, the army has the most helicopters...

 

[jadinolf]

Originally posted by: da loser
um, the army has the most helicopters...

Absolutely!

 

[apologetic]

You're not going to fly helicopters in the reserve, guaranteed

 

[datalink7]

Originally posted by: jadinolf

Originally posted by: da loser
um, the army has the most helicopters...

Absolutely!

Seriously... if you want to fly helicopters, join the army. It's why I joined the army.

Didn't get to fly though. Got infantry instead. Oh well, still cool

 

[b0mbrman]

Originally posted by: thehstrybean
So which branch? At first I thought Army, but I reall wanna fly helicopters, and Army didn't do that...a lot. So I looked at Navy, mainly because it's in my town. Air Force looks the best. I'm not in the best physical shape, but I'm workin on that now that I'm in college. I'm starting to run and work out more.

Army does do helicopters...more so than the Navy/Air Force. However, you have to either be an officer and branch aviation (very competitive) or enlist and go warrant (where there's no guarantee and you might be stuck doing another job you don't want)

Like I said, I really wanna fly helicopters...I would love to fly Blackhawks (they kick a$$)...

Yarrr, truly they do. Little Birds are also sexy

Opinions? Who's done it?

Not I. Didn't have the inclination.

A little info: I'm a freshman at the University of Tennesse Chattanooga, but I might transfer next year to UT Knoxville. They have AFROTC, FWIW. I'm an anthropology (concentrations in cultural anthropology and archaeology) or history (concentrations in prehistory, ancient near east, and classical) major. Can't decide quite yet...

Only as it regards to the military, take the course where you will get the best grades because your GPA is one of the criteria for deciding whether or not you get your first choice of branch (I got my 2nd choice getting a low GPA in a hard major at a hard school). Of course, there are many, more important reasons to choose a major and you should use those reasons....

 

[b0mbrman]

As for which service...I do hate to say it, but overall, I recommend the Air Force.

They treat their people the best, have their bases in the best locations (Navy is close), and have the highest proportion of females

Now, if you've got a single focus and that's flying helicopters, well, you should go to the service with the most helicopters, and I see you've already been corrected as to which one that is

 

[Azndude2190]

You wont be doing anything in reserve...hence "reserve". But Army should be your choice.

 

[thehstrybean]

OK, so Army has the helicopters...Somehow I didn't think I'd get to fly by joinin the reserve...

I do want to be treated well, and I've always loved the air force, but infantry sounds like a lot of fun...I guess I could see myself doing anything, but I want to be active...Computers are fun, but flyin or driving or shootin sounds like more fun...

 

[SmoochyTX]

Originally posted by: thehstrybean
OK, so Army has the helicopters...Somehow I didn't think I'd get to fly by joinin the reserve...

I do want to be treated well, and I've always loved the air force, but infantry sounds like a lot of fun...I guess I could see myself doing anything, but I want to be active...Computers are fun, but flyin or driving or shootin sounds like more fun...

Just make sure you learn the difference between 2WD and 4WD and how to use them in the appropriate situations before you enlist. It seems our military doesn't teach our much appreciated soldiers how to do so.

 

[thehstrybean]

Originally posted by: SmoochyTX

Originally posted by: thehstrybean
OK, so Army has the helicopters...Somehow I didn't think I'd get to fly by joinin the reserve...

I do want to be treated well, and I've always loved the air force, but infantry sounds like a lot of fun...I guess I could see myself doing anything, but I want to be active...Computers are fun, but flyin or driving or shootin sounds like more fun...

Just make sure you learn the difference between 2WD and 4WD and how to use them in the appropriate situations before you enlist. It seems our military doesn't teach our much appreciated soldiers how to do so.

Trust me, I know that...Tellico + Cherokee + Command Trac 4WD = I know...


Oh yes, I know...

4WD FTW!!

 

[chambersc]

If you don't join, you're un-American.

 

[Itchrelief]

I don't think Air Force is as good an option as the other two, considering they are more enamored of the fast shiny jets that go really fast than helicopters. Air Force seems to mainly have search/rescue and special ops helicopters, as well as some old UH-1s.

Rotary wing is more of an Army thing (they can't buy jets so they buy a lot of choppers instead), and to a lesser extent, Navy and Marine Corps.

That's what little I know (or think I know, it could all be wrong).

edit: Damn that's one outdated post.

 

[sandorski]

Iknow crap all about how the Military works, but if you want to learn to fly helicopters you're best bet is to go to a civilian flight school. You *might* get the opportunity to do so in the Military, but whether that opportunity arrises or not is almost entirely out of your hands.

 

[DCFife]

Go take the ASVAB and then get back to us. You can count on us to make the right decision for you.

 

[novasatori]

CSAR sounds more fun than hauling people/crap around

 

[da loser]

Originally posted by: sandorski
Iknow crap all about how the Military works, but if you want to learn to fly helicopters you're best bet is to go to a civilian flight school. You *might* get the opportunity to do so in the Military, but whether that opportunity arrises or not is almost entirely out of your hands.

that's BS, seems like you know crap about flying helicopters as well. most commercial helicopter pilots are from vietnam/ex military.
commercial guys are paid very little and the competition is fierce.
plus the military training is much better.

if you're interested in going commercial go to your local airport and talk to pilots, maybe take some classes, but i guarantee that road is much tougher if you want to make it a career.

http://www.pprune.org/forums/forumdisplay.php?f=23

 

[PrinceofWands]

A little info: I'm a freshman at the University of Tennesse Chattanooga, but I might transfer next year to UT Knoxville. They have AFROTC, FWIW. I'm an anthropology (concentrations in cultural anthropology and archaeology) or history (concentrations in prehistory, ancient near east, and classical) major. Can't decide quite yet...

Only as it regards to the military, take the course where you will get the best grades because your GPA is one of the criteria for deciding whether or not you get your first choice of branch (I got my 2nd choice getting a low GPA in a hard major at a hard school). Of course, there are many, more important reasons to choose a major and you should use those reasons....

I don't know that I would agree with this. I had a .012 gpa out of high school, and a 2.2 gpa in my high school completion portion of college. I was offered pretty much anything I wanted in any branch (mostly due to test scores and some independently gained skills I think). Many of the people I was going through meps with had extremely low gpa's as well, and yet had gotten choice fields. The people who got stuck with crap fields seemed to be the people with low test scores and no extra-curricular boosters, not low gpa.

Of course it could have changed in the 14 years since I went through it all.

 

[b0mbrman]

Originally posted by: SmoochyTX

Originally posted by: thehstrybean
OK, so Army has the helicopters...Somehow I didn't think I'd get to fly by joinin the reserve...

I do want to be treated well, and I've always loved the air force, but infantry sounds like a lot of fun...I guess I could see myself doing anything, but I want to be active...Computers are fun, but flyin or driving or shootin sounds like more fun...

Just make sure you learn the difference between 2WD and 4WD and how to use them in the appropriate situations before you enlist. It seems our military doesn't teach our much appreciated soldiers how to do so.

Aw, got scared off from the other thread?

 

[b0mbrman]

Originally posted by: PrinceofWands

A little info: I'm a freshman at the University of Tennesse Chattanooga, but I might transfer next year to UT Knoxville. They have AFROTC, FWIW. I'm an anthropology (concentrations in cultural anthropology and archaeology) or history (concentrations in prehistory, ancient near east, and classical) major. Can't decide quite yet...

Only as it regards to the military, take the course where you will get the best grades because your GPA is one of the criteria for deciding whether or not you get your first choice of branch (I got my 2nd choice getting a low GPA in a hard major at a hard school). Of course, there are many, more important reasons to choose a major and you should use those reasons....

I don't know that I would agree with this. I had a .012 gpa out of high school, and a 2.2 gpa in my high school completion portion of college. I was offered pretty much anything I wanted in any branch (mostly due to test scores and some independently gained skills I think). Many of the people I was going through meps with had extremely low gpa's as well, and yet had gotten choice fields. The people who got stuck with crap fields seemed to be the people with low test scores and no extra-curricular boosters, not low gpa.

Of course it could have changed in the 14 years since I went through it all.

Oh no, I'm talking about officer branching when done through ROTC (or through the academies for that matter)

Going the enlisted route, it's all about your ASVAB and what's available

 

[ViviTheMage]

air force cause you can get a pilot job doing commercial routes later!

 

[BD2003]

Reserve = Iraq. Don't kid yourself.

 

[thehstrybean]

Iraq really wouldn't bother me. I just don't care, really. There are lots of guys in my classes who have been...


I added another poll question, too....

 

[b0mbrman]

Originally posted by: thehstrybean
Iraq really wouldn't bother me. I just don't care, really. There are lots of guys in my classes who have been...


I added another poll question, too....

Meh, you'd be fine as an aviator in terms of safety. Note that you will take contact...but you'll be fine.

Basically, just consider it as one year of your life completely erased from the calendar.

BTW, your poll choices are a bit off:

"Enlist the regular way..." would imply you drop out of school to join and become a private. I imagine you want to join ROTC and finish school. At which point, you would be commissioned.

.·. Commission the regular way...