Thinking About Joining the Military

[xanis]

Lately, the thought of joining the military has crossed my mind more than once. Basically, my personal and school lives are not at their highest points, to say the least. I'm lazy, disorganized, unmotivated and I have the attention span of a goldfish. All of those things also affect my school life, which has slowly been deteriorating over the last couple of years. My grades have been slipping, and although I want to improve and do better, I lack pretty much any motivation to do so. I'm also extremely unorganized. My organization issues have affect both aspects of my life and, as with school, I lack any motivation to improve it. All of these reasons lead me to believe that the military would do me good. I think that it might help me get my life in order, and become a better person through organization, responsibility and motivation. That's not to mention the benefit of a high-quality hands-on education that I could recieve. That being said, I have some questions for either those who have served in a branch of the US Military or those who just know their stuff.

1. What is the minimum required service stint for enlisted men? It is 3 years, correct?

2. What kind of training and education does the military offer in the IT field?

3. What are the chances that I would get deployed to a war zone?

4. Would it be better, for my purposes, to join on active duty or the reserves?

5. How much freedom does military life allow? (I'm guessing not much?)

6. What is the average base pay for an enlisted soldier in the Army?

7. To prove my skills with computers or IT, would I need to take ASVAB?

8. Assuming I got shipped overseas, what is an average tour of duty?


I'll post more questions if any come to mind. Oh, and there's also a poll on whether or not I should enlist. Thanks for the help.

EDIT: Forgot to say that my parents would probably be devastated if I told them that I wanted to enlist. What would be the best way to break them the news? I feel sorta bad because they've been saving up for my college tuition, and I don't want them to feel like all of the hard work they put in to raising me and getting me to college is going down the tube.

 

[xanis]

bump

 

[Saint Nick]

i think in the AF or the navy you are automatically in for four years. i worked on an AFB and i still don't know :laugh:

 

[broon]

AF Experience:

1. What is the minimum required service stint for enlisted men? It is 3 years, correct?

4 years

2. What kind of training and education does the military offer in the IT field?

Your actual job in the military will give you better training

3. What are the chances that I would get deployed to a war zone?

Slim

4. Would it be better, for my purposes, to join on active duty or the reserves?

Depends on what you want. Active if you want all the benefits.

5. How much freedom does military life allow? (I'm guessing not much?)

It's not alot different. Drug tests...some on call maybe.

6. What is the average base pay for an enlisted soldier in the Army?

I don't know what it is now but it was decent when I got out in 1998

7. To prove my skills with computers or IT, would I need to take ASVAB?

Yes

8. Assuming I got shipped overseas, what is an average tour of duty?

Depends on the assignment. Remotes are usually one year. All others typically run about three years

 

[xanis]

Originally posted by: broon

kthnx... umm

 

[BurnItDwn]

Hmm ... If you survive ... it's probably a good thing for you. But I don't know for sure since I've never been in the military, mostly because I'm a procrastinator, also, I do not enjoy running..

 

[xanis]

Check OP for edit... Also, thanks broon.

 

[CVSiN]

Originally posted by: Xanis
Lately, the thought of joining the military has crossed my mind more than once. Basically, my personal and school lives are not at their highest points, to say the least. I'm lazy, disorganized, unmotivated and I have the attention span of a goldfish. All of those things also affect my school life, which has slowly been deteriorating over the last couple of years. My grades have been slipping, and although I want to improve and do better, I lack pretty much any motivation to do so. I'm also extremely unorganized. My organization issues have affect both aspects of my life and, as with school, I lack any motivation to improve it. All of these reasons lead me to believe that the military would do me good. I think that it might help me get my life in order, and become a better person through organization, responsibility and motivation. That's not to mention the benefit of a high-quality hands-on education that I could recieve. That being said, I have some questions for either those who have served in a branch of the US Military or those who just know their stuff.

1. What is the minimum required service stint for enlisted men? It is 3 years, correct?

2. What kind of training and education does the military offer in the IT field?

3. What are the chances that I would get deployed to a war zone?

4. Would it be better, for my purposes, to join on active duty or the reserves?

5. How much freedom does military life allow? (I'm guessing not much?)

6. What is the average base pay for an enlisted soldier in the Army?

7. To prove my skills with computers or IT, would I need to take ASVAB?

8. Assuming I got shipped overseas, what is an average tour of duty?


I'll post more questions if any come to mind. Oh, and there's also a poll on whether or not I should enlist. Thanks for the help.

If you are lookign for IT training then you need to look at the US Navy..
they now have a dedicated IT rating..
this would pretty muich guarantee you a ship/station position..
which means you would be away from most of the combat action in an air conditioned room.

4 years is shortest term i beleive unless you do a half and half reserve/active deal
All service members must take ASVAB.. what you will be offered is tied to the score so study hard..

as for freedom in the navy at least if you are in port and not on duty you will eb able to stay out unless they post otherwise..
you can live offbase at your homeport and it be like a 7-4 workday..
you will have at least 1 day a week you will be on duty..w hcih means you dont get to leave the ship or station..
you will work your normal shift then can stand up to an 8 hour watch afterwords..

I enjoyed my time in.. world travel..
decent pay..
work on things very few other people in the world can say..
come out with GI Bill and a education of what you learned inside and thats a hell of a bullet in a resume..
with my 10 years service in avionics/electronics I have yet to be turned down for a job in the outside world.

 

[broon]

Originally posted by: Xanis

Originally posted by: broon

kthnx... umm

Fixed.

 

[Runes911]

I will answer what I can since I am not in the military but have friends who are.

1. What is the minimum required service stint for enlisted men? It is 3 years, correct?
Dunno but for most highly technical training they want you for 5+ years

2. What kind of training and education does the military offer in the IT field?
Much BUT see above answer

3. What are the chances that I would get deployed to a war zone?
Umm currently? Pretty high. But the type of job my friends are doing (IT) they are relatively safe because the army doesnt want to lose them because of the cost in training them.

4. Would it be better, for my purposes, to join on active duty or the reserves?
Can't answer this one...

5. How much freedom does military life allow? (I'm guessing not much?)
Well as far as doing daily life stuff its just like a job, you work 9-5 and your off for the day after that. Though don't expect to be living in the sate you are now.

6. What is the average base pay for an enlisted soldier in the Army?
Can't answer this one. Though I do know while you are deployed you make a good bit of bonus.

7. To prove my skills with computers or IT, would I need to take ASVAB?
Yes. You much have a certain score for certain jobs. Though my friends were able to take it as many time as was necessary to get the score they needed.

8. Assuming I got shipped overseas, what is an average tour of duty?
My friends have gone anywhere from 3-9 months

 

[xanis]

CVSin... thanks, I've been considering the Navy as well, especially now because of what you told me about the IT field.

 

[Linflas]

I can only tell you it was the only good decision I made in my teen years.

 

[xanis]

Originally posted by: Linflas
I can only tell you it was the only good decision I made in my teen years.

Ywah I was thinking this might be the case with me if I enlist....

 

[broon]

Originally posted by: Xanis
CVSin... thanks, I've been considering the Navy as well, especially now because of what you told me about the IT field.

Make sure that's what you want. Since you don't have a spouse it won't be as bad. Deployments can be long. And working on a ship is hard work. 12 hours on/12 off. No days off until port. AF is more like a regular job.

 

[CVSiN]

Originally posted by: Xanis

Originally posted by: Linflas
I can only tell you it was the only good decision I made in my teen years.

Ywah I was thinking this might be the case with me if I enlist....

same here my parents signed me in at 17...
best thing i ever did.. if i had not of done it id be prolly working at a best buy or something...

instead I work for a very large oil company making around 3x what I made in the navy..
and able to say i have been to 35 countries.

 

[EatSpam]

Given your circumstances, you don't want to die in Iraq. /thread

 

[CVSiN]

Originally posted by: broon

Originally posted by: Xanis
CVSin... thanks, I've been considering the Navy as well, especially now because of what you told me about the IT field.

Make sure that's what you want. Since you don't have a spouse it won't be as bad. Deployments can be long. And working on a ship is hard work. 12 hours on/12 off. No days off until port. AF is more like a regular job.

yes on ship he is right.. 12 on 12 off..
its really not that bad though..
on ship there isnt much else to do except watch movies play cards or video games..
but also keep in mind that IT dept would not be thatb strenuous for 12 hours...
hell we pull that half the time here...

and Air conditioning far away from any bullets or bombs being fired is a good things..

 

[Linflas]

Originally posted by: CVSiN

Originally posted by: broon

Originally posted by: Xanis
CVSin... thanks, I've been considering the Navy as well, especially now because of what you told me about the IT field.

Make sure that's what you want. Since you don't have a spouse it won't be as bad. Deployments can be long. And working on a ship is hard work. 12 hours on/12 off. No days off until port. AF is more like a regular job.

yes on ship he is right.. 12 on 12 off..
its really not that bad though..
on ship there isnt much else to do except watch movies play cards or video games..
but also keep in mind that IT dept would not be thatb strenuous for 12 hours...
hell we pull that half the time here...

and Air conditioning far away from any bullets or bombs being fired is a good things..

When I was in only brown shoes worked 12s, black shoes worked 8 hour watches I think. 12 on 12 off sounds tough until you realize there isn't a whole lot else to do while out at sea.

 

[spc hink]

1. I believe there are 2 year enlistment terms, but you need to check with a recruiter for that. Different jobs require different minimum service agreements. Jobs which require longer training will require a longer enlistment.

2. Not so sure about IT, but check out goarmy.com about the mos's and it will give you some info on that.

3. I am in the reserves and I was told I was going to be deployed right after I got out of training, but it has been a year and a half and I am still here. Heck, I even volunteered to go to Iraq but i still have not been sent. But do not enlist unless you are willing to be deployed. Hope for the best but expect the worse.

4. If you do not have many plans for a career or school, I would go active.

5. It all depends on the unit. In basic training, you have close to 0 freedoms, but once you get out, you get your freedom back. It is much like a regular job. Some units are strict and some are relaxed though.

6. I believe it is around $800 for E-1 and $1200 for E-3

7. In addition to the math and english sections of the asvab, there are additional tests which test different skills. For instance, you might need to score a certain amount on the electronics test to get an IT job.

8. For active, I believe it is 6 months, and for reserve it is 18 months. (not sure exactly)

Best of luck, and remember, don't let anyone talk you in to this. I personally am glad I joined the Army, but each person will react differently to it and you are the one who will know best on how this will be.

 

[xanis]

You can check the edit on the OP, but basically, how would I go about breaking the news to my parents without giving them a heart attack. Don't want them to think that all of their effor in educationg and raising me right is going to waste...

 

[xanis]

@spc hink: Thanks for the info. I am not letting anyone push me into this, I actually want to join, maybe.

 

[xanis]

bump

 

[CVSiN]

Originally posted by: Linflas

Originally posted by: CVSiN

Originally posted by: broon

Originally posted by: Xanis
CVSin... thanks, I've been considering the Navy as well, especially now because of what you told me about the IT field.

Make sure that's what you want. Since you don't have a spouse it won't be as bad. Deployments can be long. And working on a ship is hard work. 12 hours on/12 off. No days off until port. AF is more like a regular job.

yes on ship he is right.. 12 on 12 off..
its really not that bad though..
on ship there isnt much else to do except watch movies play cards or video games..
but also keep in mind that IT dept would not be thatb strenuous for 12 hours...
hell we pull that half the time here...

and Air conditioning far away from any bullets or bombs being fired is a good things..

When I was in only brown shoes worked 12s, black shoes worked 8 hour watches I think. 12 on 12 off sounds tough until you realize there isn't a whole lot else to do while out at sea.

I was a blackshoe (aviation puke F/A-18Cs on carriers) and we definatly worked 12s.

 

[Schadenfreude]

Well, I'm currently in the process of joining the US Army myself, but I'd hesitate a bit in your reasoning - it sounds as if you're thinking about the military *only* because you're in a rut - I'm not saying I'm making the right decision on my part (we'll see, but I think I am), but it took me a while to really decide if I wanted to join or not (I've been thinking about joining even before I got into college) and now since I have my bachelor's degree, I can join as an officer (after applying & going through additional training).

After reading about and researching the army and the military, I'm excited to go and join. But, you should really know what you're going into before you make a decision.

If I may, I got this book and it helped me out as far as the basics of what an Army personnel is expected to do - that might not apply, but this might help you out a bit, as far as what is to be expected.

Also, as a sidenote, if you decide to go in, be sure to tell your recruiter that you have some college credit - depending on how much credit you have, you wil be able to go in with a higher rank.

 

[Linflas]

Originally posted by: CVSiN

Originally posted by: Linflas

Originally posted by: CVSiN

Originally posted by: broon

Originally posted by: Xanis
CVSin... thanks, I've been considering the Navy as well, especially now because of what you told me about the IT field.

Make sure that's what you want. Since you don't have a spouse it won't be as bad. Deployments can be long. And working on a ship is hard work. 12 hours on/12 off. No days off until port. AF is more like a regular job.

yes on ship he is right.. 12 on 12 off..
its really not that bad though..
on ship there isnt much else to do except watch movies play cards or video games..
but also keep in mind that IT dept would not be thatb strenuous for 12 hours...
hell we pull that half the time here...

and Air conditioning far away from any bullets or bombs being fired is a good things..

When I was in only brown shoes worked 12s, black shoes worked 8 hour watches I think. 12 on 12 off sounds tough until you realize there isn't a whole lot else to do while out at sea.

I was a blackshoe (aviation puke F/A-18Cs on carriers) and we definatly worked 12s.

I think I used dated terminology. Aviation types (brown shoes) are the ones that worked 12's, the shipboard ratings (black shoes bosun, yeoman, etc) worked 8's. I was AX (rating defunct now) on S-3A's. I thought that was what the "bells" were for, they indicated the watch periods for the ship's crew. Been a long time ago so I am probably wrong.