I went and talked to some of the local recruiters here about joining a branch as a reserve. As I was talking to the guy I just felt like it would be the right thing to do, and I was tempted to sign the papers right there. I really want to fly but I'd never thought it would be possible for me to do it. After talking to the recruiter it seems like I could have a good chance.
<sigh>
I always used to tell myself that I wouldn't join the military, but it seems to be inevitable now.
Before I do something rash though I'm going to talk to my dad, the recruiter again, and contemplate my options over the weekend
UPDATE:
Update: I'm going to meet with another recruiter on tuesday. Right now I'm split about 70/30 on what I want to do... either the marines or the air force, with the advantage going to the marines at this point. Basically unless I get a really good deal from the AF recruiter I'm going marines. Also at this point I've decided 100% that I am going to do SOMETHING, I just need to figure out what.
UPDATE 2:
I spoke to an air force recruiter, had to drive out 3 hours to meet her. She told me she would have a hotel room reserved for me and the other person looking atr joining up, plus have an appointment set up so we could take the ASVAB and our physicals. We drove 3 hours out there (the only reason we agreed to meet her was because she had an "offer we couldn't refuse") and the recruiter spent about 10 minutes talking to us. The deal she could give us was the exact same pay that all the other branches were offering, with less of a signing bonus and nothing special at all. At this point in talkking with her I was getting a bit upset that we had driven out there for nothing. I decided that it wasn't all too bad because we got a hotel room and could explore Richmond for a few hours that night. I was done speaking with her at that point (BTW that meeting was the AF's one chance to talk me out of the marines) and just wanted to get out of there and back to our hotel. The conversation went like this after that point:
Me: Ok, I think you've answered all of our questions for now. I'd like to leave and get some food and head back to our hotel. We'll meet you tomorrow morning. Where are we staying tonight?
AF Recruiter: Well... that's a bit of a problem. We can't get you a hotel room tonight.
Me:...
...
<trying not to get angry>
... Ok... well I guess we'll just have to take the tests tonight before we head back then.
AF Recruiter: That's also going to be a problem. You see, to take the tests there needs to be at least a 48 hour advance notice.
(I had been VERY specific about the plans when I spoke with her a week before. I didn't want to drive 6 hours total for nothing)
Me: So should I assume you didn't put in the notice?
AF Recruiter: ... ... yes.
Me: So then why did we drive out here? All you've done is give me 1 piece of paper that you could have faxed me and spoken to me about over the phone. This is also the exact same payment information that every other branch offers. I could have seen this information at the army recruiters office that is 5 minutes from my apartment.
AF Recruiter: Yes, but I was able to tell you about the experience of being in the Air Force!
Me: All you told me about was that AF personell get to stay in a hotel when they are on assignment! You told me the same thing when we spoke on the phone a week ago! *$*#@...
<use your imagination and add in about 5 minutes of me being rather(extremely) upset(make a rapper cringe vulgar) to the recruiter for wasting more than 7 hours of my time, plus the gas money and parking money, plus tolls to get to the location.>
I left without hearing her response, which could have been "I'll give you $50,000 for your time" and I still wouldn't have cared at that point.
So I've decided to go into the Marine reserves through the remainder of my college career. Once I graduate I'll move to fully enlisted and headed to OCS to become a comissioned officer. After that it's on to flight school (hopefully, I've got a good shot at it at least). I've talked to many people extensively over the last few weeks: my father (20+ years Navy), people I know already involved with the Marine reserves, the Marine recruiter himself, and everyone else I can think of.
It seems like it'll be the best choice for me for my future. Plus I get in incredible shape (13 weeks of boot camp, ouch), get to blow all sorts of crap up with different weapons/bombs, and get all sorts of crazy training.
I'm psyched about it now. Wish me luck. Oh and if anyone wants to take pity on a poor soul who won't see a woman for 13 weeks, feel free to PM me for my address if you have a Playboy or Penthouse you want to send me once I'm at boot
<sigh>
I always used to tell myself that I wouldn't join the military, but it seems to be inevitable now.
Before I do something rash though I'm going to talk to my dad, the recruiter again, and contemplate my options over the weekend
UPDATE:
Update: I'm going to meet with another recruiter on tuesday. Right now I'm split about 70/30 on what I want to do... either the marines or the air force, with the advantage going to the marines at this point. Basically unless I get a really good deal from the AF recruiter I'm going marines. Also at this point I've decided 100% that I am going to do SOMETHING, I just need to figure out what.
UPDATE 2:
I spoke to an air force recruiter, had to drive out 3 hours to meet her. She told me she would have a hotel room reserved for me and the other person looking atr joining up, plus have an appointment set up so we could take the ASVAB and our physicals. We drove 3 hours out there (the only reason we agreed to meet her was because she had an "offer we couldn't refuse") and the recruiter spent about 10 minutes talking to us. The deal she could give us was the exact same pay that all the other branches were offering, with less of a signing bonus and nothing special at all. At this point in talkking with her I was getting a bit upset that we had driven out there for nothing. I decided that it wasn't all too bad because we got a hotel room and could explore Richmond for a few hours that night. I was done speaking with her at that point (BTW that meeting was the AF's one chance to talk me out of the marines) and just wanted to get out of there and back to our hotel. The conversation went like this after that point:
Me: Ok, I think you've answered all of our questions for now. I'd like to leave and get some food and head back to our hotel. We'll meet you tomorrow morning. Where are we staying tonight?
AF Recruiter: Well... that's a bit of a problem. We can't get you a hotel room tonight.
Me:...
...
<trying not to get angry>
... Ok... well I guess we'll just have to take the tests tonight before we head back then.
AF Recruiter: That's also going to be a problem. You see, to take the tests there needs to be at least a 48 hour advance notice.
(I had been VERY specific about the plans when I spoke with her a week before. I didn't want to drive 6 hours total for nothing)
Me: So should I assume you didn't put in the notice?
AF Recruiter: ... ... yes.
Me: So then why did we drive out here? All you've done is give me 1 piece of paper that you could have faxed me and spoken to me about over the phone. This is also the exact same payment information that every other branch offers. I could have seen this information at the army recruiters office that is 5 minutes from my apartment.
AF Recruiter: Yes, but I was able to tell you about the experience of being in the Air Force!
Me: All you told me about was that AF personell get to stay in a hotel when they are on assignment! You told me the same thing when we spoke on the phone a week ago! *$*#@...
<use your imagination and add in about 5 minutes of me being rather(extremely) upset(make a rapper cringe vulgar) to the recruiter for wasting more than 7 hours of my time, plus the gas money and parking money, plus tolls to get to the location.>
I left without hearing her response, which could have been "I'll give you $50,000 for your time" and I still wouldn't have cared at that point.
So I've decided to go into the Marine reserves through the remainder of my college career. Once I graduate I'll move to fully enlisted and headed to OCS to become a comissioned officer. After that it's on to flight school (hopefully, I've got a good shot at it at least). I've talked to many people extensively over the last few weeks: my father (20+ years Navy), people I know already involved with the Marine reserves, the Marine recruiter himself, and everyone else I can think of.
It seems like it'll be the best choice for me for my future. Plus I get in incredible shape (13 weeks of boot camp, ouch), get to blow all sorts of crap up with different weapons/bombs, and get all sorts of crazy training.
I'm psyched about it now. Wish me luck. Oh and if anyone wants to take pity on a poor soul who won't see a woman for 13 weeks, feel free to PM me for my address if you have a Playboy or Penthouse you want to send me once I'm at boot 
Facebook
Twitter