16 year old, who has questions about the Military, and needs help figuring out his future....

I have not read all the posts, but I did join the army (light) infantry. I was in in panama in the late 80s for Just Cause and a trainer during Desert Storm. I loved the military and it has done so much for my life. The reason I joined was for patriotism. President Reagan inspired me to join. The infantry taught me how to push my self beyond my limits. It taught me honosty, honor, integrity, leadership and to lead by example. After i got out I was a Store manager for big box retail, stores like Best Buy, Circuit City, The Good Guys, Petsmart and Borders Books. I even ran a 50 Million dollar a year store in NM. I owe all that I did to the military. I never used my GI bill which I wish i did, but in my mind I was still successful. Now that being said,I only served 4 years. I learned that I wanted control of my own life instead of the military controlling me. I learned to play the game while being the military. The game being just do what your told and its all easy peasy. Military is not for everyone, but for me like you it was all I dreamed about when I was very young. Good luck in your endeavors.

PS. this is the first post I have made, I have been reading ATS for a couple years now and appreciate the openness of the forums.

Originally posted by LandonFromKY
Well anyways, i have been thinking about this for years, and years. My grandfather, my great grandfather, and my great great grandfather all were in the military and where in a war. My grandfather was in the korean war, earned the MOH, and Purple Heart, among others. So as the time for me to enlist creeps closer and closer, i was wondering if it would be worth it to Join the Military. Most likely the Army, or the Marines. I have always wanted to go in the Military and every time i play Call of Duty, or watch Jarhead, or a War movie it makes me want to go over there even more. I know it is no ones decision but mine, but i want to get some first hand experiences from guys, or girls who have served. I wanna know what it would be like and stuff. I know it would be nice to join and have my College paid for, not only that but the respect i would get from others, and the satisfaction of serving my country, and keeping my country and family free..

So if you have been in the Military or are currently enlisted, please post on here with your experiences, and whatever else you would like to add!

Thanks!

Nhf, but military is for brainwashed people.

Btw, i'm a war veteran.

If you want to contribute something, be creative, not destructive.

Im currently A SFC With a FA Battery stationed in Ft Polk LA. I've been in 13 years, I am everything from airborne to pathfinder qualified ive been deployed three times on full 15 month deployments and 6 times on 6 month deployments. Ive done almost everything there is to do in the Army and there is nothing about it remotely like a video game or a stupid show so get that out of your mind right now. My advice if i had to do i all over again I wouldnt do it the military has changed since I first joined it use to be worth joining but not anymore. If you wanna do something Honorable and not just kill people then join the peace corp or get an education that puts you in a position to do world changing things or helping people. The military isn't glamorous, it isn't fun, you don't get paid much, half the country hates you and the other half have a half hearted patriotic duty to like you. My advice don't join.

reply to post by ChaseHall


Thanks for your honesty. Better a young person to live at home, unemployed than to become a paid killer or guarding the Afghan poppy fields so the CIA can make money importing heroin into the good 'ol USA..

First off, I'm sure you know this, but War/serving in the military/being a part of the Army is NOT like Jarhead, Call of Duty, or any other form of a media stimulant. Don't join because you think your experience may be even REMOTELY close to any of those (because it won't). If you are going to join, a word of advice: Watch your recruiter like a HAWK.

Three years ago when I was 18, out of highschool, and wasn't too sure what I wanted to do, I decided to enlist in the Air Force. I went through all the proper procedures: Went to MEPS, took the ASVAB, passed the physical, and all the other tests they put me through. I'm not 100% sure how it works in the Army or Marines, but you have to pick 5 jobs that you would like to do. Now, they tell you that you WON'T necessarily get your top job, because it may be overbooked, no need for it, etc... This was fine with me and I understood it. I should have researched the jobs a lot more than I did, but I thought I knew (and understood enough) about the jobs that I figured they would be similar to what I wanted to do (I wanted to do be an Avionics Apprentice).

BUT, you DO have the option to change your job if you would like (before shipping off to BMT (basic military training). The recruiters don't tell you this because to them, it's just another big pain in the rear end.

So I was given a job and as I researched it further, it was nothing like what I wanted to do. Having talked to some of my friends in the Air Force, they told me it was a "back shop" job where I would be cooped up inside all day in a tiny room with no AC working on miscellaneous electrical parts of the plane. I decided I wanted to switch. I called up my recruiter and she wasn't there so I left a message on her voicemail.

Next day no call....
Two days no call....

On the third day, I finally received a call back but was at work and couldn't answer the phone. She left a message stating " Hey Michael, this is sergeant johnson returning your ridiculous and crazy call about switching jobs. You need to call me bask ASAP!"

First off, It wasn't a ridiculous request and second, it wasn't a crazy call. I wanted to switch. Sometimes it can be VERY HARD to cross train to another job while enlisted and performing your current job. I did not want to be stuck in some #ty job for the next 6 years with no way out. I tried calling her back and again, no answer. I kept calling and leaving messages, and I never heard ANYTHING back. After a while, I decided the Air Force wasn't for me and that I was going to go back to college, and possibly become an officer later through OCS.

I called, left her yet again another message, and would wait for her call. Nothing happened for the next month. When it came down to my 45 days before BMT, I got a call from the other recruiter. He said "Hey michael it's 4 days until you ship out, so we need to go over your briefing and whatnot."

I asked "Um, is sergeant Johnson there?"
"No, she's gone."
"Oh okay, do you know when she'll be back?"
"She's not coming back...We need to -"
"Well, I was never informed and I've decided to not go through with it because..."

After this I explained the situation and of course he was pissed. He told me his supervisor would call me and it wasn't as simple as leaving a message. Well, the supervisor called me and he was extremely polite. He also informed me that my recruiting officer, Sergeant Johnson, KNEW when she would be done recruiting and NEVER TOLD ME. She knew from day one when I signed up and NEVER SAID A WORD. To her (as like it is with a good amount of recruiters, but not all) I was JUST A NUMBER. I was beyond angry but the supervisor was very polite and whatnot.

If you decide to, just watch out for yourself. REMEMBER: You are not legally obligated to do ANYTHING until you take the final oath and sign your final contract THE DAY you ship out for BMT.

Good luck to you, and I hope everything goes well.

(Sorry for the long post)

Originally posted by Cryptonomicon
If you don't think you are very smart (only you can judge that) then join the infantry.

However, if you think you are smart, join the Navy. Start studying a foreign language, work hard at math, study some programming languages, and study history. Eventually when you are 18 and graduated high school, you will do the Navy/College thing, then get into intelligence work. You need to begin preparing now. Stop playing video games. Hit the books.

You go the Navy/College route, and the future is wide open, but you will have to work your ass off.

You go into infantry, you'll still work your ass off, but you'll come back with either PTSD, permanent physical injuries, unemployable, and read books about what you could have become instead.

Choice is yours. Choose wisely.

edit on 29-6-2011 by Cryptonomicon because: (no reason given)

Thats what alot of people get wrong, You cant be a dumbass and join infantry, You still have to score atleast 109 on part of the ASVAB to join infantry. Intelligence is only a 110. If someone really is a dumbass, they usually get jobs like cooks, or folding parachutes or something.

reply to post by LandonFromKY


Please kid,

DONT join the military! I personally have never served, but my younger brother is a reservist with the Marines and my older brother is now a Capt. in the Army and is currently in Afghanistan. My boyfriend served in the Air Force.

The biggest complaint I ever heard from my younger brother and my boyfriend is how once you're in and have an MOS, they like to jerk you around for sh*ts and giggles. Example: my younger brother is doing his 2 week/yr stint now in the local base. Last Friday, they told the unit at 10 AM they would be released within the hour - to be held in that same room, for no reason, until 6 PM. Also, be aware that once you're in a unit you can be easily deemed an outcast for superfluous reasons (as is now happening to my little brother) ... which I understand is not that easy to handle considering these guys are supposed to have your back 24/7.

Most of these guys have god complexes, and will assert their authority any time, any place to make sure you remember that THEY OWN YOU.

Besides, I'm not sure if you're aware of everything that's going on... You see our president is basically sending our boys war while violating the War Powers Act - is that something you are comfortable fighting for? Be aware that if you're actually carrying a gun they'll most likely give you some speed and let you shoot anything that walks... are you prepared for that?

Personally I don't know how ANYONE could be joining the military now. I don't know how it's so hard to see that the military is being jerked around to further the American Empire and grab up more oil. You ARE NOT fighting for America's freedom. You're fighting for corporations that have been awarded government contracts who make money off of YOU going to war. Once upon a time, joining the military was an honorable thing to do (maybe - but I think the reasons before were more legit than they are now.) Now, you'll just be another number, that is expendable, only to further line the pockets of Halliburton, et al.

Think long and hard - and don't just do it because your grandfather and great grandfather did it.

Good luck!

reply to post by LandonFromKY


I spent 13 years in the military. Let me assure you that real life infantry is nothing like Call of Duty. Do not go infantry. As a matter of fact if you are going to sign up then join the Air Force. They have the nicest bases and the best technical training. Use the military to learn a skill and pay for your college so that you will be prepared for real life after the military. Not to mention the Air Force is much safer. ( I wasn't in the Air Force)

We live in interesting times to say the least, and if you go infantry or some other combat related field then you will be used as a pawn in order to further the globalist agenda. You will take an oath to uphold and defend the Constitution against ALL enemies foreign and domestic. Learn what that means and learn what the Constitution really is and how important it is. You need to know what you are taking an oath to defend. You would be surprised at how many military members have no clue as to what their oath truly means. Learn what a domestic enemy is... like the UN.

In my opinion there hasn't been a man or woman in our military die for our country since WW2. Every war or "conflict" since has been unconstitutional and has only been a way to further the military industrial complex and American imperialism. Everyone that has died in Iraq and Afghanistan has not died for America, they have given their life in vain, in order for the globalists to get control of the oil, and for oil companies to advance their profit margin. DO NOT BECOME ONE OF THOSE THAT DIE IN VAIN. I mean no disrespect to those that have died, but as a former member of the military, I refuse to give my life so that some Iraqi can have democracy. Whether or not that Iraqi ever experiences Democracy is not my concern, nor should it be yours. And one last thing... when you take that oath you will also take an oath to obey the orders of the President and those officers appointed over you. Your first and only allegiance is to the Constitution. The President and those officers also took an oath to the Constitution. Learn the difference between a lawful order and an unlawful order, and always remember that your oath to the constitution trumps all others, including the President.

Like others have said, the real military isn't Call of Duty, or another video game. The dangers are all too real, and they do own your a** when you go in. The first thing you need to do is decide what career path you want in life. I know that is something that most 16 year old's haven't decided yet. But, it's something you definitely want to do prior to giving up 4 or more years of your life. Depending on what that winds up being, should help you to determine what branch of the military to go into. The Air Force and Navy will give you more technical opportunities, whereas the Army and Marines will give you training that will be beneficial in law enforcement or something along those lines. If you want to be an auto mechanic, don't go into the Navy. If you want to work in Aviation, even though they offer it, you probably don't want to go into the Marines.

Each branch is unique, and will offer different things. The first thing you need to do is take your ASVAB and see what you're qualified for. Take that score, and check all branches, including the Coast Guard. Remember, being enlisted means you'll get crap pay, but depending on the MOS/Rate, they may dangle a large enlistment bonus in front of you, but sometimes that means you go active for 6 years instead of 4, but it also means you get a "push button" E-4 after completing your schooling.

My Navy time was great. I got to see some pretty cool stuff, and I got a solid electronics background that has put me in a really nice job, making good money, and working in a air conditioned lab. So, depending on what you want when you're in your 30's, 40's and beyond, you need to make the right decision now.

What I would HIGHLY recommend is that you don't enlist right out of the gate. Instead, look at your options for College or University. Get your degree first, and if you can get a ROTC scholarship, all the better. Regardless, take ROTC while in college. This will prepare you for the officer ranks, and that's always a better option. You can still do the military, but instead of being a grunt, you'll be the boss of the grunts, with all the perks. I don't know if your high school offers JROTC or not, but I would look into it if it does. It will give you a small indication of what to expect, and how to conduct yourself. Plus, it may mean an automatic advancement.

You're doing the right thing, getting advice, and trying to educate yourself on what to expect. In the meantime, work out, get into good shape, and keep up your education in school, so you can score as high as possible on your ASVAB. Remember, there are 2 people in the military. One group moves stuff around, and the other group tells them to move it around. Do you want to be a mover, or a teller? Go the officer route if you can.

Hope this helps.

the difference is, when an IED blows you up near your objective you dont respawn.

oh and odds are you will become homeless..

blogs.abcnews.com...

More than 25 percent of the homeless population in the United States are military veterans, although they represent 11 percent of the civilian adult population, according to a new report.

On any given night last year, nearly 196,000 veterans slept on the street, in a shelter or in transitional housing, the study by the Homelessness Research Institute found.

"Veterans make up a disproportionate share of homeless people," the report said. "This is true despite the fact that veterans are better educated, more likely to be employed and have a lower poverty rate than the general population."

www.cnn.com...

If you really want to ask someone, ask the one who created you. Do it with no religious baggage, just with your honest hearts intent. The Creator knows you better than anyone...better than you do & naturally knows whats best for you. Your here to learn & grow & live YOUR life in love, even though it probably does'nt feel like it, due to the # this corrupted world dishes up to you & most of the rest of us. War is the opposite to all of that. The Creator wants you to grow, learn, live, experience peace & joy & satisfaction with your brief time posted here on earth, but most importantly your creator wants you to love & give all of this to the world around you too.Otherwise, how do you expect the world to get any better if you jump on the merry band wagon of death which is the military. You are after all, a spark of the Divine Creator, your spiritual essence is love. War wont provide much of an environment for any of that, except for I suppose the respect & love you will probably develop with your comrades. War is anti-love... anti-life, anti-growth, in fact the ultimate failure of mankind. Wars are ALWAYS fought for the wrong reasons. The real reasons are not at all what The Powers That Be tell you, so dont fall for their bull#. They get rich while you become govt. property, lose your god given freedom (whats currently left of it), bust your ass, kill & maim, get messed up, or maimed, or killed....for nothing but to get them rich. There is no glory in it, or even if your helping to support it. You'll also lower your own spiritual vibration, being in the game of death, so if you do join & especially if you choose to fight, then be prepared for that & dont be surprised if your not the same person, mentally,emotionally, spiritually & physically, if you get back. Your creator wants better for you than that; so just let go of your ego, let go of what you think you want, dont admire (worship) the image of war & military; they are nothing but death industries for you & the poor bastards in other nations who have to put up with having war & all its negative & destructive # dumped on them. YOUR BETTER THAN THAT & YOUR INFINITLY BETTER THAN THE DARK ENERGIES THAT WANT TO RUIN US ALL.

Going to ROTC in college will give you four summers of basic training and a flavor of military life. Join after graduation, at least you will go in as an officer.

why the # would any self respecting ATS'er want to join the military.
What an odd place to even post this question.
Any of you half wit brainwashed ex military who have responded. please take a step back breath, think and then realize your a tool.
feel free to ramble on about democracy or freedom fighting. look at the statistics. google it, im not here to enlighten you.

i'm just posting this cause your uneducated close minded brainwashed views make me sick to the stomach.
you should all be ashamed of yourselves. following orders is the stupidest excuse i have ever heard for mass killing of civilians. you knew what you were doing and ya did it anyway. i hope ya all real proud sempre phi!!! or whatever the # ya say

reply to post by AllinTheMind89


You know this is very interesting, its not very different from my own experience with Air Force recruiting. Air force was my first choice. I selected my five jobs, they could not get me any of them and they were bad about returning phone calls etc.

So I went to the Navy picked my five and 3 of the 5 were open, went Navy and never looked back.

My brother in law was a fireman in the Air Force though and he did well for himself.