Pros/Cons of joining the military?

[fizzbob]

personally, the pros can be as simple as a purpose in life for some, a job for others or just something different. not everyone can deal with the everyday life that most lead

the cons are time away from home, it's a challenge, you have to do what you don't want to do when you don't want to do it and you might get blown up

for most people, the perks outweigh the negatives

[Sin386]

I spent the last 10 years of my life in the Army (5 active duty and the rest reserve, current contract runs out in 2015). I honestly don't see me doing anything but this for the last decade. It was something I did because I couldn't get a real job and I was going to get married so I kinda needed something to be able to support a real life. That's just me though.

Currently, I hate the politics, standing around wasting time, drama that the lower enlisted bring to me and the drama that the higher ups toss me into because they don't want to deal with it. I have 2 purple hearts from the 2 different tours I've done to Iraq and Afgan. I am using my GI Bill to go to college for computer programming and game development.

Before you sign a contract, think long and hard about what you're about to do. Once you're in, you're in, you can't change that and you're stuck with it. Overall I think this is something that you, personally, could be very proud of having done in your life. It will build character, teamwork, discipline and a sense of selfless service. On the other hand, you could very well die doing said service (I came too close on many occasions), it could make you mentally unstable, and very irritated with civilians who... can't really think of the exact words atm, but they feel entitled to their rights as a citizen that they have no clue what it is like for people like us in the military and they look down on us.

Military is a long road to hoe, but overall I think almost everyone would benefit from doing a few years of service.

P.S.- the recruiters, from all branches, will NEVER tell you everything, make sure you hammer everything out in your contract before you sign anything.

[guineapig]

I am currently deployed in Afghanistan as a US Army Combat Engineer.

The reasons I enlisted in the Army were very similar to your reasons. I was having trouble with self-discipline, motivation, and integrity while completing high school and came very close to dropping out. Not because I wasn't smart enough, I was just too lazy. My dad pushed me toward the military as he was prior service Navy. So far, I can say that the 2 years I've been in have been brutally tough, both mentally and physically. That being said, I think that when my 4 year enlistment is up, I will look back and see that it was all worth it. Just after completing Basic Training I had grown considerably as a man, and even more so with the consequent year of pre-deployment combat training that followed and then my deployment currently to Afghanistan.

Pretty much every day I want to quit, but I don't. That's what the Army teaches you. No matter how shitty it gets, you keep pushing. Even when your legs are about to fall off on the 10th mile of a ruck march through mountains/sand, you keep pushing. I've got the drive and discipline to see any task through to completion, and that is something that is worth A LOT to me. It's what I wanted when I enlisted, and it's exactly what I got.

Keep in mind, there are many many Army MOS (Military Occupational Specialties) that do not involve combat, or even deploying for the most part. If you decide to do it, and you go to the recruiter, make sure you really push for whatever job it is that you want. The Army is unique because they will guarantee an MOS for you as long as you get that in your contract while you are still in the recruiters office. I wanted to be an IT Specialist but the training wasn't open for like another year or so, so my retarded brain decided to choose 12B Combat Engineer (our job is to drive down the road looking for roadside bombs and then blowing the f#$k outta them with at least 5x too much C4. Sometimes the roadside bombs find us first). I'd really encourage you to find a job you are really interested in and just wait for a slot. Currently the Army is a good 20% over-staffed so you might have to wait awhile, but trust me, you do NOT want to just jump into an MOS.

As shitty as this job is, I do have a lot of fun. Joking around and pulling pranks on my buddies in my company, making retarded Youtube videos, all that stuff, is totally awesome. What other people have said about camaraderie is totally true. These are lifelong friends you are making here. To be honest Afghanistan, even in the area we are in which is the worst at this point, is pretty calm. The insurgents don't really target US Military because we have superior equipment and their pathetic AK47s and 80lbs of ammonium nitrate IEDs don't penetrate the hull of a proper gun truck. The insurgents target the Afghani National Army and Afhani Police because they basically drive around in pickup trucks with DShKs (giant russian .50 cals) mounted on top.

After this deployment I plan on doing some high-speed training that is a lot of fun like Sapper school (engineer version of Ranger school), Airborne school (teaches you to jump out of perfectly good airplanes), and Air-Assault school (teaches you to rope out of perfectly good helicopters). I've considered a few times going out for Special Forces selection, but that is a whoooole 'nother ballgame.


tl;dr Military service sucks, but that is kinda the point. In the end you come out stronger. There are non-combat jobs. The values you learn are the important part of service. "The most fun you never want to have again." Make sure you take the job you really want.

[Deleted]

pros: dont have to worry about civil life so much, free food health care an all, alot of people around you all the time (i love that)

Cons: dont have that much time for WoW

[Cottonmouth]

Marines if you want to learn how to kill people better than they know how to kill you

[fizzbob]

I spent the last 10 years of my life in the Army (5 active duty and the rest reserve, current contract runs out in 2015). I honestly don't see me doing anything but this for the last decade. It was something I did because I couldn't get a real job and I was going to get married so I kinda needed something to be able to support a real life. That's just me though.

Currently, I hate the politics, standing around wasting time, drama that the lower enlisted bring to me and the drama that the higher ups toss me into because they don't want to deal with it. I have 2 purple hearts from the 2 different tours I've done to Iraq and Afgan. I am using my GI Bill to go to college for computer programming and game development.

Before you sign a contract, think long and hard about what you're about to do. Once you're in, you're in, you can't change that and you're stuck with it. Overall I think this is something that you, personally, could be very proud of having done in your life. It will build character, teamwork, discipline and a sense of selfless service. On the other hand, you could very well die doing said service (I came too close on many occasions), it could make you mentally unstable, and very irritated with civilians who... can't really think of the exact words atm, but they feel entitled to their rights as a citizen that they have no clue what it is like for people like us in the military and they look down on us.

Military is a long road to hoe, but overall I think almost everyone would benefit from doing a few years of service.

P.S.- the recruiters, from all branches, will NEVER tell you everything, make sure you hammer everything out in your contract before you sign anything.

what is selfless about a job lol

don't listen to this guy, he's still got "i did a great thing for my country for free" syndrome and he got paid to do it. people who like the military NEVER do it for free.

the best benefit is that compared to what else you could be doing with the education you have, your benefits are MUCH better

---------- Post added 2011-09-26 at 08:36 AM ----------

Marines if you want to learn how to kill people better than they know how to kill you

just be careful testing that in real life. seen a few marines get their asses handed to them because they were convinced they could really fight since they went through the same self defense class that women at the ymca go through.

[Cottonmouth]

Seen plenty of marines get their asses wooped too on the street. The difference is that mentality is good in war...aggression = scary to other people when they are shitting their pants

and most marines don't join the marines for benefits...theres like none

[Ramman]

I am a vet, did 23 years , came out with a masters degree in management and a lot of life experiences.
Pros are that you will be paid a reasonable salary,
be physically fit,
be allowed to continue your education using Tuition assistance (pays 90%) of fees,
If you have any financial discipline you will save a bunch of money,
possible do some really cool travel to some really cool places and really develope a good appreciation of how well off you have it in the U.S. if thats where you are from.
Cons;
Deploy to a combat zone and see people you love and care about die.
Be away from your family for months and years on end
work 7 days a week for 18 hours a day
and suffer under the despotsim of some real jerks,
Without a college degree you will be enlisted and subject to the whims of assholes and idiots on a daily basis.
If you enjoy WOW you will have to live off base or pay stupidly high fees to get internet access.

but other than that your frre time is all yours,

Go see an Airforce Recruiter now, Not Marine, Not Army, not Navy, No college degree = enlisted = shit details :-}

[Trollayd]

just be careful testing that in real life. seen a few marines get their asses handed to them because they were convinced they could really fight since they went through the same self defense class that women at the ymca go through.

i am sorry but that just lighten my mood reminded me of the king of the hill episode with bobby. lol
but yes all this input will help me if that day comes. so far there seem to be a ton of benefits but VERY DEADLY consequences.

[Deleted]

In my childhood I was a scout (i was about 8 years old, when I joined them, I left when I hit 16) and I received enough thought about stronger uniformed idiots, who yells at me, what I have to do. In my country (Poland) there was compulsory military service, so I had to do some lulz actions to avoid joining military. I lost about 5 years and bunch of money to pretend to be a student, so they didn't cath me for few years, when at last some politicians thought that professional military service is little better. In my country there is popular myth, that the real men should go to military, and only fags don't want to. Well, I hate conservatists...

No, I won't join to military, but I respect people, who want to join there.

[Trollayd]

Go see an Airforce Recruiter now, Not Marine, Not Army, not Navy, No college degree = enlisted = shit details :-}

appreciate your response honestly I do, but I will try my best to finish school first before going there. Got to build up mentally too before I go and get utterly destroyed during training...if that day comes.

[Deleted]

Consider what times we are in aswell, I think that should be a factor in your decision. (If deployed where would it likely be? What sort of war? etc)

[shortnugly]

Fromer Marine son of a US Navy Master Chief

The military much like anything else in life is what you make of it. I can speak for USMC and the Navy in the fact that they give you minimal training and toss you in head first. High stress, high expectations so you need to have a pair of broad shoulders and be able to let things roll off your back.

A saying I learned a late in my Marine Corp career was "You can be a good Marine and a bad technician. You can't be a bad Marine and a good technician." In other words you have to play the military games ie volunteering for extra duties, not be a stubborn smart ass (reason I didn't do 20) and whatever else that branch views as important. You doing your actual job is secondary.

Getting out after an enlistment, most employers don't rank you as high as someone with a degree in all honesty. But if you are motivated you can do college on your spare time and the military will foot the bill (after you do a long drawn out process for tuition assistance).

Message me if you want more info as I don't relish a flame war with the trolls on talking points they probably have no clue about.

[Toccs]

what is selfless about a job lol

don't listen to this guy, he's still got "i did a great thing for my country for free" syndrome and he got paid to do it. people who like the military NEVER do it for free.

the best benefit is that compared to what else you could be doing with the education you have, your benefits are MUCH better

---------- Post added 2011-09-26 at 08:36 AM ----------



just be careful testing that in real life. seen a few marines get their asses handed to them because they were convinced they could really fight since they went through the same self defense class that women at the ymca go through.

If you join the army your not doing it for the monny trust me, it may as well be free heh.

[Deleted]

If you are already at University, i highly recommend finishing your degree then going in as an Officer, you will be treated a hundred times better. Even at basic training trainee officers are never treated too badly, not compared to the enlisted men.

Have you considered joining the reserves? You can get a feel for the armed forces before commiting full time.

[nixcookies]

I agree with RICH1471, you really should finish your degree I know it can be rough especially the course you're doing but stick with it.

With your degree you wouldn't need to join the army there would be a lot of better jobs you could take, on a higher wage also + you're not risking your life for nothing.

[Deleted]

I agree with RICH1471, you really should finish your degree I know it can be rough especially the course you're doing but stick with it.

With your degree you wouldn't need to join the army there would be a lot of better jobs you could take on a higher wage also + your not risking your life for nothing.

It's not that, but a degree means you have all option open to you. Want to be an officer? You can get there much easier with a degree, also enlisted promotions are so much faster the more educated you are. You really do not want to be stuck as a low ranking NCO with people 10 years younger than you ordering you about, get promoted ASAP.

[Mardread]

I retired from the Army after 20 years, 1 year ago at the age of 39. Pro's and Con's are difficult to answer because each person has a different perspective on what the Military means to them. The best way to decide on what to do is to write down your needs and desires and then do some research online or better yet, talk to a recruiter. Your needs should center around your current living conditions and your desires should center around your goals. Remember, you do not have to join anything. There will be some pressure to join because that is the recruiter's job. You have choices though and you should learn what they are.

Here is what I know:

Most people who join the military look at it as a way to do something different than what they are currently doing. For some, its a small step up in income, for others, it might be career or education opportunities. I have met a small handful of folks who actually joined because that is what they wanted to do, but for most people, its an escape from a situation in which they want to change.

The military is a family. It does not seem like it at first, but deep down it is. You work with an enormous amount of good people who all have the same purpose and direction in life. Which is refreshing from an employers point of view. The folks who join with different agenda's in mind usually do not stay in very long.

Joining the military can help you in many ways. If you have student loans that need help being paid off; if you want to go to college and can't afford to go (Tuition while in service is absolutely free by the way, as long as you have a 70 grade point average or better per class). If you already have a degree, then you can find a job that can give you the experience that many employers are looking for. While in the military, if you work for it, you can get promoted above your peers. Then you can attend leadership schools which will also increase your job marketability.

Many employers like previous military applicants because you have a degree of maturity, discipline, and professionalism that give you a step above other people.

Is it hard at first. Yes. New environments are always stressful. First you have to get through training, then learn your new job, then go to your unit and train some more. Your first year in service will involve a lot of training and you wont actually do your job until you are trained up to standards. This all depends on your job though.

Every job in the military is important. Some jobs have better promotion opportunities than others. Each branch of service promotes differently too. The Air Force for example is one of the hardest branches to get promoted in. The Army and Navy though, are easier. The reason for the differences: Size. The Air Force is much smaller in personnel than the Army. So the promotion opportunities are less.

The hardest part that most people experience in the Military is the deployments. There is no escaping them. You are guaranteed to be deployed at least once within a 4 year period. Your deployments can range anywhere from days to months, to not more than 1 year (usually). All the military branches are represented in each deployed zone. The Navy being the least (unless you are a SeaBee). You work together as a team to protect America's interests and to protect your fellow man and woman. I have seen many people do amazing things while on deployments. I have also seen a few people bring disgrace upon us as well.

For your short list:
- Pros: Education benefits, Health and Dental care, Support for families, VA Benefits (Such as housing loans, which are not cheaper, just guaranteed), travel (because not every assignment sends you into a sandbox), work experience, 30 days vacation a year, retirement after 20 years of active service (mandatory at 30)
- Cons: Deployed from loved ones and friends, which can be harder with each deployment. Pay is still less than the civilian counterpart (in certain job fields). Assignments in less than desirable conditions.

Make your list, talk to a recruiter, and than decide if what you learned is right for you. The military is not for everyone. So put some thought into it. Talk to some friends who have joined. Joining the military can only help you in the end. The U.S. Military is the most professional all-volunteer service in the world. It is a challenge and it is rewarding.

[Swiftzy]

Come to norway and we'll teach you to become a real man. We wear viking helms, big fur coats and wield dual axes while we run through the woods hunting polar bears and eating moose's for breakfast. Much better than the military.

[Deleted]

i dont know your countries current military operations whether active or not, but for me personally the pros are not outweighed by the fact that at some point you might have to shoot and kill another human being. and depending on the combat theatre it might be a young kid or teenager who cant understand why they are really fighting,, and then removing them from this world forever?

Is your good education and pay worth more than this life? At the very least you might have to see your friends and comrades cut into swiss cheese by bombs or gunshot wounds? I deliberately paint a hard picture because i see a good few post here that ignore this possiblility completely.

I respect the military and their defense of my freedom of course. i just couldnt live with the guilt if i had to kill another person,. make sure it is somehting you are willing to sacrifice before jumping into it. But if your convictions for the defense of your county and freedom are high enough then go for it.

Tough call dude. and good luck.