Enlisting
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More Turbo
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 721
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From: Floyd, Va
Enlisting
Just wanted you guys to know Im thinking of joining up. Ive been talking with the recruiters and have taken the asvab, i scored a 84 and felt pretty good about it. The recruiters talked like it was a fairly good score.
Im preparing to join with a delayed enlistment until this fall. Im looking at combat engineer, and eyeballing special opps. Taking my physical Friday A.M., and well see what i can do.
With a B.A. i start as an E-4, so the pay wont be quite as bad. Any suggestions are welcome, i know quiet a lot of you have served in the various branches of the military.
Thanks
Tony Warren
Nebraska
Im preparing to join with a delayed enlistment until this fall. Im looking at combat engineer, and eyeballing special opps. Taking my physical Friday A.M., and well see what i can do.
With a B.A. i start as an E-4, so the pay wont be quite as bad. Any suggestions are welcome, i know quiet a lot of you have served in the various branches of the military.
Thanks
Tony Warren
Nebraska
Posting Guru
Joined: Feb 2001
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From: Keweenaw Bay, MI
Enlisting
I want to wish you the best of luck! What you get out of the Military Service is what you put into it. I spent 20 years in the Navy, and would do it all over again if I had the chance. The first few months of it are a pain, but if you keep a good attitude and high spirits, you will find that it is not such a bad way to go after all.
Elder User
Joined: Jan 2002
Posts: 703
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From: Where they take the census by counting the appliances on the front porch and multiplying by five
Enlisting
I'm with Larry. Once you get through the first 2-3 months, it's all a breeze. And he's right again, you get what you put into it.
Be prepared:
* You will make A LOT of friends. Some for life
*You will NOT make a lot of money. But you also won't need alot of money
* You will test yourself and find that you CAN do more than you thought you could.
* You will have a lot of fun
* You will never be the same again. 95% of the time it's for the better!
Chuck
Be prepared:
* You will make A LOT of friends. Some for life
*You will NOT make a lot of money. But you also won't need alot of money
* You will test yourself and find that you CAN do more than you thought you could.
* You will have a lot of fun
* You will never be the same again. 95% of the time it's for the better!
Chuck
Elder User
Joined: Nov 2002
Posts: 899
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From: 5600 feet high
Enlisting
I have a buddy who joined the Navy a couple years ago, and it's the best thing he ever did. You have to have known this kid...we called him "Dumbsh.. Steve"; the guy made Admiral's Staff right off the bat, and now he's in Intelligence.
BDV
BDV
Posting Guru
Joined: Nov 2002
Posts: 1,197
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From: mesa, az
Enlisting
...Good luck to ya...Tony
Remember...Stay focused, ignore negative peer pressure, learn as much as you can, take advantage of every opportunity you can to improve yourself...And last but not least...
IGNORE NEGATIVE PEER PRESSURE
...Thanks for serving man...
Chris Chiba....C co 3/28 Inf Mech "Black Lions" 1978/1982
Remember...Stay focused, ignore negative peer pressure, learn as much as you can, take advantage of every opportunity you can to improve yourself...And last but not least...
IGNORE NEGATIVE PEER PRESSURE
...Thanks for serving man...
Chris Chiba....C co 3/28 Inf Mech "Black Lions" 1978/1982
Last edited by wabiker; Mar 12, 2003 at 07:24 PM.
Fleet Owner
Joined: Aug 2001
Posts: 29,941
Likes: 46
From: Drummonds, TN USA
Enlisting
All of the above, sure. But remember I said this:
1) Get a skill out of it you can use later. Hopefully several.
2) Keep in mind that if you rise high enough, you'll be expected to be a manager. The reverse is also true. You ain't in charge until you get enough rank...
3) Look for people doing what you'd like to be doing - and learn from them. You already have a degree - more is better.
4) Be stubborn about your goals. Also consider the source when you hear advice. Joe party-head in the next rack is not thinking about the future, and probably will not have much of one...
5) "The easy way is always mined" It may turn out the military is not for you - but you won't know if you don't get through the hard parts.
I've had some of the best times of all in the armed forces, but I've also been through some of the worst. I still had food on the table, and I've probably outlasted a lot of people I knew in high school. Make your own future - only you can.
~Wolf
1) Get a skill out of it you can use later. Hopefully several.
2) Keep in mind that if you rise high enough, you'll be expected to be a manager. The reverse is also true. You ain't in charge until you get enough rank...
3) Look for people doing what you'd like to be doing - and learn from them. You already have a degree - more is better.
4) Be stubborn about your goals. Also consider the source when you hear advice. Joe party-head in the next rack is not thinking about the future, and probably will not have much of one...
5) "The easy way is always mined" It may turn out the military is not for you - but you won't know if you don't get through the hard parts.
I've had some of the best times of all in the armed forces, but I've also been through some of the worst. I still had food on the table, and I've probably outlasted a lot of people I knew in high school. Make your own future - only you can.
~Wolf
Posting Guru
Joined: Oct 2002
Posts: 1,301
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From: Dededo, Guam
Enlisting
Well said Grewolf.
"Also consider the source when you hear advice. Joe party-head in the next rack is not thinking about the future, and probably will not have much of one... "
This is very true. You will find out pretty quick who to take advice from and who not to. We had a Joe partyhead (actually his name was jon) He got kicked out for smokin grass.
"Also consider the source when you hear advice. Joe party-head in the next rack is not thinking about the future, and probably will not have much of one... "
This is very true. You will find out pretty quick who to take advice from and who not to. We had a Joe partyhead (actually his name was jon) He got kicked out for smokin grass.
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New User
Joined: Sep 2002
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Enlisting
Tony, there is no more satisfaction than serving your country, and our way of life. If you, and your recruiters feel good about your asvab score of 84 that’s great. Personally those scores do not make you a better marine, soldier, airman, etc. What will count is in the heart. Being a Combat Engineer is as rigorous as being an Infantryman. There is no greater experience of being an enlisted man. With a BA you might consider enlisting for two years, and towards the end of your enlistment possibly apply for the green to gold program, which would give you the opportunity to become a commissioned officer. By the end of your enlistment you will have a better feel for the opportunity to go SOCOM or green to gold. Best of luck.
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Joe Kucinski
Postmaster
Joined: Feb 2002
Posts: 3,496
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From: Calgary Canada
Enlisting
Originally posted by big_daddy_velvet
I have a buddy who joined the Navy a couple years ago, and it's the best thing he ever did. You have to have known this kid...we called him "Dumbsh.. Steve"; the guy made Admiral's Staff right off the bat, and now he's in Intelligence.
BDV
I have a buddy who joined the Navy a couple years ago, and it's the best thing he ever did. You have to have known this kid...we called him "Dumbsh.. Steve"; the guy made Admiral's Staff right off the bat, and now he's in Intelligence.
BDV
This doesn't concern you?
Seems more than a little ironic that Dumsh Steve is now in Navy intelligence, maybe responsible for protecting your life.
I know a guy that was in the reserves, he flunked out of school (definately not the sharpest knife in the drawer), joined the Army and quickly worked his way up the ranks.
How does this happen?
Is this typical of the average enlisted man?
Is there any screening based on education? Intelligence?
Are there limits as to your rank based on education? Intelligence?
What are the numbers of high school drop outs, high school grads, college grads, etc.?
This is not a knock on America's (or Canada's) armed forces, and I don't want to start a flame war here. I just don't know anything about the structure of the military. I know that book smarts don't necessarily equate to smarts on a battlefield or in the real world, but surely they must have some bearing.
Waxy
Freshman User
Joined: Dec 2002
Posts: 33
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From: North Beach USA
Enlisting
Greywolf is right. Get a skill you can use later. Use the military to your benefit. You qualify to be Law Enforcement Specialist in the Air Force which is basically an MP. You will train with Marines at Lackland AFB in San Antonio and then be transferred to a base to be a cop. You get a ton of training and you will have security clearances after you leave the military. Just a thought.
Posting Guru
Joined: Feb 2002
Posts: 2,404
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From: Cleveland, WI USA
Enlisting
Tony,
I was a draftsman/surveyor in the Marine Corps for 4 years. We worked side by side with the combat engineers. Now I'm the Systems and Network administrator/CAD dept. manager for an architectural firm.
Like everyone else said, you get out what you put in. You will learn more than just your job skills, too. Everything I learned about leadership, I learned in the military. That knowledge played a key role in my career out of the military.
As for the comment about "Dumbs*** Steve", it's not surprising that he did well in the military. Perhaps his shortcommings in the civilian world were due to a lack of guidence and a structured lifestyle. It'a amazing what those things will do for a person. Everyone has a purpose in life and a special talent. Finding those and developing them is something the military does real well.
Good luck, and Thanks!
Kevin K.
I was a draftsman/surveyor in the Marine Corps for 4 years. We worked side by side with the combat engineers. Now I'm the Systems and Network administrator/CAD dept. manager for an architectural firm.
Like everyone else said, you get out what you put in. You will learn more than just your job skills, too. Everything I learned about leadership, I learned in the military. That knowledge played a key role in my career out of the military.
As for the comment about "Dumbs*** Steve", it's not surprising that he did well in the military. Perhaps his shortcommings in the civilian world were due to a lack of guidence and a structured lifestyle. It'a amazing what those things will do for a person. Everyone has a purpose in life and a special talent. Finding those and developing them is something the military does real well.
Good luck, and Thanks!
Kevin K.
Postmaster
Joined: Feb 2002
Posts: 3,496
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From: Calgary Canada
Enlisting
Originally posted by kjkozak2
As for the comment about "Dumbs*** Steve", it's not surprising that he did well in the military. Perhaps his shortcommings in the civilian world were due to a lack of guidence and a structured lifestyle. It'a amazing what those things will do for a person. Everyone has a purpose in life and a special talent. Finding those and developing them is something the military does real well.
As for the comment about "Dumbs*** Steve", it's not surprising that he did well in the military. Perhaps his shortcommings in the civilian world were due to a lack of guidence and a structured lifestyle. It'a amazing what those things will do for a person. Everyone has a purpose in life and a special talent. Finding those and developing them is something the military does real well.
I hadn't thought of that, but it makes perfect sense.
Waxy
Elder User
Joined: Jan 2002
Posts: 703
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From: Where they take the census by counting the appliances on the front porch and multiplying by five
Enlisting
Waxy,
I think it's more a matter of interests. Maybe dumb-steve wasn't interested in the same things others were.
I think if something interests someone, then they have unlimited potential as to the development of it.
Yes, you are required to take tests for advancement. At least for enlisted as far as I know. Other factors come into play as well.
Believe me, you won't get very far in the military being a moron. Just as in society. the asvab tells the recruiter what jobs you are qualified for. (admin, mechanical, etc.)
My favorite qoute concerning getting by in life is, "you can be lazy, or you can be stupid, but you cannot be both."
Chuck
I think it's more a matter of interests. Maybe dumb-steve wasn't interested in the same things others were.
I think if something interests someone, then they have unlimited potential as to the development of it.
Yes, you are required to take tests for advancement. At least for enlisted as far as I know. Other factors come into play as well.
Believe me, you won't get very far in the military being a moron. Just as in society. the asvab tells the recruiter what jobs you are qualified for. (admin, mechanical, etc.)
My favorite qoute concerning getting by in life is, "you can be lazy, or you can be stupid, but you cannot be both."
Chuck
Enlisting
Senior User
Joined: Apr 2002
Posts: 467
Likes: 0
From: WEEDSPORT NY
Enlisting
GO FOR IT. I learned more about myself and what I could do during my time in than during the rest of my life. Any branch you choose will push you harder than you have ever been pushed but you come out of it with a new outlook on life.