Thinking of joining the military

[suprasport91]

O-1 USN, Funny thing is last time i wrote anything on this forum or even checked it was somewhere along the lines of 1.5-2 years ago, it has been ages, however, Ive went through boot camp, OCS, and am in the Nuclear program in Charleston, the military offers alot of benefits for single mothers, married couples, and individuals with children, Along with health care benefits, education, and housing ( deduction from BAH)

The military offers good training for *some* fields of work. As far as the physical requirements, you must be under a body fat percentage of around 30%ish, mens requirements are 24%, but im not 100% on the womens requirements, your age bracket has somewhat lenient requirements, but nothing a little exercising here and there for a month or two wont prepare you for boot camp, I am not going to suggest enlistment, i dont know all your concerns/issues, but whoever said they will separate you from your kid is only accurate when dealing with deployment, Ive only dealt with the NAVY, however, i am sure the other branches deal the same, good luck, if you have any questions i can always ask the personnel department on your account.

 

[Tire Shredder]

just get a standard job working at any fast food place. Use the money to get your GED...that's the first step towards anything, whatever it may be. Think about it while you are in school.

 

[Scot]

Tanya, Hang in there! First of all "being there" for your kids counts for more than you might think. It's the difference of them growing up remembering either was mom there for us or she wasn't. Everything else will be unimportant.

Perhaps you could go to the local community college and talk to a counselor. Tell him/her your situation and ask if they are aware of any government or locally faith based programs to help single parents get a leg up with work assistance and education. Or just plain out ask them for advice and help. You will find that you are NOT the only person in this situation.

This will at lest get you out of the house and in front of someone that will give you unbiased feedback. You never know who you will run into that could help. Just keep moving......

The military could an excellent choice for you as long as you are prepared to be away from your kids for extended periods of time.

 

[new88sup4me]

hey Tanya, i was stationed up at Ft. Lewis, and yes they could make you give up your children, BUT, if having your parents watch them is an option, you could do that also. Now there is also Naval base Bremerton just an hour or so from Mchord/lewis and ill tell you if i were to go back in, it would be Navy all the way....As far as having children/family, its more safe/secure to be in the navy, last i heard 3months ago now, the AF had a freeze in place on "hiring" but the navy and army are always taking people....and if you plan on marines....yea NOT kid friendly from my experience...
When you sign up READ the paper work I have a friend thats a recruiter in WA SSG Selves, stationed at Ft Lewis right now...good luck, and Blessed be

 

[Tanya]

Well, I'm a current Marine. I will tell you, it is tough. The Marine Corps doesn't just take anyone. You mentioned it being rough to bike for two miles. One of the requirements to be a Marine is females have to run a 3 mile run in under 31 minutes. Also, I don't know what your height/weight is, but there is a standard there too (it's not impossible to get in shape though). Get your GED is the first step though (and also required). Unless going reserve, don't expect to go where you want to go as far as being stationed is concerned. Just a couple answers that will hope to help you out. Feel free to pick my brain.

I used to run a mile in 6:06 back in high school, right after I started smoking, LOL. I would be amazed if I could run a mile in 30 minutes without passing out. :cry:

if tanya turns sideways she literally disappears!!!!

You must be thinking of the wrong Tanya.

just get a standard job working at any fast food place. Use the money to get your GED...that's the first step towards anything, whatever it may be. Think about it while you are in school.

Steve, I have tried that. I havent just sat here on my ass for months twiddling my thumbs.


I am probably going to start PT with my ex soon, since he was in the Navy he can help me out as to what I need to do. I'm going to force myself to quit smoking cold turkey and try to focus on getting the hell out of this hell.

 

[rj_conerly]

if you do go navy and for what ever reason do decide to go into the nuclear program there are certian things that will be benifitual to you. for example the only pt test that you will ever need to pass is the one in boot camp. you might get a singing bonus of about 20g's which you will not see until about your 2 year mark. you will be in school for bout 18-26 months, you have to sign a 6 year contract, you make e-4 after your first 6-8 months in and you can star re-enlist around your 2 year mark for 6 years from that day and get 70g's last i heard. half u front and the other half spead through out your enlistment. and you get to feel like your in high school again dealing with drama and imature people that will never grow up and get the biggest power trips over the stupidest shit. and you will only get stationed on air craft carriers and there are 2 in wa one in bremerton and one in everett. so choose your posion. what ever you decide make sure that its what you really want and what is personally the best that you can do. and i agree being there is more important than you realize right now. i know i speak form experience. that is another reason that i'm out the navy now. i hated being away from my girl and when she lost our baby and i was on deployement and so i didn't get to see her for 6 months after she lost him. it sucks ass.

 

[Tanya]

well, I am getting my GED next month... but I found out I can't get into any service (except army) without having 15 college credits as well... so that kinda sucks. Will have to see what I can do after I get my pass step 1

 

[drunk_medic]

but I found out I can't get into any service (except army) without having 15 college credits as well...

Wait, what?
That sounds like bullshit to me, or an effort to pool people into the Army.

At work, in the cubicle next to me, is a man who was a Marine Corps recruiter for many years. I might have to ask about this one.
He is not an old retiree - I believe he said was fed up and separated at 12 years, and I don't think he has been out for too long [I think he got out after his wife had their son, and he is only about 3], so he may have a good idea of how things still are in the recruiting circle. I actually talked to him for a few minutes the other day about this very thread.

He said that there are a few obstacles when it comes to enlisting.
You have kids, and he said if you are single with kids that is one of the harder ones to overcome. I believe he said someone else [parent, guardian, or maybe grandparents or a relative] needs complete custody or power of attorney at least while you are in basic training. He said that this may sound easy, as you can call family and they will say "Yes, of course!", but the story often changes when you put the papers down in front of them.

I told him that you were a smoker, and out of shape, but I had seen pics of you and you didn't look fat or anything. He said you will have to quit smoking and will need to start running probably well before going to basic training. He also said when young females call on the phone, the recruiter needs to know their height/weight to know if they are close to standards - the recruiters subtract an inch and add 10 pounds, because they often find that the girls lie. Once you are in though, you are going to get into good shape.

To tell you the truth Tanya, if you turn a wrench well on a car I would totally recommend you look into a maintenance/mechanic job of some kind in the Air Force. If you enjoy working on cars, I can't see you being miserable working in a C-130 propulsion/jet shop. With the Army and USMC they may throw you into a career field that sounds interesting, but you are a soldier/rifleman before you are your career field. In the Air Force you may be tasked with other things, but they usually do not take precedence over your job, and if they do it is temporary [I worked as a security forces augmentee during my year tour in Kunsan, Korea, and that was usually only during the week long exercises every month or two].

You have some obstacles to overcome if you really want it. Still, don't give the recruiters the faintest clue that you are desperate in any way, or they are going to do anything to get you to sign a paper.

 

[Tanya]

Wait, what?
That sounds like bullshit to me, or an effort to pool people into the Army.

I called the AF, MC and Navy recruiters, and they all told me the same thing... if I don't have a HS Diploma, I need GED + 15 college credits.


As for the smoking and PT, I was already aware of that and was counting on it. As for now, I am getting my GED and then whatever happens after that, I do not know. I am a little dismayed at the college course thing, bc I dont have enough time/money for that.

Air Force wants me to be shipped out to BT before my 28th birthday, in August, bc 27 is their cutoff age.

 

[YotaRob]

Army will be fine, might be able to re-inlist into another branch after Army if you want. Did you actualy go to a recruiter yet or just talk on the phone? You can take a practice ASVAB at the recruiter station if you havn't already.
If so, what did ya score? Navy-AF it has to be above 36 usualy, Army-Marines its around 20. It might be better to take it after your GED that way you are refreshed a bit on the subjects at hand and can score a lil higher. Usualy people score higher on the actual test vs. the practice test.
Good luck
-Rob
P.S. why did this get locked on SF?

 

[Tanya]

-Rob
P.S. why did this get locked on SF?

I'd rather not go to the Army if that means I am 100% going to war, which everyone has been indicating since I started thinking about this. I mean, of course I will go if I am ordered to, whatever branch I decide, but would rather have a better chance of staying away from the sandbox if possible.


As for the thread on SF getting lost, I requested it to be, since I didn't want to deal with a particular asshole cutting me down.

 

[YotaRob]

I'd rather not go to the Army if that means I am 100% going to war, which everyone has been indicating since I started thinking about this. I mean, of course I will go if I am ordered to, whatever branch I decide, but would rather have a better chance of staying away from the sandbox if possible.


As for the thread on SF getting lost, I requested it to be, since I didn't want to deal with a particular asshole cutting me down.

Thats what I figured happend to that thread.
Well if you don't want Army for that reason, than the Marines is the same way. And if you miss the deadline for A/F that pretty much leaves the Navy, which you said you had rather not. I know of a couple of people joining the Navy into their thirties so its not an age requirement that will road block you.
Idk, kinda out of ideas at the moment, Good luck
-Rob

 

[Tanya]

Heh, the Navy is only an issue for me bc I know how bitter my husband would be if I passed (he went AWOL), it's just an emotional situation I would rather avoid, although it may be the best solution when the time comes

 

[drunk_medic]

Thats what I figured happend to that thread.
Well if you don't want Army for that reason, than the Marines is the same way.
-Rob

A buddy of mine just separated a few months ago. He was signals intelligence in the USMC. He did one enlistment, and never deployed. That is not the norm, I know, but it does happen.

 

[YotaRob]

Well if you go Navy, might cross paths some time. I have to ship out to BT before my birthday in August or get my age waved. lol. Just glad I am not going to Great Lakes in Feb. like they asked me if I wanted to.

Well, Good luck with your decision. I kinda know how u feel being that I just joined and im 24.
-Rob

 

[YotaRob]

A buddy of mine just separated a few months ago. He was signals intelligence in the USMC. He did one enlistment, and never deployed. That is not the norm, I know, but it does happen.

Yeah, buddy of mine in the Marines only got deployed because he begged them to let him go, lol. He was reserve though but it was four years till he got his wish.

 

[tbcmorris]

i suggest for a family, you stay away from the marine corps tanya....


this is coming from a marine vet.

 

[johnny]

I was in the military for 9yrs. Yes, you do learn skills and the military will take care of you and your kids. You will work with: people that joined the military instead of going to prison, gangsters, the rare normal person, people trying to gain the respect of their parents, supervisors who care more about their careers than your life, and general riff-raff. Some people do change and become better, most don't.
Military life will not be benificial for your marriage. I promise. The first time I was married I saw her less than 3 months a year. That didn't last long. Very, very few people remain faithfull to their spouses.
As for not doing something because you don't want to hurt your husband's feelings is admirable, but not necessarily the best thing for your family.
Don't worry about being in shape, they fix that very quickly.
Good luck.

 

[Dachande]

If you go active duty you will most definitely be deployed overseas at some point. That's just the way it is right now.

 

[Setheroo]

Camp out in front of one of Obama's rallies, get a ticket, work your way up to the front of the crowd, and kiss Obama.

http://www.cnn.com/2009/POLITICS/02/11/henrietta.hughes/index.html?eref=rss_topstories

^ That's what she did! ^