Military feeler?

[Cassidy]

Josh - listen to the posts above, don't find an AF recruiter, find the nearest AF ROTC office at the nearest college or university if suitable for you. Talk with them - they are not like recruiters (didn't used to be). They offer scholarships, or used to (though pretty limited), and you end up with a commission and a degree.

 

[Minesweeper3433]

By the way airforce recruiters are hard to get ahold of on purpose. They want you to work for it they don't really need you but they know if your going airforce your want them.

 

[civil82]

I spent 4 years active army and closing in on 7 active National Guard. How far are you from Peoria, Il?

 

[artbosco]

I am going to the military, but I can not decide on which branch. I am married and have kids, which is a big reason of wanting to join. Thanks to all.

I've spent 46 years in and around the military. 20 years following my dad around in the Navy and 26 years of my own which included three joint tours. 6 years enlisted in the Air Force, 20 as a Naval officer. In as an E-1, out as an O-5. My last boss in 1993 [John Regni, who recently retired as a three star and Superintendent of the Air Force Academy] has chuckled at this when I've said in the past: "Go Air Force, they gold plate everything"!!! Seriously, they do. Except for maybe an isolated tour in a career, the Air Force is the way to go. That's what I encouraged my kids to do. You won't get rich, but serving ones country is a very honorable profession. The retirement benefits last a lifetime.

 

[Josh11]

I live a few hours from peoria. I've called the Af recuriter maybe a dozen times i believe she runs another towns office as well.

 

[Josh11]

Does anyone know a navy corpsman that is fmf?

 

[KMart]

Josh
Go back to page one and pm Doc Gordon and or navyrad8r
Doc Gordon was with 1/9 in RVN in 65-66. It don't get any more serious than that. We Marines love our Corpsmen

 

[Josh11]

Thanks. I went back... I am at work so I didn't have a lot of time to search.

 

[rickiesrevenge]

Coast Guard...

Chuck 8)

Plus 1 on the Coast Guard . Just got a new neighbor who is a cook. He'll be out at 38 with full pension, and never been to sea or on a ship. Married, 2 children. Doesn't get much better than that. All housing paid for, etc;
Air Force would be #2. Don't even think about the Marines. Been there...

But why would anyone want to join the military with a family? Pure insanity my friend. We had a saying when I was in the military....Never join the military if you leave a a girlfriend or a wife behind....

Really? I'm in the CG right now. Have been for the last 12 years. Cooks are and underway rate. I find it really hard to believe that he's never been to sea. There are VERY few cook jobs on land.

Housing isn't necessarily paid for. If on base housing is available its free except for TV, internet, and phone. If you live off base you get money for it. 2 out of 5 places I've been stationed the allowance for housing didn't come close to paying for it.

Don't join the CG unless you get a guaranteed "A" school. If you join without it you'll be an E-3 for 3-4 years. Imagine washing dishes, painting, and all the grunt work. Bottom of the totem pole. There is almost no advancement opportunity for junior enlisted personnel in the CG right now. They are taking steps to kick out guys at the top so that people move up. Knowing what I know now I wouldn't recommend this job to anyone. I've had some good times, lived in some cool places, but overall I don't care for it too much. I've got a lot invested now so I'm probably going to stick it out to 20 years. All of the new personnel I've seen in the CG for the last 2-3 years have bachelors degrees.

Aaron

 

[jmd]

I haven't read any of the replies, but I always said if I had to do it all over again I would joined the Air Force. I never saw dudes live so comfortably in any other branch. After that the Navy is probably your best bet.

 

[BobT]

Hey Josh!
I have been a member here for quite a while but this is my first post. I felt compelled to reply for a couple of reasons. First and foremost I applaud you for wanting to serve. I read through all the replies and there are some good ones, I know that things have changed since I retired from the Navy in '96 but most of the advice so far is pretty accurate. The divorce rate is high but it's not automatic, I am still married to the same wonderful girl I was dating when I enlisted, I was in the "black shoe" Navy, a Gunners Mate. I have never been sorry I joined and would gladly go back today if they would take me. The worst tour I ever had was recruiting duty in my home town. I loved shipboard life except for the family separation. A couple of things I haven't seen mentioned yet, all of the branches are basically at full strength so you might have a hard time joining any branch with dependents, it was discouraged when I was on recruiting duty unless the applicant qualified for advanced paygrades. At 24 you don't have time to get a degree and go in as an officer, I believe the cutoff is 25, it used to be anyway. The Master-at Arms rate was not an option at enlistment, it required attaining the rank of E-5 before converting. I have had a hard time adjusting to civilian life, I was used to working with competent professionals and have a low tolerance for lazy people who expect to have things handed to them, seems like they want to make 60K a year without working for it. If you join it will be a hard life for the first few years but I don't think any career I had chosen would have given me any more satisfaction. If you have any questions I can help with shoot me a PM and I'll do the best I can.

Bob

 

[nicholst55]

Josh

30 year USAF veteran here who served with, trained along side and deployed with all services. Thanks for your desire to serve but I must make some statements up front.

Not all families are cut out for military life since the demands of the service can put huge strains on marriages. Some services are better then others but it cannot be compared to a 40hr a week civilian job. To be successful, you must look at military service as more than just a job/occupation. You will be trained to perform a specific skill or a combination of skills. Whether you are an air traffic controller or an infantryman, often, you will be required to perform those duties more than 40 hours a week. The military can work you everyday of the week. There is a reason military members earn 30 days paid leave a year. I have been retired for 6 years and work as a weapons instructor/weapons repair guy for the USAF. I'm the only civilian in the shop and the 5 GIs I work with routinely work 10-11 hr days. They get most weekends off but that's not always guaranteed.

Are you and your family willing to move every few years. If you are warm climate folks, how will assignments to MT, ND, WY go over. If you like rural living, how will an assignment to San Diego or WA DC be handled? I was assigned to 12 different duty locations in 30 years. My first 2 I was single but the wife/kids followed me around for the next 10. We always enjoyed going to new assignments but not all families would view the chance to travel the same.

The USAF learned a long time ago that you recruit the member but you retain the family. Meaning, you must convince the spouses and kids that the AF is a great place to serve and to get them to encourage the military parent/spouse to reenlist and serve 20-30 years.

For both me and my family, we have found that even though the hours were long and deployments/overseas tours can separate you from loved ones, the positives always outweighed the negatives.

Knowing what I know now and if I were to do it all over again there would be very few things I would change. For a young single guy wanting to serve one tour, get some training, life experiences, see the world, the USMC is the best choice. For a married guy, the USAF is hard to beat.

Make sure you gather as much information as possible. All services have their pros and cons, select the branch and occupation (MOS/AFSC) that best suites you, your desires and goals. Remember recruiters are working hard to get #s and they will tell you things you want to hear. They may not be lying to you but they may leave some specifics out. Lastly make sure both you and your wife make the decision together.

Best of Luck

Jet

Take it from this career soldier, Jet speaks the truth. If I had it all to do over again, I would join the Air Force for the reasons already mentioned. Realize however, that the Air Force isn't a cake-walk either. You'll still have a chance to experience the suck - deployments, separations, working nights, weekends, holidays, birthdays, school events, etc. Garrison duty in peacetime is generally great - very nearly like a civilian job. Things can change in a heartbeat though.

Now I've never been in the Navy, but I do know that several of those 'ashore' jobs you mentioned can easily be sea duty, too - aircrewman, master at arms, hospital corpsman, etc. Do your due diligence, and make the decision as a family.

Also realize that all the services are in the downsizing mode. That will have a definite impact on your career choices and possibly even in what service you can enlist in. This will have an impact on your future career once you do enlist, too. Be aware, do your research, and talk to as many recruiters as possible. Get all promises in writing, in your enlistment contract. If it isn't in your contract, it doesn't mean anything!

Good luck with your decision!

 

[Nodak7mm]

Something to consider Josh with the AF is the new drone/UAS program.

My daughter (19) enlisted a month ago in the ANG, into the Geospatial Intelligence program and wow, does she have a great future. She has been working towards a Criminal Justice degree and would like to have a career as a Federal LEO.. A coworker I have is a Capt. in the unit she joined says it is an exploding field, they cant keep folks after their commitment because all the ABC groups are snapping them up (24 yr old folks being offered 60-70k). Anything to do with the UAS and associated Intelligence units are really new and cutting edge. Something to consider... Not to mention the 20K sign on bonus, the 100% in-state college tuition, the GI Bill & the GI Bill Kicker..

I am one dang proud Dad!!!

Rod

 

[Josh11]

Thanks for the replies. I will call the af on Monday. I am pretty sure I won't be able to go af though. They are limiting the number of dependents you can have. But if there is a chance, I'll give it a shot...

 

[Josh11]

Talked with another AF recruiter, and its not looking good. He said I could do all the paper work, but it would be a waste of time. I have too many dependents and they will not process the waivers.

I did however talk with the Navy recruiter and I have decided to go Navy. I sat down with my recruiter and she has told of a few good jobs, but I wanted a few other opinions. I want a fulfilling rate and I do not want to be stuck behind a desk.

She mentioned Rescue swimmer, which is kind of cool.

Of course, SEALS, SWCC, and EOD....wish the wife would let me!!!!!!!!!

Aircrewman/ FTS aircrewman

corpsman. This is not all of them, but its just to name a few....

If any can give me some more ideas, it would be much appreciated. I want to make an informed choice and want to do a ton of research.

Again, thanks to all who have replied!

 

[navyrad8r]

Josh
We should chat about the whole rescue swimmer thing. Along with spec war.
Cheers,
Doc

 

[Josh11]

Sounds good. I will call you this after noon.

 

[KT]

I would look at the Intel or crypt side of the house.

Look at jobs like IS, CTT, CTR, CTN.

I'm a active duty LT. I'm a prior IS Chief. Shoot me a PM if you have questions.

Do not go engineering or supply.


KT