From what i've read, the jobs you are elligible for are based on ur test scores for the aptitude test they give you. Then you talk with them and choose a job that is suitable for you. I think joining the Navy sounds like a better option than joining the marines.

@QuaticHawk: Your right that i want to change my situation and I don't really know how.

Im going to go talk to the navy recruiter since his office is only a few blocks away from my house sometime this week. I think its important to have skills that transfer over after your done with ur enlistment which makes it seem like the marines isn't the best choice.

Ill keep in mind to get everything promised in writing and to keep my cool under his 10 pool as he tries to get me to sign. Gonna go take a look at more of the Navy Jobs that are offered.

yes you do have to take a test, but if you aren't retarded you're probably going to qualify for pretty much every job. don't look at which branch of service in terms of how useful your training will be, look at what particular job it is. i have a good job with employment opportunities if i get out and i'm in the army, so the branch isn't everything.

RivalryRedux

United States173 Posts

May 14 2013 00:30 GMT

#43

It seems like you're not really sure what you want to do within the military so I would suggest if you do join that you pick the branch where you have to deal with the least amount of bs and have the best lifestyle which to me seems like Air Force by a mile.

Also keep in mind that there is a very wide range of jobs and experiences within each branch. As a programmer in the Air Force my lifestyle is more like office space than any war move but I feel like I have one of the best jobs an enlisted person could possibly get. I get paid to get career experience and go to school which is pretty god damn sweet. On the other hand if you want to do something more badass you can always try to be pararescue or tacp and just workout all day.

I wouldn't really suggest doing security forces or any general infantry position regardless of the branch. It seems very very boring 99.9% of the time if you're low ranking where you do meaningless chores all day or check ids for 10 hours (I've done that....) .

As a rule of thumb I would suggest whatever branch you pick to consider jobs that have somewhat special requirements like linguist, programmer or special forces. It just increases your chances of spending your days doing things you feel are meaningful.

MountainDewJunkie

United States10342 Posts

May 14 2013 00:39 GMT

#44

Are you considering this as an option because you are disinterested in college? Or don't like your prospects? Or because you want to avoid debt? I feel like people shouldn't really enlist unless they have a fierce loyalty or passion for whatever the government sends them to do, or national pride, or have a general interest in things that go boom (or killing enemies). If it's a ho-hum, "I don't know what I want to do/may as well enlist because I'm not going to college" kind of thing, I feel that sounds a bit risky, both in terms of future prospects and in terms of mental health. I mean the military is a job/career, but it's much more than that. If you don't grasp the "more" aspect fully, it just seems... I mean this is just one man's opinion.

In addition, everyone else is correct: Air Force is the way to go.

I took the whatever test (the math and something rather one) at an Army recruiting office when I was in high school, and it's no surprise, the smarter you are, the less likely you'll be sent in the front lines consistently (or be any guy on Hurt Locker), or at least that was what they were attempting to sell. They had a lot of really alluring "safe" sounding jobs, like one of mine was the Base Air Conditioning Maintenance Operation. As opposed to my buddy, who actually enlisted and ended up placed as a tank driver :| Which certainly didn't sound easy to me, but sure sounded more dangerous!

MysteryMeat1

United States3292 Posts

May 14 2013 01:39 GMT

#45

I kind of wanted to join the military for a variety of reasons and after thinking about it I came to the conclusion that I wanted to either join the marines and just be a meathead and get sent out. Or I could join the navy and do a career for 4-6 years and see the world while getting skills that I would be able to use later. If I didn't want to continue with it then at least college would be really affordable and I would have more options on what I wanted to study.

After looking at some of the jobs that the Navy and Airforce offer, I like the navy jobs much better. One of them is the nucluear stuff that micronesia linked earlier and what my friend told me about today. its 6 years and you get to work with nuclear reactors on ships.

micronesia

United States24708 Posts

May 14 2013 04:56 GMT

#46

Nuke is either working on an aircraft carrier or on a submarine, as they are the only two vessels in the US navy that have nuclear reactors. The pipeline is challenging though, so make sure you know what it entails before you seriously consider it.

It has some of the best job prospects for those leaving the military, though.

MysteryMeat1

United States3292 Posts

May 14 2013 05:09 GMT

#47

On May 14 2013 13:56 micronesia wrote:
Nuke is either working on an aircraft carrier or on a submarine, as they are the only two vessels in the US navy that have nuclear reactors. The pipeline is challenging though, so make sure you know what it entails before you seriously consider it.

It has some of the best job prospects for those leaving the military, though.

My friend says you need to qualify for it first through taking the test and have no criminal background. Afterwards its a 6 year commitment, 2 years for school and then 4 years in the service. He said working on a boat is 1000x better than working on a submarine because you get to go into port a lot longer than you would if you worked on a submarine, as it is their job to stay hidden. And afterwords you did work on nuclear stuff so the jobs offered afterwards are really good.

I'm fine if school is challenging though. I started college when i was 16, have around 110 credits with a cum 3.6 gpa.

micronesia

United States24708 Posts

May 14 2013 05:20 GMT

#48

From the people I've spoken to, it isn't such an easy decision between sub and surface as you might think. Unfortunately, it is difficult to tell which is better for you until you've tried it, and by then it's too late to make a switch. However, if traveling and seeing the world is very important to you then surface ships are definitely better since subs avoid most of the desirable ports (not that they never go into a port).

Subs supposedly get a better class of people overall (and better food believe it or not), but space is tighter, sun is less frequently seen, and days are 18 hours long! The pay is better, though. Also the smaller communities on subs mean you can 'move up' faster. Sub duty also varies greatly depending on what type of sub/mission it is. Subs don't rock in the waves by the way.

MysteryMeat1

United States3292 Posts

May 14 2013 05:23 GMT

#49

On May 14 2013 14:20 micronesia wrote:
From the people I've spoken to, it isn't such an easy decision between sub and surface as you might think. Unfortunately, it is difficult to tell which is better for you until you've tried it, and by then it's too late to make a switch. However, if traveling and seeing the world is very important to you then surface ships are definitely better since subs avoid most of the desirable ports (not that they never go into a port).

Subs supposedly get a better class of people overall (and better food believe it or not), but space is tighter, sun is less frequently seen, and days are 18 hours long! The pay is better, though. Also the smaller communities on subs mean you can 'move up' faster. Sub duty also varies greatly depending on what type of sub/mission it is. Subs don't rock in the waves by the way.

I don't get sea sick I think. I live in Seattle and have taken a ferry a few times and its never been a problem. I've also gone crabbing once for the whole day and that was fine to but there were no waves :\. However, extended stays might be different. Who knows.

micronesia

United States24708 Posts

May 14 2013 05:26 GMT

#50

From what I've heard seasickness is not a problem 99% of the time for someone who has been on boats before (even just family cruises). The other 1% is well understood (like special trips on small boats) and people can warn you to take a Dramamine or whatever.

MysteryMeat1

United States3292 Posts

May 14 2013 06:17 GMT

#51

Why does this make me really excited?!?

http://www.navy.com/careers/nuclear-energy/nuclear-operations.html

Grettin

42381 Posts

May 14 2013 10:07 GMT

#52

Dude, if that makes you excited, do it. Do some research first though (as i think you already have). As long as you are happy with the choice, you should do whatever you decide. Without reading much into that specific field, it sounds like a very good job - even after your get out of the army, and in my opinion, that is the most important thing.

Good luck. Keep us posted!