Is anyone here in the MILITARY?
 

I was wondering if you or anyone you know in the military would advise someone to join the military. I'm thinking about it but I haven't made my decision yet I have a B.S. in Accounting I was said to be starting off as an E4 making 35K-40K and that it's the best career move to make because of all the benefits the Army has to offer. If you or anyone you know is in the military would you advise someone to join? I'm asking to get a better perspective on whether or not it's a good career move because the recruiter is going to give me what I want to hear.

My father is an active officer in the Navy.

If you join, despite what the recruiter says, you are fairly certain to be shipped overseas. A few years ago, it would've been Iraq. Now it is more likely to be Afghanistan. And yes, even technical positions are being shipped over. They have such an intense shortage of troops that nearly any boots on ground are acceptable. Young is preferred, older is acceptable.

Going to a war zone severely scarred my father. He wouldn't talk about it with anyone but me. Happy as I was to be there for him, it was a long period of watching him struggle with horrible memories and destructive instincts. He became a different person. When he first got back, we went to a restaurant. He couldn't stop himself from looking at everything, trying to figure out where danger may come from. He told me that he felt wrong, naked, vulnerable without a gun and body armor. His eyes had an emptiness behind them. It may sound trite, but it is true: a piece of him died. It took a long time to get that piece back at all, and he is still struggling with it. He is overseas now. I do not know how he will be when he returns.

I'm not going to say the Army is a bad choice. But it should be made with full awareness of what you're doing. You may have to kill another person. Are you willing to do that? You may have others trying to kill you. Are you willing to endure that? It is not merely a job; the Army isn't another career. It is not something to put down at 5 pm and go home. If you are assigned to a war zone, you live at war.

With a BS in accounting, there are myriad other career options open. If you feel like you don't have enough, get your MS and CPA. Education opens better careers. Currently, a career in the Army is not a very safe bet. At times of peace, perhaps. But joining now is joining with full awareness that you are likely to go to war.

My views in this post are entirely my own and none should be imputed to my father, though I believe he'd agree with most of what I say.

Good luck in your decision. It is a big one to make.

ThoughtAddict has some good points. Even if you were in a support role, there would be a good chance that the Army would wind up stationing you in a war zone. The same would hold true for the Air Force. I was in the Navy, and while I was forward deployed on multiple occasions, I was never in a combat zone. Then again, a year after my enlistment was up, the USS Cole was bombed...


With your degree, you might be able to get an Officer's commission, which would mean more pay, but also a lot more responsibilities.

Check the other branches first before you join the army. If you don't want to be on the front lines, avoid the army and side up with the air force or navy.
Know is this, whatever the recruiter promises which is not in writing with your name attached to it, is not guaranteed

In other words if you are promised something and it is not listed as official policy in the open or if it is not policy and they do not make a written document which you sign on their letter head, they are not obligated to do it. Once you join, that is the end of your relationship with the recruiter. At that point his promise only has meaning if it is policy or if it was in writing. Good Luck

Good advice so far
 

This is from a Retired 20-year Air Force Guy.

The military is NOT a JOB. It is a lifesytle choice...don't do it for money or a job...

If you want to serve your country and are willing to put your life on the line to do that...then go for it...but if you want a job, get a job.

The days of "civlians in uniform" are OVER forever...I did that up until the cold war ended and the war on terror started...

Now days, everyone in uniform goes to war...just a fact of life.

Most people leave and come home and have a great life experience...

I deployed twice and never saw any combat...that's good for me...I know plenty of folks that did see combat personally and it does change you.

PM me if you have more questions...I will do my best to answer your questions.

Also, if you want a job with the government they hire civlians as well...check out

USAJOBS - The Federal Government's Official Jobs Site

Also, you can work for the governement (DOD or other agencies) as a contractor with a private company.

The military is great...but you need to go in with your eyes WIDE open...:D

Like others have said, the military is not a job. It's a lifestyle. You won't go there to be an accountant -- you go there to be a soldier. If that's not what you want, then do not join the military.

Thank You!
 

A lot of people say that joining the military is not a good choice right now because of the war but it does offer so many different benefits such as cleaning your credit (not that I have bad credit), assist you to purchase a house,money for school,medical benefits,money for personal expenses (depending on what state you live in), and they offer you a job interview with the top agencies after you're done with your tour. I know I should not listen to what the recruiter says but he told me that those that take advantage of what the military offers end up well off but it just depends on the individual's drive and motivation and what you want to do with your career.

I second this advice, I think yoopersmith is spot on.

If you would kill an innocent, could you live with it?

If you can going to war isn't a problem, but you should be clear that the enviroment of the military will change yourself.

My partner is in the navy (Australian) and I totally agree with the other posters - it is definitely a lifestyle choice. You may get no choice over where you live and what projects you work on and who you work with or your working hours and holidays. Anything can change without notice. I know of people in his crew who have missed their own weddings because the boat had to sail (even though they were told six months earlier that they would definitely get the time off). That said, he does get paid well and gets to do 'fun' things at work - like being paid to play sport for a week.

Actually, not all military people are in combat. I know several military guys who are desk pushers, aircraft maintenance, network administrators... who never fired a gun in a combat zone their entire military careers.

Yes, they train you to be a soldier first, but it is possible to be in the military without killing any people (innocent or guilty).

That's how I feel!
 

Different people different views so the only way to really figure things out is to try it out for myself because everyone has their own personal opinion on things.

The difference between a soldier who is killing people and one who isn't, isn't conscious choice.
The military is good in changing the minds of their own members and getting them to do what it wants them to do.

It sounds like you don't want to join because you posted your question at a highly-conscious internet community.

Try your same question in different message board communities, and compare answers.

My $0.02: If you absolutely hate having any authority over your life, then yes, the military is for you.

I'm not too sure if it was your intent, but I detect an undertone of resentment and animosity toward soldiers and those in the military from you Brutha. I hope it's just me being overly jumpy.

But if this undertone is intentional, I would have to strongly disagree with you. I am not going to prove my point to you, because I think I will have as much success as you trying to prove your point to me. I know many men and women in the military who are very conscious people, good decision makers, and live their lives with a high amount of integrity an honor. And I very much object to painting them with this broad brush of a group of people who kill others (innocent or otherwise).

I am certainly going to hope that I've totally imagined all of this.

No, I don't resent the military.
The military does kill people. You can argue whether it's justified that they kill people or whether it isn't.
And if you do make the decision to join the military and don't have made up your mind about killing other people, group pressure will make the decision for yourself.