Hey is there anybody that is or was in the military? I've been thinkin of joining cause I'm not really getting anywhere with this restaurant job and have always wanted to. I was thinking of the reserve for Marines, but I've also thought of Navy then Army. Only reason I don't quite want to go full board is that I have a lot going on with life right now. I'm completely open for whatever you have to say.

 

Student loan and university or college maybe?

 

X2.

 

I was a Sergeant in the Marines. Zero regrets.

But my son, I talked him out of going in the Marines. He joined JROTC in high school, then he joined ROTC at Texas A&M. In his sophomore year, the Navy gave him a scholarship. Long story short, he graduated from Texas A&M with a B.S. in Marine Engineering. He is now an Ensign in the US Navy.

Go to your local University and talk with the ROTC instructor. Go this route.

There is nothing wrong going enlisted. But there are many more benefits if you go to college first and then become an officer.

By the way, DO NOT go Army (maybe because I am partial being a Marine). Go Navy.

 

Xj rat is right. That'd be the best way you can be all you can be, and get the experience and fun of post-secondary, AND have something to market when you're finished with that part of your life. Make sure you get an education. Or else the majority of your life you won't make enough money... to waste on your jeep

 

Ya I've obviously thought about goin to school but I really can't afford it. I much rather join the service part time and go to school thru them is even better. Did I mention I'm currently engaged and currently paying for my own place? Of course I'll get more info at the recruiters. Thanks for the input so far! Its really helping.

 

If the service sent me to school, would I get paid at all? I only ask cause I need to be able to send my fiancee money for our bills.

 

Whatever you do, get what you are told in writing BEFORE you sign anything. All recruiters are good at promising you the world to get your signature.

If the service sent you to school they would pay your tuition and give you a monthly stipend depending on what year you are in school. Also, not sure they allow married people in the ROTC program, at least that was my son's experience in college.

 

I agree go navy after school

 

Go to school first graduate then military. After you graduate from school you will go to officer boot camp and not regular boot camp. Automatically be higher rank at the start

 

How were your grades in HS? If you qualify for an ROTC scholarship you would be awarded a monthly stipend plus have all of your expenses paid, but like many things in life these scholarships tend to be competitive.

There would be absolutely nothing wrong with you joining the reserves and letting them help you pay for college. It's a great route to go. I'm not particularly fond of the Army either, but they offer the best deals. Keep in mind that in today's climate you're likely to get deployed overseas at some point early in your career.

The best thing I ever did was join the military, but I was sent overseas for the first three years. After getting out, they paid for my degree, and I'm sure my life is much better due to my military experience.

 

In HS I got an accumulative gps of 3.4 but also keep in mind that I was in all Honor and AP (college level) courses.

Even get deployed if I was in the reserves?

I guess now that I think of it, I wanna join cause it'd be a start to a great career but at the same time avoid being gone for years at a time. Is that even possible?

 

Your HS grades are good enough to get you an ROTC scholarship with any of the military branches especially if you participated in after school activites such as student groups and sports.

During your four years of college in an ROTC scholarship program there is no chance of you being deployed. Depending upon the branch of service there are generally two summer training programs that are usually around 6 or 8 weeks long. Other than that, you're a normal college student.

Yes, our reserve and gaurd forces do get deployed. Sometimes they go to the remote locations, and they sometimes back fill at bases in the US for active duty troops that go to remote locations.

Trust me, an ROTC program is one of the best ways to get a college education that this country has to offer as long as you're not adverse to the military. Talk to an ROTC recruiter for better more up to date details. Branch of service shouldn't be your first concern IMHO. Pick the program that you can live with that has the best benefits for you.

Good luck and feel free to PM me if you have other questions.

 

Sound advice here guys. The best thing I did was serve. To the OP, what ever branch you decide to enter, make sure you choose a job in the military that you can do or use the experience after you are out. If I could do it over again I would have chosen a different rate in the Navy, but I too have no regrets. Good luck with your decision!

 

If I went to school, what would happen with my fiancee? Is it like traditional college where I can see her when not in class? Or a question best left for a recruiter?