How can I discover which branch would best suit me?

Shawnta Johnson — Mon, 05 Mar 2018 21:55:01 -0500

Response by Maj John Bell made Mar 5 at 2018 10:13 PM

Maj John Bell — Mon, 05 Mar 2018 22:13:28 -0500

You are asking for a complete shot in the dark. You need to give some clues first.

_Do you think you'll serve one enlistment or an officer's obligation and then be done, or are you going to be a lifer? Or do you have no idea yet?
_What would you do with your time if money was not a deciding factor?
_Are you hoping for a skill (if so what) that will serve you on the outside, or do you want to see the world and live an adventure?
_Is personal comfort more important? or overcoming adversity with strong lifelong bonds?

Response by Sgt Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 5 at 2018 10:22 PM

Sgt Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 05 Mar 2018 22:22:44 -0500

Shawnta Johnson Below is some information that provides the basics. You can go to the website for each branch for more detailed information. As stated by Maj John Bell, what are you hoping to accomplish in the military?

http://www.militaryspot.com/enlist/understanding-the-five-branches-of-the-military

https://www.thebalance.com/u-s-military [login to see]

Understanding the Five Branches of the Military - MilitarySpot.com

When you decide to join the military, choosing your branch of service is one of the first decisions you must make.

Response by CW3 Jeff Held made Mar 5 at 2018 11:28 PM

CW3 Jeff Held — Mon, 05 Mar 2018 23:28:37 -0500

I spent 21 years in the Army. I loved it and am certainly partial to it. Do you have any military bases / posts near where you live? Maybe you could ask each Recruiter to drive you there for a “day tour” so you could look around.

Most of us have faced the same quandary as you. We made a choice and made the best of it. There are several posts about folks switching over from one branch to another after their enlistment contract was up.

Which ever branch you choose stick your nose deep into college text books every chance you get!

Response by COL Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 6 at 2018 1:35 AM

COL Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 06 Mar 2018 01:35:58 -0500

Shawnta Johnson, this is a personality and profession question. It sounds like you have options which is good. I did not. The Army waved money in my face when I was in high school and I jumped at it because I grew up on a dirt road behind a bar and a gas station. Not a metrosexual bar either. I'm talking about the dirty, after working at the quarry kind of bar. Anyhow...opportunities abound in the services now that the majority of career fields are open to women. First thing is, get a commission as an officer if you can. Nothing wrong with being enlisted, but there are better job opportunities on the backside of an officer's career. Not an absolute truth however, as there are plenty of signal, cyber, IT, and military intelligence enlisted that transition to amazing jobs in the civilian world. Officers tend to bounce into management jobs. Just something to think about. Enlisted and officer lives are completely different. You have much more freedom as a junior officer than you would as a junior enlisted. Back to your main question. Depends what you want to do and where you want to do it. The Air Force has the best standards of living. The Marine Corps has the best camaraderie and discipline. The Army is simply vast in comparison to the others with many more opportunities across the world (larger force = more things to do). The Navy provides the opportunity to sail across the world...that's pretty dang cool...and there isn't much of a threat for them right now. I am glad that you have the desire to serve. Whatever you choose, know that you would be one of the few who do. Thanks for considering being a Warrior.

Response by SPC Brian Mason made Mar 6 at 2018 2:51 AM

SPC Brian Mason — Tue, 06 Mar 2018 02:51:08 -0500

In my opinion and experience. Most people can do anyone they wish. Basic is temporary. The JOB/MOS is what you should be aiming for. In my case, I don't think the Marines have Medics or Nurses but I could be wrong. I can't do enclosed spaces so the Navy is out. AF....they are more strict including a credit check last I heard.
Army is what is was for me. I scored well above what was needed to get a spot for Combat Medic. The MOS is most important. No matter how long you stay in or get out, that job could be hour future career. I wouldn't want a MOS I ended up disliking or hating and get all that free training and experience only to not use it after.

Response by SN Greg Wright made Mar 6 at 2018 3:02 AM

SN Greg Wright — Tue, 06 Mar 2018 03:02:45 -0500

That you even ask this question puts you ahead of most of your peers, Ms. Johnson. So. What do you want to do in life? What are your priorities? Do you want to travel? Want to NOT travel? Aviation? Blow shit up? Save lives? Plan ops? Computer stuff? Battle planning? So you see, YOU are the one who can best answer your own question. So I say, decide what it is you want to do, THEN investigate which branch can best get you there.

Response by LCDR Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 6 at 2018 8:14 AM

LCDR Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 06 Mar 2018 08:14:45 -0500

Probably too general a question.

First, consider why you're wanting to serve...be specific.

Do you want to follow a career in medicine, engineering, systems development and testing, communications, aviation, maritime operations, law enforcement, etc..etc. Are you simply looking for the best way to serve your country? Are you motivated more by physical, or intellectual challenges? Do you want assistance in earning a degree, or do you currently hold one? If so, what discipline? Do you want to be responsible for large groups of people, equipment and the associated administrative responsibilities, or do you want to be a "hands on" leader, involved with smaller groups leading progressively to more responsibility and larger groups?

Next, ask yourself what you don't wish to do. Does the idea of being on a ship at sea for six to nine months excite or depress you? Are you challenged by heights? Are you more introverted or extroverted? Can you see yourself spending long periods of time outdoors in any weather? Is being deployed away from family for up to a year something you could/could not see yourself doing?

Finally, bear in mind that regardless of what service and path you choose, you will face some of the greatest challenges of your life setting out. I've seen high school athletes struggle with physical training, private pilots struggle through military aviation selection, and competitive swimmers struggle with water survival training. Whatever arduous training you are familiar with, be it hiking, running, combative sports...now consider performing those tasks at a higher level, while tired, stressed and cold, and competitively.

Response by SSgt Dan Montague made Mar 6 at 2018 10:42 AM

SSgt Dan Montague — Tue, 06 Mar 2018 10:42:24 -0500

Only you can answer that question. If you have not already done so, go see recruiters in all 4 branches even if you don't think you would be interested in one or two of the branches. They will sell you hard and try to get you to take the ASVAB with them so they can discus jobs. DON'T do it...yet. They may give you a practice test there at the office just to see where you stand. Thats ok. Once you have talked to all the branches you should be able to narrow it down. Then hit us old timers up for Q&A to help you. Once you pick a branch, take the ASVAB with them.

Note: you want to have questions before you go. Hit us up and we can help you with that as well.
Good luck

Response by SGM Bill Frazer made Mar 6 at 2018 10:52 AM

SGM Bill Frazer — Tue, 06 Mar 2018 10:52:55 -0500

Go online and review each service- then go talk to the recruiters on the basics of each branch.

Response by PO1 Don Gulizia made Mar 6 at 2018 10:55 AM

PO1 Don Gulizia — Tue, 06 Mar 2018 10:55:13 -0500

I won't tell you which branch I think is best, what I will tell you is to think about what you'd like to do. Do you like to fix things, work in an office environment, etc? Think about what you don't like...for example, do you hate flying, are you afraid of water, or do you hate hiking? That will narrow your choices. Also, there are other ways of serving besides Army, Navy, Air Force, and Marines. Don't limit your scope. There is also the Coast Guard, National Guard/Reserves, and the Merchant Marine.

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 7 at 2018 12:13 AM

SSG Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 07 Mar 2018 00:13:18 -0500

Aside from the advice given here, speak with the recruiters from each branch. They can give you lots of pros and cons. Those pros and cons will differ depending on what you want for yourself out of the military service. Do you want to travel the world? Do you want to help people? Do you want to shoot big guns? Do you love powerpoint with a passion? Each of the military branches offer these in varying degrees.

Response by CW5 Sam R. Baker made Mar 7 at 2018 12:25 AM

CW5 Sam R. Baker — Wed, 07 Mar 2018 00:25:34 -0500

I often in my 31 years of service have answered this question for friends or parents that ask me, kind of goes like this in my Alabama common sense and in the most basic of explanations:
If you value and want friends for life - Marines
If you truly want to see the world - Navy
If you value quality of life and a job on the outside - Air Force
If you are concerned about the almighty $ - Army
The Army is the fastest promoting service by far and the pay scales are the same........

been doing this since 1987 consecutively, it still rings true after Panama, Desert Storm, OEF and OIF and more, things have changed but these simple facts lay it out there. My .02!

Response by Cpl Bill Fleischauer made Mar 7 at 2018 4:25 PM

Cpl Bill Fleischauer — Wed, 07 Mar 2018 16:25:51 -0500

Perhaps you may want to ask 'What have I to offer?'

Response by Sgt Dale Briggs made Mar 8 at 2018 8:44 PM

Sgt Dale Briggs — Thu, 08 Mar 2018 20:44:26 -0500

Depends on what you would like to do I suppose, I'd think AF and Navy are probably leaning towards more technical. Depends on your personality as well, and if you like physical work, you'll do more in the Marines and Army.

Response by 1LT William Clardy made Mar 8 at 2018 9:04 PM

1LT William Clardy — Thu, 08 Mar 2018 21:04:11 -0500

Like several others have already stated, a big factor should be what you hope to get out of serving.
To which I would add that you should also think through what you are willing to gamble. Adventure requires risk, and while the military is much safer now than in my day (when "peacetime" operations killed off the equivalent of a battalion every year), the most interesting stories you would get to tell will likely involve either someone not making it through the story with the same body configuration they had at the start, or there being a very high risk of that happening. And even if you are one of the fortunate ones who don't suffer a life-altering injury, the harsher military services will still exact a toll on your body - e.g., my knees still remind me of the years I spent in the infantry, and silence as something other than a steady ringing is just a concept for me.
Don't think I'm trying to talk you out of serving. in my mind, it's well worth doing for a multitude of reasons, but you should go into it knowing that you're running a very real risk of coming out the far side partially shredded.

Response by MSG John Duchesneau made Mar 8 at 2018 10:05 PM

MSG John Duchesneau — Thu, 08 Mar 2018 22:05:26 -0500

Ask yourself the following questions -
Do I want to be a Marine? If Yes - Join the Marine Corps.
Do I want to be treated with respect and be valued for my intelligence?
If Yes - join the Air Force.
Do I want to go to sea on a ship for an extended period of time?
If Yes - join the Navy.
Do I want to rescue people from the perils of the sea and catch drug smugglers?
If Yes - join the Coast Guard.
None of the above? Join the Army.
Its that simple.

Response by LTC Stephan Porter made Mar 10 at 2018 10:18 PM

LTC Stephan Porter — Sat, 10 Mar 2018 22:18:07 -0500

I have helped dozens of people into the Services over my almost 31 years now of Enlisted/Officer & Reserve/Active service. I spend a lot of time interviewing the potential enlistee to determine what interests, personality, goals, and vision they might have. I then try to give them multiple routes to get to where they might want to go, if they know. If they do not, then I have other recommendations.

You would like some mentorship and advise in choosing a Service I would be happy to do it. Just send me a note and we can begin.

Short of going through that process, in general, there are things you can do now without making that decision. The first is to go to any of the recruiters and take your ASVAB to get your scores (that all of the services will use to determine what you are eligible to do). Once you have those, you’re not committed to any service yet, and you can go to all of them and talk through what things are available. If you do not have a route in mind, then make sure you take some time to find someone who may be in a job that is offered to you. You can do that on this forum and in others.

Once you decide on what service you wish to enter, I highly suggest you enlist first, even if your goal is to become an officer. The two reasons are: I believe it is critical to understand the service that you will enter, and the life of the enlisted person is much different in that understanding will serve you well; I believe strongly that you must learn to be lead before you lead others. You cannot do this, in my opinion, by simply starting off as an officer.

Good luck, God bless.

Response by MSgt Chris Saunders made May 28 at 2018 12:57 AM

MSgt Chris Saunders — Mon, 28 May 2018 00:57:27 -0400

Follow your gut...