Posted on Mar 5, 2018
How can I discover which branch would best suit me?
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Posted 8 y ago
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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.
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Shawnta Johnson
Wow thanks for that advice!! Strong words of wisdom, I must say. That is a lot I will consider in choosing where to join. Don't thank me yet, I haven't done any of the hard work
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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.
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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!
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!
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Shawnta Johnson
Only an air force base but I gave been in and out before. I live in a small town so not much too see... Thanks for the guidance and advice
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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?
_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?
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LCpl Shane Couch
Semper Fi brothers! Shawnta Johnson I worked with an abundance of female Marines, and after 16-17years of being away from active duty I still communicate with them as they are my sisters issued to me by the Corps. I have friends and family that were in other branches of service. Only one of them from the Army stays in contact with members from his unit. My cousin doesn't even remember his Air Force drill sergeants name, only his rank. For myself my senior DI was SSgt Hawes, our heavy was SSgt Jones (he served as a LAV operator in Desert Storm/Shield), then we had Sgt Ekerson (a tall Aussie immigrant that loved to bring everyone to the quarter deck) and Sgt Pedregon (so short that he had to tilt his NCO sword forward during drill). I can assure as a Marine, whom ever you meet and work with will become your family. Not saying that it doesn't happen in other branches because it does happen, but it is not as common as it is in the Corps.
In the Marines there are places to travel for duty stations around the globe. My first duty station was on Camp Hansen in Okinawa Japan. Okinawa has/had 4 Marine Camps, 1 Air Force Base, 1 tiny Army post and a Naval hospital. Now the Marines have a base in Australia! How awesome is that? lol. The Army and Air Force have bases all over the globe in places that as a Marine you will most likely never go while in service. Sailors get to go all over and see the worlds coast lines.
You want adventure, this is one of the main reasons that I joined. I knew that I wanted to be a Marine before even speaking to a recruiter. I also knew that if the Marines rejected me, I was over 400lbs in high school and was not sure the Marines would care enough to work with me, that I would speak to the Coast Guard. I studied each branch and what they could offer me. I made first contact. I went to the Marine recruiting station before even getting a phone call from the Army, which happened to call the day I returned home from MEPS.
Know your ambitions and study the services. These days it is much easier with the internet being at the ready all the time. Each branch has a recruiting website. Look up what MOS (Military Occupational Specialty) most interests you. You are making one of the biggest decisions in your life. Do as school has taught you and study. Make a list, write out pros and cons of each branch. This will help you make the choice that is best for you if any choice at all. Good Luck!
In the Marines there are places to travel for duty stations around the globe. My first duty station was on Camp Hansen in Okinawa Japan. Okinawa has/had 4 Marine Camps, 1 Air Force Base, 1 tiny Army post and a Naval hospital. Now the Marines have a base in Australia! How awesome is that? lol. The Army and Air Force have bases all over the globe in places that as a Marine you will most likely never go while in service. Sailors get to go all over and see the worlds coast lines.
You want adventure, this is one of the main reasons that I joined. I knew that I wanted to be a Marine before even speaking to a recruiter. I also knew that if the Marines rejected me, I was over 400lbs in high school and was not sure the Marines would care enough to work with me, that I would speak to the Coast Guard. I studied each branch and what they could offer me. I made first contact. I went to the Marine recruiting station before even getting a phone call from the Army, which happened to call the day I returned home from MEPS.
Know your ambitions and study the services. These days it is much easier with the internet being at the ready all the time. Each branch has a recruiting website. Look up what MOS (Military Occupational Specialty) most interests you. You are making one of the biggest decisions in your life. Do as school has taught you and study. Make a list, write out pros and cons of each branch. This will help you make the choice that is best for you if any choice at all. Good Luck!
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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
Note: you want to have questions before you go. Hit us up and we can help you with that as well.
Good luck
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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.
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.
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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.
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.
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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.
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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!
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!
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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.
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