Should I give up on joining the Army for the really long wait and stay in school or should I just join?

Johnathon Greer — Tue, 07 May 2019 09:14:53 -0400

I have been on hold for over a year for a medical waiver for something I didn't even have. I'm currently in vocational school and I just completed and was accepted to do advance schooling in Los Angeles, CA for Airlines. In this one year wait I went back to school and got an education and a great job lined up for me. My recruiter seemed to be very busy to were he can never keep me updated on the process. Yesterday he called and said my waiver got approved and I could possibly sign my contract Thursday. Should I give up on joining the army for the really long wait and stay in school or should I should just join. Also now waiting that long and getting denied a few times I stopped working out so I need to drop 20 pounds and I injured my right foot.

Response by MSG Private RallyPoint Member made May 7 at 2019 9:52 AM

MSG Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 07 May 2019 09:52:54 -0400

Here is my two cents for what its worth:

You injured your foot, so you certainly don't want to come in with an injury and make it worse when you get to Basic. So, take the time to get that injury healed. Now, as for your other concerns, you can do one of several different COA's (Courses of Action):

1) Find a different recruiter. If the Recruiter is too busy to update you on your process, then perhaps find a different one.
2) Take the job. Perhaps try and join later after working a spell. This will help you with recovering from your injury and give you time to drop that weight.
3) You've invested this much time to get in, so take the opportunity to sign that contract.

Ultimately, the decision is yours. Go with what your gut instinct tells you. 99% of the time, that is the correct action. I still recommend you allow your injury to heal before you join, though. There is a plan in life for us. And some times that plan leads us in a different direction than what we thought it was going. If your path takes you away from the Army for a spell, then so be it. I'm certainly not saying to give up the idea of joining, just that fate seems to be telling you that it's going to be a bit longer before you can.

Response by SSG Brian G. made May 7 at 2019 9:57 AM

SSG Brian G. — Tue, 07 May 2019 09:57:29 -0400

That is an answer only you can provide for yourself. What do you want to do? Where do you see yourself in 10-15-20 years? You have career paths either way you go, but it boils down to what you want to do and what you are passionate about and feel drawn towards?

The few pounds are nothing. Those can be worked off in short order. The foot injury might be more serious and you need to get that looked at and dealt with.

With you possibly signing your contract you will of course be going back through MEPS prior to heading off to OSUT so the foot thing will be discovered.

You have to ask yourself what you want to do. I could push going in as there are a lot of great opportunities but this is your decision. You know what is right for you at this time in your life.

Response by LCDR Joshua Gillespie made May 7 at 2019 10:45 AM

LCDR Joshua Gillespie — Tue, 07 May 2019 10:45:56 -0400

Johnathon, this is what it's all about... making tough choices.

I know what I would do, but that doesn't make it the right choice for you. All I can suggest is that you think about three things; Why do you want to serve? What do you like/dislike about the the career your currently training for? Where do you want to be in five or ten years?

When I went in, I hadn't had a competing thought since I was seven... and pretty much everything I had done academically and extra-curricular-wise from that point had been aimed at going into the Military. Five years after I swore in, I was working in construction... ten years later, I was back in the Military because it was still where my heart wanted to be. Twenty years later, I'm doing things I'd have never imagined at 17, and pursuing opportunities I'd have never been offered had my "plan" to stay in for "thirty years" worked out.

If I could go backwards in time, I'd do a lot of things differently... but I'm very glad I don't have that option :)

If you go in, and it doesn't end up being what you desired it to be, you may find it hard to "go back" to where you are now. Conversely, if you follow the track you're on for a while, and determine there's still a desire to serve... there will likely be options; there almost always are.

Response by LTC Jason Mackay made May 7 at 2019 12:00 PM

LTC Jason Mackay — Tue, 07 May 2019 12:00:07 -0400

Johnathon Greer simple question. Do you want to be in the Army or not? If not, fine, I wish you well. If you do, then join. It's that simple. If you are working to where you want to be in life with your new vocation, great. The world needs skilled tradesmen. As far as your medical waiver process, that is not something that your recruiter can control. He is involved in initiation of it, but other wise out of his hands. He's getting dragged through broken glass on a monthly basis to put qualified and eligible recruits in boots. If it were up to him, he would have shipped you. He has to make thousands of contacts each month just to keep his head above water.

If you don't want to be a Soldier, I would not want you in my Company. This is a calling as much as a career. Do what you need to do.

I would look hard at where you will be in five years for both options. Then in 10. If you joined the Army and did what you were supposed to do, you'd be a NCO rank depending in your MOS, performance, ambition, and a few other factors. If you are an apprentice, you'll apprentice for a few years, then test for journeyman. You'll be a journeyman for a few more years until you have sufficient experience for your masters license. What will your benefits look like? What will your retirement look like? In the service the last two are fairly robust. Look hard at whether your civilian job has longevity or not or if you will be bouncing around contract to contract. Higher market wage may translate to future insecurity.

At the end of the day, it is about an individual choice, population: you.

Response by MAJ Private RallyPoint Member made May 7 at 2019 12:54 PM

MAJ Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 07 May 2019 12:54:30 -0400

I have been through the process my friend. It was a 2+ year Odessy to get into the reserves. Some of it was my fault (I too had to drop some significant weight) and had to have a medical waiver. The process well it’s a process. Recruiters have a hard job. They can only work at the pace the process allows. Much of their job is out of their hands. I know me personally I had to drop the weight before I could go to MEPS. Then I had to get a referral for further testing. Then a waiver had to be submitted. Then I had to wait. Nothing my recruiter could do to push that along any faster. Also my direct commissioning required a board and then they were not filling more spots for my AOC for the year so I had to wait for a year.

If you want it bad enough then the wait is worth it. I would say this though. The army is always going to be there. I wanted to enlist at 18 but was pressured for college so I went to college. Then I did grad school. Graduated and then wanted to do military service again but my significant other at the time said no way. Almost 10 years later I got in. Yes it was harder as I got older to be eligible.

So if it were me I would focus on making sure my foot is ok and focus on getting into shape. Then if you want in then you can pick the process up. The whole time you’re doing this you can be working towards a trade and getting more education. Education is always a great investment and something the military does value.

No matter what you decide just know it’s not always a final decision. You can go back. Good luck!

Response by SPC Manny Managuit made May 8 at 2019 4:41 AM

SPC Manny Managuit — Wed, 08 May 2019 04:41:20 -0400

What an interesting subject, you made it seem like the military is a platter being serve to you. Being a foreigner, it is the only way I could give back for the country who had done a great job from giving us an opportunity to live free and living the American Dream. Your mind set is already in the wrong foot pal. The military isn’t going to cater to you but to make you a better person for the people who are serving next to you. You should take a moment to look at your weight, broken foot and a broken mentally. Once you figure that out you are good to go. This post isn’t meant to degrade you. This is paragraph isn’t event a % what you have to sacrifice. The thoughts of being in service doesn’t count. You don’t want to be the civilian speaking to a combat veteran starting with “I almost join...” sentence.

Response by SGT Private RallyPoint Member made May 8 at 2019 10:50 AM

SGT Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 08 May 2019 10:50:25 -0400

You waited this long; minus well.

Response by SGT Private RallyPoint Member made May 8 at 2019 2:54 PM

SGT Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 08 May 2019 14:54:14 -0400

If my words are worth anything it is this. I just got into the Army National Guard and while there were times where I cussed my life and every decision that led to being smoked 24/7 during Basic I don't regret it at all. Schooling is important but honestly you can go to school in the military. You have put all this time in to get in I would sign. Right now I'm in college (not as hard for me being National Guard) and I get all my tuition paid for and $735 for going. That being said though your foot is injured I would sign but see if you can delay shipping until it is healed Basic is hard enough without an injury don't hurt yourself worse and make you unable to continue and not join fully. It sucks not completing basic (talked to a guy who didn't he was in my platoon was in bunk right next to me) he came down with type 2 diabetes so not his fault but he said it absolutely sucked not being able to graduate right beside us. The worst part was we were a week from graduating.

Response by CPL Gary Pifer made May 10 at 2019 4:21 AM

CPL Gary Pifer — Fri, 10 May 2019 04:21:35 -0400

Join the Air Force Reserve.....if you like it go active.....stay aviation....March ARB...Airlines and Army don't mix...

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Jun 17 at 2020 1:14 PM

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 17 Jun 2020 13:14:38 -0400

Since you have a good job lined up, go National Guard! You can wait to ship out for up to a year, and your job is held for you by law.