Posted on Oct 10, 2016
What advice would you offer someone who planned on joining the Army out of high school?
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Responses: 52
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1. Pick something that you believe you will enjoy... your not going to be good at it if you hate it.
2. Pick something that will give you skills that you can use in the civilian world. Even if you stay in 20 years, you'll only be 38 when you retire... most people can't really retire until they are in their 60's which means you will have at least a few more decades of work.
3. Travel as much as you can. Never turn down an opportunity to go somewhere new.
2. Pick something that will give you skills that you can use in the civilian world. Even if you stay in 20 years, you'll only be 38 when you retire... most people can't really retire until they are in their 60's which means you will have at least a few more decades of work.
3. Travel as much as you can. Never turn down an opportunity to go somewhere new.
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SFC Joseph Weber
SN Greg Wright - That is true. My Dad worked at the Washington Navy Yard and we lived in Annapolis. I got to tour ships a few times. At 6'6" I always imagined an alarm going off and me knocking myself out on the way to my position.
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SMSgt Lawrence McCarter
SFC Joseph Weber - You learn to duck after a few headaches, I know that from being 6'2"
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LTJG (Join to see) Be a squared away Soldier. Do your best always, and do not quit. Save your money in a retirement plan, and continue your education. There is life after the military.
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Capt Tom Brown
As others have said be prepared to show up at the proper time and place in the proper uniform and bring a positive attitude with you. That is a good way to start out. In fact such guidance can and does apply to all civilian sector jobs, positions, careers and professions, not just the military.
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Be prepared to experience something that will change your entire life,and in the immortal words of my Platoon Sergeant "they can kill you but they can't eat you,you're too goddam tough". Or my older brother's advice you should have joined the Air Force.
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SGT Philip Roncari
SMSgt Lawrence McCarter-My older brother did twenty three years in the Air Force,came out with a Masters degree in Russian language,I guess you can see he was the smart one in the family,and he could not get his younger not so bright brother from joining the Army something I wanted to do as a kid hope he was as proud of me as I was of him,lost him to alcohol many years ago.
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Pick 5 MOSs that you think you would consider as a career.
Study for the ASVAB and actually put effort into it.
Understand that with choosing a career, you can follow it in the civilian sector if you chose to do so.
You cannot have your cell phone during basic training.
After boot camp, focus on studying and making something out of yourself. Leave the drama alone.
Don't marry a Dependa.
aaaand Join the Navy....
Study for the ASVAB and actually put effort into it.
Understand that with choosing a career, you can follow it in the civilian sector if you chose to do so.
You cannot have your cell phone during basic training.
After boot camp, focus on studying and making something out of yourself. Leave the drama alone.
Don't marry a Dependa.
aaaand Join the Navy....
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SSG (Join to see)
Good recommendations, except for the Navy part. I do think it's important that someone take a hard look at the advantages and disadvantages of each service before making a decision. What is a Dependa?
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PO1 (Join to see)
SSG (Join to see) - This is a Urban Dictionary definition but it's pretty close. Some of these examples and results may vary..
"A Dependapotamus, or Dependapotami (Plural), is the spouse of a military Service Member, whose symbiotic relationship is parasitic. These creatures seek to take advantage of the trusting nature of the more inexperienced Service Member by birthing live children to him, to establish a link that would be more work to be rid of than to simply keep. Often times, by bearing multiple children, the desire to flee from the parasitic clutches of the Harpy-like Dependapotamus is reduced to such a low that the Service Member simply settles for his misfortune, and does not leave. Typical behavior for Dependapotami is to sit at home, as they do not work (hence the dependency), smoke cigarettes bought with the SM (Service Member)'s pay, talk on a cellular phone (purchased by the SM), to other Dependapotami, whilst ignoring the children to whom she/it serves as "Caregiver." Often, the Dependapotamus will sell the idea of not working or pursuing an education (High School being the highest level most achieve, though some are incapable of that, even) by claiming to "stay home with the kids." These creatures of a negative symbiosis, or parasitism, are a blight to the military community, serving as horrible ambassadors to the rest of the United States, and in worst cases, the world. They are dramatic, loud, immature, obnoxious, freeloading, belligerent, unfaithful (where applicable, most are too unattractive to cheat), gossiping, wasteful, hateful, bigamous, and click-y."
"A Dependapotamus, or Dependapotami (Plural), is the spouse of a military Service Member, whose symbiotic relationship is parasitic. These creatures seek to take advantage of the trusting nature of the more inexperienced Service Member by birthing live children to him, to establish a link that would be more work to be rid of than to simply keep. Often times, by bearing multiple children, the desire to flee from the parasitic clutches of the Harpy-like Dependapotamus is reduced to such a low that the Service Member simply settles for his misfortune, and does not leave. Typical behavior for Dependapotami is to sit at home, as they do not work (hence the dependency), smoke cigarettes bought with the SM (Service Member)'s pay, talk on a cellular phone (purchased by the SM), to other Dependapotami, whilst ignoring the children to whom she/it serves as "Caregiver." Often, the Dependapotamus will sell the idea of not working or pursuing an education (High School being the highest level most achieve, though some are incapable of that, even) by claiming to "stay home with the kids." These creatures of a negative symbiosis, or parasitism, are a blight to the military community, serving as horrible ambassadors to the rest of the United States, and in worst cases, the world. They are dramatic, loud, immature, obnoxious, freeloading, belligerent, unfaithful (where applicable, most are too unattractive to cheat), gossiping, wasteful, hateful, bigamous, and click-y."
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What are your reasons for joining?
Where do you want to be in 4 years?
If you are joining just to get out of your parents house; don't join.
If it is to get a valuable skill that you can apply to the real world, do it.
If you do join.
1. Pick a job field that is transferable to the civilian sector. Jobs the radiology tech; laboratory tech; license practical nurse; medical maintenance.
2. Put money into the Thrift Savings Plan (TSP)
3. Take up running as a sport.
4. Take one or two college courses ever 8 to 12 weeks.
5. Get out after 5 years
Where do you want to be in 4 years?
If you are joining just to get out of your parents house; don't join.
If it is to get a valuable skill that you can apply to the real world, do it.
If you do join.
1. Pick a job field that is transferable to the civilian sector. Jobs the radiology tech; laboratory tech; license practical nurse; medical maintenance.
2. Put money into the Thrift Savings Plan (TSP)
3. Take up running as a sport.
4. Take one or two college courses ever 8 to 12 weeks.
5. Get out after 5 years
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I would say make sure you get the MOS you want, not the one the recruiter tells you is available right at that moment, and don't let them pressure you into something else.
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SPC (Join to see)
I know a Soldier who did just that Sir. Didn't have the MOS slot she wanted, Recruiter got her to sign something else and only for 3 years so now she doesn't have the educational benefits she wants. She's trying to figure out how to extend to 6 years now to change that. She wants to re-enlist as well but this time only if she can re-class. Hope it all works out for her.
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Wait until you have a commander in chief who actually appreciates the military
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Work on things like a credit score pick an MOS that has high pay in the civilian sector. Actually if I could do it over I would have been an officer. If you are going to sign up to die might as well get paid as much as possible while doing it, in case you survive.
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Body Snatchers will promise you ANYTHING. Remember it's the Army that fulfills the promises, and they can be mighty fast and loose with how they interpret "fulfilling the enlistment contract"... especially as it concerns a guaranteed duty station.
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SMSgt Lawrence McCarter
LOL, Body snatchers huh ? That is an interesting reference to a Recruiter but I guess it fits !
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Sgt Wayne Wood
It's what Marines call 'em... reference to an old "With Sgt Mike" comic in Navy Times from Vietnam
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