Anyone in the ARMY now or recently?

[tenchu]

I've been thinking about joining for quite some time, some say its cool, some bash the **** out of (mostly anti-war people or other-branch supporters). Commonly people tell me the Army is going to screw me over. Anyone serving the Army now, or has recently served that could give me advice? I'm going to take my asvab testing Wed because I never took it in HS.

[GTSLOW]

I've been thinking about joining for quite some time, some say its cool, some bash the **** out of (mostly anti-war people or other-branch supporters). Commonly people tell me the Army is going to screw me over. Anyone serving the Army now, or has recently served that could give me advice? I'm going to take my asvab testing Wed because I never took it in HS.

ARMY is a great way to start your life!! Sign up for the GI Bill and take college courses while in!!! They pay for everything. Also the tests to get in are VERY important!! A high GT score will open ALOT of windows for the better jobs!!

What kind of job were you looking at/interestead in?

ALSO DO WHATEVER YOU HAVE TO GO IN AS A E-3/PFC!! Also start going to the gym!! If you go in squared away you will quickly work your way up :thumbsup

When you enlist there are ALOT of options (things I missed out on). When you enlist you can get Airborne, Airassualt, Choice of first duty station, H8/Vehicle recovery course, etc...

Airborne = Parachute Airassualt = Helicopter repeling Both bring promotion points as does H8.

[Cryptic]

I did 4 years of Navy. Pick a branch. Choose a job (MOS/Rate) before you sign sh!t. It's a good way to get your life started.

I know people from every branch of service. I'd do it all again. :thumbsup

[tenchu]

I was thinkin Infantry, but idk. Heh.

[fireguyrick]

Infantry....good and bad. I was in the Marines, started out as Infantry. You get to know your squad EXTREMELY well. It is like another family. The down side is the smell, sleeping in the mud, etc... There also are really no "real world" jobs that relate. Were I to do it again, I would still go Infantry, but I ended up in a specialized unit. That being said, I have worked with several Army units, and have trained at a few Army bases. If you go infantry, I would SERIOUSLY suggest Airborne. They seemed to be a bit "higher quality" then some of the other Army units, no disrespect to the other units...just what I had seen. I had training with Army units at Fort Benning, Ft. Sill, Ft. Polk, Ft. Bragg, and YPG.

Rick

[tenchu]

Infantry....good and bad. I was in the Marines, started out as Infantry. You get to know your squad EXTREMELY well. It is like another family. The down side is the smell, sleeping in the mud, etc... There also are really no "real world" jobs that relate. Were I to do it again, I would still go Infantry, but I ended up in a specialized unit. That being said, I have worked with several Army units, and have trained at a few Army bases. If you go infantry, I would SERIOUSLY suggest Airborne. They seemed to be a bit "higher quality" then some of the other Army units, no disrespect to the other units...just what I had seen. I had training with Army units at Fort Benning, Ft. Sill, Ft. Polk, Ft. Bragg, and YPG.

Rick

Yea, not the greatest living quality, also a greater risk i'd assume. How would I go about going Airborne, start infantry and get promoted up, or would that be a starting position??

[tenchu]

ALSO DO WHATEVER YOU HAVE TO GO IN AS A E-3/PFC!! Also start going to the gym!! If you go in squared away you will quickly work your way up :thumbsup

I will ask my recruiter too, but how do I go about getting E3 first? Besides getting someone to join with me, i've been trying that, LOL!

[fireguyrick]

Go to your Recruiter. Demand Airborne Infantry. You can do that in the Army, not like the Marines. Get EVERYTHING in writing. If they say that there are no open spots for Airborne Infantry, ask them when there will be, and that you can wait...OR just "walk out." There is ZERO reason you should not get what you want. I would also try and pick a decent first duty station. 82nd is not a ad choice, or the 173rd (I think) in Vincenza, Italy would be a cool duty station.

Rick

[tenchu]

Go to your Recruiter. Demand Airborne Infantry. You can do that in the Army, not like the Marines. Get EVERYTHING in writing. If they say that there are no open spots for Airborne Infantry, ask them when there will be, and that you can wait...OR just "walk out." There is ZERO reason you should not get what you want. I would also try and pick a decent first duty station. 82nd is not a ad choice, or the 173rd (I think) in Vincenza, Italy would be a cool duty station.

Rick

Cool! Thanks! :headbang

[GTSLOW]

Definately go Army!!

For E3 you will probably need to take a mini pt test (run, situps, pushups) and learn some stuff. But trust me its all stuff you will learn in the very near future anyways! Plus the little bit of extra pay of E-3 will be great!

When you go GET Airborne in your orders!! Do not sign if its not in your orders. Also you could request:

Fort Bragg: 82nd Airborne
Italy: U.S. Army Southern European Task Force (Airborne)
Fort Campbell: 101st Airborne

Very few people get the chance to go to Italy! I've only met a few people that have been there!

[USMARINE1108]

I'm not trying to start anything here, but you should definitley talk to recruiters from all branches. All branches have the same benifets. Take into account where the duty stations are, living conditions, time for off duty education in certain MOS's, and what uniform you would be most proud to wear. (not that anyone shouldn't be proud of any branch) The military is an AWESOME opportunity to get ahead in life, but only if YOU take advantge of it. If you're dead set on going into infantry, at least talk to the Army and the Marines. And don't forget, the Coast Guard, (no longer a part of the DOD, but now Dept. of Homeland Security) has the same benifits too. Can't stress how important the ASVAB is, those GT scores mean a lot. Good luck, and keep us posted!

[GTSLOW]

I'm not trying to start anything here, but you should definitley talk to recruiters from all branches. All branches have the same benifets. Take into account where the duty stations are, living conditions, time for off duty education in certain MOS's, and what uniform you would be most proud to wear. (not that anyone shouldn't be proud of any branch) The military is an AWESOME opportunity to get ahead in life, but only if YOU take advantge of it. If you're dead set on going into infantry, at least talk to the Army and the Marines. And don't forget, the Coast Guard, (no longer a part of the DOD, but now Dept. of Homeland Security) has the same benifits too. Can't stress how important the ASVAB is, those GT scores mean a lot. Good luck, and keep us posted!

hehe :thumbsup

[fireguyrick]

In all honesty, if he REALLY wants to do Airborne he should do the Army. I cannot tell you how difficult it can be to get airborne trained in the Corps. You pretty much need to spend at least 4 years or more, and try to work it into a reenlistment contract, or you need to PT the hell out of yourself and try to get into Recon. Detachment One, and occasionally a FAST Marine can go, if there are open slots. I got lucky, and everytime I asked to go to some special school there was an opening. But generally speaking I was a squared away Marine, so that helped.

Rick

[Cryptic]

There is ZERO reason you should not get what you want.

As he said... this cannot be ephasized enough. that and get it in writing. EVERYTHING YOU ARE PROMISED.

[tenchu]

As he said... this cannot be ephasized enough. that and get it in writing. EVERYTHING YOU ARE PROMISED.

I was told by a friend who served 4 years in the Navy, that if theres something wrong on my contract, and I say I wont sign it till its fixed, they'll just let me leave and move on to the next person.. :confused

[fireguyrick]

I was told by a friend who served 4 years in the Navy, that if theres something wrong on my contract, and I say I wont sign it till its fixed, they'll just let me leave and move on to the next person.. :confused


That may have been then, it is not now. Frankly, when I was a quazi recruiter the Air Force could be INSANLY picky about whom they selected, as they had no problem meeting their recruiting goals. The Marine Corps is similiar, as they have only now just started to miss recruiting goals. The Army, however, they have a HUGE need, and their recruitment abilities have been dwindling. I looked at going back into the Corps after I got out, however, at that time they were not taking prior service in my MOS. The Army however, would have written into my contract ANYTHING I wanted, plus gave me money. This was about 2 years ago.

You can get pretty much anything you want in your contract. However, be SMART in that. Do NOT choose a guarenteed trip to Ranger school if you do NOT believe you have the mental ability to handle it. Physically, they can make you strong. The mental ability to cope with the stresses is the hardest part. Many times if you fail some test that is required for your choosen MOS, duty station, etc... they can put you where they want. I knew a kid that went "guarenteed SEALs" in the Navy. He did not get through week 1 in BUD/s. He ended up as some kind of quartmaster position.

Rick

[GTSLOW]

The ARMY is VERY DESPRATE for people right now!!! When you go look at enlistment bonus's too! There are some low density mos's that they are signing huge bonus's! Not sure what they are but they will probably offer them to you. They will not skip to the next person they need people, especially if you get a good GT score!!!

I really think 11B is a bad idea!! There are alot of jobs that relate to real world!

63B Wheeled Vehicle Repairer
52C Airconditioner Mechanic
52D Generator Mechanic
31F Network Switching Systems Operator-Maintainer <- big bucks in real world
44B Metal Worker
44E Machinist
62B Construction Equipment Repairer
67G Utility Airplane Repairer
67N Utility Helicopter Repairer
77W Water Treatment Specialist
77L Petroleum Laboratory Specialist
91C Practical Nurse (USAR) <- for people like yoosef or formula_diva

[tenchu]

The ARMY is VERY DESPRATE for people right now!!! When you go look at enlistment bonus's too! There are some low density mos's that they are signing huge bonus's! Not sure what they are but they will probably offer them to you. They will not skip to the next person they need people, especially if you get a good GT score!!!

I really think 11B is a bad idea!! There are alot of jobs that relate to real world!

63B Wheeled Vehicle Repairer
52C Airconditioner Mechanic
52D Generator Mechanic
31F Network Switching Systems Operator-Maintainer <- big bucks in real world
44B Metal Worker
44E Machinist
62B Construction Equipment Repairer
67G Utility Airplane Repairer
67N Utility Helicopter Repairer
77W Water Treatment Specialist
77L Petroleum Laboratory Specialist
91C Practical Nurse (USAR) <- for people like yoosef or formula_diva

Cool, thanks FireRick. And 96s10, the only reason I chose infantry, was because of the active-war bonus pay. I originally wanted to choose wheeled vehicle repair, or some sort of light vehicle mechanics, but they wouldn't allow me to because my licence is suspended. Since you really seem to know whats up, what would be my best bet for something computer related to help me with my plans to go into the computer field after army/school? :thumbsup

[GTSLOW]

Cool, thanks FireRick. And 96s10, the only reason I chose infantry, was because of the active-war bonus pay. I originally wanted to choose wheeled vehicle repair, or some sort of light vehicle mechanics, but they wouldn't allow me to because my licence is suspended. Since you really seem to know whats up, what would be my best bet for something computer related to help me with my plans to go into the computer field after army/school? :thumbsup


Well there's a few jobs for computers. I know when I went they had videos and a list of the things you do in the job. I'm not sure if the recruiter has this but ask him!!

[tenchu]

Well there's a few jobs for computers. I know when I went they had videos and a list of the things you do in the job. I'm not sure if the recruiter has this but ask him!!

Okay, I will ask her :P

Thanks!

[tenchu]

Just an update, got a 54 on my ASVAB, she told me thats real good, was she lieing?

[T-Bag]

I wouldn't say it's REAL good, but it's not bad by any means either. That's aroudn the range I see most people scoring on it, even those who read the many books out there on taking the test... :rolf

[penji04]

My girlfriends Father has been in the Active Duty Army since he was 18. The Army can give you alot of choices in life. But his only concern is, if you go to a recruiter, they may not tell you the whole truth, so make sure you know what you want and clear up any questions before you sign. Keep in mind Active Duty usually gets moved around every 2-4 years.

[Teufelhunden]

Whats your GT score?