Posted on 06/16/2010 11:34:05 AM PDT by keats5
My 20 year old son has informed us that he intends to enlist in either the Army or Marines, after his first year of college. He did alright in college, but he is not set on any particular civilian job. What he really wants to do is something in the military, and he wants to do that full time without waiting to complete another three years of college.
He was majoring in exercise science with a mild interest in physical therapy down the line, but he's not enthralled with those majors. He would seriously consider being a lifer in the military. He has also expressed interest in Police, FBI, CIA type work.
He is in amazing shape, as he is a gym rat who gets up at 5 AM every morning to work out 2-3 hours before work/ school. (By the way, he did not get this drive from his parents.) He is above average intelligence, fine at math, science and well written. He has talked to an Army recruiter and was told he would have to decide on a job before he began training. So far, he is interested in the pathway to an Army Ranger. He still needs to talk to a Marine recruiter.
Do any of your FReepers have some wisdom to share? He would like to eventually get his degree, ideally while in the military. If he serves his four years, could he gain some college credit in the military? If he switched into the reserves while he got his degree, would that affect his pension? Which civilian jobs could he aim for from a Ranger background?
Anything you could share would be most appreciated. Thanks.
“I mean we have not gone anywhere because of Obama. “
I agree in some ways, but I’m afraid to see what our enemies will do to us within the next year since this man is a coward and is bowing to and coddle our known enemies. I would not want a love one of mine to have to be forced to clean up a mess that this traitor and illegal alien will get us into in the next 2½ years of his outrageous behavior!
My eldest son was a corp man in the Navy until recently. He worked with the Marines and said they treated him like gold. BUT...he also got to visit some places that he never wants to even think about again.
If he is capable of being an officer, I would recommend ROTC.
Speaking for an Army track, being an officer is a better entry in to the Rangers, and even Special Forces and SOCOM. Being enlisted you pretty much are sent to the “needs of the Army”, but officers get to punch their own ticket. They also have better career rotations.
Despite athleticism, some people are just happier at the troop level and others are natural born staff types. Being an officer lets you choose. And yes, the perks are a LOT better than for enlisted personnel.
Once he picks a service, his next huge choice will be branch selection. This is harder than choosing a college major, and needs to be deeply researched.
“Your brother-in-law is mistaken.”
What an Asinine statement.
You Don’t know what his experience was during his job search when he separated from the service.
This was in the Eighties and No he could not find anything for almost Two years. He had Four children with another on the way.
Ended up he became a Policeman.
So much for Good Jobs after the Airforce.
Coast Guard.
Semper Fi.
We are proud of him to, and thankful to you for supporting him so much.
Unless Admiral Olsen made a change in the past few days, the SEALs are still part of the Navy.
Not until the marxist is out of office.
What? Crazy and untrue.
The Navy and the Air Force have some of the best technical schools and training in the military. When they get out, they may not work with guided missiles, but they’ll have training on just about everything else electronic.
U.S. Marine “Corpse” - -
As a retired Navy man, I concur with your reasoning.
You could add a couple of other items:
1. The suicidal Rules of Engagement that our troops in the war zone have to live with(or die because of).
2. Having a Commander in Chief who doesn't like or understand the military will inevitably lead him to make disastrous decisions (i.e. Clinton in Somalia).
The flip side is that the 9/11 GI bill is really nice. 36 months of tuition, fees, and books, plus E-5 with w/dependent BAH. The tuition limit is for the highest in state for your state of residence, but there are ways to get around that if you want to go somewhere else.
I took it in High School, our entire class was required to take it. I was on the mailing list of all the armed forces, except Marines, for MONTHS afterwards. I must have done well, apparently and I didn't do any special studying for it.
I just meant for the training for someone looking at which service. Better training and certifications for piloting, languages, etc., more pay. More opportunities once you leave service. That’s all.
Do you remember the Eighties or were you even born yet.
People were out of Work.
Most Industries took major reductions.
Good Training Doesn’t do you any good if the Jobs are not there.
I was a serving officer in the US Army during the 1980s.
So, yes, I both remember them and was even born then.
Not having the jobs is completely different from not having good training.
Try to think it through next time.
“Not to nitpick, but there are no “former Marines”
To nitpick there are no “Ex-Marines” (Murtha and his ilk excepted)
All Marine veterans refer to themselves as “Former Marines”
So you’re going to go on an anecdotal story from one bitter guy, vs all the statistics that say otherwise?
My own father’s story is quite the opposite from your brother-in-law’s.
But that, too, is just as anecdotal. Though I am quite sure had he been career army instead, he would have never gotten to where he did in the private sector after he retired from the service.
Make sure he does not have a tattoo of the Stars and Bars or the Marines won’t have him.
Air Force because they let Hooters waitresses join, honestly.
Seriously though, it seems to me that when the men I’ve known have gotten out of the Marines, they seemed to be much more respectful and just all around better people than when they went in.
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