Army, National Guard, Marines?

[ERASERHEAD]

Guys,


Serious Questions here:

I wanna go into the military, and/or wanna go to community college. I wanna go into the military and deal with vehicle operation (tracked). I wanna go into community college and deal with photography or film production.

Now, i feel like, if i got to community college, im going to miss out on one hell of an experience that i'd love to get into. I feel like i'd be bored and that i would be upset. I also think that i would have a good social life and get tons of girls, muaahah. And, as for the army/guard/marines, i feel like i'd get tons of adventure, action and a great time with things im interested in, and no time with chicks and no social life, missing out on stuff with my friends. As you can see im really debating this, im like, 50% military 50% college. Every day.


Tell me, what did you do? how was it? what can you tell me about what im going through, i know its common! Please!


thanks!

[DnA]

I'd recommend joining the reserve or national gaurd an get your education(something to fall back on, etc). After a few years in the reserve or guard an you feel like you want to do the military thing 24/7 transfer to active duty.

Also, what do you want to do in the military, vehicle operation is pretty vague, do you want to be a crewman? a mechanic? etc.

[Omaha]

"..going to miss out on one hell of an experience.."

The military will always be there. And there are always wars to be fought.

[Pook2]

Community College is nothing like a normal college. Your social life will not be substantially enhanced at a community college because people go to classes and then go home. There's no dorm life or anything like that to help make friends.

[ERASERHEAD]

Community College is nothing like a normal college. Your social life will not be substantially enhanced at a community college because people go to classes and then go home. There's no dorm life or anything like that to help make friends.


well i dont really want a new or better social life i just wanna maintain what i got and keep it going, feels like if i go in the service i'll drop the ball and will come back and not be able to pick it up!

[jtv3062]

go usmc active duty. theres a program that lets you go to collage while on active duty. the military will change your life and its somthing that you can say you belong to. remember as long as it's the usmc.

[Major Maxillary]

National guard.

better pay, better hours.

[Apogee]

If you join up, you can always go to college later, on Uncle Sam's Dime too. Or even transfer to one of the service academies (not that I'm partial).

[ERASERHEAD]

so guys, dont just support your branch, tell me your experience, and what it did to your life.

[jizzmonkey]

go usmc active duty. theres a program that lets you go to collage while on active duty. the military will change your life and its somthing that you can say you belong to. remember as long as it's the usmc.


dont buy into that ****....I'm assuming your talking about the Marine corp's version of e-armyu, and its not what its cut out to be.

[jizzmonkey]

National guard.

better pay, better hours.

ooooookkkay

[Beppo]

My experience as a single Active Duty Army soldier is that except for field exercises or deployment, pretty much it's a 9-5 job, with the occasional early day off, occasional late evenings (plus PT in the mornings 6:30-7:30) and weekends off unless you have duty. Believe me, there's PLENTY of time for a social life and activities. Of course I'm in "Combat Service Support" (In the rear with the gear) so I can't speak for the combat arms guys, but even SF has time to go to strip bars.

[Creeper]

"..going to miss out on one hell of an experience.."

The military will always be there. And there are always wars to be fought.
Ain't that the truth.
"War has been around before Man."

[jedisponge]

go usmc active duty. theres a program that lets you go to collage while on active duty. the military will change your life and its somthing that you can say you belong to. remember as long as it's the usmc.
That sounds like something a recruiter would say.

Just because people tell you enlist to active duty and then they'll send you to college doesn't mean it's going to happen. No where do they say when you go to college, or for how long. Just "after you enlist". That can be from the time you join up to the last day of your contract, so remember that.

[Laconian]

If you want to go to community college first go ahead. As was said earlier, the military isn't going anywhere, the GWOT isn't going to dry up in the 2 yrs it takes to get an Associates Degree.

Once that is under your belt, you can check out the services and see which one has the most to offer you and provide you with what you are looking for out of the service. If you want to be a treadhead (I'm not sure if you want mech inf, armor or mechanic) I'd recommend the army as they have the biggest mech/armor units in the US Forces.

If you go Guard be careful. I know personally of one close friend and several more folks tangentially, that were wounded (my buddy seriously) and then subsequently screwed over by the med boards in reference to their disability. I have not heard of this happening to Active duty folks, just Guardsmen.

Good luck in your decision.

[Thor]

If you're just 18, join any force and serve 3 years and go to college/university after that.

[askDNA]

go usmc active duty. theres a program that lets you go to collage while on active duty. the military will change your life and its somthing that you can say you belong to. remember as long as it's the usmc.

I think you are talking about the MECEP (Marine Corps Enlisted Commissioning Education Program). The program selects very well qualified enlisted Marines to go to college and get a commission. You get active duty pay and you don't drill like a reservist. I'm sure you have to be a Non-Commissioned Officer (Corporal and above) just to be looked at. At my college there are a couple in my classes, and all of them are Sergeants and Staff Sergeants. The program is very competitive and you can't get it guaranteed in your enlistment contract.

If I were you, I'd go active duty for 4 years, and then go to a 4-year university with the GI Bill and be a reservist too.