Never Been More Nervous Than I Am Now...

How many casualties has the Navy sustained in Iraq?

F_B is right. The Army and Marines are trained to eat bullets.

They pave the way for the Navy and Air Force.

 

I wonder about those Army commercials and the conversation between son and Dad where Dad seems rather casual, as if he's going to buy a new Camaro or something. I know it's a 30-second spot, but how about a little more seriousness of chat?

 

Those bother the hell out of me.
Those, and the ones where it looks like the kid is being recruited to play football somewhere.

 

It's Macho Grande, BYH.

And Kevin, make sure you go into this with full command of your options and your senses. I like the Air Force Reserve idea better, if you can swing it.

When I was in high school, I took the ASVAB test on a lark. Apparently, I scored in the ionosphere, because I had recruiters calling me for four years. Every time I was home from college, there would be messages from this recruiter or that. I hit for the armed services cycle: Army, Navy, Air Force and especially, the Marines.

My WW II-veteran dad -- who knew my questioning personality was antithetical to the military mindset -- would laugh every time he took a call.

That said, Kevin, you have my undying respect -- and I'm sure the respect of everyone on this board -- for taking this step, should you do so.

 

Fenian: true story. This kid who wasn't the brighest light on the block went to talk to the Army. He had good HS football talent but his grades sucked and at best he was a small school prospect. He told the recruiter, "I'd still like to play football somewhere. How about playing football for Army?" He said the recruiter told him, "you'll have plenty of time to play football in the Army. Just sign and we'll get you going."

 

Actually, the Navy and Air Force pave the way for the grunts. They soften up the enemy's defenses to hopefully make the ground attack more effective.

You'll never see the Army or Marines mount a ground assault without sending in the air support first (unless it's a covert op).

Kevin,
You should really PM Three_Bags_Full. I was seriously considering joining the Navy or Army to become a pilot at the beginning of January (then I got a job in Hawaii, which changed my mind) and TBF was tremendously helpful with all the questions I had.

He gave me lots of advice and cut through a lot of the bullshit a recruiter might tell you. After a lot of research and his help, I felt I would be able to make an informed decision. I accepted the new gig instead, but if it doesn't work out, I'll still have a good amount of knowlege to decide if I want to join the service.

Good luck with your decision.

 

Do the National Guard and/or Coast Guard offer some of the same incentives as the Army/Navy/Air Force/Marines?

 

I have a friend who spent four years in the Army. She's made it her life's purpose to talk people out of joining these days. She was never in harm's way, but the lack of freedom and boredom really had an adverse effect on her she admits.

She now is about as free of spirit as you can imagine. Hell, I don't even think she has or wants a job.

 

When you sign up, please understand that you will be prepared for one job and one job only: to go in harm's way.

Please understand what that entails.

 

I felt like I was being seduced when I met with a recruiter in the early '90s. He used everything but the love filter. These people talk fast, work fast and they want you to act swiftly. I would not at all discourage a military life but I would ask you to consider the circumstances at present.

 

I did pretty well on the ASVAB and had one recruiter in particular, the Army's Sgt. Fonseca (will never forget that name), who was hyperpersistent. He called, and called, and call. The best, though, was when he called my folks house while I was in the Navy's Officer Candidate School. My mom told him, and he said, in all seriousness, "Have him call me when he gets back."

Oh, and on the question at hand, do not assume you're going to join any branch of the service and not see action. It drives me nuts when I see interviews with folks who say, "But I just joined the Reserves/National Guard/etc." In wartime and in peacetime, the military does dangerous stuff and it's primary purpose is to go to war. Don't be shocked that you wind up in one.

 

Every male in my family has served in the military, and I'm proud to be able to say that. Nonetheless, I'll say this: I spent eight years in the national guard and except for an expenses-paid trip to Germany, I hated just about every minute of it. There's a risk/reward thing going on with the benefits. You want to really get a big bonus, sign on to be an Army transportation specialist. Just do so with your eyes open going in. Join the Air reserves and you're likely to get fewer benefits, but the educational bennies are still pretty good, and being a less likely target certainly lands on the pro side of the ledger. Before you sign a contract, don't lock yourself into one branch. The skills you get from the Air Force and Navy will likely land you in higher tax brackets on the the other end. If money is your motivation, that's no small thing to consider.