about to go into military

[BlackDragon]

I've been friends with this girl since last year and I think Im falling for her. Its been only recently since I seen her again and been hanging out. Im not even trying to start a relationship with anyone, but Im starting to like this girl. Maybe I should stop seeing her, what do you guys think? Im leaving in a few months.

 

[Julian]

i was going to tell you to not go into the military. too late i guess.

 

[manuva]

Why would you tell him that? What are your personal experiences of the military and why wouldn't they suit him?

 

[bullmoose]

You will be a completely different person by the time you get out of boot / basic. You will have discovered things about yourself that you didn't know; some good, some bad. You will have an entirely new set of problems to face, and a group of friends whom you will have bonded with like no one you now know. And you will have direction in your life; something that most people at your age (hell, most people MY age!) don't have.

Point being, the chances are excellent that you may outgrow her, or she may not be interested in The New You. My advice is to keep seeing her until you have to go, and when you get back, schedule an "interview date" and start again.

What branch are you going into?

~ BullMoose

 

[bullmoose]

Julian, the military can be the best damn thing that happens to a person. Keep it to yourself until you know the cat's background.

Case in point: when I went into the Marines, I was a pool-hall screwup, a dropout (GED) mullet-rocker whose prized possessions were a rusted-out Chevelle and a juvie record a mile long. I went home after Boot and found that I had nothing in common with any of my friends. There were a lot of awkward silences when we were hanging out and I hated every part of it.

Fast forward ten years. Of my three amigos, one of them is dead, one's been in and out of jail, and one's living in a trailer married to a 200-lb. woman he hates and punching out sawblades eight hours a day for his dad. I hated not being "one of the guys" when I got back after Boot. Now, I am SO F---ING GLAD I'm not one of them.

Hands down, the Corps was the best thing that happened to me. It paid for college, (and college was a breeze after the Marines!) and it taught me discipline, strength, confidence, and accountability -- all of which are DJ characteristics.

 

[Julian]

I just dont want the kid to die thats all.

My dad served for 16 years, i was an army brat.

The worst thing i could do to my dad is join the military.

Thats just my perspective.

I have about 5 friends who are in the military right now.

2 are marines, 1 is navy, and the others are army. A couple are in iraq right now and im sure the others are going to be shipped off soon.

Plus they brainwash you.

to each his own i mean no disrespect.

 

[spider_007]

lucky bastard, i wish i could go. My family would have an "intervention". I'm puirty sure they would lock me in the baismant

 

[gray_fox_9]

BlackDragon, Listen to the guys who said the military will change you. They are exactly right. I didn't change all that much but I knew a few guys who got married before they went in. Big mistake, I would see how a girl acts while you aren't around. Will she be faithful to you even though you are gone for 6 months or so? If she doesn't stay faithful then drop her like she is hot. Oh yeah and Hoorah Air Force...... Good luck!

 

[bullmoose]

Originally posted by Julian
I just dont want the kid to die thats all.

The odds of dying are very slim. Seriously. To be fair, the current enemy's predilection toward assymetric warfare puts every MOS at equal risk. But even with that, there's a far better chance of being maimed, crippled, or horribly disfigured than actually dying.



My dad served for 16 years, i was an army brat. The worst thing i could do to my dad is join the military.

Thats just my perspective.


Point taken. We all have different experiences with it. 16 years is a long time.


Plus they brainwash you.

Which brings up another point for BlackDragon: SEEK COUNSELING WHEN YOU ARE DISCHARGED. IMMEDIATELY. It will help you re-adjust. You will go crazy (literally) if you expect from civilians what you will come to expect from military. And vice-versa.


to each his own i mean no disrespect.

None taken. I don't want to be a recruiting poster, here; and I hope I don't come off that way. Some people need what the military can offer. Some don't.

 

[Sh0t]

I enjoyed my time in but I wouldn't recommend it to anybody

 

[Alpine]

I see th US has been having recruitment issues recently. Apparently if it carries on like this they will have to tone down involvement in Iraq a plans for Iran will have to be postponed, oops, not supposed to talk about that.


Just out of interest at any one time how many US marines are there, it seems a very big corp?

 

[spider_007]

it's funny, you can go to the army and get killed, but you can't leagally drink. funny haw the law is.

 

[bullmoose]

The Marines are the smallest and the most selective -- hardest boot camp, toughest selection process -- of the U.S. military forces. (Coast Guard might be smaller, but they're technically Dept. of Transportation, not Dept. of Defense.) I read somewhere that the number of Marines at this time is around 80,000. I'm sure you could look up the exact number. You hear about Marines more, though; we're a proud bunch of @ssholes.

EDIT: Your Royal Marines are a rough and ready bunch of muthafvckahs, BTW. Damn.

 

[Sh0t]

veteran US Marine here.

The Marine Corps has about 150,000 active duty Marines and about half that in reserves. It is quite a small organization compared to the Army and Navy. For example, the Army has 4-5 corps, while we are one Corps.

 

[Alpine]

That's a lot of folks. I know they have tough training. I knew a few guys who were protecting what was under St Morgan airfield here in the UK when I was there.

My beef was always 80,000 is too many guys to be a elite as such, it's all about, the cream of the cream. Do they have like special troops that are seen as small elite groups other than SEAL?

Like we have things like, Pathfinder, Mountain warfare troop and the Legion have Reps etc.

Have you ever been in the thick of it? I hate to have to agree with some of the comments, if it's eyeball to eyeball stuff not like artillery or something (although coming across dead children is even worse) it will fvck you up, some not too bad, others are fvcked for good.

 

[Good_ol_boy]

Originally posted by Alpine
I see th US has been having recruitment issues recently. Apparently if it carries on like this they will have to tone down involvement in Iraq a plans for Iran will have to be postponed, oops, not supposed to talk about that.

Nope, there is something called the "Draft". Last used during Veit Nam (that's how they got me)!!

 

[BlackDragon]

Im going into the Air Force. I hope it dosn't change me to much. Im a straight-lace guy that goes to church regularly. Im not motivated to finished college and thought the military would be great for me right now. I think it would be best to keep the relationship as friends.

 

[Alpine]

The draft won't work today, people will tell 'em to fvck off cos they've seen Full metal jacket. Did you know that actor was indeed a Marine training intsructor for real?

Even the average grunt today can't be replaced quickly enough, more stuff needs higher skills/training.

The airforce is a smart move, your skills may well be useful in civvie street, not much work for ex-Squaddies, , unless you like Africa

 

[Visceral]

Joining the military in the middle of a war is a terrible idea.

But if you feel like dying for some neoconservative jerkoff's imperialist agenda, for Big Oil's plans for the Middle East, or for W's attempt to impress his father, then I can't stop you.

 

[Alpine]

er SBS mate.