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Location: Huntersville/Charlotte, NC and Washington, DC
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Quote:
Originally Posted by ajealove
I am a 18-year-old female looking to join the military. I know a lot about each branch but I'm not sure which one to join. I'm engaged to be married sometime in 2017 and I would like a good life for my fiancee and I.
I like working out and running and I want to travel the world and serve my country.
I also want to do 20 years or MORE in the military. Based on your knowledge and experience, which branch is the best for me? Thank you.
My mother is retired USAF and has worked in a civilian role for other branches of the military. She has said repeatedly there is no way she would have lasted 20 years as a woman in the Army (the one she has the most civilian experience with). As far as deployment risk, the Air Force typically has shorter deployment policies than the Army.
I am a 18-year-old female looking to join the military. I know a lot about each branch but I'm not sure which one to join. I'm engaged to be married sometime in 2017 and I would like a good life for my fiancee and I.
I like working out and running and I want to travel the world and serve my country.
I also want to do 20 years or MORE in the military. Based on your knowledge and experience, which branch is the best for me? Thank you.
Either get married or join the service as enlisted, but not both.
/\ You beat me to it. Marriage and military life rarely survive. Save your self a hell of a lot of heart ache and put off the marriage part until you are at least 25.
As for what branch I served in the Navy, but if I had to do it over again I think I would have gone in the coast guard.
Marriage and military life rarely survive? Not my experience--I knew very few people in my military career who were not married by their mid 20s.
But I was in the Air Force, and I know the Navy is more difficult in that regard.
However, for the OP--again, how does your fiance feel about this? Marriage can be rocky when the woman is military and the man is civilian, because it's hard for the civilian spouse to maintain most careers.
Some jobs are portable, most are not. My wife was a special-ed teacher--every place is short on special-ed teachers, so she was always able to quickly find a job, even overseas. Nursing is pretty portable. But even then, moving and starting over every few years keeps teachers and nurses from ever gaining seniority anywhere, so they're always sinking back to square one with every move.
If both of you are military, in the same service, and at least one in a ubiquitous field, you'd have a much better chance. But check out the Coast Guard, too--do Coasties move much, anyone?
I'd recommend Air Force as being more female-friendly and more marriage-friendly.
I served in the Air Force for 11 years and loved it. My father is retired Army and basically advised me to pick the Air Force. The career/lifestyle is more relaxed and less hectic than the Army or Navy. I was a Personnel Specialist and worked mostly monday-friday in an office cubicle. I rarely had to work outside in the rain or heat or even run in formation! I was also stationed at the same base (Hurlburt Field AFB, Fort Walton Beach FL) for the 11 years. Having grown up in Panama and Europe, I never requested an overseas assignment. So I bought a small townhome at age 23. The meals at the dining halls are great too. If you live on base in the dorms, its basically like a buffett. Just show your meal card. The worst thing with the Air Force I think are slow hard to get promotions and fewer bases to choose from. The Air Force is more punitive than other branches if you get into legal trouble like a DUI though.
The Air Force is more punitive than other branches if you get into legal trouble like a DUI though.
This may seem paradoxical to other branches, but it's true. The Air Force will boot you for infractions that other services will just jerk you around a bit.
First, figure out what your natural gifts and talents are. (helping? engineering? math? science?) You probably have something deep down inside (maybe from early childhood) that said "I want to be ___ when I grow up".
Second, check out which branches can facilitate your dreams. The Marines have no medical or religious, they depend on the Navy for those services. So don't join the Marines to be a doctor.
Third, look at the worldwide locations for bases. I'd do some in-depth studying of base facilities. Some branches have bigger budgets for bases than others HOWEVER many bases have become joint bases to save money. If you want to go to the Antarctica, there are limited fields/branches you could be in to do that. (I was a military instructor and had a female Navy get orders there - she walked around in a daze for a while)
If you do 20, you'll have plenty of time for a second career or you can use the career you've had to build on. I was in aviation maintenance for a while. Everyone said "get your A & P license!" Um, no. I hope to never turn a wrench again on an airplane. Wasn't really into it and wasn't that great at it. (some facets I was great at, not all) So, if you want to consider a job that translates to work on the outside (especially if something happens and you decide to get out) may I recommend NOT choosing ejection seat mechanic.
Marriage and military life rarely survive? Not my experience--I knew very few people in my military career who were not married by their mid 20s..........
That's not the same as a married 19 year old E-3 who joined up "wanting to see the world".
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