what is it really like to be in the military?? (Marine, uniform)

[Poncho_NM]

Originally Posted by joey2000

You were going in that direction, at least, by implying that 2 yrs in the military would mature him more than 2 yrs getting a disagree. I'm just pointing out that it isn't necessarily so.

My original reply was to Stripes17 and it was

Do you really think that the two years in getting an AS degree will make him more mature than going in the military for two years.

What I found with many young people, they want to wait for some reason or another, to join.

Joining the military will help them figure out their goals.

Just my opinion (22+ years active duty)




Rich

That was my opinion, that's all, I'm not arguing or discussing the issue unless Stripes17 asks me some questions.


Rich

[caution]

Here's my take on it.

The US Military exists to close with and destroy the enemy.

Every thing we do, even the support stuff and the humanitarian stuff is focused on that general goal. If there comes a time when there is no "enemy" then you simply make sure your gear is ready and go practice closing with and destroying the enemy.

Some would say
"I'm a cook. I don't do that."
Yup, you feed people so they can go fight.

"I'm a Navy mechanic. I don't do that."
Yeah, you fix the ship so it can either fight or support the fight.

"I'm a journalist, I work at AFN."
OK, so you remind people about what they're doing and keep their morale up so they can fight.

"I'm in the USAF, we bomb from afar."
Yeah, but it's air support so the dudes who get close can get closer.

"I'm an engineer, we build things."
So we can use them to get to the fight. Or if you build a school, it's so we won't have to fight the ones who got an education.

Etc. Etc. Etc.

If a person can accept the basic idea, the rest is gravy, IHMO. As far as "what's it really like to be in the military?" there's no one answer. You do what you're told and help those around you. That's about it. When you get along and get leadership (or command) responsibilities, you still have a boss and you treat people the way you would want to be treated. It ain't rocket science -- those guys work for NASA or a DOD contractor :P

[lj111]

Originally Posted by airbucket

I know people who's husbands are in the military and I have read a lot about it on the net, but it still seems mysterious. My husband is 35 and still thinks about enlisting, having a college degree I am told he can enter in an advanced way (?), but what I dont ever hear about is his chances of dying. I also dont understand, do you enter the military and after boot camp start training in some field? Or do you go out to the battefield first? Or neither? Many people make the military sound like a career, and if so, then who does the actual fighting? I have heard that you must relocate every few years. I have learned bit and pieces about being in the military, but dont understand all the many options there seem to exist. Thanks for info or pointing me to a reliable source of simple info!

the old sayin that "the military is not for everyone" still stands today.

there are many people who think they can make it, only to realize it's not for them. i'm not saying it's the case with your husband, but getting basic information from a recruiter would be beneficial.

granted, like many others have said, don't live by what the recruiter says. they recruiters for a reason.

experiences in the military tend to vary on the individual, but i've noticed that many people enjoy their experiences in the army, navy, and marines. the air force (to me at least) offers differing opinions. i was in the air force and my brother was in the navy... my experience was bittersweet. it wasn't terrible, but it wasn't the greatest either. the thing i felt was missing when i was in the air force was a sense of family and a place to belong. i didn't feel i got that in the air force. it felt like a group of individuals and not a group of people. on the other hand, my brother kept raving that his superiors would do so much for him and make sure he was taken care of... making sure he was a part of the family.

they might more strict on who they let in the military, but i think if your husband is qualified, then he should still try. depending on what he is studying or studied, he might get a job in that field. this is especially true if it's highly specialized.

as far as training and fighting is concerned, it really depends on what he received as his job. same thing with relocation. it's dependent on the individual.

you can just him talk to a recruiter, talk to friends and family who have been or are still in the military, and discuss the pros and cons together.

good luck.

[jbub22]

OP, please read this post carefully.

Let me state beforehand I love the military, I loved supporting my country and I love the respect civilians give us. Matter of fact, I smile ear to ear, when someone says "Thanks for serving."

Here is my experience. The military is designed for single people. When I was single, young and dumb everything was great. But my opinion changed when I got married and started having children.

A strong married life is the most accurate statement. The divorce rate is very very high because for one reason the spouse is alone alot (there are other reasons). The military tries really hard but its an uphill battle for them.

The initial poster, I think the potential dependent wife? Your husband does not need inquire? You need to ask yourself, are you prepared to handle kids alone 24/7 while the spouse is deployed. Again, while single the military was cookies and cream. My wife tried her best but she hated every minute of it. That's why I feel the challenge is on you not him. I would love to see a survey of military spouses. One more point, I worked law enforcement, so I saw the damage military life can cause. Now that I have retired my wife and kids are a complete 180.

YOU, need to think about it!!!!

[DesertEagle62]

Originally Posted by LinaJo76

Unlike the civilian world, you have to stay in great physical fitness. There isn't any sitting behind a desk all day long thing in the military (like you have out here). There's a lot of physical fitness too (lots of running, pushups, situps, chinups, etc.). And lots of walking too. Not like you got in the civilian world, where fitness isn't too important in most jobs.

The military (Air Force is my perspective) is for the young and skinny. 35 is old to begin this journey.

[goodmanm]

Originally Posted by joey2000

- "free" education (although it sounds like he may not want or need in this case)

- free med and dental care for you and family while in and after retirement (although in retirement it's dicier)

Most education comes with a service committment, therefore it's not free.

Free medical for you and your dependants, yes. Dental, only for you. No free medical care for retirees.

Originally Posted by joey2000

The most obvious minuses:

- frankly the enlisted corps are often not exactly the cream of the crop people-wise (and this is from a career enlisted guy)

- quality of medical care (again generally speaking). I would NEVER have any operation or anything serious attended to by miilitary med in most cases but pay whatever I had to elsewhere.

I served over half my enlisted career in a joint environment and can honestly say just about everyone I worked with was top notch.

My daughter has a rare vascular disease and the treatment she received at the military hospital was exceptional. So ymmv.

[forest beekeeper]

Originally Posted by goodmanm

Most education comes with a service committment, therefore it's not free.

My 'A' school and first 'C' school had service commitments.

However I later attended dozens of 'C' schools which had no commitments. They were on-going training to further the mission and build onto my abilities.

... Free medical for you and your dependants, yes. Dental, only for you. No free medical care for retirees.

When I was on AD my dependents were covered by 'Delta Dental' a cheap insurance policy [$4/month] and they got dental care. It included braces for our children. There were limits and constraints to their dental care. Like no permanent fillings only temps.

I am a retiree, and I can get free medical care at any MilMed [if they have availability]. If they are fully booked, I can sit in the waiting room and when a cancellation happens I get seen. If the MilMed is not fully booked, I can walk in and be seen in order of when I walked in. Just like anyone else.

Also if they are not fully booked, I can get an appointment.

The same goes now for my Dw and children.

Otherwise I am covered by Tricare Standard, which is free. Many doctor's offices accept Tricare Standard.

Or I can enroll in Tricare Prime, and pay enrollment fees, and pay co-pays, and I can get a PCP.

Or some areas have a regional civilian health insurance company that Tricare underwrites.

[lisdol]

Dental is $30/mo now. What in the world are temp fillings? How long do they last? Amalgam fillings are covered now. United Concordia is currently the provider for dependents.

[Stripes17]

Just to clarify my earlier post. My DS has just finished his first semester of local college.

Prior to this he had trouble in high school. No, it wasn't behavioral issues or anything like that. (In fact, that's the one thing the teachers consistantly reported to us. We'd hear: "he's a pleasure to have in class" and "if he'd only turn in his work, etc., he'd be a great student".) He was just more interested in video games, skating, and playing paintball more than sitting in a brick and mortar school all day.

Resulting from long discussions and capitulation, we allowed him to finish his last two years of high school via a PC based home school arrangement and he even had a part-time job while he did this.

Now he's going to the local brick & mortar college full-time and he's still holding the part-time job. Although he's not sure about what his future holds, he seems to enjoy his current situation and for that reason, we hope to see him stick with it to finish his AS degree.

So, yes we've seen the maturity level rise in the past year or so. I think if he waits to join the service until after his AS, then he'll be that much more mature and ready to excel in executing his choice.

That was the sentiment of the earlier post. But, I do appreciate the feedback and insight.

[Poncho_NM]

Originally Posted by Stripes17

Just to clarify my earlier post. My DS has just finished his first semester of local college.

That's good. Good luck to him, it sounds like he has some good guidance to help him out.


Rich