what is it really like to be in the military?? (reserve, credit)

[joey2000]

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.

LOL

Never been around Air Force much I see. Plenty of "chairborne rangers" still around.

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

Moot point since he can't join at that age anyway.

[forest beekeeper]

On subs we have many who are not body builders, or even physically fit. In fact body builders are kind of frowned upon.

I have served with a few men who enlisted at 34.

[joey2000]

yeah I've seen a lot of flabby sailors too Really the Army and Marines are far better about being in shape than the other 2 services.

[bs13690]

I was in boot camp with a guy who was over 30, can't remember his exact age. In a lot of case you can get a waiver.

The main piece of advice I can give is to think long and hard about if he really wants to join up. He will not only be making a big choice for himself but for you as well. You can be moved anywhere at any time. If he joins the USMC, he could very easily wind up fighting regardless of what his "job" is. Every Marine is considered a basic rifleman.

Frankly, I would advise against joining if all he is looking for is a career. He will probably be taking a huge pay cut starting out from Ground Zero in whatever branch he joins. Yeah, you can retire after 20 with 50% of your pay but is that really worth it?

[LogicWings]

Entering the military services at the age of 35...not so good if your squad leader is a 20 year old E-5 ..or your work supervisor is 22...I am speaking with 26 years active service in the Army..retired enjoying life in the Philippines....Armor and 71L.

[dee 42]

Originally Posted by 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!!!!

I loved being the wife of an active duty soldier for more than 20 years. The support and cameraderie was amazing. Yes, I had to be very strong and independent, and flexible....it wasnt easy being the only parent sometimes. I think the fact that I put myself out there and was very involved everytime we PCS'd to a new base, and that the boys also did the same, helped enormously. We always had good people, good friends, around us. The life is what you make of it, and for us it was a very good life. My husband retired 2 years ago and has a dream job, but there are times when I miss the good old days of active duty, I really do.

[forest beekeeper]

Originally Posted by bs13690

... Frankly, I would advise against joining if all he is looking for is a career. He will probably be taking a huge pay cut starting out from Ground Zero in whatever branch he joins. Yeah, you can retire after 20 with 50% of your pay but is that really worth it?

2 things:
First the pay may be low, however free medical, free dental, free CLEPS, free housing, and space-A travel are nice bennies.

Secondly retirement pay is 50% of base-pay after 20 years. Base-pay is not your paycheck. Base-pay was commonly between a 25% to 40% of my monthly pay. A first-term enlistee might only be getting base-pay, or if he had no extra qualifications or duties. But any career servicemember should be doing a more important job, and getting all of the extra pays and allowances that come with it. It also varies by which branch you serve in, there are a wide array of pays and allowances that kick-in for career servicemembers.

Something else to keep in mind is the effect of not paying taxes. Many of us do not. During my AD career, 18 years of my career I was not paying income taxes. Compared to anyone who does pay income taxes [and sees a large chunk taken from each paycheck] it does make a huge difference.

In short there are many other benefits from service than simply base-pay.

[bs13690]

Originally Posted by forest beekeeper

2 things:
First the pay may be low, however free medical, free dental, free CLEPS, free housing, and space-A travel are nice bennies.

Secondly retirement pay is 50% of base-pay after 20 years. Base-pay is not your paycheck. Base-pay was commonly between a 25% to 40% of my monthly pay. A first-term enlistee might only be getting base-pay, or if he had no extra qualifications or duties. But any career servicemember should be doing a more important job, and getting all of the extra pays and allowances that come with it. It also varies by which branch you serve in, there are a wide array of pays and allowances that kick-in for career servicemembers.

Something else to keep in mind is the effect of not paying taxes. Many of us do not. During my AD career, 18 years of my career I was not paying income taxes. Compared to anyone who does pay income taxes [and sees a large chunk taken from each paycheck] it does make a huge difference.

In short there are many other benefits from service than simply base-pay.

Ya, not paying taxes would make a big difference. All I can speak is from my own experience which was when I joined I was making very little money. Your points have been made to me many times about other benefits that are not strictly monetary but I never agreed with them and still don't.

I just wanted to make the OP aware to look at these things before making such a huge decision.

[forest beekeeper]

Originally Posted by bs13690;

Ya, not paying taxes would make a big difference. All I can speak is from my own experience which was when I joined I was making very little money. Your points have been made to me many times about other benefits that are not strictly monetary but I never agreed with them and still don't.

I just wanted to make the OP aware to look at these things before making such a huge decision.

I understand.

You are entirely correct.

There are a lot of low ranked servicemembers who are stuck spending years in uniform getting low pay, who basically get shafted. They get out entirely hating the military.

I have seen, and felt bad for guys who were promised a good rate, but then later flunked out of their schooling, and were sent to the fleet as seamen. Or guys who signed up with no promised training at all. With no rate, no training, they often spent the next 4 years chipping paint, cranking on the messdecks, or over the side in a boatswain's chair painting the hull. Life in the 'seaman gang' is not good.

There are many folks who do get the 'shaft' of the military.

At my last duty station, most of the young men who worked for me were 'buds' drops. They signed up on the image of being a Navy seal. These were guys who at one time had very high hopes, high IQ scores, in good health and great fitness levels. But during buds they broke a leg, or an arm, or tore a tendon, and had to drop the program. Everyone of them dropped due to physical ailments brought on by the curriculum of the buds program. Still being under contract they are sent to any position where the Navy needs bodies. Broken men with attitudes, who had never violated any law, none of them were 'bad', but they each felt the system had shafted them. I felt bad for them, though I was in a position where I had to fill a watchbill, and get various jobs done each day.

On the other hand, I was bringing in between $60k - $70k each year as an E6. My SRB [Re-Enlistment bonus] was usually at $65k every 4 years. And when I retired in 2001 they raised the SRB cap to $90k every 4 years.

If a sailor can stay within the 'zone' in a high demand field, he can earn a fairly good wage.

And as you point out there are others who were bent over and abused.

[Poncho_NM]

Basically military personnel pay Federal income tax on their Basic Pay, they may pay State Income Tax. They receive different types of pay and allowances. Some are included in gross income while others are excluded from gross income. Duty in a combat zone is normally excluded from taxes. Service members also pay Social Security.


Rich