what is it really like to be in the military??

[marmac]

Originally Posted by 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.

When I got drafted at age 20 years,2 months, I sometimes feklt out of place with all the 18 year olds in my bootcamp.

Unless things have changed, I could not envision going thru boot camp at age 25+ ( and not because of the physical age and physical demands)

The difference between 18 and even 22 is only 4 years, but at that young age, 4 years is a huge difference , IMHO

[forest beekeeper]

I also read once that servicemembers pay into their SSA policy at an advanced rate. [5 quarters each year rather than 4 quarters]

Where normally you pay 4 'quarters' each year [the insurance policy's payments are done in 'quarter's, meaning a set percentage of your quarterly income goes into your insurance policy]. It takes 40 quarters total for your SSA policy to be mature so you have 'full' coverage.

US servicemembers pay 5 quarters each year.

So where a civilian would have a fully vested SSA policy after 10 years of work, a servicemember has a full policy after only 8 years.

The idea being that service in the military is high risk. So the statistics being that where a civilian will work from 18 to 65, for a 47 year career paying into his SSA policy. A servicemember will work fewer years until he becomes disabled.

Which is also why we have a 20-year pension, instead of waiting until we turn 65. Few of us would be capable of working until we turn 65, due to the accumulation of disabilities.

[bs13690]

Originally Posted by marmac

When I got drafted at age 20 years,2 months, I sometimes feklt out of place with all the 18 year olds in my bootcamp.

Unless things have changed, I could not envision going thru boot camp at age 25+ ( and not because of the physical age and physical demands)

The difference between 18 and even 22 is only 4 years, but at that young age, 4 years is a huge difference , IMHO

I went in when I was 20 and didn't have a problem with the young'uns in my platoon. There was a guy that I graduated with who was 26 and he didn't seem to have much of a problem either.

I guess it all depends on the personalities of the people involved. It probably makes a big difference that everyone is there voluntarily now, too. The ones who don't wash out after the first few weeks were probably more mature to begin with.

[lisdol]

Originally Posted by bs13690

I went in when I was 20 and didn't have a problem with the young'uns in my platoon. There was a guy that I graduated with who was 26 and he didn't seem to have much of a problem either.

I guess it all depends on the personalities of the people involved. It probably makes a big difference that everyone is there voluntarily now, too. The ones who don't wash out after the first few weeks were probably more mature to begin with.

I think it depends on the career field too.

My husband is an instructor at his tech school right now and when he went through it 10 yrs ago, most of the guys were about 20-22, most single, a few were married but they were usually the ones that cross-trained from another AFSC or from another service. Now he tells me most of the guys are married and a little older.

[LinaJo76]

Originally Posted by DesertEagle62

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

I know that. I was 19 when I went in. Thank God!! I was 120 lbs. and very athletic then (more then than I am now). And I was more flexible too. It's easier when you are younger than 25 to go in.

[ElkHunter]

Originally Posted by forest beekeeper

I also read once that servicemembers pay into their SSA policy at an advanced rate. [5 quarters each year rather than 4 quarters]

Where normally you pay 4 'quarters' each year [the insurance policy's payments are done in 'quarter's, meaning a set percentage of your quarterly income goes into your insurance policy]. It takes 40 quarters total for your SSA policy to be mature so you have 'full' coverage.

US servicemembers pay 5 quarters each year.

So where a civilian would have a fully vested SSA policy after 10 years of work, a servicemember has a full policy after only 8 years.

The idea being that service in the military is high risk. So the statistics being that where a civilian will work from 18 to 65, for a 47 year career paying into his SSA policy. A servicemember will work fewer years until he becomes disabled.

Which is also why we have a 20-year pension, instead of waiting until we turn 65. Few of us would be capable of working until we turn 65, due to the accumulation of disabilities.

Not sure about that. Have to do some checking. But SSA is dependent on your job. For instance, I paid into SS for my secretary at .7 percent. Because her job was non-hazardous. But I paid my carpenters 2.3 percent because of their job.

Have no clue what the military paid into SS.

But it stands to reason, what you said.

However, one thing I need to clarify. 20 years is not a retirement in the US Navy. 20 years you go into Fleet Reserves. Meaning you can be recalled at any time for the next 10 years. At 30, you go into full retirement. No recalls.

Don't get me wrong. You retire at 20 and draw a pension. But you can be recalled. At 30, you can no longer be recalled. Big difference.

Course, I've never seen anybody recalled after 20. But it's there.

[marmac]

Originally Posted by forest beekeeper

I also read once that servicemembers pay into their SSA policy at an advanced rate. [5 quarters each year rather than 4 quarters]

Where normally you pay 4 'quarters' each year [the insurance policy's payments are done in 'quarter's, meaning a set percentage of your quarterly income goes into your insurance policy]. It takes 40 quarters total for your SSA policy to be mature so you have 'full' coverage.

US servicemembers pay 5 quarters each year.

So where a civilian would have a fully vested SSA policy after 10 years of work, a servicemember has a full policy after only 8 years.

The idea being that service in the military is high risk. So the statistics being that where a civilian will work from 18 to 65, for a 47 year career paying into his SSA policy. A servicemember will work fewer years until he becomes disabled.

Which is also why we have a 20-year pension, instead of waiting until we turn 65. Few of us would be capable of working until we turn 65, due to the accumulation of disabilities.

I gotta disagree with your last 2 paragraphs.

With the exception of combat infranty , many of us worked our lifetime in jobs that were much more demanding than the vast majority of jobs in the military.

--" accumulation of disabilities"------?????????????

I have no problem with servicemen drawing a pension after 20 years ( my son is) but I sure as heck don't think it has anything to do with "accumulating disabilities" or the military being such a dangerous occupation.

I think it is more of a reward for serving 20 years in an organization that you don't have the option to quit when you want or to turn down a transfer to a place you don't want to relocate to.

I served 2 years in the Navy ( drafted) and the civilian jobs I held during my working years were much more physically demanding than anything I would have encountered had I stayed in 20 years and had a much higher risk of --disability--than anything I would have encountered or that my son encountered in his 20 years.

[marmac]

regarding SS-------I get extra credit for the SS I paid in while in the service.

The reason given to me by SS was that military pay was quite low compared to civilian pay and the govt felt you shouldn't be pernalized when you retire for the years you served your country.

[ElkHunter]

Originally Posted by ElkHunter

Not sure about that. Have to do some checking. But SSA is dependent on your job. For instance, I paid into SS for my secretary at .7 percent. Because her job was non-hazardous. But I paid my carpenters 2.3 percent because of their job.

Have no clue what the military paid into SS.

But it stands to reason, what you said.

However, one thing I need to clarify. 20 years is not a retirement in the US Navy. 20 years you go into Fleet Reserves. Meaning you can be recalled at any time for the next 10 years. At 30, you go into full retirement. No recalls.

Don't get me wrong. You retire at 20 and draw a pension. But you can be recalled. At 30, you can no longer be recalled. Big difference.

Course, I've never seen anybody recalled after 20. But it's there.

Sorry, wrong data. Went back through my old books. Everybody paid the same in SS. It was workmans comp that I was thinking on. SS is the same for everybody. You pay half and your employer has to match it.

[Poncho_NM]

Originally Posted by ElkHunter

SS is the same for everybody. You pay half and your employer has to match it.

And if you are self employed you pay both halves



Rich