Confused about joining the army?

It's a recruiter's job to make everything seem great, but the military does have alot of benefits to it. Here is what I feel I got from my time in Army:

1. Money for college. (GI Bill) If you choose to use this benefit it can finance your college education. I did not use my GI Bill because I got married and had a child while I was in the military and decided I could better provide for their immediate needs by taking on a job in the field I worked in already.

2. The ability to purchase a house with almost no money down. I would have never been able to provide a house like the one I have lived in for nearly 10 years now without this benefit.

3. On the job training. I was straight out of high school when I joined the army and the only opportunities I had at that time were minimum wage and mostly part time jobs doing the type of things that nobody wants to do for the rest of their life. Things like working in restaurants and department stores and some manual labor jobs like construction. When I left the Army I had four years of on the job training as a mechanic and I now make more much money every week than I did in a month before I joined the army.

4. Steady paycheck. (speaks for itself) If you can get out of bed on time, show up to work, keep in decent physical shape, follow instructions and rules you will have a paycheck deposited in you account every 1st and 15th.

5. Health benefits. Not all jobs offer 100% medical, dental, vision and cheap life insurance with no questions asked.

6. Retirement plan. If you decide to stick with military service you could be retired in only 20 years and receive a check every month for the rest of your life. This is early enough to still be able to work (if you choose) and receive two paychecks (as alot of retired military people do).

7. Friendships. I don't think you will ever form a stronger bond anywhere with the people you work with. You live, work, and play with your co-workers sometimes for 24 hours a day (when deployed or in training) and you will form life long bonds with them that cannot be replaced.

8. Time off from work. I don't know of any other job that gives you 30 days a year of vacation and four day weekends for holidays you've never even heard of. I have to say that I miss having as much time away from work as I had in the Army.

Don't get me wrong, there are bad things about the military as well. There were several times when I really questioned my decision to join. It is a commitment, and sometimes a long one. I would recommend taking a short enlistment for your first time so if you do not like it you will not have long to deal with it. I decided after my four years that I wanted to get out of the Army because my situation had changed. I went in single and came out married with a child. The thought of being away from my family for long periods of time was too much for me, as was moving my child every 2-5 years for her entire childhood. I decided I wanted to settle down and I still live in the town where the military base is, and it has become my home. I still hang out with friends I met the Army.

Overall, I feel that joining the Army was one of the best decisions I ever made.

There are numerous benefits that may be gained while in the Army. I have been in for almost 19 years now, and I can tell you that if it wasn't a good deal, I would not have stayed this long. I have gotten married and have 2 wonderful children since I have been in and the Army has also taken care of my family. Also, contrary to mreffective...blah.blah.blah, recruiters are not trained to lie to you. It is unfortunate that it happens, but do not judge all recruiters based on the bad aspects of a select few. I know this to be a fact as I am an Active Duty Recruiter, I can tell you that I have never lied to any applicants that want to better themselves and to take advantage of what the Army has to offer. I have 6 combat deployments under my belt and have never not answered any questions posed to me regarding those deployments unless they were classified. I may be too blunt at times and have actually ran people away from my office due to my extreme honesty. The bottom line up front (BLUF) is to weigh your options, talk to more recruiters and people that have been where you find yourself right now. Base your decision on your beliefs and the advice of people that you trust and not on the word of any single person. I am also available via email @ michael.ashcraft@usarec.army.mil or via my phone @ 1-877-579-4660 if you have any serious questions or concerns. Good luck on your decision.

SSG Ashcraft

The recruiter is doing his sales job, for certain. but that does not necessarily mean he is telling lies. He is going to put the best light on everything.

Objective thoughts: A young person just completing high school could do a lot worse than going into the military. The armed services can offer you paid training, future school money, decent housing, free medical care, free clothing, a chance to explore much of the world while having a stable life, and even get in some travel.

I am in the US Army, and chose this as a career long before i went to high school, so I went the ROTC route and would not trade my experiences for anything. I lost a leg and had both hands really torn up in Afghanistan back in October. I am just about done with rehab, and all my parts work, and the leg is hardly noticeable. I will return to duty status at the end of June. I include all that just to point out that I still have a long career ahead of me. I don't think many private sector jobs would still be wanting me back on the job! :)

Your questions to the recruiter indicate to him possible things that would keep you from enlisting. Naturally, he wants to show you how you can benefit from the Army. Since we don't have the time, nor the space, to go into all that he said to you, we can't tell you if he is lying or not.

The military has a great many benefits, as answered above, and will help you get on with your life. For me, it was my niche in the world. I have my degree, a good job, I own two house, got to travel the world and have friends everywhere I go.

Good luck

There are many benefits for you, and challenges ahead. There will be things you won't like and places you won't want to be. Along the way you will go to fascinating places, places others save money for years to visit. You'll go to places that are only tiny pictures in a history book.

No matter how tough your leaders are you will serve with some of the greatest friends you will ever meet. They will become closer to you than even your own family. I know this because that was my experience for much of my life. You've heard the term "Old Army Buddy?" That means a person you knew in tough times and who survived because of you or you because of him.Nothing makes closer friends than shared danger or shared hardship.

As a retiree do you know what I hear the most often? "I wish I had staid in, I would have made my Twenty long ago." many people miss it when they leave, other miss out completely.

I don't know what more to say. If you don't see it now, you never will.

Umm, yeah you're just a baby, i'm a female have been in the army for over 3 years, have a baby, and i'm married, when I joined me having a family was the last thing in my mind, but it happens to just about everyone, yeah it's hard being in the military as a female, they just treat you a lot differently, especially if you get pregnant, believe me if I were you're age , I would consider doing something else, yeah recruiters have to do what they have to do in order to get their numbers in, but personally, they're is no reason why you should join, and believe me pay isn't all that nice, sometimes you can hardly meet your bills, I can't wait to get out the army, I was suppose to get out in March, but because i'm deployed and we have 15 month tours I don't get out until like august or something, anyways, I would think it through, but then again the army isn't for everyone

If you are a female I would HIGHLY advise that you consider your options. You have to realize, almost regardless of your MOS, you WILL go overseas, most likely to IRAQ. And I just can't imagine a reason anyone would want to do that.

I got my GED and was VERY close to enlisting into the infantry (11B). I had taken my ASVAB and everything. Personal circumstances ended up preventing me from enlisting at the last second and in hindsight it's the best decision I've ever made. I was 17 then, too. I realize now I had NO IDEA what I would've been getting myself into.

Yes, the Army has great specialty training in most fields, they pay for housing, clothing, food, college, etc. But base life is AWFUL, and I can't imagine how much more boring or stressful it would be for a 17 year old female.

You'll have A LOT of tough obstacles right away, what with Basic Training, then AIT... You'll be hungry, tired, homesick, et al.

Yes, recruiters are hand picked to lie outright to you. DO NOT trust any recruiter, they are only recruiters serving the interests of the government, they DO NOT CARE ABOUT YOU.

Sorry to sound so harsh, I just want to stress to you that, from someone who's gone through a VERY similar experience, I'm totally glad I didn't go in, and I really suggest you look at your options and reconsider. I can almost guarantee you'll regret enlisting.

Try the Job Corps... or an apprenticeship of some kind. At this point in our country's political struggles, it wouldn't be smart to enlist unless you have a deathwish or a true desire to serve.

GOOD LUCK, THINK HARD!!!

A lot of people replied before me so I won't bore you with more details. Just understand this, being in the military is a 24 hour per day, 7 day a week job. You have to put what you like and don't like on hold, because when you're in the military nobody, and I mean nobody, is concerned with how you'd like things to be. You are expected to conform, totally.

The military is a great way to learn discipline get free job training and to see the world. Don't forget it can be a little dangerous at times but then again the way people drive so is walking across the street.

If you join, choose a MOS that you want. There's no need doing a job you don't want to for years. I joined on my 17th birthday.

Before you go back in the office with the recruiter, know where you want to be stationed, what you want to do, and the length of your enlistment. Remember, you are selling yourself, get a good price!!

I would go to www.military.com