Joining the Military

[Rickety Rob]

So I just got a phone call from my little brother about joining the military. I say go for it but I don't know what advice to give him when it comes to the types of jobs that are available. Meaning, he has an electrician background. He's been in the electrical business for about a decade now so he's really good at what he does. I told him about the jobs the Army could offer him but I would like to advise him on what the other branches of service provide. So, for you Air Force, Navy, and Marines. What would you say would benefit him, "job wise", in your branch of service? Please explain why so I can have some knowledge for when I brief him of the job. Thanks

[toby2533]

Well from the Marines Comm repair, you can go into any type of electronic repair or installing. Had several jobs when first got out, but decide to become a state boy went to college to party and ended up with a degree. Have look at any 28 MOS, I was a 2881 crypto repair tech which is now a micro repair tech.

[Rickety Rob]

Well from the Marines Comm repair, you can go into any type of electronic repair or installing. Had several jobs when first got out, but decide to become a state boy went to college to party and ended up with a degree. Have look at any 28 MOS, I was a 2881 crypto repair tech which is now a micro repair tech.

thanks!

[KopfeJager]

The only thing about the Marines, its about being a Marine first, then your MOS, i suggest noone joins the Marines for "benefit" and only do so if they want to be a Marine. There is a massive amount of pain if joining for any other reason. Dont get me wrong, the schools are great and you will be held to a hire standard, more so in joint service schools and there is a reward when completing an enlistment, but if one is looking for only a job when they get out..as a reason for joining the USMC then.they will hate every day they are in.

[toby2533]

he right the big green weenie love;s to mess with you exp, hey SGT yes first Sgt what's in you left pock Marine, my car keys and I think 20 cents, empty it 30 cents now give me 50 a Marine should know what on him at all times. If your not in it for being a Marine that kind of BS can eat at you. When it came time for to get out I jumped did my 4 active, but then jumped in the reserves because I missed the comradely (can't spell).

[Pakman3000]

Find a comparable job in the AF. He can easily get an associates while in since only the AF has the Community College of the Air Force which is an accredited institution. All his military training and tech school counts toward his degree.

[CEREAL KILLERS1]

The only thing about the Marines, its about being a Marine first, then your MOS, i suggest noone joins the Marines for "benefit" and only do so if they want to be a Marine. There is a massive amount of pain if joining for any other reason. Dont get me wrong, the schools are great and you will be held to a hire standard, more so in joint service schools and there is a reward when completing an enlistment, but if one is looking for only a job when they get out..as a reason for joining the USMC then.they will hate every day they are in.

I agree with this. I have been in for almost 16 years and it is not a comfortable life. I tell people to join the coast guard those guys have it good.

Sent from the phrog hovering over my desk riding ass

[SmashingOrbs]

I retired from the Navy in 2005, so not sure about how much has changed. I was an Electronics Technician (ET) in the Navy. Awesome schooling! I did 12.5 years on active duty and about 3 years of it was schooling. I landed a job with no problem at all when I got off of active duty due to my schooling and experience in the Navy. You can be a Radar Tech, Comms Tech or many other specialties.

The Navy also has the EM job or Electricians Mate. Since I didn't go through EM schooling, I can't comment on it but I am sure it is Awesome!

[loakii]

Find a comparable job in the AF. He can easily get an associates while in since only the AF has the Community College of the Air Force which is an accredited institution. All his military training and tech school counts toward his degree.
Not wanting to counter this, but now there are a lot of regular colleges that do just that, give you college accreditation based on job, military schools and years of experience. Then on top of that you get the yellow ribbon schools who lower costs to allow service members to attend using GI BILL.


As being a recruiter in the Army, I would say have him talk to each branch to see what they offer. See whats going to fit him and his goals. With current state of the economy, each branch of service is making recruiting goals easily. That means everyone can be more selective.
Now you may know of what jobs the Army has to offer, but with the downsizing, not every job is available anymore. It more of the luck of the draw as to which jobs are available at the time of his joining. Plus ship dates to Basic Training are all the way out to Nov to Jan.

[A1000YrdStare03]

Yeah, I agree with Toby, Kopfe, and cereal. If you don't join the Marine Corps with the motivation of being a Marine you will be miserable. All that yut, yut, crap wears off quick. My advise, find a MOS that interests him first. Then seek a branch that can accommodate. Getting into guaranteed MOS's during war time is hard to do. Most recruiters will try to shuffle him right into the infantry. I didn't think it through when I joined. Being a sniper to me was hard core, but when I got out I found that being able to shoot someone in the head from 1000 yard away is not that high on an employers job requirement list. Lol!! Your brother is going about it the right way, and thinking about his future after the military.

[Rickety Rob]

Find a comparable job in the AF. He can easily get an associates while in since only the AF has the Community College of the Air Force which is an accredited institution. All his military training and tech school counts toward his degree.

I was asking him to talk to the AF Recruiter but one thing he has that may prohibit him from joining the AF is his tattoo on his forearm. I read that the AF has new regs on tats that go below the sleeve of the short sleeve shirt.

[KopfeJager]

As do the Marines now, and the Navy, and Coast Guard.

Also, many MOSs are closed because of budget cuts and the need to down size is ordered from Washington. The Corps is targeted to its pre-war numbers, 175,000 from the 225,000 or so we have now. Last I knew many of the combat arms MOSs were closed to allow for natural attrition. Many Infantry Battalions are going away, Reserve and Active. 9th Marines is being folded again, thats 3 Battalions, and by the end of the month one of my old reserve companies is folding their colors.

[toby2533]

The same thing with the army now they got this spit @ polish sgt maj now who is against tat's, long hair and facial hair. I heard him speak at the war college and he said its time to get the ache and trash out of the army. You guys are in for a treat, hey you did 4 combat tours but we are kicking you out after 11 yr for having a neck tat, that not right.

[Rickety Rob]

Hopefully he can a waiver of some type to in. I had to get waivers for my tats.

[KaNtSt0PMeH]

Hopefully he can a waiver of some type to in. I had to get waivers for my tats.

It depends on how big his tattoo is. I would at least talk to an AF recruiter. We all know each service has different pros and cons but the quality of life in the Air Force is much better. If my little brother was joining up thats where I would nudge him towards.

sent from the Maury TV show where I just found out I am Guillermo's real father... sigh!

[Rickety Rob]

It depends on how big his tattoo is. I would at least talk to an AF recruiter. We all know each service has different pros and cons but the quality of life in the Air Force is much better. If my little brother was joining up thats where I would nudge him towards.

sent from the Maury TV show where I just found out I am Guillermo's real father... sigh!

That's where I'm trying to get him to go to. Hopefully, if he joins, he chooses the AF.

[MARDIGRA21]

It depends on how big his tattoo is. I would at least talk to an AF recruiter. We all know each service has different pros and cons but the quality of life in the Air Force is much better. If my little brother was joining up thats where I would nudge him towards.

sent from the Maury TV show where I just found out I am Guillermo's real father... sigh!

My little bro is going to af summer camp in the end of July. I nudged him towards that.

[A1000YrdStare03]

My little bro is going to af summer camp in the end of July. I nudged him towards that.

Isn't that what they call boot camp for the AF? LMAO!!!

[KopfeJager]

Wait....the AF has a boot camp....?

[KaNtSt0PMeH]

All the beautiful sounds of envy.

[loakii]

I was asking him to talk to the AF Recruiter but one thing he has that may prohibit him from joining the AF is his tattoo on his forearm. I read that the AF has new regs on tats that go below the sleeve of the short sleeve shirt.

Ok I talked to the AF recruiter next to my office, for tattoos they cannot cover more than 25 percent of the exposed area on the arm.

[Rickety Rob]

Ok I talked to the AF recruiter next to my office, for tattoos they cannot cover more than 25 percent of the exposed area on the arm.

The inside of his left forearm is covered. That's the only tattoo he has on his body

[MARDIGRA21]

Isn't that what they call boot camp for the AF? LMAO!!!

Which is what I meant lol

[KaNtSt0PMeH]

The inside of his left forearm is covered. That's the only tattoo he has on his body

Its from elbow to the edge of the wrist. Thats the designation for that part of the body as far as the reg goes. If it looks to be more than 25% he might be able to get waivered. Unlikely with force restructuring though.

sent from the Maury TV show where I just found out I am Guillermo's real father... sigh!

[SAPPER USMG]

Yeah, I agree with Toby, Kopfe, and cereal. If you don't join the Marine Corps with the motivation of being a Marine you will be miserable. All that yut, yut, crap wears off quick. My advise, find a MOS that interests him first. Then seek a branch that can accommodate. Getting into guaranteed MOS's during war time is hard to do. Most recruiters will try to shuffle him right into the infantry. I didn't think it through when I joined. Being a sniper to me was hard core, but when I got out I found that being able to shoot someone in the head from 1000 yard away is not that high on an employers job requirement list. Lol!! Your brother is going about it the right way, and thinking about his future after the military.



Yup 1000yd nailed it, doing the hardcore shit is bad ass and all, but when you get out, no one needs those skills...so be cautious.

[Rickety Rob]

Its from elbow to the edge of the wrist. Thats the designation for that part of the body as far as the reg goes. If it looks to be more than 25% he might be able to get waivered. Unlikely with force restructuring though.

sent from the Maury TV show where I just found out I am Guillermo's real father... sigh!

Inside forearm. Mid forearm to his wrist.

[iamthesgt]

My little bro is going to af summer camp in the end of July. I nudged him towards that.

Yeah when I was headed off to AF Field Training, my buddies and family kept calling it summer camp. I was just like "Ok, it's not exactly the Marines, but it's no camp cupcake..."

[squidfamily1]

I retired from the Navy in 2005, so not sure about how much has changed. I was an Electronics Technician (ET) in the Navy. Awesome schooling! I did 12.5 years on active duty and about 3 years of it was schooling. I landed a job with no problem at all when I got off of active duty due to my schooling and experience in the Navy. You can be a Radar Tech, Comms Tech or many other specialties.

The Navy also has the EM job or Electricians Mate. Since I didn't go through EM schooling, I can't comment on it but I am sure it is Awesome!

I was an EM. Good a school, pretty autonomous while deployed. Watch standing was all engineering spaces si no dress uniforms. Duty days were usually pretty busy but normal work days were really good.