well one of my buddies just came home from boot camp from the Marines...hes on a 10 day leave, and i was talking to him about it.

And well i have made a desicion, I am going to join the military. Not sure what branch yet. But i feel this is a good desicion because my fiancee and daughter will be taken care of. I only want the best for them.

So i have quit smoking weed, wll kinda, its only been 5 days so far, but im doing fine without it.And since i was an Eagle scout i will automatically start as an E2 Private first class (thats what my buddy told me) and since my fiancee and I will be married before i go, i guess having a wife and child will get me more money as well.

So after we get married in a couple of months, im signing up. gives me time to decide on what branch i want to go in (marines, air force etc..) I feel this is the best move for my family....I will b going in for a mechanic, work on tanks aviation etc. then ill be set for life....do this for 20-25 years and i can retire, and my family will be taken care of, thats all that matters.

 

I would tell you to go Navy for experience and challenges. In the aviation field, you could deploy on board a carrier; however, since you are an Eagle Scout, I would recommend the Air Force because it is, quite literally, a 9-5 operation and is very big on pushing, encouraging, and supporting enlisted personnel who pursue a Bachelors Degree or higher. I spent 7 years in the Navy, and more often than not the main concern there is where they want to put a warm body regardless of what that warm body's concerns or plans are for the future. My last tour of duty was at Tinker AFB, hence the reason I call the Air Force a 9-5 operation. Unlike the other branches, they take care of the people first and equipment later. I also spent temporary duty in Quantico with the Marines. The USMC is for those who desire to push themselves to the limits and beyond, and camaraderie is BIG with them. I wouldn't even consider the Army. Sorry if that offends any Army people out there, but those are my feelings.

 

my buddy who is in the marines said dont go army as well, he said ARMY stands for Aren't Really Marines Yet lol

 

Ask yourself this -- Why does it take a few hundred Marines to secure a location, but when it's turned over to the Army, three to four times as many are needed?

USMC = Uncle Sam's Misguided Children
Navy = Never Again Volunteer Yourself

 

lol....well my fiancees sister's husband is in the air force as a nurse. He just completed his 4 years. They were stationed in Germany, and have everything paid for. He just signed on for another 6 years because he loves it, and now hes going to be stationed in calafornia......ive been leaning towards air force from the start, but would like to get more info on all the branches before i make my descision

 

Air Force has the shortest boot camp. (easiest too....) They don't put you on a ship, and send you off into la-la land for months at a time, and have very few locations that you can't bring your family with you. You should never see front line combat..... (unless you are in the cops, and stationed somewhere that bases are attacked....)

On the other hand..... Navy has nuclear power..... Friend of mine went in for that, did his 20, retired as a master chief, and is now head of plant operations at Detroit Metro Airport....... Yes, he makes GOOD money.

 

see i would be a mechanic for aviation, and ive seen jobs up in Maine for aviation mechanics and no joke they were paying $75 an hour....that would be awesome.

 

former Marine, current defense contractor here..

what vocation are you looking at?

I'd go Air Force if I had it to do again, and was in a situation like yours.. You're basically a uniformed civilian there.. Rank moves quickly (which is important to get that $$ for you and your family)..

Marines absolutely have Esprit de Corps, and it is a hard thing to understand unless you're one of us- but we trade fast moving rank for SLOWEST moving rank of the services, and we trade 'roughin it' for the outstanding living conditions the Air-force and Army provide..

I didn't have anyone but myself to watch out for when I joined- so i did what i wanted to do, and I had an absolute blast.. in your position there is more to consider.. I'd rule the Corps and Navy off if I were you.. The deployments would be brutal on your family.

 

thats what im worried about....i know with boot camp and then the schooling id be away from them for like 5 months total (from my understandings), and i have a hard time just going to work, i love my daughter and fiancee with all my heart, and i have a hard time being away from them.

My girls sisters husband was away from them for a total of about 4-5 months (which is where my informtion is comming from) and they've been together ever since, have no been separated the 4 years hes been in so far.....and i mean, it will be hard, but being away for 5 months to give my family a lifetime of happiness is worth it....i dont care what i have to do, as long as they are happy and taken care of, thats all i can ask for.

 

Get married before you go in.