MILITARY GUYS PLEASE READ!!!!

I'm wanting to hear from all of you ex or current military guys. I wanna know what branch you served in and how long. What your job was and if you enjoyed or hated it. The places you have been and the experiences you have experienced. I wanna know the great stories and the bad stories. No holds bar i wanna know it all. I have been searching very intensly the past few weeks on joining and talking with recruiters. I in no way want this to be a peace on war topic or politics at all. I do not want this to end up fighting or things like that. just pretty much what i asked haha. I have realized that the schooling i am doing just isnt cutting it for me right now. I want more and to travel the world and experience things normal people never get the chance too... hope i get some good replys back to this.





-Justin

Hey bro, I was in the United States Marine Corps from 1999-2004. I loved it and if I didn't have a wife and 3 kids I would still be in. I saw where the war was headed and got out. I was stationed in Jacksonville, NC and worked on the CH53E helicopters. Freakin loved it. My best time in was in either late 03 or early 04 we went to Manhattan New York for fleet week. You get dressed in your dress uniform and just check out the sites of New York. It was a freaking blast! Never been so drunk in all of my life. The whole week there I only spent like 200 bucks. Everything was being fed to us non stop. We got to go see ground zero and everything. There were some guys that even took us to places that the public has not seen. Worste time was when we got 2 weeks notice right after my 2nd daughter was born to go to Iraq for the invasion in 03'. That was horrible. We had no idea what to expect, how long we would be there or really anything for that matter. But, over all I loved it. Made lots of great friends who I have stayed in touch with over the years. Since I got out, I have been working as a civilan for the Army, take it for what it's worth, do NOT join the Army. I have been working with them for about 5 years now. It is the most unorganized branch in all of the military. I am not in any way trying to talk shit about anyone who is or has been in the Army, just stating a solid fact. The Airforce has all the good stuff, I have been trying to get my brother to join the Airforce for about a year and a half now. Something else you may want to think about it the Airguard. If you like aviation join the Airguard and work on the UAV. That is the future of aviation right there. There are several guys I am working with out here in Afghanistan right now that are thinking about joining the Airguard when they get home. Hope this helps man. If you have any questions just ask. I have tons of stories and have been all over the place. Mostly state side but I have been to Bahrain, Qatar, Kuwait, Iraq, Afghanistan and Africa. Later man. Good luck with your decision.

also interested in this. I was joining the Army about a year ago, I did everything they told me to, passed the ASVAB the first time. The day before I was gonna go to boot camp they told me I could not join bc I had a GED, so I enrolled n college to get my 15 semester hours and time is almost up for me to try again. Anyways I knw what your feelin about your school not cuttin it Im feelin the same thing.

im highly lookin in to the pararescue jumpers with the air force. it is a badass job but has an assload of physical and mental training.







-justin

wow! no ged and cant serve!? things must have really changed in the last 20 years!!
anyways Justin I thinmkk you are doing the right thing by looking around and asking. it is an honor and a priviledge to serve in the Armed Forces!! never let anyone tell you different. Me, I was in he Army 20 years ago. I loved it. was a medic that served with a mobile infantry unit in germany. 3rd infantry Division, 1/15. if you have never heard of them they are they unit that saved the french from the german army! i feel that every male should serve. it gives you a snese of respect, honor and dignity! for me i grew up the son of an army pilot.ived in al, ks, germany, and tn. my dad servedwith the 101st ay Ft Campbell Ky. if you have seen blackhawk down, both of those units he flew for! and the little birds did not officially exist back then!!! me, i screwed up! big time. was too young and too ignorant. got into too much trouble. but i loved my job and i loved serving with the guys i did!! if i culd go back and do it all over i would change alot of what i did. Germany, well 20 years ago you could get drunk at 18! legally buying what you want to drink. the german girls, they were nice. but its more than that. its persomnal sense of purpose! join which ever branch you choose! they all have their pros and cons. but for the most part, do it because you want to! not because you want uncle sam to pay for school. if thats the reason you are doing it, then stay where you are and pay off your loans. just my 2 cents!

Hey the army accepts GEDs now with a certain GT score. Anyways, I've been in the army 5 years now and I personally wouldnt recommend anyone join any branch of the military unless you are going to a special operations unit. I've been in 2nd Ranger Batallion for 4 and a half years and IMO no other Army unit compares. If you join the airforce I would consider being a PJ like you mentioned or a special ops JTAC. Army of course Rangers (not special forces), Navy Seals. All of course are accompanied by serious selection schools and are physically and metally challenging, but if you are serious about it im sure you can do it.

im serving right now and can say there's days that i love it but more days that i dislike it. at times it is very unorganized with to many chiefs and not enough indians! i can say that i have had the chance to experience and do things that no one else has done. a select few to be exact, but ive seen the sad part of it and have buried over 900 soldiers. yes you are reading that correct. if i could go back though i would have joined the air force. to me it will give you better job skills plus the BS is to a minimum. either way just make sure you go in for WHAT YOU WANT not what the recruiter can offer. if you got any questions just ask and good luck. the bright side is you will always have a pay check and health care. you can go on vacation for a month once you have earned enough leave and still get paid. i could go on and on but its easier to just to answer your Q's

oh and i can honestly say that nothing is too great for me now. i am stronger as a person and can accomplish anything i put my mind to. ive learned that your worst enemy is yourself. it builds confidence in yourself, leadership, and how to work as a team.

yea its good your looking and asking around first my friend just joined the marines and really didnt look into it and a month into bootcamp he was regretting his descision really bad but when he came back he said it was the smartest thing hes ever done.

ok My 2cents

It sucks that these young guys are getting deployed so often today, but the Money is good.
I was an Army Medic in the reserves from 83 to 88 then came active duty from 88 to 2008 moved every two years and stayed home until 89 Desert storm, Busted the Burm into Iraque Iwreck Irac how ever it's spell (don't really care enough to try and get it right) was in the 7th Battalion 6th Mechanized Infantry Regiment in the 3rd Bull dog Brigade of the 1st Armored Division We rolled in Behind 1st Cavalry Regiment.. We watched several battles and rolled past the Smoke and bodies No prisoners were taken they either ran or was killed..

I am a better person due to my time in the military, the Army taught me Tolerance! Respect of others! How we are all the same regardless of Color or religion.

I was raised a southern Racist... and thru the Army and the teachings I received I'm not that way now.

Now lets talk about Guarantees. you have a guaranteed paycheck, guaranteed health care for you and the wife and kids you will acquire. Oh and if you listen to your leaders and friends you will gain you will have the Opportunity to get an education for Free, and I don't meant a Math class or basket weaving I mean a Bone a fide College degree all you have to do is think of your future..

What kind of guarantees are there here in civilian life.......... Huh.......... None you can get fired from a good job cause your boss thinks your Wife is Sexy and she said no to his advances...

So I a combat vet say to you... there is no better place to be as serving My Country