Joining the Military such as Navy Reserve or Airforce and bunch of other feeling / myLot

United States

October 31, 2012 2:27am CST

Hi there! I'm currently looking for a job and job searching as usual. Although, at the same time, I'm considering an option of joining military such as Navy Reserve or Airforce. I just hope I make the right choice or decision for myself. Its hard to get a job nowadays and I'm feeling there's good jobs or careers in the military. I have few cousins, family that are or was in military. I just want someone else's point of view. I also feel among my peers, I have nothing to offer. I'm just not interesting and somewhat boring. Also I am thinking military may be interesting. I've seen movies (humorously) on relates to Military..lol. Also, I'd like to know if those who when to military, how or what is the pay like especially for basic training? Is the military pay good than civilian pay? Anyone also working part time military and also have a civilian /regular job? I was wondering if anyone have joined the Miltary branch such as Navy Reserve or Airforce Reserve or just Navy or Airforce. If so, how did you like it? how was bootcamp military training? What's life like as navy or airforce? Anyway I can't wait to hear your responses. -Eleanor

4 responses

Sindelle

@Sindelle (824)

• United States

1 Nov 12

Basically if you join the military don't join the Army. -Join the Marines if you want to be involved in a highly physical and more combat related experience, -Join the Air Force if you want to travel but not all the time. Also the Air Force is more political environment. Another thing you may or may not like is they offer more administrative jobs. I have a friend who works in finance and quite a few who work in logistics at cushy desk jobs. In fact their nicknamed the Chair Force. Another old joke is that the Air Force doesn't deploy until all the gyms and dinning facilities are finished. Another joke is that The Air Force stays in hotel rooms and eats lobster while everyone else gets tents and MREs. Basically joking around about how the Air Force treats their people better then the other branches. Join the Navy if you want to travel more and don't mind hot beds. Hot beds is where you share your bed with someone else when the other is working. They're also a little more strict then the Air Force normally. Join the Coast Guard if you do not want to deploy and like working around water. The coast guard sounds like a pretty sweet deal in my opinion. The Air Force has the shortest and probably easiest basic training program. I believe its currently 8 weeks. I know the other branches have longer programs but I'm not sure how long they are at this time. They're also nothing I'm sure you cannot handle. Basic training is all a big mind game. Just blend in, do as you're told, and have a sense of urgency. The benefits of joining the military are very good. If you're active duty you get 100% healthcare coverage and if you're part time you still get a nice health plan option. Active duty does not pay deductables for doctors visits. Also both full or part time in the military offers a GI Bill. If you go active duty you can get out after your enlistment and go to school 3 years and get money for lodging while you concentrate on school. You can also transfer the money to your child or spouse. If you decided you liked the military they also have a wonderful active duty retirement plan. If you join soon enough you could retire as early as your late thirties. Most people will get out and have a second career at that point. Also going reserves or guard offers a retirement plan. I believe you have to wait til you're 50 though to access it. I'd talk to a recruiter. If you have any questions hit me up and good luck.

webgirl01

@webgirl01 (689)

• United States

1 Nov 12

Hey Sindelle! Thanks for your reply and input. I don't think I'm Army fit though. Army is good for other people but not me. My two mains are Air Force Reserves and Navy Reserves so far. I'm not sure about Coast Guard. Is that hard two. Do all military branches work together or get along? Like some AIr force people work with navy, army, and other military people in the work field? I have been reading the benefits of joining are very good. How is the pay like? how is the quality life like? I already have a cousin who is in Navy, another that is AIr force, and another in Army and another in Marines corp. My Dad was in the navy. However, I'm not gonna ask them yet since I don't want them to know yet that I'm interested in the military unless its confirmed and that I'm ready to do so. I'm not sure how strict is Air Force. Do all branches treat people well? I heard in military they do yell. Is it hard to memorize things too? Also I just talked to Air Force Recruiter and given the credentials, he said I do prequalify for an officer position. I'm not sure how officer training is in each branch. I'm thinking reserves because I still want to find a civillian job and same time join military. Its hard to get a job nowadays and also i wonder what happens if I do both job searching and digging into military. Are you in officer or enlisted? What rank are you? Also as for military education, is all group and teamwork? lol i wonder if it's like high school where you do solo presentatiosn and all that stuff. I hope to talk to any people here in mylot that are either all the branches. Generally I think it's good ther are branches out there. I wonder if there are Coastal Guards, Air Force, Navy experiences out here using mylot..hehe.. I wonder if making friends is easy in military life. Also, I'm generally a shy person. I just hope I'm making a wise and good decision about joining the military reserves. If I cannot get a job at all, I'm thinking I should fully do full time instead of part time, but then I want to see if I can still get a job and join reserves on navy or air force... I'll check out Coastal Guard. Thanks, Eleanor

arielpaige

@arielpaige (257)

• United States

31 Oct 12

Me and my fiance are both in the army, and we love it, but it does get frustrating. It gets very stupid and unnecessary at times. Lots of paperwork and waiting. But over all, it can be rewarding. Very stressful, and it is especially hard on relationships, but it is what you make it, too. Some people simply aren't cut out for the military. A lot of people make it out to be this oh so great and wonderful thing that will make your life wonderful. Not always. Yes, I love it. So does my fiance. But it's not for everyone. It is hard and stressful. You have to sacrifice a lot. And seriously consider how you would feel if you had to go overseas and kill innocent people... not just the bad guys, but innocent women and children. That is just the army side though. I have mad respect for the Navy. Any branch really. Not sure a whole lot about the Navy, but if I wasn't so scared of the water and not having my feet on land, I probably would have joined. haha. I think the Navy Reserves would be wonderful as far as a job. Military really takes care of their own. Benefits are wonderful. I know the Army has better training and much more emphasis on taking care of yourself and each other. Not sure how the Navy is with that. The Air Forced is more relaxed. I partied with the Air Force when I was tower guard once. While I was sleeping in the dirt and mud, they were sleeping in air conditioned tents, with movies, they grilled their dinners, had snacks, etc. Haha. They do have it much easier. All I can say is RESEARCH RESEARCH and RESEARCH SOME MORE!! Seriously!! Make sure you know everything you can before going and talking to a recruiter (they tend to lie or exaggerate or make it seem more appealing to get you to join under them). So really make sure you know exactly what you're getting into, and all the benefits you can receive (or you will never receive them because your recruiter didn't tell you about them.) Make sure you know requirements, benefits, and choices. Look into everything. And best of luck to you! (If you're choosing between Navy Reserve and Air Force reserve - go Navy! My personal opinion. Haha.) But the benefits typically are much better than civilian jobs. UNLESS you work as a civilian for the military. (The benefits are ridiculously so much better, and you don't have to sacrifice nearly as much as you would if enlisted.) Another option you should look into.

@webgirl01 (689)

• United States

1 Nov 12

Hey there arielpage, How are you? Thanks for replying to the discussion. Great input. That's awesome that both you and your fiance are both in the army. I really don't know if it's meant for me but I feel there's someting about military or one of the military branches I am interested at. So far, I like Navy Reserve and Air Force. But I hear generally boot camp is hard. Since you guys are in Army, how long have you guys been there? How are the military classes like? is it all individual or group work? is there any shy people in the military? I'm kinda shy but I want to have some self-confidence improved. I wonder what's it like. I wonder if Military Reserves like Navy Reserves is better pay than a civillian pay. There's no homesickness or loneliness in the military life? Yeah I did researched about benefits of joining such military are good. I thought military is all about serious and no fun stuff but since you described how socialable military can be outside of duty.. lol. I'm still discerning and researching. What are good questions I should ask when talking to recruiters of each branch? Thanks for wishing me luck. It's cool to hear peoples experience about military especially if they were in army. My dad was in Navy before but he doesn't know my plans yet for military. I want to surprise first and later i will confirm when ready to decide. I have cousins who are either each of the branches. One is Air Force, one is Navy, the other one is Marines Corp, and the other one is Army. but I don't want them to know I'm interested in joining. I want it surprise. Generally it's hard to get a job nowadays. I can't even get a government job. So I was thinking if I had some military experience, i can easily find work as a civilian under government job. By the way, I just talked to an Air Force Reserve recruiter. He prequalified me that I'd be suited for an Office position because of my education background since I have both master's and bachelor's degree in IT/computers. However, I am also into other careers as well. I'd like to learn alot of career aspects. I'm also into data entry, clerical, medical records or health Information tech. I also have a Certified Coder Specialist credential and looking for medical coder jobs. I wonder if they offer that in military. So the recruiter from Air Force gave me some numbers to call to talk to the officer air reserves about those jobs. I hope to hear from you again. :D Happy Mylotting! :D -Eleanor

courtknee525

@courtknee525 (3742)

• United States

31 Oct 12

My boyfriend is in the army and he seems to enjoy it. He did it to get a headstart on his career and he wants to become a police officer after. Boot camp is extremely tough but once you make it through, things start to get a little easier. They don't get paid super great, but it's good money if you're single and they help you out a lot financially. If you're single and stay in the dorms, you stay there for free and you get to save extra money you'd be spending on rent. IF you're in the reserves, you get paid a lot less because you only go to base about once a month. Have you been to college or gotten a degree? If you have, then you can become an officer, get paid more, and go to a different boot camp where they're much nicer to you lol. If you're really interested in the military, find a recruiter near you and go talk to them one day to find out more information.

webgirl01

@webgirl01 (689)

• United States

1 Nov 12

Hey Courtknee525, Thanks for your response and input. That's awesome your boyfriend is in the army. Is he enlisted or an officer? I thought military get good pays if you ranks changed to higher continuosly. I already graduated with Bachelor's and Master's degree. I wonder if they help pay for previous student loans and other bills. I hope I'm able to use some personal money they give me if I do work for military. I'm not sure which branch is nicer or easier or decent. lol. I also heard military usually there's alot of yelling and stuff. I wonder if it's stressful to become officer. I just called Air Force Reserve and they pre-qualified me for officer if i were to join. I'm not sure what other good questions to ask for recruiter but I did ask Air Force Reserve Recruiter for jobs and requirements and stuff. so far, I'll try asking about Navy Reserve and see what happens. I'm deciding either Navy Reserve or Air Force Reserve. At same time, I'm also job searching. I really don't know yet. I'm not sure if I'm fit for Army. I did hear generally boot camps are hard and tough.

Gretchen522

@Gretchen522 (715)

• China

31 Oct 12

I respect those people serve in military,I don't know why, this feeling began at when I was a child. Maybe because I just like their uniform? aha...And in my university I fall in love with a man who was served in military, I don't know whether it can be called love, because we just kept taking on phone and after I graduate we were apart.

webgirl01

@webgirl01 (689)

• United States

1 Nov 12

Hi there Gretchen522, thanks for your response. Nice input. I've been researching on internet about Military. I've seen some message boards and there's quite alot that say biased things about military either because they've done that or that they don't have experience or don't know what they are saying and just blurt out that military is all about war and stuff. I thought there's more too than just war. The reason why I am interested in joining military is because there's alot of opportunities out there and jobs and learning new skills. Sorry to hear the guy you knew who was in military that you guys were apart. Was airforce or any of the military branches? Hope you are doing well.