Enlisting In Armed Forces

**WileECyte** · 06-09-08, 12:02 PM

My bro-in-law was in the Navy for 4 years. (Seabee). He never had dress whites, but did wear his dress blues in our wedding. He spent 99% of his time wearing his utilities/dungarees (dark blue pants, light blue shirt.) Since his unit was attached to the SEAL teams he got to go on maneuvers with them and got to wear OD/Camo Fatigues.

He was an engine mechanic and got to fix the engines on the Mark V SOC and Zodiac RIBs. He always complained that the SEALs tore the crap out of their equipment so he was pretty busy.

In his 4 years, he spent most of his time based in San Diego. He spent 6 months in Korea (which he said was AWFUL), about 12 months in Australia (which he said was awesome) and 3 months in Norfolk, VA (which he said sucked) and 3 months in Kuwait (which he said was OK). So he spent about half his time deployed away from his home base of operations.

**Muqtar SGT_Clintok** · 06-10-08, 05:34 PM

I spent 4 years in the Marine Corp infantry (MOS 0331) as a machinegunner. I wanted to prove myself and I did. I can't say that I enjoyed it, the infantry looks much more glamorous from the outside looking in. I got to handle and use a lot of 'neat' weapons. There is no pleasure sleeping in a fighting position in the rain getting bit by ants. You are considering enlisting during a time that is A LOT different than the mid 90s. You could get deployed, and you could get killed. Don't let me discourage you, this country needs people willing to fight, I am just saying the world has changed.

If I could do it again, I would probably go into the air force and focus on satillite communications. I wouldn't have measured my self by doing this, so it all works out in the end.

One of the many benefits of my route is that I now look at every job as easy. As I sit and ponder active directory and firewall problems, I laugh at it. Too easy.

You will have to decide what you want to do. No matter what MOS you pick, it will be done on the military's terms, not yours.

Firing a fully automatic grenade laucher just isn't as fun when it is done by the numbers.

**ic0n** · 06-10-08, 08:57 PM

Originally Posted by Muqtar SGT_Clintok

You will have to decide what you want to do. No matter what MOS you pick, it will be done on the military's terms, not yours.

x2. Once you sign the papers your ass is theirs, so plan carefully and pick a job that is best in the long run.

**Muqtar SGT_Clintok** · 06-11-08, 07:23 AM

Let me add a little more. The Marines gave me the gift of being able to tell myself - get off your lazy ass and do it, right now. I did not have this in me before then. It will always be with me. It took Paris Island and Camp Geiger to get it.

I did not learn any applicable skills in the military because I chose an MOS that has no pair in civilian life.

I happened to get injured in Guantanamo Bay and spent the last 6 months of my enlistment getting treatment at Bethesda (God save the corpsmen) and installing software at HQ Battalion. So I lucked out, in that I was able to use that experience to lay the groundwork for network engineering. If it hadn't happened like that, I would have been discharged and then started at zero.

Think long term and whether you want to be a lifer. You need to prepare for what you want to do long term. If you want to make a career out of it take note:

The infantry is usually done with you before you get done with it.

**Tenrou** · 06-11-08, 07:43 AM

I just want say thanks for all of the input you've all given me. All of it was taken into consideration when I made my choice. I decided to join the national guard as metalworker/or power gen repairer. Were in the process of locking one of those down now. It will be part time, but I decided I'd rather get a taste for things and if I want take the plunge there are a lot of opportunities to get full time. There also giving me a 20k bonus for eather one of these jobs. With the money I'll be saving while on basic and MOS school, I'm finally following my dream a year later to move to Texas and be closer to my family. Really guys thanks so much I knew I could turn to you guys in TTP for guidance.

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