I did the AF for 10 years. Basic was a joke, heck most of the people in the AF were a joke when it came to ground combat. I blame it on the fact that the branch hadn't been involved in active ground combat since Vietnam. Pararescue/combat controller looked real interesting until they said I had to jump out of planes. I don't do jumps.

After I figured out what I wanted to do when I grew up I realized I had joined the wrong branch, I should have gone in the Army. I was good at ground combat and had an instinct for it. But oh well now I just fight the badguys not the bad nations.

 

im 17 and im still trying to decide if i want to join the military. i want to join the marines but im still not sure what i want to do for the rest of my life. i love the movie full metal jacket, i even got my teacher to let us watch it in school.

 

Dont join just because you like a movie. Its NOTHING like the movies. But, since you have no idea what you want to be when you grow up, what better way to figure it out than join the service and get a chance to travel around for a few years and get paid for it. I did 6 years in the Air Force. 3 years in the states..Texas, Colorado and North Dakota. Then 3 years overseas...England and Germany with some short trips to Guam, Bavaria and Hawaii. I was also able to go to Munich Germany for October Feast. Spent New Years on the Eiffel Tower in Paris and went skiing in the Alps. Plus a ton of other stuff. After 6 years I had enough of the military and decided to get out and pursue a life in the boating industry which had always been something I wanted to do.

I say join, I honestly think everyone who graduates highschool should have to go for at least 2 years, but thats just my opinion. Im sure you wont regret it and you'll have the time of your life and make some of the best friends a person could ask for.

BREW

 

When I went through boot (Nov 1992 - Jan 1993), Boot was a lot like what you saw in Full Metal Jacket. From the time you were awake to the time you went to sleep, there was a drill instructor in your face, and he wasn't happy with you.

The Marine Corps I remember was a tough MIND GAME. MIND GAME. Let me just say it's a tough mind game. If you are physically fit, and are ready to challenge, not only your physical ability, but your mind as well......go USMC. You'll hate it the first 3 months, but after that, the journey begins. Every chance you get to go over seas, TAKE IT. I have been to many other country's and seen a lot of different cultures. I would do it all over again in a heartbeat.

Now, if you do decide to go into the service (no matter what branch), when you talk to a recruiter, make sure you have your MOS locked in before you head out to boot camp. Open contract's are a nightmare. I still have a lot of the Marine Corps still in me. It will stay with you for the rest of your life.

 

I thought all the Marine Corps had was open contracts. I went to a recruiter and wanted to be an 0311, which he was happy to sign me up be he said the corp only did open contracts. So I went to the army and the said I wasnt fit enough to be infantry (im "red/green discriminate") So instead I became a 31C (radio operator). They finally sent me to 11B school earlier this year, once they realized how much I rock.

31C

 

I was thinking of joining the navy and was wondering how much do they pay you guy? I really doesn't matter to me since I will still join regardless of the money but I was just curios.

 

That is probably another change I am unaware of. A lot has changed since I went through boot. I even hear that the recruites get a "stress card". When they feel the DI's are being a little to rough, they can use a stress card. WTF? Is the enemy gonna care about your cute lil stress card when the ***** hits the fan.........no. Why give a kid a stress card in boot camp, when he is there to train to be one of the best? I hope that is just a myth.

 

Your rank will deteremine pay. Keep in mind, no rent, no grocery bill, you get a clothing allowance every once and awhile to help keep your uniforms up to par. I had a buddy that saved just about every penny he made until his first duty station, and he was doing very well.

 

i want to become a machinist im not sure what the usmc has regarding machining . i know the navy has alot of jobs that you can do. i took the asvab and i scored a 54. i got 90's on everything except the vocab which really killed my score.i have recruiters calling my house all the time and im just still not sure what i want to do.

 

If your not sure, dont do anything yet. Make sure you are 100% ready mentally and physically.

Know what you want when you go see a recruiter. Dont let him BS you. If he cant get you in the fields you are interested in, go to another recruiter. If your looking for an easy way out, you wont find one. Be honest, firm, and stand your ground, but never be disrespectful in any way at any time.

Good Luck. If you do decide to join, keep in mind, it will be the best times of your life. I wouldn't trade in those days for anything.

 

I never got a stress card, i think they did away with them. But my boot wasn't hard at all, actually kinda disapointing. I might have though it so at the time. Like most people it was the longest I had been away from home ever. But after getting papers for 500+ days IET doesnt seem so bad now.

31C

 

IET, is that the same as EAS (End of Active Service)?

The hardest part for me in boot was the discepline. Standing in formation at position of attention for an hour was a SOB. The best part about boot was the knowledge that I gained, the stories I have, and the friends that I made. I found that (once I got with a unit) I was the same as everyone else. We were all brothers and sisters.

 

IET = Inital Entry Training. Basically the time when an Army soldier is in an Basic and AIT.

31C

 

What you should do is go to the recruiting stations for each branch and see what they can offer you. DON'T sign anything. Just go in the door and say "I want to know what you can do for me, in WRITING." Then you have to think if you want to travel, go to school, etc.etc. etc.

Myself, I went Navy about 7 yrs ago. I was very lucky to be stationed where I have. I was stationed in Keflavik Iceland for 3 yrs. While there, I went to germany, spain, france, itlay, and some I don't remember.

 

Hey! You know what they called them back in 1974 when I marched them?
Agony, Misery and Heartbreak.

The difference is when I did them they were mountains.
(I guess they got wore down over the years)

Echo-16-4