The Official Military Thread. Vol 1

[ryair max 1]

found out I got turned down for Public Affairs Officer for the Naval Reserves. they pulled 3 former military personnel and two people with Masters. not giving up on this.

hopefully they open up PAO board reviews for active but im not holding my breath since they cancelled the last one.

 

[durantula]

Hey NT! I've got a few questions for you guys today.

Well I took my ASVAB and got a pretty good score and qualify for about 90% of the jobs in the Air Force. I want to go into Air Traffic Control and have the scores to do so. Some time in the upcoming weeks I'll be going to the MEPS station to do the whole physical/job selection/initial swearing in process. Now my questions are during the job selection process, will everything I qualify for be on the list to choose from? Will I know what job I got before I initially swear in? If the answer to the previous questing is no, and I get a job I would rather not have, can I back out of the service after the initial swear in, but before the final one?

 

[guytoosmooth]

@durantula When I went to MEPS they had a list of jobs for me to choose from. The liaison went through the list and asked me do I want to do this, do I want to do that

 

[solarius49]

Originally Posted by durantula

Hey NT! I've got a few questions for you guys today.

Well I took my ASVAB and got a pretty good score and qualify for about 90% of the jobs in the Air Force. I want to go into Air Traffic Control and have the scores to do so. Some time in the upcoming weeks I'll be going to the MEPS station to do the whole physical/job selection/initial swearing in process. Now my questions are during the job selection process, will everything I qualify for be on the list to choose from? Will I know what job I got before I initially swear in? If the answer to the previous questing is no, and I get a job I would rather not have, can I back out of the service after the initial swear in, but before the final one?

not to put you off, but these are questions for a recruiter.  Only they know what jobs are available.  But be prepared to spread your buttcheeks at MEPS...seriously

 

[durantula]

Originally Posted by guytoosmooth

@durantula When I went to MEPS they had a list of jobs for me to choose from. The liaison went through the list and asked me do I want to do this, do I want to do that

So when you went, did you know you job when you left that day or did it take a while, thanks.

 

[guytoosmooth]

I didn't know because I turned down the jobs they offered me, so I didt find out my job until after basic. It is better if you pick a job before you go to basic.

 

[ldj]

Originally Posted by guytoosmooth

@durantula When I went to MEPS they had a list of jobs for me to choose from. The liaison went through the list and asked me do I want to do this, do I want to do that

heads up majority mos with stipends... bonuses are often hitty jobs, higher demand in deployment, less chance of getting a 9-5 aka agr...

 

[solarius49]

Originally Posted by LDJ

Originally Posted by guytoosmooth

@durantula When I went to MEPS they had a list of jobs for me to choose from. The liaison went through the list and asked me do I want to do this, do I want to do that

heads up majority mos with stipends... bonuses are often hitty jobs, higher demand in deployment, less chance of getting a 9-5 aka agr...

Dont you join the military to deploy.......?

 

[ar guy]

Originally Posted by ElderWatsonDiggs

Originally Posted by AR Guy

Leave for BOLC-B in 15 days. Any Army ROTC questions just ask.

Congrats brother. You are going to make a fine Officer.

Thanks Elder, that really means a lot.

 

[durantula]

One last question guys, I want to go into air traffic control and have the scores to do so, if my physical goes fine, is there any way I can be put on a waiting list for that job??? I'm asking you guys because this because I know the recruiter just wants to get me in, thanks!

 

[seasoned vet]

Originally Posted by solarius49

Originally Posted by LDJ

Originally Posted by guytoosmooth

@durantula When I went to MEPS they had a list of jobs for me to choose from. The liaison went through the list and asked me do I want to do this, do I want to do that

heads up majority mos with stipends... bonuses are often hitty jobs, higher demand in deployment, less chance of getting a 9-5 aka agr...

Dont you join the military to deploy.......?

....you're asking if the purpose of joining the military is to deploy (travel)? hell no.

.....the 'purpose' of joining the military is to get started on your career path, deployment (traveling) is a byproduct of joining the military.

.....i cant stress enough, the importance of choosing your military career wisely. LDJ knows what he's talking about and just summed up what i said a few pages back.

 

[seasoned vet]

Originally Posted by durantula

One last question guys, I want to go into air traffic control and have the scores to do so, if my physical goes fine, is there any way I can be put on a waiting list for that job??? I'm asking you guys because this because I know the recruiter just wants to get me in, thanks!

...yes you can. its called the delayed enlistment program, one of the smartest things you can do to ensure your career path is in your hands and not theirs. i was in the delayed enlistment program for a year before i finally went to basic.

....whatever you do dont let your recruiter punk you into picking somethingelse just to go sooner. ATC makes alot of money on the outside. long tech school too, with a high washout rate. my military job pays good, has the same length tech school and taught at the same training base (Keesler AFB). good luck!

 

[solarius49]

Originally Posted by seasoned vet

Originally Posted by solarius49

Originally Posted by LDJ


heads up majority mos with stipends... bonuses are often hitty jobs, higher demand in deployment, less chance of getting a 9-5 aka agr...

Dont you join the military to deploy.......?

....you're asking if the purpose of joining the military is to deploy (travel)? hell no.

.....the 'purpose' of joining the military is to get started on your career path, deployment (traveling) is a byproduct of joining the military.

.....i cant stress enough, the importance of choosing your military career wisely. LDJ knows what he's talking about and just summed up what i said a few pages back.

IDK what kinda thinking this is.  Dont you join the military to serve your country in a military manner, and perhaps serve in a combat zone?  Even admin MOS's deploy...maybe its just the Marine in me i guess, but it honestly sounds like people are trying to choose an MOS in the hopes that they can avoid deploying

 

[durantula]

Originally Posted by seasoned vet

Originally Posted by durantula

One last question guys, I want to go into air traffic control and have the scores to do so, if my physical goes fine, is there any way I can be put on a waiting list for that job??? I'm asking you guys because this because I know the recruiter just wants to get me in, thanks!

...yes you can. its called the delayed enlistment program, one of the smartest things you can do to ensure your career path is in your hands and not theirs. i was in the delayed enlistment program for a year before i finally went to basic.

....whatever you do dont let your recruiter punk you into picking somethingelse just to go sooner. ATC makes alot of money on the outside. long tech school too, with a high washout rate. my military job pays good, has the same length tech school and taught at the same training base (Keesler AFB). good luck!

Thanks alot man! If you dont mind me asking, what's your job?

 

[ar guy]

Originally Posted by solarius49

Originally Posted by seasoned vet

Originally Posted by solarius49

Dont you join the military to deploy.......?

....you're asking if the purpose of joining the military is to deploy (travel)? hell no.

.....the 'purpose' of joining the military is to get started on your career path, deployment (traveling) is a byproduct of joining the military.

.....i cant stress enough, the importance of choosing your military career wisely. LDJ knows what he's talking about and just summed up what i said a few pages back.

IDK what kinda thinking this is.  Dont you join the military to serve your country in a military manner, and perhaps serve in a combat zone?  Even admin MOS's deploy...maybe its just the Marine in me i guess, but it honestly sounds like people are trying to choose an MOS in the hopes that they can avoid deploying

I agree with you solarius49. Because I'm going Guard and I won't be done with BOLC until late Nov. and with the projected drawdown in AFG, I'll feel guilty if I never deploy. Especially because I'm going to be an officer. But I really think that the mindset that we have is more common with those in combat arms. 

 

[seasoned vet]

Originally Posted by solarius49

Originally Posted by seasoned vet

Originally Posted by solarius49

Dont you join the military to deploy.......?

....you're asking if the purpose of joining the military is to deploy (travel)? hell no.

.....the 'purpose' of joining the military is to get started on your career path, deployment (traveling) is a byproduct of joining the military.

.....i cant stress enough, the importance of choosing your military career wisely. LDJ knows what he's talking about and just summed up what i said a few pages back.

IDK what kinda thinking this is. 

 
....i know.
 
 

Originally Posted by solarius49

Originally Posted by seasoned vet

Originally Posted by solarius49

Dont you join the military to deploy.......?

....you're asking if the purpose of joining the military is to deploy (travel)? hell no.

.....the 'purpose' of joining the military is to get started on your career path, deployment (traveling) is a byproduct of joining the military.

.....i cant stress enough, the importance of choosing your military career wisely. LDJ knows what he's talking about and just summed up what i said a few pages back.

Dont you join the military to serve your country in a military manner, and perhaps serve in a combat zone?

 
...arent i serving my country by joining the military regardless of what it is im doing? be it deployed or stationed stateside? am i not still doing my part?
 
 

Originally Posted by solarius49

 ...maybe its just the Marine in me i guess,

 
It is.
 
 

Originally Posted by solarius49


 but it honestly sounds like people are trying to choose an MOS in the hopes that they can avoid deploying

 
...it sounds that way to you because you've been conditioned to think this way. you've been conditioned to divide the ranks up and look down on a career field that doesnt or hardly deploys.
 
...no one is trying to do anything but assure our time in the military isnt wasted. speaking from experience, one of the saddest sights to see is the 25+ year old, go from his own house, car, bills, etc. fresh out of the military, giving it all up because he cant afford it and having to move back in with mom and dad BACK TO HIS OLD ROOM HE HAD IN HS. ive seen it happen to far too many people looking for the easy job, or the ones that allowed some Army/Marine recruiter hype them up to think that grunt tough guy *$%! means something on the outside when you get out.
 
..like it or not your military career will end one day and you will have to get out and get a regular job. there isnt one thing wrong with doing everything you can to ensure the best lifestyle you can for the life after.
 
....hell man, the individual military branches themselves advertise as much right? they advertise starting you on a career/career path dont they? the traveling is a possible incentive.
 

 

[seasoned vet]

Originally Posted by durantula

Originally Posted by seasoned vet

Originally Posted by durantula

One last question guys, I want to go into air traffic control and have the scores to do so, if my physical goes fine, is there any way I can be put on a waiting list for that job??? I'm asking you guys because this because I know the recruiter just wants to get me in, thanks!

...yes you can. its called the delayed enlistment program, one of the smartest things you can do to ensure your career path is in your hands and not theirs. i was in the delayed enlistment program for a year before i finally went to basic.

....whatever you do dont let your recruiter punk you into picking somethingelse just to go sooner. ATC makes alot of money on the outside. long tech school too, with a high washout rate. my military job pays good, has the same length tech school and taught at the same training base (Keesler AFB). good luck!

Thanks alot man! If you dont mind me asking, what's your job?

 
got out in 2002
....PMEL (Precision Measurement  Equipment Specialist)
^ the civilian world translation: Calibration Technician, Electronic Technician, or Biomedical Technician
 
 
...if i could do it all over again id have done computers. not all bonus based jobs are bad. when i joined the computer field had a bonus because people made so much money on the outside they couldnt keep people in the jobs.
 
 
 

 

[taymane23]

Anybody here doing aircraft armament systems in the Air Force?

I got that job but nobody has really told me what I'm getting into and google ain't really telling me anything either.

 

[dathbgboy]

Took the AFOQT for the guard last week, should be able to get my results next week at the earliest. Don't think I did too well to. Too much to try and recall from high school

 

[any given sunday89]

It's all about what you make of it. I'm getting out in a about a year.. I was deployed to Afghan and Iraq(Navy EOD). Been to Japan, Italy, Sicily, Germany, Spain, Greece, UAE, Qatar, Philippines, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Kuwait, Russia, Djibouti, Somalia, Sudan, Egypt, Hawaii, Alaska, and Australia and didn't pay a cent to get there or stay there. Been to language school on the Navy's dime. Finishing up my BA in business which Navy tuition assistance paid for the whole thing. Came into the Navy owing $12,000 dollars. Currently have $18,000 in my checking and another $30,000 in savings. Everything paid off. Getting out with a HD DD214, never been to mast or NJP'd. All of this and I'm 28 years old. I see it every day in the military people not taking advantage of this golden opportunity they have. Education, financially, and travel wise. The most important thing I'm leaving with though is a clear conscience. Knowing that I did the best for my self and honorably served my country. If your 25 and haven't gone to college or have a dead end job, then I don't know what your waiting for.

 

[solarius49]

Exactly, idk how deploying will keep you from being setup when you get out...i get out in 2 months, and Im set up very nicely

And I am not talking about travelling, Im talking about DEPLOYING

I know we dont have any nondeployable MOS's, hell even cooks deploy. I cant be the only one who thinks its ##% backwards to join the military hoping that you never have to deploy?

 

[chr1scross]

I'm in the air force and i have a half sleeve.. im thinking of getting another one on my other arm but lower portain of the arm..

AFI 36-2903 is very confusing.. can someone explain to me the regulation in more... dumbed down version

 

[any given sunday89]

I cant speak on other services, but Navy wise it all depends on your rate. I know a guy who's been 12 years and done 10 of those in Italy, the other 2 in Washington, DC. If you don't want to deploy at all then don't go Army/Marines or any SPEC-OPS/Support unit in any other branch. You will however, ultimately have to do something overseas. Even if its a year in Djibouti or Kuwait, take something away from it and make an adventure out of it! I've done HALF the things on other people's bucket list's. Even when I was in Afghanistan, bonding with the locals changed my life forever. You learn to appreciate how easy we have it here. Being on deployment and having a "Band of brothers" is something you cant explain and I'll never forget it. If you want to join to reap the benefits like school and the money, then my advice it to go CG or AF.

 

[dubstyledj]

I'm on my 2nd deployment right now and I love deploying. I'm an infantryman so I love being able to actually deploy and do my job, not just sit back in the rear playing "war games"
I'm almost finished with my degree(WHICH THEY PAY FOR TUITION ASSISTANCE THAT DOESN'T TOUCH YOUR GI BILL) showing that even while dpeloyed in a small cop in the middle of the mountain anything can be achieved. Deploying also helps me stack mad money, well not "mad money" but it's more than being back home plus it's tax free. sure, we might not have all the amenities that a larger fob might have but like any given sunday says...the "band of brothers/bonding" you go through while being dpeloyed is something that cna never be achieved by someone not in the mlitary. and i would say not even if you're not a combat mos...knowing that when the S%*$ hits the fan and you got your brothers back and they got yours is a great feeling.

I dislike many things about being in the mlitary, mostly the "having youe hand held" phase...but that system has bene working since the start of it all and it helps groom soldiers into leaders...plus the pay is horrible, but overall I wouldn't change my decision for joining in a million years...plus i'll be "retired" from this job at 43...then get another federal job and it just keeps tacking on my benefits plus my time carries over...

I'm not one to boast about which service is better than the other, nobody but the ARMY would touch me since I had my g.e.d. and since doing so I have become such a better man for it. brainwashed? maybe a little institutionalized lol...just look into all of your options...the more you know before joining helps out alot more down the road.

and i don't mind sharing any knowledge i might have to help someone else who might want to join...NO I won't sell you a fake dream like some recruiters...i will tell you the good and the bad...

 

[SplinterMatic319]

Originally Posted by taymane23

Anybody here doing aircraft armament systems in the Air Force?

I got that job but nobody has really told me what I'm getting into and google ain't really telling me anything either.

you're a loader, you load bombs/missiles on aircraft and maintain the weapon systems on the aircraft