Posted on 12/26/2011 8:59:45 AM PST by PUGACHEV
I've been here ten years and this is my first post. I know many here have experience in the different services, but I have none. My son, who is 24, wants to enlist and make the military a career, but does not know which branch to enlist in. He has a high school diploma, no involvement with drugs, and no criminal record except, unfortunately, a DWI and several traffic related misdemeanors. He is intelligent, fit, athletic, and handsome. His interests are ice hockey, video games, and girls, in that order. He is a quiet person with a low arousal type personality who is very tough and self possesed. He is completely unflapable. He has good manners, no meanness in him, and makes friends easily. He has no particular work-related skills or aptitudes. His grandfather on his mother's side was in the British army from Dunkirk to the end of the war, so maybe there is some military talent lurking in his genes somewhere.
My son is looking to me for advice, and he will follow it. My questions are: (1) What branch would have him with the DWI on his record; (2) What branch would best suit his personality; and, if he had a choice, what speciality might be good for him. My first thought was the Navy, but I really don't know.
GERMANY! kkkkrapy!?? You gotta be kidding me. That place rocks. Good food, great beer, beautiful country with great big....mountains. Yea, that’s it, mountains.
It may be a good idea to discuss what he wants to do in the long term, for the rest of his life. Really think about that. Just give him a realistic assessment that what a recruiter promises may not be what he experiences in the branch he chooses. He may be told glorious stories about sitting in Nevada basically playing ‘video games’ by flying UAVs around the world but after basic, he is stuck as a cook depending on what ‘potential’ others see in him.
Pueblo was my community.
LOL, if you ever want someone to come up with the biggest challenge for you to overcome, ask a Marine.
My recruiter, and I still remember her name to this day, Lied her ass off to me in 1979 LoL
I like the way they think!
He needs to personally and independently assess those two before he speaks with recruiters. Then their sessions can be realistic and productive.
I recommend that before enlisting he mentally commits himself to maximum effort for one enlistment. This effort should integrate being a superb seaman with professional development (school, qualifications, etc.). In this fashion at the end of his first enlistment he will be poised to make the decision for a Naval career or transition to civilian employment (taking full advantage of the GI Bill).
Final thoughts; historically the Navy has been the most stable of services for retaining its personnel, and with the world on the verge of major financial meltdown being in one of the services will be very important.
Misdemeanors?
When I was in Basic in 1974 Air Force P.T. Was No cake walk.We had to run a mile and a half on a concrete Running track in combat boots.
I’ll tell you,I thought that damn run would kill me and I was on my track and field team running the 1 and 2 mile runs.
Today the guys train in sneakers and sweats.They seem to have it much better then we did then.
I hope the USMC doesn’t go Galt. Least likely due to integrity, most likely due to ability.
One thing to remember is that the military will try to get you to go into rates that they need filled, They will dote all over you and tell you how smart yo are and how great the duty is.
They tried to wrangle me into Nuke school.
There are not a lot of civilian jobs in this area and the work tends to be boring reading gauges and stuff.
Nothing against Nukes...
There are technical MOS offering in every branch. Having played the system I recommend finding a reserve unit with an opening in a desired occupational specialty, and then moving to where it is to join that unit.
When he is sent to boot camp and MOS training, he needs to keep his nose to the grindstone and claw his way to the upper levels in class standing (which won't matter to most people in training but which will for him).
After training, he can put in for active duty if his class standing is good, and if it is really good he may leverage it into a good duty station.
USMC 2884/USAF 30451/USMC 2171
I was about to say the same thing.
If my son were going I would reccommend the Coast Guard to him.
What’s great about Coast Guard is small stations not filled with Officers and many enlisted in charge.Exciting work sometimes, sometimes not, An important Rescue Mission,Police work in smuggling operations. Boats mostly small and Captained by enlisted.Many stations right here in America. Yup If I were looking for a place to send my son it would be Coast Guard.
Whatever he decided, I recommend waiting until Obama goes down in flames. If he does.
The Navy and Air Force are currently in the process of reducing their manpower and most likely wouldn’t waive the DUI. A lot depends on how long ago the DUI occured. Now here comes my Bias. As a retired Army Officer, I feel his best opportunities are in the Army and I believe they will waive the DUI. It is important that he get into an MOS which is in a shortage status. His best opportunities for advancement will be in the Combat Arms Fields and from there, Ranger Training and Special Forces if he can qualify. The Army will be reducing “End-Strength” in the next few years, but these are the areas that wont be affected. It is important that after he completes his training and is semi-permanently stationed somewhere in CONUS (U.S.) that he continue his civilian education (Paid by the Army) and attain a College Degree and later a Graduate Degree. This coupled with military education can lead to a possible Commission as an Officer and/or quicker advancement as an enlisted man. I encourage him to sit down with an Army Recruiter and you can join him to discuss all of this. I failed to mention the Marine Corps for which I have a great respect, but given what you told us about your son, I believe the career opportunities are much better in the Army.
“But with the Present administration doing what it will to destroy this country militarily and economicly,I would have to say Don’t do it.” That was the family consensus when Grandson #1 asked for opinions re: same.
Post #13 outlines a good strategy. I went to the local university to use their aptitude tests when I made a career change. They help a lot, because he’ll be able to pursue a career that fits his abilities, thereby freeing up some energy to pursue avocations.
If going career, go Army, rank advancement quicker.
Feh!
I joined when Jimmah was in charge and the Iranians held the hostages.
No one respected Carter.
We knew what had to be done.
Without going into great detail I will say this, regardless of what service he joins, my advice is simple, these three things will guarantee success, 1. be where you are supposed to be 2. When you are suppose to be there 3. Doing what it is your suppose to do...simple to say, not so easy to do, if he accepts discipline as a reward and he will go far and fast. The advantages of a military career are vast, too many great things to mention here...Naturally I recommend the Army!
A valid point.
USAF advancement is Sloooow....
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