thinking of joining army at 25

[Spider-Aziz]

Last Son, if you did not join the army yet, read every poster's advice again, and think things more thoroughly
A lot of recommendations suggest joining the military is not the best career choice, you can serve your country and be honorable in other ways, there are better ways, like joining the fire department

 

[charl_huntress]

I was in the same boat as you at that age (or maybe a little older) so I joined the Navy. My first ship was an aircraft carrier out of San Diego. I went and seen things I wouldn't have been able to without being in the Navy. I was in a few movies briefly and an episode of Crocodile Hunter. I was also part of Iraqi Freedom and never was a bullet, missile or bomb aimed at me.
I lived in Japan for 3 years and I loved it.
I enjoyed it until my last command and that was because my boss was a big @#$%. I got out of the Navy after 11 years.
I used the my benefits to go to Film school. I have Bachelor's in Film Production and a Masters in Creative Writing with a slant towards screenwriting.

So it's not the nightmare people are making it out to be but it's not all fun and games. I look back on my time with fond memories. Research the hell out of what you want and what you want to get out of joining the military. The military is gonna get what it wants from you so you may as well get what you want out of it.

This is a great post and I wanted to repost it. I joined the Navy later than most, after I did four years in college, which helped strengthen my foundation. Like Roach said there were good times, but it wasn't all good times. When I joined 9/11 wasn't a catch phrase. I never thought we would ever go to war again and then 9/11 happened; so understand anything can and does happen and you could be caught in the midst of that. It is a life changing commitment and not something you want to commit to overnight.

The only additional thing I will offer is if you're stuck in a dead end job don't think military service will free you from a dead end job. You could still be turning wrenches, cleaning toilets, and swabbing the deck in the military as a Sailor, Airmen, Marine, or Soldier. It's not all salutes and parades. I always suggest college as an alternative to the military if you are stuck in a dead in job. The answer is to seek more education so you can better your employment. That works rather you are in the military or a civilian.

Good luck!

 

[JJJ's Ulcer]

Thanks for the advice. I plan on trying to get out of this funk, but got a little more drinking t do these next few days.

Drinking won't accomplish anything. Stop being weak. Put down the bottle. You think they'll let you be a booze-hound in the army?

 

[enterthemadness]

Drinking won't accomplish anything. Stop being weak. Put down the bottle. You think they'll let you be a booze-hound in the army?

Some are though. Probably a small % of people in though.

 

[JJJ's Ulcer]

You really think you can do basic training in the army while being drunk and hungover? Pretty sure they keep a tight lid on access to alcohol, anyway.

 

[charl_huntress]

People drink in basic. People sneak booze and drugs in all the time. It happens not very often...but it does happen. Of course 0500 mornings combined with miles of marching and someone yelling in your face makes it hard to drink anything that will cause a hangover in my opinion.

 

[Feenix]

Drinking won't accomplish anything. Stop being weak. Put down the bottle. You think they'll let you be a booze-hound in the army?

I agree with everything you posted in this thread.

TLS, running away from your problems won't solve anything. It sounds like you wanted to join the military to escape your life. Your problems will still exist unless you do something about it.

And your posts about drinking...well, you know what you need to do to combat that and looking for sympathy from a comic book website won't fix it.

 

[Anita18]

I find it kind of ironic/sad TLS , that you want to join the army probably because your parents disapprove of it. Before, it sounded like you were keeping your job and dating your gf because your parents wanted you to. And now you're deciding you've had enough....but running right into another system where someone's gonna tell you exactly what to do.

The military is going to teach you discipline. No doubt about that. But it isn't going to magically give you a purpose in life. You have to already have one going in. And only you can decide what that is.

 

[Anubis]

You gotta remember, this is a very old thread.

 

[Spider-Aziz]

Now he made it resurface to tell us his decision

 

[Anubis]

Ooooh, well. Is he even sure he can get in?

 

[charl_huntress]

They do say anyone can get into the Army, but that's not really true now and days. Due to the economy and what not the military is now known for turning people away.

 

[Alex_Spider]

Or you could stay home and play Call of Duty instead.

^^

What's honourable about joining the army?

If you ask me I think that's incredibly childish and naive.

The UK and the US are on an imperialistic rampage. Over a decade of war in the middle east, drone strikes across Pakistan, and what is it all for? The people in the middle east wouldn't see you as fighting for their freedom. They'd see you for exactly what you are - a stooge for higher ups. I'm talking about scum leadership that have no qualms sending young people off to day for no reason.

I can't emphasize that enough - no reason.

History will not remember the US fondly for what it is currently doing.

Risk:
PTSD
Permanent injury
Death in combat
Suicide

How would that make your family feel?

And, what's the pay off again? Honour??

Perfectly said
You wanna make something honourable in your life? Become a volunteer in the third world countries, to aid building public structures and give food and water to people that are dying from starvation. Or if you don't want to go so far from your home, engage with your community in methods of urban farming like hydroponics to grow veggies and fruit in cities.
The only ones that are benefited from war are the bankers and the corporations that fuel the war economy.

 

[the last son]

I woke up today and decided, if they take me I'll join. I quit alcohol before when I had to for work and will certainly do it again for purpose. Friends on FBI support my decision and my brother does,but parents don't. I don't mind being told what to do as long as the reward feels satisfying and beneficial in the long run. I plan on meeting with a recruiter tomorrow. Thanks for the advice people.

 

[JJJ's Ulcer]

You have friends in the FBI?

 

[the last son]

I meant Facebook

 

[charl_huntress]

Do yourself a favor then and take as many practice ASVABs as you can on the internet.

 

[Spider-Aziz]

Ooooh, well. Is he even sure he can get in?

That's his thread, he should answer it
Are you ready, Last Son? Are you willing to possibly sacrifice your sanity? Your health? Your life? (suicide attempt is a big possibility)

Obey your parents, they said no, you might want to guess how good it is to take their advice in this case

 

[JJJ's Ulcer]

If you're joining the army to escape from life's realities, instead of joining out of a love for the army, then you're doing it for the wrong reasons.

Also, I don't understand why quitting drinking has to be something you do in the future after "a little more drinking"? Why can't you quit now?

 

[the last son]

Have a meeting with recruiter on Monday. I'm finally going to do this.

 

[Duke]

Good luck to you & your decision/s.

 

[Schlosser85]

Joining the Army is not something to be done lightly, or for the wrong reasons.

The ONLY reason anyone should join the Army, IMO, is because YOU, not anyone else, 110% wants to. Not because someone else wants you to, not to spite someone who doesn't want you to, not to run away from your problems, etc.

Only you can know your own mind (maybe), but this is not something to just do for the **** of it.

And I agree with JJJ, frankly your "got a little more drinking to do before I quit" just sounds pathetic and like you have no actual willpower or intention to quit. It's the same apathy you show about everything, where you just drift along and figure you'll join the Army because at least you'll be forced to do something. It's not a magic cure, and it's also not a normal civilian job where, if you decide on your second day that you've made a terrible mistake, you can just stop showing up with no consequences.

 

[the last son]

Like i told the recruiter, I'm 26 with no self respect, no honorand purpose. Why not serve your country if you feel that way. I would hope to serve and learn discipline at the same time.

 

[Schlosser85]

Honor, IMHO, is a vague nebulous phrase that doesn't mean anything.

Simplistic, empty platitudes like "honor", "duty", "patriotism", etc., are tossed out every day by the recruiters preying on naive kids because they're vague enough that in the person's head, they form whatever meaning the person wants them to.

 

[the last son]

Difference is I'm not a kid. I want respect for myself and serving this country is as high as it gets in my eyes