+1, TBFL!

My wife retired as a 31S40 after twenty years and twenty minutes.

(hand salute to you and the wife and your son)

Arjay

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"Here's why reliability is job one: A great sounding amp that breaks down goes from being a favorite piece of gear to a useless piece of crap in less time than it takes to read this sentence." -- BRUCE ZINKY

Arjay:

And a heartfelt salute right back. It is funny though about the 20 years and 20 minutes. That is exactly what I used to tell people when asked how long past 20 years I planned on serving. 20 years and 20 minutes was always my response. It didn't work out that way though. We wanted to max out on terminal leave (now they call it transitional leave) so I hung around until 20 years and 8 months so I had 89 days of leave accrued on 31 August (great work around to the 60 day rule).

TrueBlueFlipLover

As a military member I have to say this is something very important you must realize as well.

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CREDO ELVEM IPSUM ETAIM VIVERE

My father served in WWII. My brother served in Vietnam. I served in Iraq. My wife served in Iraq. My son is serving in Iraq. All 5 of us joined voluntarily (no draft). While no one wants to go to war, someone has to shoulder the burden. The military is a profession for those responsible individuals who are willing and able to defend the world at any cost (yes even at the cost of your own life). Today's weapon systems have all but obliterated the concept of "front lines". If you join the military, do so with the mindset that you will see combat but pray daily that the necessity never arises. General Douglas MacArthur said "The soldier above all others prays for peace, for it is the soldier who must suffer and bear the deepest wounds and scars of war."

In closing - Deeds, not words.

TrueBlueFlipLover

+1

Rule number one: Make the recruiter put everything in writing.

Rule number two: SEE RULE NUMBER ONE!

Recruiters are assigned a certain number of slots for schools in order to entice people to sign up. If they can get you to sign without written guarantee of your school they can use that slot for someone who won't sign without it. I scored high enough for any job the Navy had. When I told the recruiter that I couldn't make up my mind between jet engine mechanics and aviation electronics he told me not to worry about it - after I got to my first duty station I could spend time in both shops and then just tell them which school I decided on. Reality set in when I realized that schools were only for those who were smart enough get a written school guarantee before signing up. Instead of learning a trade that would have paid me 3 or 4 times the minimum wage when I got out I spent 4 years chaining down aircraft and got out with no better job prospects than I had before I enlisted.

Not that I regret going in. Alot of great times. Good friends that I still keep in contct with after 30 years. Then there are the VA benefits that get better all the time.

Recruiters are the used car salesmen of the military though.

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Stagemaster
Roadhouse Strat
Epi Traditional Pro Les Paul
Ovation Celeb
Esteban Celestial Night(nicely tweeked)
Blackheart tube amp

Thanks guys you all have great advice to offer. I'll see how things go, I don't have to decide now.
Merry Christmas to all of you, and just know that I'm grateful for all you for serving this country (as well as Canada... for nicholsoni)

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Kid: "Hey Smokey! Where did you get your name?"
Smokey the Bear: "Well..."
(former user jimbo612)

Rule number three: Nothing any recruiter tells you means jack fooking chit!

The "needs of the service" take absolute priority over any pre-enlistment agreement(s) and if the powers that be decide they need more 11-Bravo "bullet-stoppers" the day you arrive to start basic training then that's what you'll be trained for.

An' dat's da fac', Jack!

Arjay -- BT, DT, GTTS

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"Here's why reliability is job one: A great sounding amp that breaks down goes from being a favorite piece of gear to a useless piece of crap in less time than it takes to read this sentence." -- BRUCE ZINKY

There are a few times I've heard..."Well you understand the needs of the service sometimes outweight the needs of the individual...". It usually proceeds you being told your career is going to head in "a new direction" or you will end up somewhere crappy for 3-6months.

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CREDO ELVEM IPSUM ETAIM VIVERE

doin the same thing. i'll be doing army ROTC when i go to a university after 2 years of community college (kinda blew off high school, so i cant go to SIU yet ) anyway, i'll be majoring in either literature with a minor in history or aviation. haven't decided yet. i'm going to try to be a helicopter pilot, but if not that's fine. i might go career, might not.

my cousin went into the national guard after majoring in chemistry, and they didn't give him a special job because of it, (he was a 2nd lieutenant in iraq) so i wouldn't count on that. (though Navy may be different.) anyway i wish you luck in the Navy, and if you do work in the nuclear department... just don't drop anything

-Jake

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"I don't care how good you are, how fast you are. You ain't good enough no lessin' you got the soul." -Hubert Sumlin

The current mandatory retirement age is now 62 years of age for an enlisted soldier.

http://www.armyreenlistment.com/qualifications.htm

Smokey,
I have been in the Army for 24 years. The first 11 were enlisted the last 13 as an officer. It is a fantastic profession if you choose to make it one or a great way to see the world serve your country and decide what you want to do. I was an Infantryman when I was enlisted and it was alright. I got to see the world and made some really good friends. I am a Cavalry Officer and really love it! I again have seen the world and lived a charmed life. It is all what you make of it. The biggest piece of advice I would give you is let the government pay for your education. As some of our august members have stated join ROTC and let them pay the way. The pay of a 2nd Lieutenant trumps a privates anyday of the week. Plus, if you already have a college education you will find it a bit more challenging as an officer. The plus side on the enlisted ranks come with not having half of the BS political stuff(balls, officer Calls and the like). If you ever want to talk more just drop me a line. Hope that this helps.
ABS