Cant decide what military branch to join?

Question

I've always wanted to join the military. My parents wont let me join the military until I go to college. After college, I would be eligible to become an officer. I like both the Army and the Coast Guard. If I joined the army I would try for special forces but I dont want it to take too long. If I joined the Coast Guard I'd become an officer. I dont know....any advice?

Answer 1

Man up and join the Marine Corps.

Answer 2

I have 7 family members in the Armed Forces. 2 in the Navy,4 in the Air Force, and 1 in the U.S. Rangers. My suggestion to you is that you find your preference. if you want to be at sea for long periods at a time then the Navy but if you want to be in the action then the army or if you want to be in the air then the air force might i add a really cool occupation in the air force is an ariel gunner. or if you want to be in the dead of night in special forces (seals,rangers). it depends on what kind of warfare you prefer.

Answer 3

go enlisted most officer don't do any Special force duty they are more for paper work. is the NCO that does the job. i believe after captain most officer will never find them self in the field.

Answer 4

Dude you know SF is a 2 year course, right?  That's assuming you pass Selection and get selected.  You can pass selection and not get selected if they don't like you.  Then you have to pass the Q course.  I'm enlisted so I can't offer a fair, unbiased opinion about going officer.

My advice is talk to a recruiter from each branch and decide from there.

Answer 5

you sound like a mamma's boy just stay home

Answer 6

Army and Coast guard are cool.

As a 22 year retired Army vet I recommend Coast Guard.

My Uncle was 1st SF you don`t really want that son they all die. The Coast guard you don`t have long sea duties and actually get to come home. Plenty of adventure no problem there. You still serve your country in a meaningful way boarding ships, fighting pirates, fighting terrorists, rescuing people.

Good luck

Answer 7

"I would try for special forces but I dont want it to take too long"

what if you asked them to hurry up?  just kidding.  but seriously, this is what marks the difference between the UK army and the US army, too many kids want to join the US army in thinking that they can be special forces and be real cool.  unfortunately being an unprofessional army and "cool" the US army literally lets in kids and trains them for a few weeks to become "special forces".   more like "special needs".  The US army is a joke.

Answer 8

I was a Field Artillery Officer, and I received my commission thru ROTC.  I would suggest you ask Vets of both the USCG and the Army, and decide which is most attractive to you.  If you pick the Army, you can take ROTC in college.  If possible, attend Airborne School while you're still in ROTC. Back in the 80s, serious cadets attended some sort of special training while still in ROTC. I don't know the requirements for SF. I met a few Green Berets at Fort Benning, but they never talked about their training.  

Answer 9

Just because you go to college it doesn't mean you automatically become an officer.  You have to go through a military ROTC program, or graduate and then go to an Officer Candidate Course (OCS), which is pretty challenging.

You say that you want to go Army and then SF, but then you also are interested in the Coast Guard.  Sorry, I don't see the connection since they're both so different.

If you're REALLY interested in Special Forces, you're better off going enlisted.  You have more choices in what you want to do.  You can pick something in combat arms that'll help you to prepare for SF both technically and physically.  If you do get in SF, I'm pretty sure you'd have to do a six year enlistment which would "take too long".

Can't help you much with the Coast Guard thing.

Answer 10

You could always apply to the respective academy. The Coast Guard is the hardest of all the branches to get into, since it's based purely on you application packet. If you don't want to go that route, there's ROTC classes you can take for the army, navy, and air force. That program gives you a commission the same day you get your degree. I think with ROTC you get to do airborne school and earn your jump wings while you're still in college. SF training isn't for the week at heart, I know in the Air Force our guys go to school for 2 years just to get qualified not to mention the rest of the training they need to be integrated with other USSOC units.