Trying to decide whether or not to join the military?

Question

i'm 22, no kids, just a serious girlfriend for 3 1/2 years. Been tossing this around for the past few years and i'm just looking for an outside opinion. My girlfriend obviously doesn't want me to, and neither does most of my family. I feel like this could probably help me in the long run, but i just don't want to jump head first into this

Answer 1

Well...look at your life, are you were you wanted to be?

I;m sure your girl has ALOT to do with this choice. Don't let her. She's not a spouse, so she has no say. If she doesn't want to stand by your side as you go and make a living for yourself, while serving your country and doing some good...then do you really need her? Your family will do the same thing...they will hate it..but once your in, they will change (mine did)

The military is a complete lifestyle change. You will move almost every 2-4 years. You will deploy, you will do things you hate to do, you will do things you love to do, you will do things you thought impossible, you will learn how to take care of yourself starting from nothing, and more so, you WILL grow and become more of a man than you thought you could. I joined at 21, and I couldn't be happier. It changed my life, now I don't depend on anyone but myself...mainly because I have a son that needs his mom to keep her head in the game.

either way, do what YOU want..not what those around you want. They can follow you, or they can hinder you...but do what YOU want to...its your life.

EDIT: Hey, golden buffalo..ever think for a minute that that "tow truck driver" PICKED HIS OWN MOS. Surprise! You can CHOSE what you want to be, depending on scores and whats open (like any other civilan job) and if the job he REALLY wanted wasn't there...or he needed a higher asvab score, he had EVERY chance to wait till it became open and study to get a higher score. believe it or not...we can take charge of how our future goes in the military....

Answer 2

my husband was basically in the same position as you when he was 19, i was his girlfriend of one year and i didn't want him to go either, neither did his family, but he basically told me it was something that he wanted to do in his life, he said he would understand if i wanted to break up but that he would love it if i would wait for him, we got married when he was in tech school, (over 5 years ago) but your relationship is different and you guys might not be ready for marriage, now my husbands parents say its the best decision he ever made and he wants to retire in the AF

, don't do what your gf or family tells you, its your life, you don't want to have any regrets, good luck to you

Answer 3

Your situation is very common..

You need to figure it out on your own as it will be you who will live it and not us..

Ask yourself the tough questions and figure it out..Are you military material?..Will your girl be here in the future? Are you prepared to sacrifice? If you do not enlist will you live in regret? These are just some of the questions you need to figure out before deciding anything.

Trust and believe in yourself and be honest and in the end you will end up where you belong..Good luck to you.

Answer 4

Hey there, Im a serious girlfriend of an Army National Guard guy.  I have to say it is really hard for me but I know what it means to him.  He had been to Iraq 2x's before I met him and was at that time out of the military.  I have never been around anyone in the military until him, I supported his decision to join the guard, However it is very tough! On the other hand I see that he is very happy.  He loves serving his country and being away is hard on him as well but we pull through it.  The pay is great, and as long as you find a good recruiter and really want it for yourself, I think it is a wonderful career, My b/f is on his 11th year now and the benefits along with the advancements are great. I would say it really has to be something you are wanting to do for yourself and your future.  I truly admire the military, what they do is above and beyond anything imaginable.  Good luck and best wishes to you..:o)

Answer 5

There's plenty of things we can help you out with on Yahoo answers, but I don't think this question is one of the things we can help you with. Joining the Military is really up to you in the end, and there are a lot of things you have to think about before joining. No matter which branch you join, you'll be gone from home a lot which basically means you'll be away from your girlfriend a lot. Its also a commitment you can't back out of once you sign that piece of paper. If you feel like it can help you in the long run and if you really want to do it, then go for it, but just think about it man.

Good luck with your decision!!

Answer 6

If you're in a relationship of 3 1/2 years with your girlfriend and you love her and want to settle down, I don't think the military is a good idea.

If you don't like people controlling everything you do (recalls at various times of the day no matter if you already had plans), If you don't like travelling abroad (being stationed in other countries or far away from home) then I would not join.

Are there opportunitiess in the military? Yes there are. But it's not as clean cut as it looks.

I must say, with the opportunity to go to school and all that you could easily get shipped in the middle east and have to drop your classes.

Basic training is just the first round. Think about 4 or 6 years of someone totally controling you; from the hair on your head to the etiquette in which you carry yourself.

You will go places that you don't want. There will be training and even and "updated" training that you don't care for that you will be required to do.

If you're more of a loner, then it's not for you because everything is a TEAM effort.

Depending on how long you stay in, there will come a time where you will be put in a supervisor position. It depends on how long you're in and what tests you pass and what rank you are.

You cannot stay at one comfortable spot on your job. You will be forced to excel and eventually you will have to learn some leadership and look after others. If this is what you like then join.

I served in the military as a Fire Fighter. The experience was one that I'll never forget.

I say this to you: If ALL you want to do is serve your country and gain some experience and skills then the military is for you.

However, If you're family oriented, a free thinker, and want to pursue college and have the freedoms of going anywhere at anytime, then DO NOT join the military. If you like traveling - DO NOT join. I say that because you won't get to experience a place like you would like to. (if you like traveling)

Travel on your own time for vacations, home stays, higher learning, sight seeing etc.

Just some friendly advice.

Answer 7

Things the military provides are endless.  Go and talk to a recruiter, and find out what that branch can do for you.  Some things are offered by all branches, and some are exclusive only to that branch.  If you are looking for top notch training that will help you land a civilian job, the military is your best bet.  Go to www.military.com and gather some info.  You can check out each service and what they have to offer.  Click on the benefits tab, and there is a nice list of things that you are entitled to as a member of the armed forces.  Go Navy, Good Luck!

Answer 8

as long as you go to a good recruiter and research

what you want to go into I think you will be fine. and as long as you

meet the medical and physical requirements you are okay.

could you answer my question?

Answer 9

last guy i met from the army drives a tow truck. I wouldn't buy the line that this will help you for your future, unless you get trained in a marketable job that will help you in the future such as mechanic or electrician or medic. Even still, going to mechanic school privately would be less expensive all around. You will spend your money but you won't be working 24 hr days and at the beckon call of the army. Also the army may promise to train you in some specific field but they don't tell you if you got accepted to that position until after you join, so if you want to stay they will send you to front line infantry and string you along with promises of education and such which they won't deliver. The GI bill is there if you finish four years but they are making that harder to get too. But if you think about it, if you dedicate your life to working all day and living in a camp with crappy showers you can pay your education on your own with out getting shot at or having to do things you don't want to do.

Answer 10

Well.. it's for some people then again just not for some. My brother joined the military and LOVED it! He got very far in life now he is out and married and is going through school for FREE because of the military and has a great job making lots of money. Your girlfriend could possibly break up with you if you join or later on but some stick around. It is very dangerous right now and there is a great possibility of going to war so you have to think about that. Are you ready to watch people die? Ready to kill a 12 year old who is trying to kill you? Ready for possible death? Ready to see your buddies die? It could work out for you but it is just so dangerous right now. You should look into all of you options first and see if it is what you want. Good luck! If you do decide to join email me [e-mail] and I'll send you letters and care packages because I support the troops!! :-)

Answer 11

I recommend going National Guard.  you'll get the same training the rest of the Army gets AND you'll get to come home.  now I can't guarantee that your girl will still be there when you come home from training, but if she leaves while you're in training that's her loss. you'll be in for some short term struggles but if you can persevere you can get the training to do whatever you want, money for college, more confidence than you've ever had, you'll make lots of friends, and you'll have fun doing it.  a friend of mine did it and he's never been happier (and he was always the guy who thought anyone who joined the military was dumb). and if you go Guard and decided that you like the Army you can switch to active duty at any time. but you can't do the reverse.

Answer 12

Joining the miliatary is a very hard descion to make do your research an talk to your recruiter about it do what you want to do not what yuor family wants families are always not goin to like their kin going into the miliatary during a war my family is the same way

Answer 13

talk to soldiers before you talk to recruiters. recruiters make money on the people they sign up so there as bad as car salesmen talk to troops that have served

Answer 14

your still young and only live once, I say go for it, worst case scenario (except for death and injury) you'll get a h**l of an experience. just remember the longer you wait, the younger the guys you gotta answer to will be, I'm 21 getting ready to turn 22 in SEP., I signed for 3 years as an airborne infantryman so if I decide its not for me then I'll just have turned 25 and still at a good age to start a career, or put my 20 in and retire at 42 still young enough to work full time. the longer you wait the bigger the gamble, what do ya got to lose other than your ~girlfriend~ (don't be like that panzy on TUF) your also at a prime age to join because I always said I'd wait till I was 21, I'd be damned if I go to hot a*s iraq to smoke some fools and take the risk of gettin my a*s blown to bits while not being able to sit and drink in the bar or buy my own brew, I would rather regret joining while still manning up then regret not joining and not knowing, besides I could use a good boot in the ***.    good luck there chief  

Answer 15

Yes it can help you.

But it can ruin your relationship.

Get married first.

Then go for the Air Force, You'll see your lady more than you ever will with the other branches 12-15 month deployments(Cannot take your lady) with the Army,, 5-8 wit the Marines, 6-9 with the Navy(ALOT of sea time on sea duty).

Go Air Force!