I never joined the army, so maybe that doesn't give me the right to comment in this thread. But I have a comment on decision making:

1) I remember seeing something about decision making which basically said "Once the decision is made, go for it unless it becomes absolutely clear that the decision was the wrong one". This has helped me a lot in making major life decisions. Once you made a decision, try not to second-guess yourself unless lots of red flags are waving themselves high.

2) Have enough self confidence to not seek validation from others. You are planning to do what you see is the right thing, don't try to substitute being well liked for self confidence.

I'm a habitual overthinker/second guesser (which makes me good at my job) which unfortunately is also coupled with a lack of self-confidence, so this stuff is hard for me too.

ETA: What about 13T

Especially if he is a wiccan who has a purple cloak, and dagger, and a big crystal he chants to every night before lights out.

I usually treat everybody with respect and I know they will be the ones that say yes I can join or no I can't. Even if I do get turned away I won't have that regret of not trying but I really do hope that I can join.

And I was a Cav Scout for 4 yrs



 

Good advice



 

It's the worst of both worlds!

Yep, 11B and 19D  here.
If I had to do it all over again I'd have just done 11B


OP, I'm telling you, Army Infantry and Korea.
YOU CAN DO IT!

That's cold man.  But, there's always a possibility OP will like Soju, juicy girls, unidentified meat on a stick and not being able to enjoy any of it because they're locked down for 9 months because some idiot did something.

Y'all are cold. 

Baby...come Baahhhck. I got's my velcro chaps on, baby, jus fer ewe!!

Make sure to get your stress card from your recruiter when you sign.
 They do not issue them at reception any longer.

Then ask to train at Leonard Wood or Jackson  Cause you definitely want to train with female soldiers.  

 Go Army!!!  Just do it,

The guy is from Montana. I mean fuck, Korea is an improvement. He'll get to think about, but not actually, fuck a juice/drinky girl, instead of thinking about his neighbor's sheep.

How old are?
Why do you want to join?
What are your career ambitions in the military? Is it a stepping stone to other things in life?
Have you looked at other military branches, Air Force, Marine Corps, Navy and Coast Guard?
Have you already graduated from college?

I have no military experience. Just curious.

I can tell you this. At this point if you don't you'll spend the rest of your life wishing you did, and second guessing your decisions if you don't. Joining is the worst decision that you'll ever love. It fucking sucks and yet you'll look at it as the greatest thing you ever did.

Heh,

I took the OP's username as bi-gal and figured she would go as far as she wanted but probably more suited for the NAVY or Air Force.

she said its big al, keep up



 

"Don't blame me,  blame your recruiter"

---Every Drill Sergeant ever.

When I think of Montana I think of meth before weed.

Peacetime Army, no thank you.

That's REALLY good advice.

My last firefight was just over 6 months ago.

The other services will pick your job for you. At least in the army you have a choice and a say in what MOS you want. You made a fine decision it's to easy really. Hopefully, you will be accepted. I have served now for 14 years active the time goes by fast.

You'll get to rape and pillage your way through the Middle East, what's not to love.
Not to mention you get all the blood oil you could ever need.

We get paid in blood oil and blood dollars, they're worth more than regular oil and dollars.
It's how we afford all those cool V6 muscle cars, ricer burners with badass exhausts and lifted trucks with sweet rims.
It's also how we afford multiple wives children and divorceses

I am very proud of my active duty airborne infantry time.  And I am proud of my infantry National Guard time.  

Post your address in Basic so I can send you cookies.

Better under Trump than Hillary......relax, had those same feelings in 1983 when I did it.....turned out to be the best 7 years of my life. Study for the asvab, score high and get an MOS you can use after you get out to make a living.

You are probably too tall.

Just go ahead and sign the papers OP and make the most of it.  You'll regret it later in life if you don't.

I hated it. Did my time and got out.

1. Do what you want to do in the military.
2. Do not sign for more than 4 years.
3. 1st year, just immerse yourself in the job and Army. Learn everything you can about being a soldier and your job.
4. 2nd-3rd year: Find a college that has a degree program you are interested in. A real college..not some "only online" Bullshit. Start taking online courses for that major at said college with TA. Only take 1 at a time and look at the fucking training schedule.  It will be posted and you will be able to see pretty far down the road if anything is coming up that would prevent you from taking a course.  Also, talk to your team leader and ensure there isn't random shit you aren't tracking because you are new. The goal isn't to complete the degree. The goal is to use the "free money" to get classes done..so when you GTFO, you can finish up the degree quickly.
5.If you do sign the papers, you can start learning basic soldiers skills. Phonetic alphabet, rank structure, proper ways to talk to a superior, both NCO/Officer...
6. Go to the range if you want..but don't take what you learn there as the end all be all. The army has been killing people for a long time. Just take what they say and apply it.
7. Realize now, that you are signing up for a job that you will only do about 25% of the time. The other 75%, as a private, will be spent cleaning, formations, getting smoked, bullshit online courses, and overall dumb shit that has nothing to do with your job.  "It is what it is".  
8. If you go Infantry, realize your life exists in two places. The Barracks, where you clean weapons and do details(busy work). The field...where you are outside, regardless of weather...doing long movements and lots of physical repetitions of different tactics and techniques a squad and platoon employ. It's not easy.
9. Enjoy yourself. Make friends. Don't be an asshole and don't be an angry drunk. Don't be a moral standard bearer and don't be a wierdo that spends all day playing video games online, away from the platoon.
10. Save your fucking money. This is going to be the hardest thing for you to accomplish. Going out every weekend is an easy thing to do. Buying a new car because every single fucking military base is surrounded by people who want your money..and can get it...Don't be that guy.

11. Fuck you...get used to it..fuck stick.

same here

What's a handcock?

I don't think these safe spacers  could spend a night in a WWll  barracks and no hot water    

Serve your nation, selflessly.  Sign for 3-4 year enlistment. If you like it, stay in. If not, get out but serve well. It's your duty as a citizen. 21 years here.....11C, 18B, 18F, 18D, 18Z.

Is it big Al or bi gal ?

Go on...

For damn near everything.  Tats, Tranny, weight, drugs, criminal history, health issues, etc.

If you ain't Cav, you ain't shit!

First off thank you for volunteering.

In order to answer your question I need to know what your ASVAB score was.

if you're going open contract to 50-50 mix. You might end up someplace awesome, you might end up someplace hellish.

If you have a good  score and you joining the Army,  see if you can get into intelligence, drones, communications, crypto, airwing.

This.

 

Nerves about a life changing decision are to be expected. And this will change your life.

I can't quote it (too long), but read bagofcrabs63's post just above this about five times. Memorize it.

Be careful with "one time" decisions you have to make early on. When I came in, they wanted $100 a month for a year to take the GI bill. It hurt, and a lot of people didn't take it. BAD decision. This new retirement option is an even bigger minefield. DO NOT assume the government is doing things in your best interest. The original VSI/SSB(?) was sucker bait to give members with 12 to 16 years in the service about $25K before taxes to get out. Tens of thousands took it...insanity. Every single friend I had that went that route said it was one of the biggest mistakes of their life. Saved the GOVERNMENT hundreds of millions.

RESEARCH your MOS exhaustively. Some jobs pay big bucks on the outside, so the mil has to pay bonuses throughout your career to retain you.

Once you're established, study for promotion. Hit school hard in the years you have a line number, hit college hard in the years you're not promotion eligible.

26 year retired CMSgt (yea, AF, fuck off) here. Travelled the world, had a blast, got a Masters, worked in $$$ industry for four years after the mil...perm retired at 55 now and loving life.

OP if you are already second guessing it, dont waste anyones time.


Its both

Whatever you do, don't swear in until after January 20th.

They aren't doing the $100 thing a month anymore IIRC...or at the very least, are working to phase it out and everyone active duty only gets post 9/11 depending on join date.

are you Big Al or a Bi gal? These things matter if you're trying for direct commission.

ETA: Damn it, beat.

so much disappointed,  I thought it was Bi -Gal

Good luck OP, for when you actually join.  

Do it.  Do it now.




lol.  I got gray hair like 2 weeks after being assigned to an armor unit.  I had been in a couple airborne infantry units prior that in Bragg and Italy.  It was a culture shock, to say the least.  I can't really disagree with the above.

I was in Army MI and hated every second of it. My DD214 is my most prized possession. I imagine that the day I got out of the army is what getting out of prison feels like.