Posted: 8/20/2007 1:20:15 AM EDT
| Hey all I'm 19 and am seriously looking to enlist into the Army by the end of this week. I already took the asvab and scored pretty high. I'm thinking of being a heavy equipment operator as my MOS. What do I have to look forward to in the next 2 years? |
| Just a word of advice. Think long term. If you in fact scored high on your asvab..then think about the potential of using what you learn from the Army and applying it to the civilian market when you get out......basically...get training from the military that will help you get a good paying job later in life...i.e. communications, medical, or aviation. I enlisted in 1995 and did 5 yrs active. In 2000 I went into the active reserves for 3 years. I did commo. Now a days, there are countless jobs that pay decent all over the world. I am in the works now to go back overseas and do some contracting to put away some cash. The pay is quite good. Just something to think about. Prepare for life long term. Set yourself up for future success. |
Listen to this guy. When I joined in 1998 the only thing I had on my mind was money for college. So I went and became a scout. Now, I am out of the Army and there is no market for scouts in the civilian world. Choose something that will benefit you greatly. If you scored high on your ASVAB think about PsyOps, Medical, Aviation, Electronics. Something along these categories will have a great offering outside the military. |
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What ever technical field you go into, make sure you start and complete the certification program like the ASE for mechanics. That way when you leave the Army you will have the training and the certifications the civilian world wants to see. Don't go in the Army with preconceived notions or expectations. Take it as it comes and jump on any opportunities to excel. Volunterr for everything despite what you may have been told. I believe the secret to a successful and fun military career is "Been There Done That". If you volunterr for something and it sucks, well now you know what sucks. If you volunterr for something and it's great, now you know. Either way you learned something. The smartest guys in the military are the ones that made the most mistakes. How do you think we learned? |
| The heaviest piece of equipment you will operate may just be a 240. I work with tons of army guys who don't see their MOS. If you enlist for two years, plan on 15-18 months here after you get done training. You will not state state side and operate equipment unless you lose a limb these days. |
Funny, and in some cases true. however... He will be trained and classed into his chosen MOS, he will be assigned to a 21E position. Deployment schedules are not individual based, so he will not hop on a plane to Iraq/A'stan as soon as his training is done. If his unit is deploying or already deployed, he might. As far as what he does in OIF/OEF when he gets there depends on the unit. I know plenty of engineer types doing engineer type jobs, and likewise know plenty of them that are owning land, operating 240s, or other tasks like that. Just because you see something in your little corner of Iraq, doesn't mean it's the same in the next BCT's battlespace. Oh 18 months--BS  .Either way, good luck OP. |
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That was fast. I have a question now. I'm 20, and entering my third year of college, with hopes of getting hired by the NYPD, NCPD, or SCPD. Joining the military is my last resort plan to fall back on should none of that work out. If I get my bachelor's degree and look into OCS, and go through all that, may I still fight? The last thing I'd wanna end up as is a REMF. I've been told to enlist first and work my way up the ladder of experience, which would make for better leadership skills, especially for the field and frontline. That would be my likely option, but I wanna know how it would work the other way before I forget it all together. |
If you wanna be a zero (officer) then go for it. Set goals & strive to meet them. Most, not all, former enlisted turned officer, turn out to be fantastic officers for the reasons you've already mentioned. You don't have to be an officer to lead men...at least that's how it is in the Corps. I've seen PFC's & LCpl's straight outta SOI or with limited fleet experience lead better than a college grad with bars on his/her collar. Now this is not a smack on officers, it's just two different worlds. Most good college grad's turned officers were leaders before they were commissioned. You know you better than anyone else. If you think you have what it takes to complete OCS & lead men for the right reasons then don't let anyone stop you. Bear in mind, however, officers are constantly measured by their enlisted subordinates for quality & many are pushed beyond their threshold. Take that as you may. You will learn this soon enough should you become one. Same goes for enlisted leaders of enlisted & in the le community. If you want to be an leo then pursue that. Personally, being former mil turned leo, I think prior mil experience helps you into the le community if you are squared away. You need to decide what you want to do & not be fickle about it. IMO get some real world experience in the mil & if yo survive & still want to be an leo then you will be that much better prepared. Just don't be one of those vet's that can't distinguish between or adapt to civ life after discharge. The mil isnt't for everyone & I'll be the first to admit it isn't easy being becoming a civ again, especially after Marine Corps life. I wouldn't take those 12yrs back for anything though! Good luck. |