You have already served your country by becoming a productive citizen. Let it go! If you wanna play war games, join an airsoft league or similar.
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Joining the ARMY?
- Thread starter Smokeshot
- Start date
What he said, let me suggest a less baby version of useful war game, paint ball.
Welts teach lessons.
Lots of negativity in the posts, and to be honest, lately there has been a lot to be negative about. Things are turning around, though. Got word that all the DEI crap is being pulled down and trashed at several different installations. Looks like things will be more "normal", but who knows for how long. At least 4 years. I don't know which occupational specialties allow it, but there are several that direct commission. Since you have a family and are probably into stability, I would definitely consider Guard/Reserve. If you go active Army, you'll be moving every three years or so. As far as the professionalism, it really is dependent on the particular unit. I've seen plenty of f'ed up active soldiers.
I like when guys that were never in the military tell people in the military to google something.
Stop loss is an extension. It depends on what the extension for..if you’re on court martial…well…they are extending you so they can prosecute.
They have stop loss pay. It was what replaced it, AIP. A lot of guys back then found that glorious. It stacked with all the other deployment pays.
That said, stop loss was seen way ahead of time. If you were up for reenlistment, and it happened to land on or during a deployment cycle and you weren’t sure you wanted to reenlist, you would sign an extension to make the deployment. Then after the deployment, make a decision if you wanted to reup or not.
A lot of this was in a roundabout way, voluntary. In a volunteer military, believe it or not…people liked doing the things they signed up for and were trained to do.
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It is already on track, my son is a pilot in special operations who keeps me up to date.
I didn't consider that, but his education could line him up for a commission. It may be another branch however. My son was commissioned his last year at the Citadel.
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Appreciate the advice. I'm very thankful and grateful to receive such valuable advice and suggestions from each and every one of you. I don't think I'll be able to go this year either way because I'm taking care of my wife (she fractured her wrist last week) and our daughter right now. And we plan on having another kid sometime soon.
My knee is kinda fucked (major ACL injury a couple of years ago). Whenever I jump up and down too much, I feel this electric shock type of pain. I was also diagnosed with gout last year (not fat but I eat a lot of red meat). I love being with my wife and kid ... they're all I got, so I'm gonna think long and hard about this. My wife suggested that I could volunteer for the local fire department or something if I can't shake off the urge to do "something" for this country.
My knee is kinda fucked (major ACL injury a couple of years ago). Whenever I jump up and down too much, I feel this electric shock type of pain. I was also diagnosed with gout last year (not fat but I eat a lot of red meat). I love being with my wife and kid ... they're all I got, so I'm gonna think long and hard about this. My wife suggested that I could volunteer for the local fire department or something if I can't shake off the urge to do "something" for this country.
If you have gout it’s generally a disqualifier if you disclose it…
I’m sure there’s a waiver process, but that’s up to the recruiting agency.
If you want to join the military the USCG reserves is perfect for you as it will be very easy on the family
Matches if that's addressed to me then I'm gonna have to point out that you are full of shit. You don't know me. Yet you imply that my statement lacks cred because I haven't proven my own service.
Fuck you! 11March1986 to 10March 1992. But who cares when the truth of my statement can be easily verified by a simple Google search.
Further I was just supplementing Redmanss statement. Not challenging any part of it. The suggestion to Google stop-loss was directed at the op not Redmanss.
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If you are serious. You need to contact a officer recruiter in any reserve component. Find out what your options are for direct commission or going through OCS. You could be setting your family and your career up very nice in the future, providing supplemental income and serving your country. Do not go in enlisted...you will hate it at this stage of life and it will be a net negative money wise. You need to speak with every component and see what they can offer. Time is not on your side so get moving now as the windows in certain service components is narrowing. Luckily they all all hurting for people especially educated people so you should be able to find something. Army guard and reserves including all surround guard states. Do you want to be an IT officer or something else? Alot of this depends on what you want to do...but you need to figure out your options first. If you want help let me know.
Yeah... a few other things that might (maybe?) need to be covered:
1) The Guard and Reserve is not a job that pays by the hour. Every member of our military is engaged in the "profession" of arms, and as a professional, you will be paid a salary commensurate with your pay grade and time in service.
2) The Guard and Reserve is a job. That is your work week when you're doing that work (You will have to do work).
3) They will not tell you where to live. You can live absolutely wherever you want, so long as that unit has a slot for you on their MTOE and will keep you.
4) You will have to pay for the food that you eat. People will no doubt be impressed at Abblebees or Chillis or wherever you go- because they will know from your haircut and chiseled physique that you are one of our nation's Warriors. At the end of the meal comes the bill, despite this.
Well shit, dude- you didn't say that your family was crippled, you're still breeding, and you've got one foot in the grave!
I change all my advice- forget it... even the Volunteer Fire Department thing.
You should switch your midlife crisis and learn to play piano instead.
Check out drill pay for a o4 or o5. You are also ignoring retirement, possible VA disability, gov job preference and a ton of other benefits that make doing a little unpaid work worth it. Unless you are a leader there is not a ton of work outside drill unless you consider PT as work. Depending on what you do for work it could be a nice Segway into federal IT job that would let you double dip with mil time and provide you with 2 ( or 3 pensions). My best friend is a o5 in the guard and a gs15. He does ok. Not fuck you money but will probably be making 15k a month in pensions at 57 plus however many millions socked away into TSP (401k). We're both about to turn 40 and he could retire from the guard now if he wanted to. You can carve out a very nice living and do even better if you leverage into private sector gov/Intel support. And it's nice to get away from the wife and kids every once in a while and play fuck off games with the boys. Maybe ladieboys now but Trump will fix that.
Army - Be all that you can be. As long as it's what we want you to be.
"You're in the Army now. You're not behind the plow.
You'll never get rich, you son of a bitch.
You're in the Army now."
Air Force - Aim high. And accept what you get.
NAVY - Never Again Volunteer Yourself
Marines - We're looking for a few good men. But you'll do.
"You're in the Army now. You're not behind the plow.
You'll never get rich, you son of a bitch.
You're in the Army now."
Air Force - Aim high. And accept what you get.
NAVY - Never Again Volunteer Yourself
Marines - We're looking for a few good men. But you'll do.
Again... I must reiterate- there is no "unpaid" work because it isn't an hourly job.
It is unpaid work, you’re paid while you’re at drill or on orders, otherwise, you are in a non paid status, M-Day. Otherwise, why are you paid when they bring you in to go to schools or additional training??
To the OP: If you think you are going to bitch about "unpaid work" for shining your boots (oops... don't have that anymore, do we!) or giving your buddy a ride, or filling out a form, etc- DO NOT under any circumstances raise your right hand and take an oath to defend this great nation.
I enlisted in the Army in 2003. I’ll retire in a few years after the next job.
I’ll never regret going on hostage rescue missions. There were many unrewarding and frustrating moments (I’m sure there are more to come) along my enlistment, but they pale in comparison to knowing that for a few weeks out of 20+ years, my service directly saved US citizens that got in a bad way with bad dudes. Similar good vibes when serving citizens after hurricanes. Service isn’t all great, but there is plenty of merit in those moments to last a lifetime.
If you join in any capacity, don’t stay in the conventional force. Get into USASOC.
Committing yourself to the Army is very hard on a family. It may end up costing you everything.
I’ll never regret going on hostage rescue missions. There were many unrewarding and frustrating moments (I’m sure there are more to come) along my enlistment, but they pale in comparison to knowing that for a few weeks out of 20+ years, my service directly saved US citizens that got in a bad way with bad dudes. Similar good vibes when serving citizens after hurricanes. Service isn’t all great, but there is plenty of merit in those moments to last a lifetime.
If you join in any capacity, don’t stay in the conventional force. Get into USASOC.
Committing yourself to the Army is very hard on a family. It may end up costing you everything.
There’s enough people to hate and stupid bullshit there without having to sign a contract lol
Follow your dreams mother fuckers.
If this cat understands what he's getting his family into, go for it and be the best you can be.
You could be the next Captain American
Rock on
If this cat understands what he's getting his family into, go for it and be the best you can be.
You could be the next Captain American
Rock on
She doesn't want your Army dream. If you care about that relationship, you should find another dream. LOTS of community service type things to volunteer for, maybe with your tech skilz.
Being old and laying on death bed wondering and regretting not doing something or at least trying would really suck.
When your in the guard or a reservist there is.
That must be something new.
When I was in the Army Reserve, I never got an LES that reflected hourly pay.
It's not an hourly job, but rather salaried/ "professional."
You could also work for the Salvation Army during Christmas ring I g bells outside your local wal mart! Just a thought!
at some point you'll get called up to active duty, make a small fraction of what you are making in the private sector, then your family will have to struggle paying the bills while you are guarding pallets of toilet paper in Syria.
You are paid either by the Day ( when on orders prorated with all benefits including BAH ) or you are paid by the drill (MUTA). While you aren't paid 'hourly" you aren't salary either. You are paid for performance of duties during those times of service. A MUTA is usually a half a day. So a sat and Sunday drill is a 4 and a friday- sun is a 6.
For example. If you get hurt outside of orders/drill, the military does not own the injury nor is it responsible. When you are on duty , it is. That is for a reservist.
Active duty is always on "duty" so it's different for title 10 vs title 32 MDAY.
Maybe...maybe not. As an officer with BAH you can make very good money. You also can double dip a bit depending on who you work for. A Officer who also works for most federal agencies can double dip 15-30 days a year. You also have job protection that makes you damn near unfireable and you have to be promoted with your peers or you are looking at an easy mid 6 figure payout while keeping your job and making you even more untouchable. That is with a private sector job. They don't want that smoke...trust me.
There are a ton of laws that protect service members and their families during deployments. People really need to educate themselves before spewing a bunch of bullshit. 99% of service members including reservists make way more money on deployments than not. It also opens the door up for alot of other lifetime benefits that eclipse whatever you make now.
Im speaking from personal experience, dude. I was even the same age, 29, when I went in. Professional, Masters, secure job, young kid. E4 in basic. the OCS thing is bullshit if you want to excel at your regular job. If you have time to memorize 20 FM's each month before the next weekend training, while working your regular job.....I dont believe you.
What do you want to do in the service?
With a computer science masters, 8-odd years in IT, a family, physical owwies, and a desire to keep (and grow in) your present day job I'd recommend Officer Candidate School (OCS) or Officer Training School (OTS) for like positions in the Reserves or National Guard. NO WAY would I recommend enlisting in any of the active components based on your opening post (I have been both an enlisted man and officer in the Reserve, Guard, and Active Army).
The Army has Cyber Command and fields within Army Intelligence that are always short and seeking talent. Likewise the Air Force and Space Force have information, communications, and cyber fields as well.
Regardless of service if you are tagged into the IT field strictly providing customer computer and telephony support you will be either a hero or zero. It is real and vital but thankless work.
Defensive and offensive cyber operations are a whole new line of warfare -- so important that China has duplicated American doctrine but more importantly they screw with western systems daily as a matter of practice. They do their wartime mission against us every day.
Just being a drilling member in the Reserve or Guard initially may take more time than you expect. If you sign an OCS enlistment contract you first have to go through basic training; your specialty field training (let's say Signal-IT or cyber); Officer Candidate School; then Signal or Cyber Basic Officer Course. That could be up to two years of full-time active duty training just to be certified to start working as a Second Lieutenant or Ensign.
You are fortunate you work for a state agency. I know several guys who worked full careers as police officers and National Guardsmen or Reservists. One of my brother's police academy friends joined the National Guard and went into Special Forces. After retiring from the Oakland Police Department he's now the Command Sergeant Major of a National Guard Special Forces Group. He'll have two retirements and Social Security but it cost him a marriage.
With a computer science masters, 8-odd years in IT, a family, physical owwies, and a desire to keep (and grow in) your present day job I'd recommend Officer Candidate School (OCS) or Officer Training School (OTS) for like positions in the Reserves or National Guard. NO WAY would I recommend enlisting in any of the active components based on your opening post (I have been both an enlisted man and officer in the Reserve, Guard, and Active Army).
The Army has Cyber Command and fields within Army Intelligence that are always short and seeking talent. Likewise the Air Force and Space Force have information, communications, and cyber fields as well.
Regardless of service if you are tagged into the IT field strictly providing customer computer and telephony support you will be either a hero or zero. It is real and vital but thankless work.
Defensive and offensive cyber operations are a whole new line of warfare -- so important that China has duplicated American doctrine but more importantly they screw with western systems daily as a matter of practice. They do their wartime mission against us every day.
Just being a drilling member in the Reserve or Guard initially may take more time than you expect. If you sign an OCS enlistment contract you first have to go through basic training; your specialty field training (let's say Signal-IT or cyber); Officer Candidate School; then Signal or Cyber Basic Officer Course. That could be up to two years of full-time active duty training just to be certified to start working as a Second Lieutenant or Ensign.
You are fortunate you work for a state agency. I know several guys who worked full careers as police officers and National Guardsmen or Reservists. One of my brother's police academy friends joined the National Guard and went into Special Forces. After retiring from the Oakland Police Department he's now the Command Sergeant Major of a National Guard Special Forces Group. He'll have two retirements and Social Security but it cost him a marriage.
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And as an officer when you finish CGSC & ILE it usually gives you a masters. And if you attend SAMS that is a Masters as well.
Fuck no... save yourself the hassle and go buy a sportscar or become a volunteer firefighter.
Even then- depending on what branch you join, one would be surprised how those contracts are interpreted (long story short, it's always in the best interest of who's presenting said contract and largely puts 18+ year olds at a disadvantage)... ask me how I know...
-LD
I got out in '09 (at least from active duty) but there's a lot of truth in what you shared between '10-'16 too.
OP-
You're going to do what you're going to do. But take it from someone that's done the active duty thing (and got what they thought they wanted) and then took a hiatus and decided they "missed" things in that life and joined the Army National Guard for a spell...
If you're looking to learn a trade the Guard/Reserves, that 'might' work out 'ok' for you. If you want to "be all that you can be" and join combat arms... I'd advise you to rethink that position.
Knowing what I know now- I'd rather go to Home Depot, purchase a Ryobi drill and drive a 1/2" drill bit through my dick than repeat my previous decisions and re-enlist in combat arms.
I hope I was clear. Look at some of the posts I've made here about getting resources out there for folks. There's no honor in walking away from your enlistment term all jacked up and not knowing how to get help. Again ask me how I know.
You do you but I would strongly advise looking in alternative options. You likely would be further ahead financially (and no, I'm not trying to be snarky here either) by working at McDonalds part-time
You're going to do what you're going to do. But take it from someone that's done the active duty thing (and got what they thought they wanted) and then took a hiatus and decided they "missed" things in that life and joined the Army National Guard for a spell...
If you're looking to learn a trade the Guard/Reserves, that 'might' work out 'ok' for you. If you want to "be all that you can be" and join combat arms... I'd advise you to rethink that position.
Knowing what I know now- I'd rather go to Home Depot, purchase a Ryobi drill and drive a 1/2" drill bit through my dick than repeat my previous decisions and re-enlist in combat arms.
I hope I was clear. Look at some of the posts I've made here about getting resources out there for folks. There's no honor in walking away from your enlistment term all jacked up and not knowing how to get help. Again ask me how I know.
You do you but I would strongly advise looking in alternative options. You likely would be further ahead financially (and no, I'm not trying to be snarky here either) by working at McDonalds part-time
yes and no, if you’re on orders for 30 days or less, you receive type II BAH, which is at a single rate, prorated. Once you hit 31 days, then you receive BAH at the full rate and entitlements.
Where they get you now is, oh your school is broken up into 2 phases, but in the middle of it, we’re going to give you a day off, so now, we no longer have to pay you full BAH.
There’s also the, if you’re gone for, don’t recall the exact number of days off the top of my head, “X” amount of days, you are supposed to PCS, regardless of the fact that once you finish the school, you’ll be returning to your actual home. Where this really bites you, is your spouse and family cant or don’t want to just up and move for the duration of your school, and you have a mortgage where you live, and now have to pay for housing, at a place where the BAH is less than your home of record.
It may sound like, with everything I’ve added to this post, I might be perceived as anti military, I’m not, actually retire in 22 months myself, but at the same time, I’m not a recruiter trying to paint everything as rainbow and sprinkles. I try to tell soldiers or potential soldiers the cold hard facts and let them see the negatives to potentially joining. In my time in the guard, actually active guard reserve, AGR, currently, I’ve spent approximately 5 years away from my family between deployments and schools and training. They’re already thinking about joining, so they probably already have all the “good”/ “cool” things about joining in their heads. Oh, and to add further to this, I enlisted at the tender age of 35 and went to basic training at 36. Luckily I have an amazing wife that has stood by my side, through the good and bad times, and personally, I’m not sure if the shoe was on the other foot, I could have done the same. Oh, and just another kicker, wait till you’re away from your family for a year and then try to get right back to your life before you left, it’s not the same, the reintegration sucks and takes a long time.
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You have one obligation, and responsibility, in life now…that child. You want to play war games, you should have done it 10 years ago. Nothing else in this entire world matters now except raising, and guiding, that chid to be a good citizen, and a responsible adult…period.
If your Guard-or-Reserve unit asked you to "memorize 20 FM's" per month... I don't believe you.
Different people have different motivations, as I mentioned previously.
My personal opinion is that if you're going to be in the Army, you want to be in Combat Arms or very-adjacent... or else what's the point?
Same for the Air Force- If you don't fly, why?
DeathBeforeDismount said:
This may seem paradoxical... but you can't let yourself get too wrapped up counting sheckles. It's SERVICE.
At the very same time, the Army works on the Pimps and Ho's principle. You will not grow wealthy.
...and nobody likes a clock watchin' ho.
