Alright, Marines or Air Force.

[BuzzKillington]

I've asked a few people now and I really can't make up my mind. With the Air Force it seems I would be much more involved with technology and would likely have a better chance at finding a well paying job when/if I leave.

The Marines on the other hand seems the way to go if you want to earn your man fruit. I promised myself I wouldn't join the Marines based on the "macho factor" but I respect the way they carry themselves. I'm not sure what kind of jobs they offer or how easy a transition would be from Marines back to Civilian. It would suck to spend a minimum of 4 years and only be able to write down "My aim is excellent." on a resume.

The Air Force gets almost as much **** as the Army does and I have a feeling that would annoy the hell out of me. I want to join a branch that I can start a family in which makes the Air Force seem like the better choice, but then I also don't want a desk job in the military. I want field experience and I want to serve... I want an education and I want a nice life. I know I could always switch later down the road but I'd rather not. I also know if I made the wrong choice I could always leave after 4 years with my education and all that but again, I'd rather not.

:think:

[blueonblack]

Dude, that was a wandering post. You gave reasons for and against both, but it seems to me that your interest in the Marines still boils down to what you called "the macho factor" and "man fruit", whatever that is (I do not want to know). You respect the way they carry themselves, that's fine, but the way you carry yourself is up to you.

Judging solely from the tiny bit of information I was able to scrape out of that post, if you have to have a decision, I say Air Force, and be proud of it, dammit.

[Zephik]

Well, you got to ask yourself. What is the main thing you want to do other than or while serving your country?

Have you thought about talking to the recruitment officers? I'm sure they could help you decide what route is best for you better than anyone else.

I think the Marines are pretty macho and hardcore or whatever, but I also think that's due to largely television building them up that way. (although they ARE pretty macho...)

As for the Air Force. That's where the cool technology is at, so that's where I'd go. That's my thing by leaps and bounds. It really depends on the person and what they want to do. My best friend is currently in Afghanistan as a medical officer under the National Guard.

If you want respect, then you got it right here man. I may not support the war(s), but I'll always support our troops and those who put up their lives for their country! Anyone who doesn't respect that doesn't deserve the time of day from you.

Anyways, hope that helps and good luck!

[Oneslowz28]

My uncle, grandfather, 2 cousins, and a few friends are all marines. The thing about joining the marines is that you are not just joining a branch of the military, but you are joining a family for life. Marines have each others back for life and are true to the corps down to the last hair on their head.

From my personal experience: I came close to joining the navy. I was in Navy JROTC for 4 years and would have went straight in as an E3. I let my mother talk me out of it and I am glad because the next 4 years were the last of my grandfathers life.

In all honesty, Join which ever you fell the most pride for. If you want to go the technical route either the AF or the Navy are the places to go. If you want to see action soon in Afghanistan, the the marines is the way to go.

If you do go marines, and get sent to paris island, hit me up when you graduate basic and I will buy you a beer.

[blueonblack]

I have to ask, is there a reason you omitted Navy? There's a hell of a lot of high tech going on there also. When did you last see a bomber powered by eight nuclear reactors?

Or a freaking huge railgun? :D

Gotta love freaking huge railguns...

[BuzzKillington]

I have a lot of family that were Navy and they were gone way too often. My girlfriend's dad just retired from the Navy as CMC and despite his accomplishments, I feel he failed as a dad. I've been with my girlfriend for over 2.5 years and I still haven't met the guy.

Two of my friends just went Navy, one's gunna be in a sub and the other is going to be doing something related to radar... I forget the terms for both but ya... they're both single guys who have more of a "swinger" mentality so being out for 5-8 months at a time probably wont be a huge deal for them. I want to start a family soon and would like to be around my kid more than a a couple weeks a year.

With that said, I understand if I went Marines I would probably be sent to Iraq or Afghanistan for a year but I would imagine by the time I go through bootcamp and Aschool that may be wrapping up.

EDIT: I know I told myself not to pick based on the macho-factor but it keeps coming back to me. I spoke the TGS about AF vs MC (since he's been in both) and he mentioned it takes a lot of ass kissing to rise up the ranks where in the MC you get what you work for. I like the idea of earning what you work for instead of ass kissing. Although I have respect for all branches I feel like I'd feel more accomplished in the MC yet in the AF I'd probably be able to apply a lot more of my experience in the civilian world.

[blueonblack]

I have a lot of family that were Navy and they were gone way too often.

You're right about that, they are gone a long time.

[Airbozo]

Navy.

It's not just a job, it's one hell of a party.

Hehe

A little perversion of their ads. But being ex navy I have to plug Uncle Sam's Canoe Club.

I had a blast and got to see places I never would have otherwise. Any service you go into is going to keep you away from your family. Not much you can do about it. That's the nature of the beast. Granted, if you get transferred somewhere, you can relocate the wife and kids, but you still have to do your tours.

[TheGreatSatan]

Marines:up:

[SgtM]

I may be a bit (ok.. completely) biased, but go Marines. Lets look at this though.. What are you interested in doing? We aren't just about making you good with a rifle. There are some tech jobs offered in the Corps as well.

[TheGreatSatan]

You can even be a pilot in the Marines.

[SgtM]

Yep.. Harriers, F18's, Cobra's, Chinook, CH53's. All good stuff right there.

[BuzzKillington]

I have yet to find an actual job list of what's available in the military so it's hard to say what I want to do... but what I'd LIKE to do is some sort of engineering. I would also "enjoy" having field time in preparation for plan B when/if I come out of the military, I'd like to join the Boarder Patrol. Plan A of course would relate to the engineering job.

I want to be where the action is whether it be being involved with the prototypes, getting sneak peaks at up and coming toys, etc...

I know this can be taken the wrong way (and by no means do I mean this negatively) but I want an important roll in the military. I definitely don't mean troops are not important, I just don't know how else to put it. I wanna be involved with the awesome **** and I want to have a good time.

[SgtM]

Look at Combat Engineers.

[BuzzKillington]

Look at Combat Engineers.

Based on what I just read about it, it seems to be more along the lines of general construction/destruction. I suppose that could put me in a foreman position right out of the military? What other sort of civilian jobs do you think would benefit from being a combat engineer?

Maybe a stretch but perhaps an architect?

An "engineering manager (http://www.flcdatacenter.com/OesQuickResults.aspx?code=11-9041&area=41740&year=10&source=1)" maybe?

[SgtM]

This site might help you out as far as what the civilian equivalent would be for a given MOS.
http://online.onetcenter.org/crosswalk

[BuzzKillington]

Dude. awesome link! I was looking for something like that on Military.com but to no avail.

EDIT: Woah, Engineering Managers (http://online.onetcenter.org/link/summary/11-9041.00) have to have a lot of schooling.

0231 --Intelligence Specialist (http://usmilitary.about.com/od/enlistedjo2/a/0231new.htm)
0261 --Geographic Intelligence Specialist (http://usmilitary.about.com/od/enlistedjo2/a/0261.htm)
1371 -- Combat Engineer (http://usmilitary.about.com/od/enlistedjo2/a/1371new.htm)
1361 --Engineer Assistant (http://usmilitary.about.com/od/enlistedjo2/a/1361.htm)


Some military careers I found interesting. Kind of just an easy place for me to keep track of them.

Nuclear Engineer (http://usmilitary.about.com/gi/o.htm?zi=1/XJ&zu=http%3A//www.oalj.dol.gov/libdot.htm)

[SgtM]

I had some friends who were 0200's. They seemed to have a cool job. Also check out 0600, Communications. Some cool stuff under that MOS too.

[BuzzKillington]

I was trying to find info wherever I could and found some army videos on Combat Engineers on youtube.

...not exactly the best source in the world but a lot of comments mentioned just clearing streets and doing boring **** as opposed to the building, demoing, blowing **** up. Do you think it'd be the same in the Marines?

[Datech]

I was about 3 pullups and an acceptance letter from Georgia Tech away from going to the Air Force Academy. I'm going to GT for Computer Engineering, and I would have done about the same at USAFA. If you aren't a pilot and don't get tapped for ground crew, mechanics, or flight crew on a ship you will probably end up with a desk job in the AF at first. Where you go from there depends on impressing your superiors just like in a corporate environment. That isn't to say that it is a bad career path, but the gung ho among us typically despise that kind of service.

[Commando]

Wow,

Talk about the glory hole of threads to come back into TBCS on. I wish I wasn't so busy. I love you guys and I promise to always be a faithful returner.

Uh, I think I have to say go Marines... Since I'm currently a USMC Tank Company Commander. You want a technical job, they are a dime a dozen. Civilian Companies will train you to do anything. Being able to lead others and actually get work done, is priceless. I am personally responsible for over 50 million dollars of your(taxpayers) equipment and manage 89 of your most misguided American youth(US Marines). I love every second of it...

As far as serving your country. Any of the services are good for that. I respect all of my fellow services 100%. The job descriptions are different but the work of defending our country needs all sorts of skill sets.

As far as being "on the front lines" it doesn't really work that way. My job is defined by the the guy on the "tip of the spear", yet I find myself in supporting roles all the time. I'm really good at my job but find myself doing other things that the military needs me for. I instruct, I support as an augment to a staff somewhere, I help my peers that are deploying. The point is a military career is one of service to your country and 99% of the time it's not sexy.

As for Datech, Ga Tech was the best 6 years of my life. The Marine Corps has been a strange career path since, but extremely fruitful.

I graduated from GA TECH in 2001. I'm planning on getting my masters degree in 3D Modeling and Design through the Naval Post Graduate School all the while the military pays for it and I get my normal pay check concurrently.

The military is great career path. Challenging yes, but 100% worth it in my eyes. Not to mention I have 100% full health care coverage for my whole family including dental and all prescriptions.

Please feel free to hit me up if you have any questions. You better believe we're looking for smart guys. Smart guys win wars......

Tony D.

[Datech]

Ga Tech was the best 6 years of my life.

First and last time I will ever use this acronym on this board: QFT

[BuzzKillington]

Qft?

[SgtM]

Quoted For Truth.

[BuzzKillington]

I wanted to go down to the rec. office today but I forgot it's a holiday which also means I have to wait another day to get my package that I missed Friday and Sat...dammit.

Anyway, after a lot of reading my outlook went from about 90%AF/10%MC to 30%AF/70%MC.

I need to do a lot more reading on job opportunities in both to see if I can find my dream job in either branch. I was told the Navy is "easy to rank up" but as of now, Navy is out of the question.

[BuzzKillington]

I have a meeting tomorrow with the MC recruiter. He told me I am considered a "tier 2" (because I graduated from a home school) and the MC is currently not accepting Tier 2. I told him the AF recruiter asked me to take 15 units but didn't specify that they had to be GE. I've only taken computer, health and business courses.

He told me to come in and take a practice ASVAB test and he'll see what he can do.