Military people?

[alisonJ]

I think if you are going to join any branch of the service, then you need to assume at the beginning that you will be deployed in a possibly dangerous place.

If you are not, then count your blessings.

Good luck to you. My husband's daughter went into the Navy right after High School. They put her through college, she became an officer,and now they are planning to put her through graduate school. She has also done her time on ships in unfriendly areas, and she did some humanitarian work in Pakistan a couple of years ago after that big earthquake they had there. It has been an exciting career for her.

[mayfateleadyou]

Originally Posted by sheilajom

You are one of the lucky 10% then. My ex had gone 3 times to Iraq, 2 times to Kuwait, 3 times to Korea and once to Saudi and those are just the ones on his record. But it depends on what your MOS is. If you are something like a recruiter then no you won't go anywhere ever.

I'm an MP and have no health issues. It is based on what unit you are in. Now I may very well go next year but that is not a definite.

[Brianna2191]

My husband is in the Marine Corps
Pro's- Excellent training for marksmanship, physical fitness and hand to hand combat redardless of what your mos is. Deployments are generally under a year. They have pretty much any job you can think of except the medical field.

Con's-Boot camp is 3 months, weight standards are very strict, they have the toughest training in boot camp both mentally and physically.

You do get payed in boot camp. when you join it is pretty much up to you on how soon you want to go to boot camp...it could be anywhere between 2 days to 8 months, it all really depends. As for the weight the marine corps will help you lose weight before you go and try and teach you drill and knowledge before you go so that you will be prepared. Honestly now that my husband re enlisted and got a new mos ( from rifleman to legal assistant) it is alot better. He has pt 3-4 times a week in the morning and gets off between 5:30 and 6 everyday.

If you have any specific questions though just ask me, because there is a ton of info

[Yorkiedaze]

I think the Army and Marines are the ones sent to all the fighting zones. The AF isn't usually in the thick of things anyway.
There isn't any other company you can retire with in only 20 short years without a layoff, with half your salary, all medical paid, fly anywhere outside the US for free, keep your ID for life have a huge insurance policy and on and on. And just think of a million dollar job training to boot!!!

[sheilajom]

Originally Posted by Yorkiedaze

I think the Army and Marines are the ones sent to all the fighting zones. The AF isn't usually in the thick of things anyway.
There isn't any other company you can retire with in only 20 short years without a layoff, with half your salary, all medical paid, fly anywhere outside the US for free, keep your ID for life have a huge insurance policy and on and on. And just think of a million dollar job training to boot!!!

I don't think that my friend who got laid off from the AF would agree with you on that. If there is no promotion slot open they will lay you off if they have too many of you when your contract it up, just as in all branches. You need to be careful of the MOS that you pick.

[greyacresmom]

Originally Posted by Yorkiedaze

We were in the AF for 20 years. My husband retired from the missile field in 2000. I have a son who is in his 14th year in the AF and is not stationed in Rota Spain.
You will need to lose weight if you want to join the AF. Pick up all the brochures. I wouldn't talk too much to a recruiter because they can be such liars. Go to a college that has OTS or an AF training and ask the instructors all your questions. They have nothing to lose or gain like a recruiter and will be perfectly honest.
I think the AF has the best bases and best base housing. Depending on what career field you go in will determine the bases available to you. You will get 30 days paid vacation a year and being an officer you will have a great paycheck, the best housing and so on.
My husband was born and raised in MN. but because of their really high taxes, we went to FL. in our motor home, got jobs & FL. license and then he joined the AF there so no state tax would be taken out of his AF pay. Also you have to look at the big picture. When you retire, you don't want a lot of taxes taken out of your retirement check either.
Try and go into a field that will have the best opportunity for jobs upon retirement. My son is in jets and ground equipment. He will be able to work at any airport in the word when he retires. My husband works for Boeing now on the intercepter missiles. He started out working on part of the space station. He has a fantastic position. So think hard about what you really want available to you upon retirement.

Now that is good info...stuff I never would have thought of...