Need help deciding between 3 military branches

[JQwerty91]

Hey vets I am requesting advice from yall because I am stuck in a dilemma. I am currently stuck in a medical wavering process and my files are in limbo at MEPs (the Marine section). My uncle who is in the Army and a recruiter (not blood related) is helping me because my Marine recruiter has basically neglcted me ever since I got deferred. I also have contacts with a close friend of mine who is in the Air Force (piloted the well known AC130) and is willing to help also get me in the military.
So here are my options that I need help deciding on pros, cons anything:

-Marines

-Army

-Air Force

 

[Joe Dirt]

Air Force, get a tech job, do 4 years, get some of the best training, then go straight to the FAA, for a job that starts at 60,000+ a year.

 

[smacky]

I have a friend that just started Boot Camp for the Marines and another that is in ROTC at school with me in the Navy. The military has always been a mystery to me, as far as how it works. But those that I know that have done it say that they were glad they did and that they would most likely benefit from it later on.

I would say be a Marine. It'd be cool to beat up a mob using just a fork.

 

[thrawn86]

I think you might have just asked the wrong question.

there are tech, piloting, combat, and service jobs in every branch. which do YOU want to join? I've heard from many people that recruiters are generally not the best resource, so don't use that to judge the entire branch.

 

[BiGMERF]

why is the navy not one of your choices? to me it has the most choices. From special forces, aviation, nautical , ground combat (after all, marines are essentially navy), etc. just wondering

 

[OstrichSaK]

The best advice I can give you is to look into the Air Force ROTC program. If you ask currently enlisted or those who have already served a majority of them will say the same thing, regardless of where they served. Of course they will have their allegencies for obvious reasons but if they look at it from a neutral stand point they will likely agree that if you can do the AF ROTC problems you'll be better off.

 

[Weazol]

Hey vets I am requesting advice from yall because I am stuck in a dilemma. I am currently stuck in a medical wavering process and my files are in limbo at MEPs (the Marine section). My uncle who is in the Army and a recruiter (not blood related) is helping me because my Marine recruiter has basically neglcted me ever since I got deferred. I also have contacts with a close friend of mine who is in the Air Force (piloted the well known AC130) and is willing to help also get me in the military.
So here are my options that I need help deciding on pros, cons anything:

-Marines

-Army

-Air Force

I cant speak for the other branches. But the Marine recruiter probably "neglected" you because right now we are over the limit for Marines. So if you really want in you have to show him you really want it.

 

[Familyguy1]

Go Air Force, damn good Oak clubs

Good Luck with your decision.

 

[Member138406]

BUT BUT BUT what about the coast guard!

 

[J03]

BUT BUT BUT what about the coast guard!

I don't know if you were serious or not but this would be my choice of military.

Out of those 3 I would say air force because I would want to avoid ground combat but that's just me. I would never trust a recruiter. They called me relentlessly when I was a senior in high school, one after another ripping on every other branch and telling me I was a fool for paying for college when the <insert branch here> can prepare me for the real world and give me all the free schooling I could ever want. Apparently when you have military experience on your resume, employers literally drop down and start blowing you... go figure.

 

[Papadroid]

Before I went into the military, I spoke with people that I knew that went into the military. All of them, even the ones that went into other branches of the military, told me to go into the Air Force. Per their words, you will get treated the best in the Air Force. It was a decision I will never regret. Having said that, just like anything in life you will get out of it what you put into it. The best advice I got was from my cousin who served in the Air Force. In basic training keep your head down, do what you're told and DO NOT volunteer for anything. Once you're out of basic training, volunteer for everything. That advice served me very well as you don't want to get noticed in basic training, but once your out of basic training by volunteering for things you will get to see and experience amazing things. Just my two cents.

 

[ballisticn8]

recent discussion posted on the boards for a bike club i'm in:

thinking about joining the military - Devil-Riders.com - Arizona's Sportbike Community

 

[tommy_ed]

as many other have said, I think the air force is the way to go... better benefits, better pay, better housing. Only join the marines if you like listening to nickelback, drive a 98 mustang, and like starting fights for no reason when you get drunk at the bar jussst kidding but in all honesty I've never understood why people join the marines. Unless they plan on getting out and working in a local factory or something afterwards.

 

[Member138406]

I don't know if you were serious or not but this would be my choice of military.

Out of those 3 I would say air force because I would want to avoid ground combat but that's just me. I would never trust a recruiter. They called me relentlessly when I was a senior in high school, one after another ripping on every other branch and telling me I was a fool for paying for college when the <insert branch here> can prepare me for the real world and give me all the free schooling I could ever want. Apparently when you have military experience on your resume, employers literally drop down and start blowing you... go figure.

No I was joking. I would never go into the military for financial reasons which seems like the majority of coast guard people I know. So if I was to join the military I would want something a little more intense then coast guard work.

 

[Weazol]

as many other have said, I think the air force is the way to go... better benefits, better pay, better housing. Only join the marines if you like listening to nickelback, drive a 98 mustang, and like starting fights for no reason when you get drunk at the bar jussst kidding but in all honesty I've never understood why people join the marines. Unless they plan on getting out and working in a local factory or something afterwards.

are you kidding me? haha.. not sure where the nickelback or 98 mustang comes from..

First of all military gets paid the same. they only thing true in your first sentence is better housing.. But then again thats only if you are married. if your are single welcome to the barracks.
Second why do marines only work in factories? Theres marines with top secret clearances, marines who speak multiple languages, thats an open job with the nsa right there.
We have aviation marines, intel marines, communication marines. Several opprotunities when you get out.

The only marines I know that got out and failed at life are the ones that didnt plan.. I have friends that got 4 year degrees in college and work at mcdonalds (seriously).. You career is all on how hard you want to work for it.

Plus you can go to college after the marines for free (just like any other branch. we all get the same benefits)

 

[byteware]

why is the navy not one of your choices? to me it has the most choices. From special forces, aviation, nautical , ground combat (after all, marines are essentially navy), etc. just wondering

Marines... are a department of the Navy.... the Men's department of the Navy...

 

[ballisticn8]

weazol, all pay is not the same, lmao, did the recruiter sell you that one?

a buddy of mine was stationed at an Air Force base in florida a couple years back, it got hit hard by a hurricane, they moved him to a marine base while they were making repairs to the barrack he was staying in, moving the marines out of the existing barracks and back into the older barracks that were waiting to be rennovated. My buddy got hazard pay, substandard living pay, and an off base living allowance in addition to his normal draw since he had to drive from base to base for work...

 

[tommy_ed]

are you kidding me? haha.. not sure where the nickelback or 98 mustang comes from..

First of all military gets paid the same. they only thing true in your first sentence is better housing.. But then again thats only if you are married. if your are single welcome to the barracks.
Second why do marines only work in factories? Theres marines with top secret clearances, marines who speak multiple languages, thats an open job with the nsa right there.
We have aviation marines, intel marines, communication marines. Several opprotunities when you get out.

The only marines I know that got out and failed at life are the ones that didnt plan.. I have friends that got 4 year degrees in college and work at mcdonalds (seriously).. You career is all on how hard you want to work for it.

Plus you can go to college after the marines for free (just like any other branch. we all get the same benefits)

all pay is not the same, not sure where you got that info from. And yes the housing IS better, regardless of marital status. The "nickelback, 98 mustang, etc." comment was a joke, because typical marines in my area fit into that category (not all)... and i said they work in factories because usually people that join the marines seem to do it to look "cool", get girls, quick money, etc. Most of these people don't plan on going to college, and don't have a solid game plan (hence joining the marines)...how many people that you know left the marines and joined the nsa? I can't name one. But anyways mostly my post was a joke. (I'm pretty sure I said that in the post actually)

 

[Weazol]

all pay is not the same, not sure where you got that info from. And yes the housing IS better, regardless of marital status. The "nickelback, 98 mustang, etc." comment was a joke, because typical marines in my area fit into that category (not all)... and i said they work in factories because usually people that join the marines seem to do it to look "cool", get girls, quick money, etc. Most of these people don't plan on going to college, and don't have a solid game plan (hence joining the marines)...how many people that you know left the marines and joined the nsa? I can't name one. But anyways mostly my post was a joke. (I'm pretty sure I said that in the post actually)

All pay is the same... Were did I get that info? Im in an office with marines army, air force, navy and coast guard and I just shouted out and asked..
The airforce does get some silly subsidized living pay because they are in militray housing, The army promotes faster in this field of work so you can consider that better if you want. (I as a marine still have more authority)
Anyways..
http://www.dfas.mil/militarypay/militarypaytables/2010WebPayTable34.pdf
that is the 2010 military pay table.
and incase you didnt look at it.. Its all the same
The marines have the highest clothing allowance by the way
(they also have a higher SEA pay for officers)


you said the mustang one was a joke.. but not the part about why do they join the marines.

I actually know 4 guys that now work with nsa.. I know 3 that now work in the fbi, 1 that works for harris (the company that makes the militaries radios)
I only know 1 that works in a factory, (and 2 that were complete failures and live off their parents) And I know dozens of them now in college

 

[OstrichSaK]

Air Force: Better housing, better assignments, shorter tours, fewer tours, better food, get a pilots license and you are treated like gold. Anything else and you are treated like every other member of every other branch. lol

 

[Weazol]

fewer tours,

That's a downside for me.. I love deployments.

Btw you have to be an officer to get a pilots license.

 

[tommy_ed]

All pay is the same... Were did I get that info? Im in an office with marines army, air force, navy and coast guard and I just shouted out and asked..
The airforce does get some silly subsidized living pay because they are in militray housing, The army promotes faster in this field of work so you can consider that better if you want. (I as a marine still have more authority)
Anyways..
http://www.dfas.mil/militarypay/militarypaytables/2010WebPayTable34.pdf
that is the 2010 military pay table.
and incase you didnt look at it.. Its all the same
The marines have the highest clothing allowance by the way
(they also have a higher SEA pay for officers)


you said the mustang one was a joke.. but not the part about why do they join the marines.

I actually know 4 guys that now work with nsa.. I know 3 that now work in the fbi, 1 that works for harris (the company that makes the militaries radios)
I only know 1 that works in a factory, (and 2 that were complete failures and live off their parents) And I know dozens of them now in college

figured you were a marine considering how you took my comments so personally... yes all base pay is the same, but not bonuses, hazard pay, etc. And who the hell would join the marines over another branch for the clothing allowance? I thought you guys didn't allow gays? And honestly a very small percentage of people leaving any military branch work for the nsa. There just arent enough jobs there for everyone, which is why a specialty like that isnt very practical outside of military service. Thats why I don't know or have heard of ANYONE around here working there. about 90% of them end up working at kenworth or doing construction (not that there's anything wrong with that, I did construction for about 4 years)
I don't think theres anything wrong with joining the marines so don't take it so personally. I was just giving my opinion and a little friendly joking which, as usual, was taken seriously

 

[DaSchmarotzer]

Please quit it guys.

@tommy_ed: Yes, you said you were kidding for a few things, but some of your comments were borderline insulting.

 

[OstrichSaK]

I was just giving my opinion and a little friendly joking which, as usual, was taken seriously

 

[byteware]

weazol, all pay is not the same, lmao, did the recruiter sell you that one?

a buddy of mine was stationed at an Air Force base in florida a couple years back, it got hit hard by a hurricane, they moved him to a marine base while they were making repairs to the barrack he was staying in, moving the marines out of the existing barracks and back into the older barracks that were waiting to be rennovated. My buddy got hazard pay, substandard living pay, and an off base living allowance in addition to his normal draw since he had to drive from base to base for work...

Yes, but those pay standards are standard across all the branches. Now Marine barracks are considered substandard living for the Chair Force... umm... I mean Air Force, sorry . However, whenever Marines are in substandard living conditions, they would get the same pay (Although, I'm not sure ANYTHING actually constitutes substandard living conditions for the Marines).