Re: Considering military after College.

**Iceberg** · 12-21-2005, 11:28 AM

Originally Posted by Karkianman101

Shin Splints suck like hell. For me they go away after a couple months. But heres something that can significantly help them: before and after a run, set your leg up horizontal on a bench or something, and throw a towel around the soul of your foot like your foot is straddling it, and hold both ends. Pull the towel towards you and push a little with you foot for a while at a time, several times. That'll help strengthen your tendons and stuff.

This is something that I will definitely attempt. Albeit painful, I think shin splints is something I can overcome (Ive done it before, I sure as hell can do it again), but the process is long.

Im also worried about my recruiter "stiffing" me in ways. Should I go to him in the sense of a business transaction and see if I can get every single possible opportunity out of him, or should I simply trust him and hope that he suggests a "good job"? Mind you, I talked to three recruiters after hs, and after my first year of college. Air force, Army, and Army NG. None of them gave me the feeling that I should join their branch (They weren't to persuasive), and were more interested in me filling out paper work.

Which brings me to another question... Ive been to the Army and Air force web pages, and gone through several job descriptions. Any suggestions on jobs that require geeks?

**Acid** · 12-21-2005, 12:06 PM

I'm guessing that the air force is more geekish with all of the calculations and flight stuff, but any branch should have a spot for weapon technitions if you want to be one.

**USN_Squid** · 12-21-2005, 12:10 PM

Originally Posted by squeak

This is something that I will definitely attempt. Albeit painful, I think shin splints is something I can overcome (Ive done it before, I sure as hell can do it again), but the process is long.

Im also worried about my recruiter "stiffing" me in ways. Should I go to him in the sense of a business transaction and see if I can get every single possible opportunity out of him, or should I simply trust him and hope that he suggests a "good job"? Mind you, I talked to three recruiters after hs, and after my first year of college. Air force, Army, and Army NG. None of them gave me the feeling that I should join their branch (They weren't to persuasive), and were more interested in me filling out paper work.

Which brings me to another question... Ive been to the Army and Air force web pages, and gone through several job descriptions. Any suggestions on jobs that require geeks?

Keep in mind that the Recruiters need you, you don't need them. If you don't like or trust one, go to another (even in the same branch of service).

It's been a long, long time since I joined and left the Navy, but my biggest regret is not pushing the Recruiter to give me what I wanted. You have the control, so use it!

The Mililtary has every profession found in the Civilian world. You just have to spend some time researching where those jobs are found. Take your time, don't rush into it. Get on discussion forums at all the military sites you can find. Talk it over with the ROTC guys too.

The Military will change you in the ways you've described, and you will make a difference, but it's a different experience for everyone. Personally, I can't imagine how I would've turned out without the discipline, self-confidence and challenge that the military gave me. On the other hand I knew a guy who faked being gay in order to get out (before the whole don't ask don't tell thing), and another that purposely got caught smoking dope so he would get thrown out. It will be what you make of it.

**Vinzalf** · 12-21-2005, 03:57 PM

Bahh... That kinda makes me sad. I would always joke with Eclipse (TG member currently in the Navy) about how he should do something really obscure and obvious to get relieved of his duty because he's always talking about how crappy it can be at some times. But I only do it because I know he wouldn't.

I don't think he pushed his recruiter enough either. heh.

As for the Air Force, that was the one that seemed to stand out for me from a few steps back. As I've stated quite a few times all over these forums, I work at an Airline already. I work the IS Help Desk. I know that everyone in that building is a hardcore geek for these aircraft. So it leads me to believe that it won't be too much different there.

I'm sure its similar in the other branches too, like the Navy having Boat Geeks, but I'm not a big fan of boats. Plus I've heard some strange storys from Eclipse =P.

That and I don't think I could keep up with the Boat Geek talk.

**section-8** · 12-21-2005, 04:01 PM

I saw you mentioned going enlisted, job training, and then applying to be an officer...Ive known a few people to do this...the thing you have to remember is that some services allow you to apply for OTS/OCS while in technical training and some dont....im pretty sure the air force doesnt (esp. if you are in a critically manned field...ATC, linguists, PJs...a few more) the army , at least from what i've seen, DOES allow you to...its a pain in the ass and there are time limits and boards to consider
...at any rate...if you can finish college and get comissioned that way...id recommend it...

as far as being a civlian in the air force well...it depends on what job you have....the smarter the job, the better they treat you.....guys who turn wrenches on planes have a totally different viewpoint of the air force than the guys who fly on them...

as far as being married in the military(air force mind you) goes...its been rough...real rough...i just hit three years and ive already PCSed(perm. change of station) 3 times....im now in a spot where I can settle down a bit...by settle down, i mean still be gone for half the year either in the desert or other places....my wife, at first, didnt like leaving home (we got married at 19...just before i left for basic training) but now she doesnt want to move back...shes made friends with other military wives that she considers better friends than the ones she has back home...shes come to enjoy it...

anyways...thats my 2 cents

**TG_JBRanger** · 12-21-2005, 05:55 PM

Whatever you choose you'll go far.

I was in the Army. I was stupid. I wanted to fly all my life. I enlisted as quickly as I could with a buddy and away I went to fire howitzers. Oh, how I wish I had gone on and flew.

My advice - find a job you might like to do and research how to get there. A lot of recruiters only want you as a number. If you don't feel good about it, go somewhere else.

Would I trade my time in for anything - heck no. Would I do it again? heck yes. I'd probably go fly if I could do it all over... *sigh* Now I have to revert to paying for training. LOL!

Also, get a job in the military that you can do when you can get out! Not much artillery firing in the civvy world. Just FYI!

**Wyzcrak** · 12-21-2005, 05:58 PM

Originally Posted by TG_JBRanger

Not much artillery firing in the civvy world.

Much to the chagrin of anyone who's ever been in gridlocked rush hour traffic with a sunroof that opens juuusstt wide enough for launching shells.

**TG_JBRanger** · 12-21-2005, 06:18 PM

Shot over.....shot out.

**Barracuda_Magoo** · 12-21-2005, 06:32 PM

The best advice (which has already been mentioned) is to explore all your options. When I went to choose my job, there were only a few openings in reserve units in my area. I should have waited for more jobs to open up or looked into the guard or even other services. This won't be as much of an issue if you're looking into active duty though.

The other important thing is to read all of your paper work. Your recruiter can make all kinds of promises, but if it's not right there in your contract, you won't get it.

Finally (and this is common sense) don't make any quick decisions. I know lots of guys that got off deployment and said they hated the army and were getting out as soon as possible. A couple months later, they're signing new 6-year contracts.

**Gixxer_USMC** · 12-21-2005, 07:50 PM

I, went in OPEN CONTRACT.
For those , non-military persons, it means, when you graduate boot camp they place you where ever they need you based on your ASVAB scores ( Armed Service Vocational Aptitude Battery ) or a test in which the higher you score, the more jobs are open to you. If you ace the ASVAB you basically can select any job you want.

When i graduated Boot Camp, I was sent to Radio School and became a Radio Operater.

I was assigned to a FAC TEAM ( forward air control ) where I called in AIR strikes from F/A-18's, A-6E's, AH-1's, and more.... I never had so much "fun" in my life.

I've been to Japan, Philippines, Spain, France, Italy, Turkey, Isreal, Egypt, Africa, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Iraq and also had the chance to do my job for real.

During Desert Storm my team was calling in air strikes against T-72 tanks along a stretch of highway in Kuwait.

Yes, this is something that I would not be able to take with me into the civilian world once I got out of the military but these are memories I will NEVER forget.

Once I EAS'd ( End of Active Service ) I landed a job with Ford Motor Company

Make sur you think about it .... it is a tough decision but don't sell yourself short.....

**Karkianman101** · 12-22-2005, 12:28 AM

I don't know if this is completely on topic, but my grandfather was in WWII. Once he was manning a foxhole in a string of foxholes, and the Germans started mortoring each hole sequentially, and each shell hit it's target, blowing and killing the men inside. It came to my grandfathers hole, and the shell was a dud, then the next one blew and so on. His was the only dud, and after that he wasn't afraid of anything. He considered himself to be on borrowed time from that point on.

**Iceberg** · 12-22-2005, 03:27 AM

Originally Posted by Gixxer_USMC

I, went in OPEN CONTRACT.
For those , non-military persons, it means, when you graduate boot camp they place you where ever they need you based on your ASVAB scores ( Armed Service Vocational Aptitude Battery ) or a test in which the higher you score, the more jobs are open to you. If you ace the ASVAB you basically can select any job you want.

When i graduated Boot Camp, I was sent to Radio School and became a Radio Operater.

I was assigned to a FAC TEAM ( forward air control ) where I called in AIR strikes from F/A-18's, A-6E's, AH-1's, and more.... I never had so much "fun" in my life.

I've been to Japan, Philippines, Spain, France, Italy, Turkey, Isreal, Egypt, Africa, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Iraq and also had the chance to do my job for real.

During Desert Storm my team was calling in air strikes against T-72 tanks along a stretch of highway in Kuwait.

Yes, this is something that I would not be able to take with me into the civilian world once I got out of the military but these are memories I will NEVER forget.

Once I EAS'd ( End of Active Service ) I landed a job with Ford Motor Company

Make sur you think about it .... it is a tough decision but don't sell yourself short.....

Ill admit, blowing **** up is very appealing to me. I used to love the 4th of July when I was little (and Im talking pre teens), cause I used to "don't try this at home" all the time, involving me taking hours of my life disassembling firecrackers and harvesting their explosive potential, and constructing different ways to blow holes in the back yard. Yeah, wasn't the brightest bulb in the box when it came to common sense...

Ive since moved on with dreams of making things a little more practical. Id like my next semester's project be an attempt to create an automated unmanned turret after seeing a similar project on the net. MMM imagine a defensive automatic paintball fortification. Capture the flag will never be the same.

**CingularDuality** · 12-22-2005, 03:58 AM

Lots of good info here.

I'll just add a few comments:

Your ASVAB score will determine what jobs you qualify for. Score in the 99th percentile and you can push for any job you want. Score in the 80th percentile and you can get a good job if you have a good recruiter. Score in the 60th percentile and you're going to be a grunt, truck driver or cook (not that there's anything wrong with those jobs, but you're looking for "geeky" jobs, which come with higher ASVAB scores...).

The Army and Marines run much more than the AF or Navy, but there will be running involved in any branch.

I'm pretty sure that there are no post-grad ROTC programs.

You're not going to be able to design weapons while in the military.

If you go straight in as an officer, you'll be missing out on some important experiences. I highly suggest some enlisted time. You can't lead if you don't know how to follow.

I was a satellite technician in the Marine Corps. There are some good high-tech jobs in every branch of service. You just have to qualify for them and they have to need people for that particular job.

On choosing a branch: The Marines are without a doubt the proudest and hardest. The Army and Navy are huge and you're more likely to be guaranteed the kind of job that you want. The Air Force has a much higher percentage of "geek" jobs, so you're likely to get a high tech job there, too.

Whatever you do, read your contract carefully. Promise of an occupational field is quite different from promise of a specialty. Promise of duty station is almost always qualified with "or as the service needs." so don't forget that nothing is really guaranteed...

When I get back from visiting family, I'll try to contribute more. Feel free to PM me any specific questions you might have and I'll eventually answer them.

Oh, and I recommend military service to anyone. You'll learn and grow in so many important ways. I'm not saying that it'll "make a man out of you" (although it will do that), but you will have some life changing experiences that civilians simply don't experience. It's quite rewarding.

Fear of combat? If you're not prepared to give your life in defense of our great country, then you're looking in the wrong direction. Hope and/or pray that you don't see combat, but don't expect not to see it...

**munchkin** · 12-22-2005, 05:38 AM

Originally Posted by Karkianman101

Shin Splints suck like hell. For me they go away after a couple months. But heres something that can significantly help them: before and after a run, set your leg up horizontal on a bench or something, and throw a towel around the soul of your foot like your foot is straddling it, and hold both ends. Pull the towel towards you and push a little with you foot for a while at a time, several times. That'll help strengthen your tendons and stuff.

I hear that - I used to run a fair bit, but my knees and shins were really feeling the damage. Now I only run on a heavily grassed-over oval.

**Iceberg** · 12-22-2005, 03:00 PM

I suppose I should schedule an ASVAB test at the end of the spring semester to see where I stand. They also do the physical testing at the same time: Drive to base, they bus you to a testing facility. That night you do the test, the next day is your physical (IIRC) which is sit ups, push ups, and 2 mile run.
Anyone remember the male requirements to pass?

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