military

[DaytonDogger]

Im about to be graduating here in a few months and got to thinking on how to better my life and the best thing I can think to do is join the military...I want to here from those that have served in the military on what branch would be the best to go into if I want to be a diesel mechanic

Jeorge

[3Whoghunter]

I never served but a friend of mine went to the marines as a tank mechanic he liked so much he listed for another term

[YELLOWBLACKMASK]

The Military is what you make of it. Not for everyone but a great milestone to reflect upon as you get older. Sure enough will dry your ears out bud and get you out of ordinary life for a bit.

As far as a specific branch for the desired job... do your homework and check for incentives and offered training that each branch might offer to find the best match.

Lil tip don't ask any of us what branch is the best.  We all have our favorite and will usually fight to the death to defend it.   

[buddylee]

If u gonna go in, go USMC. I don't want to offend anyone but the Marine Corps is something to be proud of. Its hard, physically demanding, and mentally demanding. Take a look around and I'll bet you see more Marine stickers on trucks than all others combined and the Marines in much smaller than the rest.

[Jam-Up Hog Doggin (Tuffone)]

Well I spent 4 years in the Marine Corps Artillary, and left as a Sgt. I left college to join in 1999. I would say that I owe my life to the Marine Corps. There were a lot of times I hated it, but it made a better man out of me and has given everything I have today. I work as a firefighter on a Army base and have the upmost respect for all branches. I always tell people that are thinking about going in to consider the Air Force if they want a technical job and the Marine Corps if they just want to get busy. I do not think that you can make a bad choice with any of them. Just do your research and see what they all have to offer, and which one better suites you. I have seen a lot of stuff abroad and would not change a thing. With all of this being said, I made my mother a promise when I left college that I would go back and get my degree. I graduate in Spring with my Bachelors in Fire Science. Best wishes.

[charles]

 i did 13 yrs and like ylwblkmask said, it what you make of it. choose a job in the military that will have a direct impact with a civilian job. unlike me, i did artillery for 6yrs. there aint much demand for a gunbunny in civilian section, so i did helicopter mech for the last 7. i used the training from the military and was doin the same job as a civie. DO NOTlet the recruiter choose your job. YOU choose your job, any promises they make to you, make the recruiter put it writing. the recruiter may try to buddy up with you. thats his job, he builds a repor with you. dont fall for it. you are a number to him/her, after you join unless you make contact with him/her, you will never hear back from him/her. dont let them dollar signs get the best of you either. choose your job and choose how long you want serve. do the minimum time to make your conclusionablout the military, you can alway reenlist later. the dollar signs im refering to is the promise of X amount of $ for a longer contract, usualy no more than 6yrs, but no matter your length of time, your first initial contract is 8yrs no matter what. if sign for 3yrs and get out, you still have 5yrs of IRR inactive ready reserve, which means unless go off the grid, if the military needs your services again, they can yank from civilian life and pull you back in and there aint nothing you can do about.

[RL]

My son is in the Army.  He is a Chinook helicopter pilot.

When he graduated high school, he wanted to join the Marines.  We researched it and realized the difference between non-commissioned and commissioned.  Basically, the highest a non-commissioned can rise to is below where a commissioned starts.  So he went to college.

Upon graduating college, he still wanted to join the Marines.  He wanted to be a pilot.  Again, we researched his options.  I read the contracts for both the Marines and the Army.  In a nutshell, the Marine contract said that they will put you in any occupation they need/want whenever they want to.  The Army contract stated that they would train you for a specific occupation and would not transfer you to another unless you were not up to standards.

Serving in the military is honerable and admirable.  My son loves it.  But, do your research.  Do you own research.  Recruiters are essentially salesmen and as such it is "buyer beware".  Accept nothing that they don't put in writing.


The most power you will have is before you sign a contract.  That is when you negotiatiate your occupation/career.

[arrowbar]

I was about to do the ocs upon graduation and go in as an officer, however I was diagnosed as a diabetic shortly after my senior year and that was the end of that idea. The marines are about to transition back to there roots as a more seaworthy force, so that is one thing to think about. If you want to work on the most electronically advanced the navy would be my first choice, the airforce would be the second. But do all your research and see what is offered to you, enlistment bonuses, jobs and stations would be things to consinder.

[dub]

I recommend college first and then the military. If you need money for college an ROTC scholarship will help. Yes we need enlisted people and I went enlisted military for over six years before being medically discharged and then college I just like to let people know officers get treated better. Have alan for when you get out. Diesel mechanic at least gets you a job.

[redneckrob]

Go army they have the best schools at aberdeen proving grounds the marines train there as well.Plus the recovery school is the best at slaughter hall swamp land training keep you in shape for hoggin once you get out.Semper Fi to all the marines

[catchrcall]

Army 13 years and counting.  Like others have said the military is what you make of it.  Make sure you read all your paperwork, and if somebody says they guarantee something don't buy it until you see it in writing.  If diesel mechanic is what you want I can tell you that the Army has a ton of different vehicles, and a ton of different mechanic specialties.  I would shop around with each service and see what they have to offer and choose which one suits you and your interests best.  If you want to travel and see a lot of the world, then look at Navy or Air Force and see what they can do for you.  I've been a lot of places with the Army but it's usually some third world $h!thole where you go.  If you're not going combat arms, look at all the different jobs you can get with each service, and then compare that to what you want to do on the outside and see which one will help you reach that goal.  You could get out with several years of on the job training and be set up nice in the civilian world when you get out.