Need help deciding which military to serve in?

[OrangeSS]

Originally Posted by wangtangjf7

You nailed it. No one in my family has ever served and they've all been trying to convince me not to go. Reading different posts and seeing people's sigs and names, it seemed like a lotta people served here so i just wanted advice. Its not like i'm going to post a poll and thats gonna make my decision.

I just thought who better to ask than people who have actually served. Thank you everyone for responding and serving our country.

I was in the same situation when I joined. No one in my family served except my oldest brother, he served 8 years in the Marine Corps. He was really the only one that could provide the information that I wanted/needed. He actually talked me out of joining the Marines and into joining the Army. Everyone else just tried to talk me out of it and told me I was crazy (I joined right after 9/11). I can't tell you how glad I am that I did join. I'm not sure where I would be if I didn't but I can tell you I would not be as well off as I am now. Good luck with whatever you decide and let us know if you have anymore questions.

[GSUNCSU]

Go Army National Guard, become and officer and branch Military Police, that way you can use both careers simultaneously. I just retired as a Colonel (R) from the Georgia Army National Guard last September, 23 years, and was branched Engineers in the NG and work as a Manufacturing Engineer as a civilian, been places done things I would have never got to do otherwise. Last Overseas Duty was in support of an AF mission in Guyana doing construction missions, we had AF Security and those guys seemed to enjoy their job as did their construction engineers (Red Horse) and our Army Combat HVY Engineers, most missions now are multi-service. Whatever your choice I applaud your decision to serve, you won't regret it.

[jrc1122]

I was in the USAF For 10.5 years active duty.

It was a blast, great times, treated very well.

I was a recruiter for the AF for the last 3 years. I know all the great selling points of the USAF, and I know many of the other branches selling points as well..

But I can promise you if you have an option (meaning you qualify for all branches) than USAF is the way to go.

If you have to ask, then the USAF. Now if you were debating Marines vs Army, I would probably not steer you towards the AF, unless you want to do special ops.

Good luck with your decision, and thanks for wanting to serve!

[mlee]

Originally Posted by Rob191288

The only thing you gotta watch out for in becoming Security Forces in the Air Force is you could also end up guarding the nukes. If you get one of the nuke bases chances are your not going to do much Law Enforcement.

Rob just said it... make sure you can get Law Enforcement not Security Forces... and definitely go AF..

Originally Posted by fugimo

Even being ex Navy, .....

......
had I stayed in, I would of been retired today.

Here's another reason to go AF... notice the folks who have all served and gotten out. You'll find more in the AF that actually stay in and retire. JMHO


Good Luck
MSgt Lee USAF 21yrs

[PQ]

I served in the Army from July 1988 to July 1992 and if I had to do it over again I wouldn't change a thing.

'Just Cause', Desert Sheild/Storm are times I will never forget. When I left Ft. Bragg, I was very happy to be done with it. But I look back and miss it all the time.

[blake-b]

You don't have to have military experience to be a cop. I have been a cop for 14+ years and was not in the military. I did try to be a Marine but an elbow injury that I incurred in high school precluded me. I will always have the regret of not being able to be in the military.

Unless you are dead set on joining the military (which I highly encourage for many reasons), it isn't absolutely necessary. If you are 21, have you applied with LE agencies? What are they telling you? If you are not 21, do ride a longs with depts near you. See if that is what you really want to do. Do you have any relatives that are cops? If so, go talk to them about the job and get their perspectives.

Good Luck.

[wangtangjf7]

Originally Posted by blake-b

You don't have to have military experience to be a cop. I have been a cop for 14+ years and was not in the military. I did try to be a Marine but an elbow injury that I incurred in high school precluded me. I will always have the regret of not being able to be in the military.

Unless you are dead set on joining the military (which I highly encourage for many reasons), it isn't absolutely necessary. If you are 21, have you applied with LE agencies? What are they telling you? If you are not 21, do ride a longs with depts near you. See if that is what you really want to do. Do you have any relatives that are cops? If so, go talk to them about the job and get their perspectives.

Good Luck.

i have an uncle that is a police officer and i knew that you didnt have to be in the military to become a cop. for me, i wanna join because i can gain experience, go to school, and get paid all at the same time. I'm 25 and i've never heard of LE angencies. i'll probably do some research on that but i prefer joining the military.

THANKS AGAIN EVERYONE FOR YOUR INPUT AND ADVICE. I REALLY APPRECIATE IT!

[blake-b]

LE agencies = law enforcement agencies = departments. They are interchangeable terms.

Again, good luck!

[LarzII]

Of course everyone leaves out the Coast Guard in these discussions.

It's a good option with a lot of autonomy, variety, and responsibility. There's a law enforcement rate, and regardless of rate, anyone can become a federal boarding officer. It's also the only branch of the military that's also considered a federal law enforcement agency.

[jrc1122]

Coast Guard is good, They are such a small branch in comparison. I know I had a girl come to me, and got tired of the coast guard not returning her calls. You see, they are spread out very thin as far as recruiting.
He faxed all the papers so that she could take the ASVAB,, the girl actually scored in the 90s (very good for the ASVAB).. And they still were dragging their feet.. Why because they are spread so thin, and make their mission easily each year.

So she came to me (the USAF recruiter) I put her in the DEP within a week!
You snooze you lose!

[leperkhaun]

Just remember that cops in the Air Force have two different jobs. One part of that is law enforcement. The second part of that is gate guard, guarding nukes, guarding planes, guarding high value assests.

If you want to be a cop find out what the requirements are and be a cop. Dont join the military to learn how to be a cop because 1) you might not end up a cop or 2) you might not do the LE side.

Join to serve.

[RocketCutlass]

You have to decide this for yourself. I went through the same thing as you trying to pick a branch to serve in and I did the research and decided which branch fit me best. Me in particular, I felt the marines was the way to go because of the type of person I am. You need to take a look at yourself first and then see which branch is the best fit for you. I could of joined any branch I wanted to and do any job I wanted, I scored very high on the ASVAB. Another thing that helped decide was I observed the recruiters, the way they carried themselves, the way they talked, attitudes, stuff like that. They all said pretty much the same thing and made the same promises. Don't let them push you around either. The marine recruiter will most likely try the "I don't want you if your not willing to give 110% blah blah blah," just a heads up. It's just a tactic like when someone tells you you aren't capable of something you try to prove them wrong. Above all though no matter you decide, it is what you make of it, and you will benefit later in life from service. I ship out to Parris Island august 30th :-D

[USAF]

Originally Posted by leperkhaun

Just remember that cops in the Air Force have two different jobs. One part of that is law enforcement. The second part of that is gate guard, guarding nukes, guarding planes, guarding high value assests.

If you want to be a cop find out what the requirements are and be a cop. Dont join the military to learn how to be a cop because 1) you might not end up a cop or 2) you might not do the LE side.

Join to serve.

The two have now joined career fields to form Security Forces. Most bases contract out their gate guard dutites and the military only do LE duties. I won't say that you would never get stuck doing security but even if you do, you will be rotated out and spend most of your career in LE. A few years in and you could move to become a dog handler, CATM instructor or an investigator. No matter what, you will have time for school and the pride that comes from serving.

[Lava]

I was in the U.S. Coast Gaurd and Loved it. Now I work for the U.S. Justice Department and I am a Federal Officer. It really helped getting my carreer off to a great start. There are plenty of fields to go into and one of the few branches that a top secret clearance is mandatory. You graduate Basic training as a E-3. Your scores on the ASFAB will have to be tops because they require a ton of classroom training durring basics. From Maritime Law Enforcement to your regular duties, you will spend more than half of each day of training in a class room. Good Luck to you and I am honored you chose to serve your country first to start your life. Kudo's to you for whatever branch you choose. You have already made the right choice just to join.