Need help deciding which military to serve in?

[9.8m/s/s]

when you do pick a branch look at officer programs, officers get much better pay and some other benefits. i know the navy has the STA-21 program where they basically pay for you to get a degree look around and pick what you want not what your parents want

[leperkhaun]

Originally Posted by USAF

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.

That is true, but at different places a lot of SF guards high value assests and such. If the reason he wants to join is so that he can get job experiance as a cop then get out a 4 years and be a civilian cop, joining the military might not be the best thing for him.

Because he might not be a cop.

because depending on where he ends up he could be doing almost nothing but guarding nukes, and not doing LE, which is what he wants.

If he wants to serve and while serving see about getting a job to learn and do LE because that is what he is intreasted in, then he should join.

[2ndgenz28]

I would make sure and be physically fit before you go. Which will help you stand out from the crowd. Id be doing P90X and then Isanity and even consider those boot camp you pay to go. Where reg folks can pay to be broke down and built up in a real boot camp but just for fun.

Be in the top 1%

[Jay_LHD3]

My two cents…

First, I grew up moving from Army base to Army base every three to four years. Most of my relatives have severed in the Army. I was enrolled in DEP prior to graduating from HS. This was post Desert Storm (’92) and I chose the Navy. (Plankowner - USS Kearsarge LHD-3)

I agree with all the post I have read in this thread except some of the comments about being out to sea for who knows how long. That is a little of an exaggeration. In four years you will probable do one cruise (six months) maybe two.

There is very good information in this thread.

Things I would like to add. Do not rush the process. Most recruiter offices are next door to each other. Make appointments at each and cross-reference each to make sure you’re getting good (correct) information. Take a family member or friend with you; preferable someone who has served. You are going to get loads of information to process and an extra set of ears are always good.

Things to look for are job placement procedures and sign up bonuses. When I went in my main focus was gaining college credits and college funds, and I wanted to travel. I did not want to be stuck for four years in one place. So I chose the Navy and would do it again. If you are going in to gain police experience then I would find a forum on the internet where these guys chat. You may find out that one branch may be cross training to break down doors in Afghanistan with another branch of service in that field. This happens and more so now with our military being stretched out.

Unless it has changed from when I went in the USAF did not guarantee jobs at the recruitment level. So you could walk out of basic training and be assigned to whatever job they need you to fill. USAF guys correct me if I’m wrong on this. To my knowledge the only branch that can guarantee you the job you want at the recruitment level is the Marines. But as any Marine will tell you they have two jobs and no matter their MOS, their first job is a combat soldier.

To add to the “which branch promotes faster” comments: Promotions in the military are based on filling jobs. Your job may promote the top 5% or the top 70% of test takers depending on openings in that field and in that field there may be 50 or 5000 test takers. Find out from people currently in that field what the advancement opportunities are. Different branches also have different time served advancements for lower rank. If you keep yourself squared away in the Navy you are automatically advanced to E-3 with time served in each rank without taking any test and in the Army you are advanced all the way to E-4 with time served before you have to start taking test for promotions. I’m not sure about the Marines and Air Force on this. I wish we had the internet, as it is now, when I went in.

Score as high as possible on every test you take from the day you walk in. Because this will give you the most choices and being at the bottom of the totem pole you want all the choices you can get!

As is anything in life the military will be what you make of it. You can go in counting the days till you get out or become the best in your field. The possibilities are endless.

I guarantee you that you will make memories that you will cherish for life! Good luck on your decision.

[leperkhaun]

Originally Posted by jfaber99

Unless it has changed from when I went in the USAF did not guarantee jobs at the recruitment level.

Dont know what current policy is but when i went through a couple years ago.

For the most part this is correct. At MEPS they ask you to make a list. You may or may not be offered a job from that list. The recruiter will tell you what was selected.

You can say ok ill take that job at which point he will put it into your contract and provided that you dont make yourself ineligible you will get that job or you can opt for a general option, which is a crap shoot on what you get.

Now depending on Air Force needs at the time there might be some jobs that if you say you want that job you will get it.

Traditionally this has been things like PJ's, SERE, or CCTs. But sometimes normal jobs do show up on the critical list.

[USAF]

You can get almost any job but you have to be willing to wait until a slot opens up. Most people want to join within a certain timeframe and just take the first job that is offered.

[CJP]

I was in the Army for 5 1/2 years. Go anywhere but Army. hahahaha

I have not read every single reply but my advice is to find a Police Dept you want to work for, and learn everything you can about it first. Then ask them what the best way in can be. Some Police Dept's frown on people who where in any branch and where MPs because the training can be radically different. Recruiters will also tell you anything to get you to sing up. If your top goal is to be a civilian cop, go to them and them first.

Army bases, like Ft Hood where I was at, use a majority of federal employees who are more like rent-a-pigs while MPs are now used widely on deployments to Iraq and Afghanistan. MPs are suppose to to help train Iraq and Afghan security forces but really their job is like most everyone else; try not to get blown up. They do very little, if any, Police work in today's combat environment.

I have a good friend who was an Air Force MP and he didn't like it much. He has his own story to tell, but I can tell you it was not because he was a dirtbag or something along those lines. He has a family and makes great money. Although his job today has nothing to do with his Air Force MP job.

I can tell you that once you sign up and even get your job training, they can throw you into any other job they want. I was a Tank Mechanic, but I did combat patrols, foot patrol with Infantry, worked on just about everything with wheels and tracks, and a host of other things. Not complaining, just letting you know that they can do that.

I can tell you however that since getting out getting my benefits has been a fight every step of the way. Not because I'm lazy, but because the VA is such a nightmare to work with. Some people have no problems, but I can line up friend after friend who have to go through hell to get their benefits. Just this past month, with the Post 9/11 GI Bill, which give you a housing allowance, they accidentally turned mine off. They took full responsibility but told me it would take up to five months to turn it back on. I called them twice a day everyday for a week to get them back on and it is fine now. But that's what you have to do, and you shouldn't.

Here are some pics of me and my friend in Iraq...

[CJP]

Foot Patrol:

[CJP]

This is an M88 a2 Hercules and it's used to recover and tow Tanks and other vehicles. It has welding tool, a boom, wenches (not the fun kind) and other things. This was actually a part of my job I signed up for...