12 years down... 8+ to go

[The Director]

Hey 45David - Thanks for your service.

Are you NG? Have you deployed yet?

[Call_me_Tom]

Congrats on hitting 12!!! I hit 14 active years in Apr.

I thought that you were going to be a cop...?

[winnre]

It's been 12 short years and I just re-upped for another 6. Let's see if my "volunteering" to goto Afghanistan or Iraq goes through.

Can you re-up for only 6? When I hit 14 my re-up was for "duration" or until I am 60.

[develown]

Just curios, Develown, what is your MOS... I have seen a few posts where you are obviously less-than-happy.

Ha, Intel

I will say this, the military has its advantages, but it seems to me that the disadvantages far out weigh the advantages. Just make sure you know what your getting into. The army is slow to recognize success and quick to punish failure.

I'm not going to list every injustice and broken dream the army has given me right now, but i would rather people know what their getting into so their not sucker punched like i was.

Regardless, if some one really wants to join, their going to do it any way. At least after they join they can say, i should have listened to that loser on cal guns.

[rod]

Those last eight years go by quick. Now is the time to start preparing yourself for life after the military. Start getting certified in everything you can, use that TA and start/work on your degree, establish a network of people that can help you get a job in your field of work, and enjoy those last eight years. Thanks for your service.

[Irv]

Congratulations, now lets get some more stripes and increase that pay check.

[Connor P Price]

Thank you for your service! Keep it up and stay safe.

[Donkeypunch0420]

Thank you very much for your service.

[aaronraby1]

Ha, Intel

I will say this, the military has its advantages, but it seems to me that the disadvantages far out weigh the advantages. Just make sure you know what your getting into. The army is slow to recognize success and quick to punish failure.

I'm not going to list every injustice and broken dream the army has given me right now, but i would rather people know what their getting into so their not sucker punched like i was.

Regardless, if some one really wants to join, their going to do it any way. At least after they join they can say, i should have listened to that loser on cal guns.

thats my issue. i have been contemplating whether or not to join. i took the test and measurements but didnt follow through with an answer. i want to be reserve. more for the education i can get out of it. but like you said, i dont know what i would be really getting into. its not that im afraid of getting deployed i just dont want my plans for life to be ruined and me suckered into something i didnt sign up for. also, i envy you david.

[develown]

thats my issue. i have been contemplating whether or not to join. i took the test and measurements but didnt follow through with an answer. i want to be reserve. more for the education i can get out of it. but like you said, i dont know what i would be really getting into. its not that im afraid of getting deployed i just dont want my plans for life to be ruined and me suckered into something i didnt sign up for. also, i envy you david.

With the military you need to take every thing you can, because they will take from you in a heart beat.

If you can take school without the military do it. Keep the military as a last resort. I don't think the trouble has been worth the benefits in my case. A lot of people join for the school but then get side tracked with the work load. If i had to guess, id say only 20-30% of soldiers actually take school while their in. Think of all that money being wasted!!

I don't know your reasons for wanting to join, but if its just school don't bother. There's a lot of college money out there, you just have to find it and be willing to work for it.

Also with reserves, they can just instantly grab you for a deployment at which point your whole life is going to be uprooted. If your living solo then you need to move all your stuff into storage, drop your classes or job, etc. Think of what a pain that's going to be.

In all honesty it isn't all bad, but it nevertheless is far from accomplishing my reasons for joining. Not to mention the large amounts of incompetence that abounds and tax money that is wasted only serves to constantly disgruntle me.

If i could describe my career in one word it would be disappointing. Don't join unless you have to.