Thinking of visiting a recruiter

[Written]

Hey everybody I am thinking of joining a branch of the armed forces. My family has history serving in the Navy and Army. I was planning on taking some time this month to go visit a recruitment office and see what kind of possibilities are open to me. If anybody has any info they could give me to help me figure things out before I go I would appreciate it.
I am thinking the Marines. I am turning 19 soon and feel like I am just wasting my life and not doing anything "productive". I have had it in my mind that I have wanted to enlist ever since I was around 15. I don't want to wait too long and miss out on my chance do to this because I know I will regret it for the rest of my life if I do. How would you guys recommend I prepare myself (physically) and what documentation I will need to have with me when I go in, what MOS should I look into, basically what should I expect?

Thank you for taking the time to help me out
Ryan

Thank you all for your service.

[nastyhabts26]

Ok so waiting and wastime time not always a bad idea.
My son joined the Navy last year at the ripe old age of 29
Try to find a service where you can learn something that will give you a leg up in finding a civilian job after yout military career ends.
Get your self in top physical condition before you go in so that you will be able to with stand the rigors of military boot camp and training.
Get yourself mentally prepared for the challenge, long hours, low pay and the possibility of a crappy duty station.
Figure out what branch you most want to join and spend some time with the recruiting personnel.
Check out the various web sites for familys, wives etc of different services to see what they have to say about the choices you are about to take.
Remember once you are accepted and join the government basically owns you for about 8 years including active duty and reserve commitments.

[winnre]

Something I did not know when I joined:

You may take the ASVAB with one service but with the results you can join ANY service. Take the test with the Marines, if they do not have a job you like ask the other recruiters.

[Written]

I have worked crap jobs before and I can't find one at all now - I feel like I am wasting my life in that sense. I have gone almost 6 months with no work and have been looking every day. I have always lived in military households(retired) and my family has had one member from every generation in different branches/countries for as far back as I could find. When I first got with my SO she told me we were through if I enlisted - she has now changed her mind because a lot of her friends(going through medical school) are enlisting as nurses, I feel I have my chance and I need to prepare and take it ASAP...
Nastyhabts26 - Please tell your son that I thank him for his service.

My great grandfather was in the navy in WW2 - I have his tour books somewhere.

[Written]

Something I did not know when I joined:

You may take the ASVAB with one service but with the results you can join ANY service. Take the test with the Marines, if they do not have a job you like ask the other recruiters.

Thank you for this - I will definately keep that in mind.

[jeg0777]

Knowing what you want to do in the Military and how you will apply what you learn when you get out is very important. You also need to know that the Recruiters only job is to get you to MEPS and then to make sure you ship. At MEPS you will deal with completely different people who will try to fill completely different quotas. Stick to your guns and don't settle for something you don't want to do just to get in.

[18Dmedic]

And don't accept anything unless its in writing.

[evidens83]

What career fields are you interested in? Medical? Aviation? Kickin down doors? Study and do your best on the ASVAB to open up a wide array of job options. You're at a prime age to enlist I wish I joined right after high school but better late than never I guess.

[Mr.Caketown]

just to double tap on what evidens said , Find a career field you want first of all and then pick the branch you want to join. If you want adventure then the Army/Marines would be the way to go if you want to service in a life of luxury then the Air Force.

My advice to you is to find a job in the military that you can enjoy and later transition into the Civilian world.

[The Soup Nazi]

I may sound a little jaded, but don't waste your 4/5/6 year enlistment. I've seen too many Marines do it. No matter which branch you choose to serve in, stepping off that parade deck and claiming to be a Marine/Soldier/Sailor/Airman isn't carte blanche for you to screw off.

Dedicate yourself to your work. Seek to become THE subject matter expert of your MOS/Rate. Achieve a level of physical fitness so that your seniors will look to you to lead PT/combat conditioning in spite of your junior rank. Learn what it means to be a leader, and how to professionally interact with others. Those are things you will never be able to learn didactically at any academic institution.

If you don't have the dedication to commit yourself to those goals, save the government the paycheck and yourself some grief.

No matter what cards (jobs) you're dealt, service is what you make of it. You can choose to let either sheer incompetence, materialistic pleasure, or a dependency on drugs/alcohol destroy you, or you can use your time in to defibrillate what you allege to be a stagnant lifestyle.

I hope you make the right choice for yourself.

[Written]

Reading through all the replies - I guess I should say I want to do 1 of 4 things. 1:LEO 2:Lockheed 3:boeing 4:gunsmith
in that order. I know #4 will end up being a hobby. I know 4 people who work for lockheed and I might be able to use that to my advantage in the future.

I do want to be able to say I have fought for my country, I want to have a feeling of being part of something. All throughout my life I have been backstabbed and I want to have a group of people I know I can trust my life with.

I am very good at picking up paterns and taking note of routines and such. I know I need to get into better physical shape... but I am good with mathematics and reading comprehension... if that will help with anything.

[Bobby Ricigliano]

I joined the Army to beef up my resume' for a career in law enforcement. It worked. I've been a LEO for 13 years now and I am proud of my military time and service. Comparing the two careers, the military was in a lot of ways more enjoyable than my current career, if less lucrative.

There is solid advice from the above poster. Join and aim to excel. There a lot of s-bags in the military. Be squared away, and learn your MOS in and out. Wear your uniform with honor and lead from the front.

Now go enlist. Everyone is nervous as hell when enlisting and shipping out to basic. Get through the initial growing pains and you will love it.

[Unit74]

Job skills son...Get a job with transferable skills. Trigger pullers can't do much after they get out. Killin is looked down upon as a civie.


Aviation is always a sure bet. Arms repair might be cool, but unless you start your own gun business, pretty useless.

Whatever you choose, ask yourself before you sign the contract.... When I get out, is there a job for me with my MOS? If you have to think about it more than a few seconds, that's the wrong MOS.

If it's not in writing, it did not happen so everything they promise, get it in writing. Ask about the College Fund in addition to the GI Bill and enlistment bonuses as well.

Remember.... In the Corps, you ain't jack until you hit NCO. In the Navy, you are a peon till you hit Chief. No clue on army. Air Force seems pretty even keeled from what my partner was telling me. Not as many rank games and far more respect within the ranks. He was Air Force Security Forces and went OSI later.

[Written]

I joined the Army to beef up my resume' for a career in law enforcement. It worked. I've been a LEO for 13 years now and I am proud of my military time and service.

This is what I have been reading a lot about, and I would love to work in Law Enforcement at some point.

What branch would you join if you had to choose again? I want to make sure I don't rush into it because that is when I make mistakes, but I also don't want to wait to long for it.

[omnitravis]

Anyone know if they actually have a zero-waiver policy, currently?