army good or bad?

[alwaysxj]

so i am at a point in my life that i need to get school over with and on with my life. well the problem is i don't have the cash to go to school even though i need to so bad to get good insurance, for me and my growing family. I have too much doc bills and i pay for insurance every month, i am sick of it. my buddy is in the army and is trying to talk me into joining. i would then get everything i am looking for school good job and damn good insurance. I am just having a hard time signing for 6 years.....
so what i would like to know is joining worth it? Now remember i am not joining just for the sole purpose that i want to serve my country and be a soldier. i am doing for the sign on bonus and the benefits and the experience and training i will get out of this. this is a big decision for me, i have talked to people locally who are in and they seem to like it with nothing really bad to say about it.
what else can the soldiers out their tell me? :patriot:

thanks

[DETOURS]

In any branch, it's going to depend on your carrier path and what you want out of it.....

In much the same economy in 82, there were little choices as well.
I went in the Air Force, after testing my chosen field was Metal Fabrication Specialist, went to school in Texas after basic training......4 years later with an honorable discharge, I've never been unemployed since. It depends what you want out of it.

Would I do it again? Absolutely

If you ever want to discuss it, 606-845-0024.......the doors open.:thumbsup:

Mark

[alwaysxj]

In any branch, it's going to depend on your carrier path and what you want out of it.....

In much the same economy in 82, there were little choices as well.
I went in the Air Force, after testing my chosen field was Metal Fabrication Specialist, went to school in Texas after basic training......4 years later with an honorable discharge, I've never been unemployed since. It depends what you want out of it.

Would I do it again? Absolutely

If you ever want to discuss it, 606-845-0024.......the doors open.:thumbsup:

Mark

so i was reading about jobs on their web site. so this is what i am into metal fab and i have always wanted to be a fire fighter. so it looks like they have both jobs for me. since you have done the metal part mark, what would be expected from this will this give me the training to work at a off road shop? or is this more on the line at just metal fabing?

[DETOURS]

It'll give you 4 years of 'OJT'........what you decide to do with it afterwards is up to you......it's your starting point.
I did all sorts of forms of the trade prior to off road, my 'after hours' activities typically involved kit car resto's, customs to include chopping tops, street rods.........meanwhile my last daytime job involved running 9 guys, along with a union crew creating structural steel, erecting, stairwells, railings, water treatment plant work, fire escapes......blablablaaaaa....and prior to that was everything from building portable biohazardous incenerators to supporting a machine shops screw ups....(pardon any spelling...)......

I guess what I'm saying is it's your "Start Here" square.....
You 'will not' loose by trying it, you will not loose 4 years of your life, you'll actually 'live an interesting part of your life which you can build from.
You learn if you work well with others....(important)
You get a little disiplin......(never a bad thing)
You'll learn if you want to continue with the trade....
You'll meet people from all over the country and learn to work side by side...
You'll have some fun along the way & meet new life long friends......
and you'll learn just how bad of a speller I am after reading this...........:smiley-scared002:

I really cant tell you on a key board how positive I am about your consideration towards the military, it's like being paid to learn with a ton of positives if you do well........but again, it's going to be what YOU personally make of it.......hell, you might like it so much you retire in 25 years...dunno.

Dont forget, you'll need to test......test determans carrier openings for you.

Look into the Air Force............:patriot:

[afbond03]

Like Mark mentioned at the very end there. Look into the Air Force, heck look into every other service for that matter. Find out who is giving out a bonus for what job, etc.
I have been in the AF for 6 years and just re-up'd in July. I am going to try my damnedest to do 20 years, some days really suck. Already having a family you really need to consider them because it is going to be harder on them then it is on you.
Just find out every answer to every question you might have before signing a dotted line. Make sure YOU and YOUR FAMILY are 100% with the decision.
Yes there are days where Tricare and the VA make you wish you were paying for their services so you could complain about it.

[DETOURS]

Yes there are days where Tricare and the VA make you wish you were paying for their services so you could complain about it.

No different than Blue Cross/Blue Shield.......

[alwaysxj]

well i think i am sure that if i can join anything i will join the AF. i found out that i have a felony on my record from when i was a juvenile the army said they could maybe work around it but the AF told me hell no... well that is just a recruit on the live chat. the guy in my area will not pick up the phone.

so do you guys have any pointers to get around this if their is any.
thanks

[DETOURS]

I had something on my record as well......dont think it was a felony, but with a little work I had it dismissed......and all was well.

Dont call........walk right in there and do a face to face, we're talking military here, not another job application follow up............show them you're serious.
I remember walking in........nervous as a rabbit, it goes away.

Had I stayed in, I'd been retired by now.......:patriot:

[alwaysxj]

the problem with me walking right in to talk to them is the closest person to talk to is like 45 min a way so it is a little hard but i plan on going soon. i need to talk to the courts and see if i can do anything about my reconrd and them talk to the AF.

[afbond03]

the problem with me walking right in to talk to them is the closest person to talk to is like 45 min a way so it is a little hard but i plan on going soon. i need to talk to the courts and see if i can do anything about my reconrd and them talk to the AF.

Call and ask them to come to you. I currently work with a guy that just got done doing recruiter duty. He said he used to drive 2+ hours to do presentations for people that were thinking about joining. They are provided a govt. car, it is no thing for them to come to your home.

[alwaysxj]

I ran into a little problem.... I need to get my Juvenal criminal record expunged to join. So it will be at least 60 days for that. fingers are crossed...

Oh and when i join, it will be the AF not the Army any more. Nothing against the Army, but the AF just looks soooo much better.

[cherok]

For me it is just a nice and safe part-time job, good-luck!
http://www.xjtalk.com/picture.php?albumid=17&pictureid=123

[DETOURS]

I ran into a little problem.... I need to get my Juvenal criminal record expunged to join. So it will be at least 60 days for that. fingers are crossed...

Get that started, meanwhile get with a recruiter......let them know what your doing about your record, and move forward......it takes longer than 60 days to enter the service, esp. if you're going after a certain carrier...which you wont know if you're elligable until you test.
It took 4.5 months for me to actually leave for basic......it all had to timed with school at another base......
Basic is'nt bad, you'll have highs & lows, after that comes school......you'll start seeing a normal military life from there.....
You need to push forward, otherwise you'll still be talking about it in 6 months still, the AF is a good choice.:thumbsup:

:patriot: