ThePhanastasio

I don't know, but I'm thinking I'm going to sign up for the military.

My ASVAB is exceptional, and I'd be able to enter at a fairly decent rank, for fairly decent jobs.

I'm currently unemployed.

I also want something substantial. I wouldn't be career, but I want to enter the armed forces.

I mean, I grew up with an Army dad. I don't want the Army necessarily, though. I'm shooting for more Air Force or Navy, actually.

My uncle was Air Force.

I've no ties to the Navy, aside from my cousin almost completed Boot, only to have an asthma attack a week before graduation.

I don't have asthma. I've been jogging regularly. I have an appropriate BMI. I have an advanced IQ, and a ****ing awesome ASVAB (WAY easier than the ACTs, for anyone who was wondering) and could feasibly do this.

I just have one minute favor to ask; anything in the Recreational Drug thread; if that could be deleted, I'd be eternally grateful.

As it stands, I could pass even a follicle test, I believe, but I don't want the RD thread turning against me.

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Sansa Stark

Are you manic right now

ThePhanastasio

I don't think so, no. I've felt closer to normal these past few days than normal. If I'm still manic, that will have been close to two months, and that's not good.

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Sansa Stark

I am pretty anti-military but also a big fan of letting people do whatever the **** they want bc its not my problem. However, if you've been experiencing mania recently, I would advise against making the decision right away. If it sounds like a good idea in six months, try it. If you're only doing it as a last resort for an employment, try to consider other options as well. Internet work is pretty plentiful these days, and their are a lot of writing jobs that pay really well and don't require drug tests, and since you're a talented writer you could easily pick up several and make a really good paycheck.

But most importantly, don't make any huge life changes if you've been manic recently. You will prob regret it

someonecompletelyrandom

Best advice of the thread thus far. Give it some time, really give yourself plenty of space to think about it before you commit.

ladyislingering

my ex joined the army because he screwed up really bad (had a kid with a girl he wanted nothing to do with) and felt he had no other options.

the army is pretty much the bottom of the barrel.

but being a part of the "defense force" itself is not the best thing you can do with your life.

you'll be miserable.

I don't know you but I know well enough about the armed forces to know that it's a really, really bad idea.

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Freebase Dali

Your post is rather insulting.
I joined the Army in 2003 as an information systems analyst, got 6 good (and easy) years experience in that field, got out, and am just finishing up getting a free degree as a computer network specialist (and I actually got paid to go to school, never having to pay a dime), and I get any certifications I want reimbursed. I'm set to go into the workforce in my field making no less than 25 dollars an hour to start, which is great for Louisiana.
I can say that the education benefits, while great, are not the culmination of my military experience. The experience itself made me better as a person in all respects.

I wouldn't expect someone who is forced to join any service to take anything positive away from the experience, but your ex and I are obviously two totally different people. And I'm sure the OP and your ex are as well. You shouldn't pass judgement on something you obviously don't know anything about.

And if people could take their misguided pride out of the equation, they aren't being a "tool" for the government any more than a worker is a "tool" for the company he works for. If someone wishes to challenge themselves and use the armed services as a tool to accomplish what they want to accomplish, there is absolutely nothing wrong with that.

Salami

But there you go, he's joining the army for the wrong reason. He wasn't interested in serving his country, he did it because he "screwed up". And this is the case for any job, if you join it because it inspires you then it will suit you, but out of desperation and you're unlikely to get much out of it.

As far as I can see, Phanastasio isn't in that position, so I don't think this should be a factor.

ladyislingering

I will say there are some good people in the force but it's too much of a sacrifice to a government that doesn't care about the underlings.

It just breaks my heart that anyone ever goes that far. it's a horrifying job.

Some people are kept safe and have good jobs in the gov. It's the underling positions that are scary.

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Freebase Dali

So, you would be totally OK if the same sacrifices were made under a government that really, really, really cared about all the crap people chose to endure for their own sake?
What do you think about firefighters? Police?
Do you think it's too much of a sacrifice for them to put their lives in danger for your sake?
Do you hold their choices in disdain while you benefit from them?

I think the same thing could be said about military or public service. People choose it. And they know the risks. Regardless of their motive for choosing to take those risks, they do, and whether you think it noble or horrible, you are still benefiting from their decisions, and they as well.

If you actually think it's all about sacrificing for a government, you've got it all wrong. It's about sacrificing for yourself, your fellow man, or any other reason we have the right to choose, seeing as it's our sacrifice to begin with.
So let's not pretend that we're all doing this for the government, shall we?