Previous Thread
Next Thread
Print Thread
Page 2 of 4 1 2 3 4
#725241 08/20/03 03:58 AM
Joined: May 2003
Posts: 2,397
F
Hard-core CEG'er
Offline
Hard-core CEG'er
F
Joined: May 2003
Posts: 2,397
Originally posted by TheGreatOne:
What about reserves? I have a job I can't leave for the military...but isn't the reserves where you give them like 2 weeks a year?? Sounds like a win win situation to me...really thinking about it.




Reserves aren't a bad way to go. I'm not exactly sure on how many weeks or whatever but I think its 1 weekend a month and a 2 or 3 week block sometime in the year. But be warned of this, the reserves can and do get activated to full time duty...just like they did during Iraqi Freedom and you could be on active duty for a while. Sadly, there are some reservist guys my parents know that came back from Iraq 8 months later to find their jobs gone. Just giving you fair warning of what COULD happen...especially if you go Army reserves as they are more likely to get called up for long lengths of time.

Talk to a recruiter about it and if you have any questions or concerns (like thinking the recruiter is bsing you) post it on here and us military CEGers can give ya the lowdown if possible.


Formerly known as Sneaku I MISS MY BABY!!! '00 Blk CSVT #1087/2150 built 12/23/99
#725242 08/20/03 06:04 AM
Joined: Apr 2003
Posts: 99
E
CEG\'er
Offline
CEG\'er
E
Joined: Apr 2003
Posts: 99
hey man,
all i can say is go for it.
I am currently in the Coast guard. I spent my 1st year on a 378 ft boat. Actually i was stationed there for 8 months and spent 7 months underway. Sounds bad right....well it wasnt. I went to about 20 different carribean islands and had a blast. .
TRUE...it is a very small service, which means PLENTY of room to advance. A good friend of mine is in the navy, for 2 months less than I. He is an E1 and I am an E4, about to be E5. GO COAST GUARD.
anywayz, PM me if u got any questions

ps....i have heard USCG is 2nd hardest boot camp, is that true anyone???


98 SVT Stock for now
#725243 08/20/03 06:56 AM
Joined: May 2003
Posts: 800
O
Veteran CEG\'er
Offline
Veteran CEG\'er
O
Joined: May 2003
Posts: 800
Originally posted by egrau:
hey man,
all i can say is go for it.
I am currently in the Coast guard. I spent my 1st year on a 378 ft boat. Actually i was stationed there for 8 months and spent 7 months underway. Sounds bad right....well it wasnt. I went to about 20 different carribean islands and had a blast. .
TRUE...it is a very small service, which means PLENTY of room to advance. A good friend of mine is in the navy, for 2 months less than I. He is an E1 and I am an E4, about to be E5. GO COAST GUARD.
anywayz, PM me if u got any questions

ps....i have heard USCG is 2nd hardest boot camp, is that true anyone???




how is the system in ranking. what is e1 and e4?

#725244 08/20/03 12:22 PM
Joined: Oct 2002
Posts: 2,578
R
Hard-core CEG'er
Offline
Hard-core CEG'er
R
Joined: Oct 2002
Posts: 2,578
Originally posted by lithium398:
what is e1 and e4?





E-1 = lowest rank in any military branch. Basically it's someone who JUST got in, and hasn't been in for more than 6 months.

E-4 = someone higher up. Usually this person has been in the military for at least 3 years. Usually this person is one rank away from being a crew leader, so to speak.
Hope that helps. I cannot tell you specific ranks because all branches are different.


2004 Ford Freestar V6 Boogity Boogity Boogity, Let's go racin Boys!
#725245 08/20/03 01:43 PM
Joined: Oct 2002
Posts: 2,132
T
Hard-core CEG\'er
Offline
Hard-core CEG\'er
T
Joined: Oct 2002
Posts: 2,132
You could get yourself a college degree first. As a officer your rank would be higher than the enlisted personnel. You would also make more money as an officer.

Here is a link to the rank patches for different ranks:
http://www.defenselink.mil/pubs/almanac/almanac/people/insignias/

Remember that a officer starts at a rank higher than all of the enlisted personel. They usually sit behind a desk (not much physical work).

#725246 08/20/03 02:23 PM
Joined: Sep 2002
Posts: 3,632
M
Hard-core CEG'er
Offline
Hard-core CEG'er
M
Joined: Sep 2002
Posts: 3,632
I thought I read they have been using the Coast Guard more and more to protect overseas ports, etc. ?


"Cobb - It's not just for corn anymore!"
#725247 08/20/03 05:50 PM
Joined: Oct 2000
Posts: 3,867
R
Hard-core CEG'er
Offline
Hard-core CEG'er
R
Joined: Oct 2000
Posts: 3,867
Originally posted by 7999:
They usually sit behind a desk (not much physical work).




Ummm. OK.

Depends on the service and the technical specialty.

Army grunt Lts are out there elbow to elbow with their platoons, and are often the first ones killed in battle when they stand up and say "follow me."

"Sit behind a desk" = deal with all the bureucratic bs that rolls downhill and try to protect your people from it so they can get there shi_ done, survive, and accomplish the mission. Take it in the shorts when somebody above or below you drops the ball, etc. It can be a fun ride, but it's not the piece of cake it may look like.

You could get a degree first, look into ROTC programs and scholarships, or try for an academy, or enlist and take advantage of the GI Bill or tuition assistance programs.



Function before fashion. '96 Contour SE "Toss the Contour into a corner, and it's as easy to catch as a softball thrown by a preschooler." -Edmunds, 1998
#725248 08/20/03 06:17 PM
Joined: Oct 2002
Posts: 2,132
T
Hard-core CEG\'er
Offline
Hard-core CEG\'er
T
Joined: Oct 2002
Posts: 2,132
Originally posted by RogerB:
Originally posted by 7999:
They usually sit behind a desk (not much physical work).




Ummm. OK.

Depends on the service and the technical specialty.

Army grunt Lts are out there elbow to elbow with their platoons, and are often the first ones killed in battle when they stand up and say "follow me."

"Sit behind a desk" = deal with all the bureucratic bs that rolls downhill and try to protect your people from it so they can get there shi_ done, survive, and accomplish the mission. Take it in the shorts when somebody above or below you drops the ball, etc. It can be a fun ride, but it's not the piece of cake it may look like.

You could get a degree first, look into ROTC programs and scholarships, or try for an academy, or enlist and take advantage of the GI Bill or tuition assistance programs.






In the military you are going to get your a** chewed a lot whatever you do. If you make rank and someone below you makes a mistake then you will get punished for the mistake. It will always be your fault no matter what.

#725249 08/20/03 07:27 PM
Joined: Apr 2002
Posts: 1,616
M
Hard-core CEG'er
Offline
Hard-core CEG'er
M
Joined: Apr 2002
Posts: 1,616
Do it..but do it smartly. If you can go ROTC...then go that route. WHy not have the US Government pay for your schooling in exchange for a couple of years of service?

But if not...get the GI bill for sure! Don't sign off on anything that you might need later on.

I would go in this order:
-Air Force (quality of life rocks...3 month rotation deployments)
-Coast Guard (What could be better than stopping a 52 Chevy in the middle of the ocean with 40 Cubans?)
-Army (Lotsa opportunities...lotsa posts...can you say "Fire in the Hole!!!")
-Reserves/Guard (let's face it...its a part time thing...all the full timers will give you hell)
-Marines (totally hard core...you egt paid the exact same amount as every other servicemen and do 3 times the work. Can you say bullet catchers)

Don't let the recruiter BS you. Recruiters go thru a minimum of 12 weeks of training in order to make quotas...and they can often be at your expense...if they say something...probably only 50% is true. Take your time...look at what your ASVAB scores are, and choose wisely. Don't be scared off by long schools (like MI or MP). If you go Airborne or Air Assualt...you will end up in a combat unit. Same with Rangers/SF. If that's you...Kill'em all! But if not...Don't be afraid to walk out on them and come back.

Also...Basic Training in the summer sucks *ss...try FT Knox in July/August (like me)....

#725250 08/20/03 07:37 PM
Joined: Jun 2003
Posts: 80
I
CEG\'er
Offline
CEG\'er
I
Joined: Jun 2003
Posts: 80
I'm at the Defense Language Institute (one of the most difficult language schools in the world) for the Air Force right now. Just finished russian. It's not a bad way to go. I was in class with people from every branch except CG, and here's what I've learned:

AF - Good standard of living/Difficult to rank up
If you want to go to college and get your degree, they're more than willing to help. 100% tuition assistance (all the other services have around 75-85%).

Navy - Standard of living ok (living on a ship or sub isn't the greatest)/Rank up easier
They have every job all of the other services have plus some more. Beware of the nuke science program. #1 washout school in the DoD.

Army - Standard of living ok/Rank up easier/Better signing bonuses
If you have outstanding college loans, they'll pay them all off and give you a decent pay grade to start. I have a friend who started out E-4, had $35k in loans repaid, and got a $20k signing bonus. If you have a bachelor's, look to starting out as E-4. If you don't have a degree already, it'd be better to go Air Force.

USMC - If you want to be buffer than [censored], the Marines is for you. Can't really even compare them to the other branches. They're just too different. It's difficult, but doable.

Coast Guard - Keep you close to home, but understand that the Coast Guard sees more action than all the other services. Excellent service if you're looking to go into law enforcement after the military.

Any of them would be a good choice, really. Just depends on what you're looking for. Talk with the recruiters, but don't let them push you into anything. Sigining up with the military is a lot like buying a car. You're in control, remember that. If you hve any questions, email me! I signed my contract Mar 2002, so I am still pretty fresh on it all.


I ran a search already! 99 Ford Contour SVT - SOLD!! '90 CRX Si, '98 Explorer V8, '98 Acura ITRally Co-Driver
Page 2 of 4 1 2 3 4

Link Copied to Clipboard
Powered by UBB.threads™ PHP Forum Software 7.7.5