NationStates

Recently I've been considering joining the American National Guard for various reasons, this of course like many other things I think about led me to an idea for a new General topic. (I'm obsessed with NSG I tell you, OBSESSESED!) Ahem.
Anyway I thought I'd start a topic on Military Service.

What do you think of the military?
Do you know anyone who's in it?
Are YOU in it?
What were some of your experiences?
And what should people like myself who are considering joining expect?

I personally have a sister who joined the National Guard and a cousin who used to be in the Navy and worked on an Aircraft Carrier.
(No I don't remember the name of the ship)

I think there are too much incentives to join the military and I view that as a bad thing because I view war in a negative light because hippy. I know many who are in the military on a real life basis as well. My thoughts are that pensions shouldn't start 20 years after service but instead be based on combat tours served. Medical and education and jobs assistance I can agree with, though.

My best friend is going into the Army. I've been hoping to do it, but I doubt I will.

I kind of want to join the California National Guard for a few years.

I plan on going to have a chat with someone at the Recruiting Office, I still haven't made up my mind yet.

What do you think of the military? I think positively of the Australian military. We have a good international record overall and the military is well respected by the Australian public. I'd like to think the culture within the ADF isn't one of sociopathic violence and is more revolved around helping each other.
Do you know anyone who's in it? Yes, I know several people in all three branches of service.
Are YOU in it? No. I enlisted as a Aerospace Engineer for the Royal Australian Air Force and progressed through the Defence Interview and Officer Selections Board right up to receiving my letter of offer. Three days prior I received a scholarship from MTU-DDA which also offered me a position at the end of university therefore I knocked back the RAAF for what I thought was a better offer.
And what should people like myself who are considering joining expect? To have a lot of money thrown at you, especially for skilled positions.

Genivaria wrote:
I personally have a sister who joined the National Guard and a cousin who used to be in the Navy and worked on an Aircraft Carrier.
(No I don't remember the name of the ship)

Tekania got the experience he had by joining the Navy. So, props to them.

* What do you think of the military?

Worth while avenue which can open doors for people who don't have much of a future.

* Do you know anyone who's in it?

Several. Family did it for generations.

* Are YOU in it?

Nope. My granddad who I worshiped was in the 1st Independent Parachute Brigade was rather offended by Viet Nam (he had immigrated before that). He advised against the Military at that time. Ended up doing black hole work for uncle sam. If I had joined I probably would have tried for airborne.....

I am not in the American military. I fly a MiG-31 in the RAF. (Russian Airforce)

I could see myself working for the CIA, but I don't know if that counts as military.

The Black Forrest wrote:* What do you think of the military?

Worth while avenue which can open doors for people who don't have much of a future.

* Do you know anyone who's in it?

Several. Family did it for generations.

* Are YOU in it?

Nope. My granddad who I worshiped was in the 1st Independent Parachute Brigade was rather offended by Viet Nam (he had immigrated before that). He advised against the Military at that time. Ended up doing black hole work for uncle sam. If I had joined I probably would have tried for airborne.....

Everytime I hear/read the word 'Airborne' I always think of that quote.
"why would someone jump out of a perfectly good airplane?"

Not quite the thread I thought this would be but close enough.

What do you think of the military?

It's cool. By which I mean I see nothing wrong with it.

Do you know anyone who's in it?

No, but every other person seems to want to be in it. It's probably the ads. Do you have what it takes? Do you want to go further? I can't remember what the Navy's slogan is.

What do you think of the military? I think it's great! (for the most part)
Do you know anyone who's in it? Yeah much of the Men in my family have served, it's odd because we aren't a military family more of a family of citizen soldiers( Joined up served their tour then went for civilian jobs i.e didn't make it their proffession) My Pere'Pere' served in the Army at the end of WWII, my other Grandfather served in the Navy (during the Korean war I believe), One of my uncles served in the Paratroopers, another served in the navy, my eldest brother served in the Marines, my father served in the army in vietnam asan aircraft mechanic, and served in bases later down in panama(always speaks positively about the nation). Their conscensus is that they are glad that they served, though one of my uncle who served in the navy didn't care for it much.
Personally unless I die or am maimed/Mentally incapacitated I could see myself making soldiering a profession.
Are YOU in it? I'm planning on it, sometime early next year most likely.
And what should people like myself who are considering joining expect?
Just talk to people who have served, you'll hear plent of bothe positive an negative feeback, from peopel who hav actually served in my experiance it's usually positive.

Do the CIA or Border Patrol count as military service?

I may join those, I'm leaning more towards the CIA though.

Genivaria wrote:

The Black Forrest wrote:* What do you think of the military?

Worth while avenue which can open doors for people who don't have much of a future.

* Do you know anyone who's in it?

Several. Family did it for generations.

* Are YOU in it?

Nope. My granddad who I worshiped was in the 1st Independent Parachute Brigade was rather offended by Viet Nam (he had immigrated before that). He advised against the Military at that time. Ended up doing black hole work for uncle sam. If I had joined I probably would have tried for airborne.....

Everytime I hear/read the word 'Airborne' I always think of that quote.
"why would someone jump out of a perfectly good airplane?"

You talk to my friends grandfather and he said it was $50 bucks more a month.

North California wrote:Do the CIA or Border Patrol count as military service?

I may join those, I'm leaning more towards the CIA though.

Sounds cool, if you capture me, to mind control me, can you take it easy
Depends on what you do, some CIA agents act as paramilitary certainly. I'm suprised a man who opposes the government (unless i misread that) would want that job.
I've thought about looking into the FBI.

Forsher wrote:Not quite the thread I thought this would be but close enough.

What do you think of the military?

It's cool. By which I mean I see nothing wrong with it.

Do you know anyone who's in it?

No, but every other person seems to want to be in it. It's probably the ads. Do you have what it takes? Do you want to go further? I can't remember what the Navy's slogan is.

Feel free to broaden the conversation a bit as long as it relates to the military.

Genivaria wrote:What do you think of the military?

I think it's a job with a reasonable pay. When government spends money on it, it's called "defense", although I oppose joining it for moral reasons if it is fighting wars in other countries when it doesn't have a reason to be there.
Patrolling your own country is defense. Patrolling someone elses country is offense.

Genivaria wrote:Do you know anyone who's in it?

Yes, I do.
A young man getting his family started, which his job helped him feed his family and pay the rent, and a teenager in the Cadets or something, I'd say it improved his character.

Genivaria wrote:Are YOU in it?

I'm too young to be in it. If I was old enough, I wouldn't join.

Genivaria wrote:What were some of your experiences?
And what should people like myself who are considering joining expect?

I don't think these questions are relevant to me.

What do you think of the military?
I love it.

Do you know anyone who's in it?
All the people I know who were in the military have died or have since retired. The longest-serving person I know was a Marine Corps Lieutenant Colonel. He served a total of 32 years (Navy 4, Marine Corps 28). He is the head of a JROTC program now.

Are YOU in it?
No, though I wish to join either the Army or Navy.

What were some of your experiences?
N/A
And what should people like myself who are considering joining expect?

The modern American military is a group of lions led by donkeys (or, considering the kinds of people our politicians tend to be, jackasses is probably more appropriate).

I tried to enlist in the Navy after graduating from college, but was turned down for asthma, so now I'm applying for a civilian job with the Defense Department. Part of what attracted me to the service was the health insurance. I also considered joining the National Guard just so I could say, "Hello. I'm from the government, and I'm here to help."

North California wrote:Do the CIA or Border Patrol count as military service?

I may join those, I'm leaning more towards the CIA though.

Nope sorry.
The first is an intelligence agency and the second is law enforcement.

The Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) is an independent civilian intelligence agency of the United States government.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Central_In ... nce_Agency

The United States Border Patrol is a federal law enforcement agency within U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP), a component of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS).

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_Sta ... der_Patrol

Imota wrote:The modern American military is a group of lions led by donkeys (or, considering the kinds of people our politicians tend to be, jackasses is probably more appropriate).

I tried to enlist in the Navy after graduating from college, but was turned down for asthma, so now I'm applying for a civilian job with the Defense Department. Part of what attracted me to the service was the health insurance. I also considered joining the National Guard just so I could say, "Hello. I'm from the government, and I'm here to help."

Suck it Reagan.

I have considered joining to be a reservist or an active personnel in the Royal Canadian Navy... still unsure though.

Interesting family history: I have someone in my family who was a flag officer in the Philippine Navy. That was in the 80's, grandparents boasted about it. And my great-grandfather from my mother's side fought in World War II as a rebel fighter fighting the Japanese.

Bojikami wrote:I am not in the American military. I fly a MiG-31 in the RAF. (Russian Airforce)

You're joking, right?

What do you think of the military?
I respect the german Bundeswehr (our combined military force) and think they do a great job defending our country's interests, security and freedom together with our allies.

Do you know anyone who's in it?
No.

Are YOU in it?
No. I chose civil service (Zivildienst) as an alternative instead of the compulsorily military service which was abolished 2011.

What were some of your experiences?
... none ...

And what should people like myself who are considering joining expect?
Ask your sister. If she is actually in the National Guard you want to enter, then she should be the best information source you can get.