Life in the military
 

I think just about everyone considers it at some point--joining the military. I've thought about it several times, talked to recruiters numerous times, read information about every branch of service (even some foreign militaries), etc. I've really done my homework, but none of that really says much about what life is actually like inside the organization.

I've pretty much decided that I would not be a good fit for the military. I'm too much of an individualist, I respect authority begrudgingly, and avoid responsibility when I can. I'm not a team player at all. Plus I'm not exactly hip to the U.S.'s mission in the world right now or how things are going down domestically, either.

Nevertheless, I will be graduating in <6 months and should I not land a job anywhere, at all, I refuse to live with my parents anymore. I'd rather man-up and join the military than be homeless or commit crime (which are TOTALLY options for someone like me). SO I am wondering, from the people on this board that know something about it--what is good and bad about the lifestyle. What do you hate about being in uniform, what do you love about it? I'm simply asking for people who have served to share their experiences and opinions.

The military will eat your soul. At least, that's what someone I know would say (Funka Genocide) were he not currently in the process of his soul and time being eaten by the military.

Sorry, not much to offer other than that. Just judging by the posts you've made on this forum I doubt you'd be the kind of person that would fit into that kind of environment. Not that I've been in the military or anything... But you give off really strong "individualism" vibes :P

I guess you're out of alternatives? In that case I feel for you. You seem pretty smart and deserving of a better job :/

*waits for Flarecobra to comment*

Adamark, I'm going to make this suggestion once and only once.

Read Tim Ferriss' "The 4-Hour Work Week". Put into practice what he has in the sections titled 'E' and 'A' after doing the exercises in the 'D' section, until you can finally fulfill the 'L' portion of the book. I'd say read it all the way through once, and then go chapter by chapter, only progressing once you've finished the previous.

Even if that doesn't work, which it should because you do tests before committing, you can live on your own with roommates even making only $8-9 an hour. Hell, I know a guy making only $7.50ish living with three other roommates in Destin, where rents are insane and mortgages are even worse. An average house in Destin costs over a million, so you can guess at monthly payments for renters. It's never bad enough to do something that you don't enjoy that requires a long-term commitment.

The military would eat you alive, regardless of how you feel.

The only person I know who enjoys being in the military is in the military band, and he has a guarantee that he will not be deployed. He has no responsibilities other than make it to practice, do some basic every so often, and show up for gigs.

In any event, you can always land a job somewhere. Wages may not be great, but it'd be a whole lot better than being shot at.

I am completely unable to give advice here, seeing I thought of joining the Army Reserve a year or two ago. Went to the initial interviews and stuff, but didn't end up getting in.

I'm psychologically unsuitable!

On the bright side; if you DO join hte military, if COULD be in time for america to declare peace instead of war, for once, and all you'll have to do is run around every once in a while, etc.
On the realistic side: You WILL be messed up in training, you WILL be picked on, bullied, etc, you WILL be deployed to the middle east, where you'll spend a few months fighting for your life and the lives of your freinds, then, as they go down one by one, you'll become progressively more traumatised until
A: You go insane
or
B: You get shot, hopefully not seriously, and get sent home.
There was an incident here earlier in the week when disabled soldiers, who'd lost limbs or the use of their limbs were at a public pool, in a physiotherapy class. Some woman came in and flew off the handle, saying that they didn't deserve to be there, and ranting about the fact that they hand't paid.
It's not worth having your mind slowly eroded over the course of a year, then being thrown out and forgotten.

I can only comment on US Marine life.

It really comes down to who you work with, and who you hang out with. Boot Camp is the crappiest part, which is all I can say.

I really don't think the military was designed to be suitable for anyone. I mean, it's the military...

You are correct. One can be medically disqualified, or physically disqualified. I myself was nearly medically disqualified due to a sezure risk I have, but they decided that I wasn't that bad a risk.

Though I've got a couple others that you all know about that would've kept me from going in had I actually mentioned it to the recruiter...