im looking for an unbiased opinion

[hokiepokie]

hi. this is my first post here so i would just like to say this is a pretty cool site.
anyway, i am working on my 4 year degree right now and considering the all of the branches except marines. i can't decide but im sure i will figure it out over time. my uncle is a SEAL and whenever i talk to him about joining he gets so excited i don't know if what he is telling me is straight. then when i call recruiters and talk, im not saying they lie to me, but it seems as though they dodge some questions or give weary answers. so i have a few questions that hopefully i can get answered by some knowledgable men (and/or women) here. be for i ask, the main branch i am considering is the coast guard right now, but it may change.

1. how hard is it having a family while being in the armed forces. my g/f of 4 years is currently working on her B/S degree in sports therapy and that isn't really the kind of career that can take relocations all the time. is it likely or possible (particularily in the USCG) to stay in one general location throughout a career.

2. review.com says $12,000/yr-enlisted and $17,000/yr-officer. where i live, san diego, that is not a lot of money at all. however navy.com says: "...earn competitive pay...". what is the pay truely like?

3. i have received my aa degree in general studies. what would be a good major for my BA/S to go into the military?

THANK YOU SO MUCH for your guys help.

HOKIE

[ngcsubutterbar]

to answer, well not answer, just give evidence to your first question.


My parents divorced, and the military, and everything that encompassed it would be the number 2 close to the number 1 reason why they split.

[hokiepokie]

that is what i thought. living in san diego, when the fellas get back from deployment divorces raise around here for a little while because the ladies have been having too much fun while they work at work.

[gijoeyl33]

in my personal opinion, there is no "family life" in the military. I went to two differnt wars in a time span of 18 months, totalling 19 out of 24 months away. of my platoon with 35 people. 2 remained married out of 17. The pay is relativly ok on the enisted side after you are in for a few years around e-4, e-5 things pick up. More pay is available to people in certain specialties (special duty pay), flight pay, fluent launguage pay, there are more pay options then just what the basic pay chart says. you also have to consider they give you more money for housing and food that isnt included in basic pay. and of course...officer pay is much better, warrant officer inbetween

[hokiepokie]

Thanks gijoeyl33. I appreciate that information.
Does anyone know the difference in jobs between an enlistee and an officer? Are there differences or is it just the pay that distinguishes them?

[ngcsubutterbar]

well put it this way, USA. Officers branch, they don't have 'jobs' or specific MOSs like enlisted soldiers have. Purely managorial.

[hokiepokie]

Do they (officers) still get to get out there and get in the action? And does having a 4-year degree automatically make you an officer or does it just give you the option to get that specific "title"?

thanks for pounding out these answers; i know i layin' them on ya right now.

[ngcsubutterbar]

lower level officers will still be on line level as they gain rank they move to staff level, and eventually general level.



and no just because you have a degree does not mean you can be an officer. There are several ways to become an officer. Academies, ROTC, and normal application. You have to have a degree to become an officer (not talking field promotions) but you do not have to be an officer if you have a degree.

[Dan]

2. review.com says $12,000/yr-enlisted and $17,000/yr-officer. where i live, san diego, that is not a lot of money at all. however navy.com says: "...earn competitive pay...". what is the pay truely like?

2-The Military has COLA, Cost Of Living Allowences(sp) for places with a high cost of living(like CA for example), dont know the exact figures for that area.

check this site for info about military pay
http://www.military.com/Resources/Re...821--1,00.html

[hokiepokie]

thanks dan

[jaunt10]

you have to be in a specific officer training program to become an officer. You do need a 4 year degree but that does not automatically make you qualified. I went through ROTC which was like a long 4 year training school while in College. There is Officer Candidate School for those that have already graduated college. You still need to be qualified by the service that you want to get into (i.e.: physically, background check clear, test scores good, recommended, etc). Its a very long and hard task to accomplish to become an officer.

[hokiepokie]

when you guys joined, specifically coast guard if it makes a difference, was there/is there a good chance of getting located at your first or second choice? (in general-i know there is never a guarantee).

[gijoeyl33]

When you go to the military processing station to sign up, sign a contract, and try to get your occupational specialty, FIGHT tooth and nail to get the station you want in your contract, wheel and deel, its kinda like buying a car, if they dont give it to you LEAVE, go back another day...theyll get the picture

when you guys joined, specifically coast guard if it makes a difference, was there/is there a good chance of getting located at your first or second choice? (i general-i know there is never a guarantee).

[hokiepokie]

what kind of stuff is usually negotiated in contracts besides position and station?

[mcsap]

Thats it. Job and ( maybe ) location. No condo's on the beach are included.

I got a base of choice after I served 1 year at a remote base overseas.

I saw in today's paper that the Army is going to start keeping soldiers at bases for 6 yrs before they rotate them.