Joining the Army

[jjmcray]

Joining the army is something I have been thinking about for a long time, but after several events that have occurred in the past few weeks, I think my decision has finally been confirmed.

I want to join the army. But I have two problems.

I don't know if it would be better for me to join the army before I go to college (I will have an associate's degree by the time I graduate high school) and let them pay for college,

OR

go through college and THEN join the army.

What do you think would be more effective/beneficial?

And here's my second problem.

I don't know how I'm going to tell my parents about this.
I don't think my mom would mind if I joined, but ever since I can remember my dad has been encouraging me to never join the armed forces because of what happened to him while he served in the air force. Keep reading.

My dad is disabled and practically wheelchair-bound because of a leg injury he suffered while on duty in Vietnam. Now remember, I said "on duty" not "in combat." He was in a freak motorcycle accident, where his leg was crushed and is basically useless to this day.

So he was technically injured while on duty, but not in combat, yet he still tries to use that as an excuse for me not to join, which doesn't make sense. I understand that he is afraid I might die, and he just wants to protect me, but I've been doing research, and studies show that you're more likely to die in the US by being in a car wreck or getting hit by a car than you are to be killed/injured in combat while you're on duty.

[Techno Monster]

Twpr--->e&c

[Jean Poutine]

I'd join army after college. In my country, you need a bachelor's to become an officer. That's my plan.

You maybe pay more but you save some time.

[Maverick]

Have you tried talking to an army recruiter? If not, I think you should give them a call or go to a recruiter office to talk to someone.

As for your parents, this is your life, your one and only one. Do what makes you happy.

[jjmcray]

I'd join army after college. In my country, you need a bachelor's to become an officer. That's my plan.

You maybe pay more but you save some time.

Well I don't plan on becoming an officer...

[CookieMonster]

I really don't know how you should do it. My dad enlisted right out of high school, then went on to go to college and became an officer. Now, he did this all when we were not a country at war. You need to know that most kids who join the army right out of highschool/college get sent out to Iraq or Afghanistan pretty quickly. Of course after basic training and all that crap. And those are the people who are dieing out there. If you join before college, they might deploy you before you get to college.
The base I live at is FULL of kids 18 - 25 years old. Literally thousands of them. I believe*could be completely wrong* the unit has 3,000ish people in it, most of them being that young. They are all about to deploy later this year and just got back from a 15 month tour back last June.

As long as you understand enlisted people do not make much money, and don't mind getting sent out to war, more power to you. This country needs more people in the military, and it's one of the few jobs not at risk of loosing during the recession. As long as you don't break the law.

[jjmcray]

How did your dad deal with college? Obviously he would have fell a few years behind... Did it feel a little awkward for him being a little older than everyone else?

Or wait, nevermind, I read it wrong, he went to college while he was enlisted, right? So he didn't fall behind? What did he major in?

Can they deploy you while you're in college though?

I really don't know how you should do it. My dad enlisted right out of high school, then went on to go to college and became an officer. Now, he did this all when we were not a country at war. You need to know that most kids who join the army right out of highschool/college get sent out to Iraq or Afghanistan pretty quickly. Of course after basic training and all that crap. And those are the people who are dieing out there. If you join before college, they might deploy you before you get to college.
The base I live at is FULL of kids 18 - 25 years old. Literally thousands of them. I believe*could be completely wrong* the unit has 3,000ish people in it, most of them being that young. They are all about to deploy later this year and just got back from a 15 month tour back last June.

As long as you understand enlisted people do not make much money, and don't mind getting sent out to war, more power to you. This country needs more people in the military, and it's one of the few jobs not at risk of loosing during the recession. As long as you don't break the law.

[Oblivion]

How did your dad deal with college? Obviously he would have fell a few years behind... Did it feel a little awkward for him being a little older than everyone else?

Or wait, nevermind, I read it wrong, he went to college while he was enlisted, right? So he didn't fall behind? What did he major in?

Can they deploy you while you're in college though?

Honestly in college there are people of all ages
Not that I would have experience, but I do know that parents, adults, teens, oldies, all sorts of people go back/start college because they want to become better at something. Its not like high school where everyone is the same age at each level.

As for my opinion- I believe education should come before any career. It'll be harder to come back to school after being at war (or any job), and a lot of times people don't even want to go back to school.
I would go to college, then join the army.

[Halibut]

i think you should get the experiance from collage and then rethink the army thing

[CookieMonster]

How did your dad deal with college? Obviously he would have fell a few years behind... Did it feel a little awkward for him being a little older than everyone else?

I think he went to a regular college and lived off campus do to the fact he had two little kids and a wife. He was only a year behind, and had no problem fitting in as a lot of kids take a year break between high school and college.

This was also 14 years ago when we were not a country at war. A lot of the soldiers take courses online, much more flexible. I think the army pays for that too. Many military bases in the country have a "troy university" campus on post. That's another option. Usually, whatever post the Army stations you at you'll have options.

[jjmcray]

What was his "major" in when he was in college?

Can they deploy you while you're in college though?

And do they pay for EVERYTHING like tuition, books, etc?

[CookieMonster]

What was his "major" in when he was in college?

Can they deploy you while you're in college though?

And do they pay for EVERYTHING like tuition, books, etc?

Political Science. I have no idea. And I don't know. My understanding is they can deploy you whenever they want. They can even call you back to duty after you've gotten out of the military. When you join, you sign a contract. You really have no say in anything you do from that moment on.

Have you looked through the army's website? Army.mil? Or goarmy.com? You might be able to find answers to your questions there.

You really need to sit down with a recruiter and talk with them about all the questions you have. They will be able to answer your questions better than anyone here on this website.

[jjmcray]

Political Science. I have no idea. And I don't know. My understanding is they can deploy you whenever they want. They can even call you back to duty after you've gotten out of the military. When you join, you sign a contract. You really have no say in anything you do from that moment on.

Have you looked through the army's website? Army.mil? Or goarmy.com? You might be able to find answers to your questions there.

You really need to sit down with a recruiter and talk with them about all the questions you have. They will be able to answer your questions better than anyone here on this website.

Alright, well, one last thing, how does he apply political science to his military career?

[Oblivion]

Alright, well, one last thing, how does he apply political science to his military career?

I cant know because Im not him, but I would guess it was for after his military career.
After the military, you aren't taken care of forever. You still need a job.
And you are only in the military from 18-42 (max enlist age)... After that you need a profession to fall back on.

[CookieMonster]

Alright, well, one last thing, how does he apply political science to his military career?

He wasn't planning on staying in the military. He wanted to get out after his contract was up and go to law school. He just was never financially able to do that, being a single father by the time his contract was up.

I don't think he applies his poli-sci degree at all. He's gotten other degrees since, all through the military.

Here is another thing you need to keep in mind. He's an officer. You really can't compare his career to what yours will be if you enlist.

[jjmcray]

He wasn't planning on staying in the military. He wanted to get out after his contract was up and go to law school. He just was never financially able to do that, being a single father by the time his contract was up.

I don't think he applies his poli-sci degree at all. He's gotten other degrees since, all through the military.

Here is another thing you need to keep in mind. He's an officer. You really can't compare his career to what yours will be if you enlist.
What exactly is the difference though? What is an officer...

[CookieMonster]

What exactly is the difference though? What is an officer...

The enlisted people are the people who work for the officers. You can make it to Sergent major, and you'll still be lower in rank than a Second lieutenant. The officers have more authority, better jobs, and better pay.
I can't explain the exact difference between the two, because I don't know them. I can tell you the difference from a dependent's point of view.....

here's (http://www.goarmy.com/about/enlisted_soldiers_officers.jsp) a link to how the army explains it.