Joining the military, tell me your experiences.

[2001Toomey]

I'm set on joining the military, heading into 12th grade now. I'm not very concerned with what branch I join, they all have their pros and cons. What I need to kinda pinpoint is what job (MOS?) I get into. I'm really into working on bikes, and that's something I would kinda like to do in the future, obviously on bigger and better things, jets, boats, tanks? I was also thinking of getting into welding and machining, that's good stuff for after I get out. I'm also going to be getting a degree while I'm in and/or finishing it when I'm out.
So I'm thinking preety much anything with mechanics, welding, machining, electronics too.
I'd like to hear from people that have been or are in the military, who have hopefully had similar jobs. What branch were you in, what you liked and disliked, how was it looking for a job when you got out, did you have a degree?
Thanks for your time.
AIM is toomeyb12001

[250R-Dee]

here are some USMC MOS. My primary MOS was 2818 (small office equipment repairmen) and secondaries were 4066 (Small Computer Systems Specialist - System Administrator in normal english) and 2111 (amorer/rifle repairman)

If I only list some thing as the series (ie:2800) it's because there are too many jobs listed under the main heading.

AVOID these -
Anything that begins with a zero sucks! Admin pogue, grunt, cannoncocker (artillery)...
0100 - admin pogue
0200 - intel
0300- INFANTRY - ooh rah!
0400 - logisitics
0500 - doesn't apply to lower inlisted
0600 - Command and control systems - wireman
1800 - tank/amphibious vehicle crew
2100 - Ordnance - bullets, bombs and anything that goes BANG
2300 - EOD - bomb tech
2500 - battery operated grunt (radio/commications operator, wiremen)
5800 - MP - everybody will hate you...hahahaha


Some good ones!!
1141 - Electrician
1142 - Electrical Equipment Repair specialist
1341 - Engineer Equipment Mechanic
2111 - Small Arms Repairer/Technician
2131 - Towed Artillery Systems Technician
2141 - Assault Amphibious Vehicle (AAV) Repairer/Technician
2146 - Main Battle Tank (MBT) Repairer/Technician
2147 - Light Armored Vehicle (LAV) Repairer/Technician
2161 - Repair Shop Machinist
2800 - communications tech - good money after the military computers/sattelites/radio/microwave
3521 - Organizational Automotive Mechanic
3522 - Intermediate Automotive Mechanic
3524 - Fuel and Electrical Systems Mechanic
3525 - Crash/Fire/Rescue Vehicle Mechanic
4000 - data systems - good money after the military
5900 - Electronics Maintenance Man - aviation related good money after the military
6000 - 6200 - Aircraft maintenance good money after the military
6300 - 6400 - Avionics - good money after the military

[ak_stick]

Hahah, a small office repairer calling admin a pogue. hahaha


Army aviation.

15T Black Hawk mechanic/crew chief.

Fix black hawks, crew black hawks. Greatest job in the military.

[mickey400ex]

all i can say is that the weather in iraq is quite pleasant this time of the year

[250R-Dee]

ak_stick - I'm glad I changed from a contract 6300 (Avionics) to a contract 2800 (computer tech) before going to bootcamp. I made at least twic as much as an E-9 with 30 years of service my first year out of the military. I signed my contract with the company 30 days before I got out of the military so one day I was howling "left right left" while wearing a green tree suit and the next day I was wearing whatever I wanted with much more freedom and much better pay. Actually, I got out because the Navy doctors did some frankenstein-like work on my knee when they tried to repair it (TWICE). They call me the weatherman because my knee always knows when it's about to rain...hahahaha

Small office repair techinian = Computer tech but we were not limited to only tinkering on servers, notebooks and desktops. We worked on everything and anything that belonged in the computer environment. COMSEC gear (yes, I had the required clearances), targeting computers for the cannoncockers and anything that could used to send a digital message. We even worked on Army gear since we were a depot level shop.

I never planned to be a lifer so my choice of MOS has definitely paid off for me.

I was living on Ft Bragg when the entire fleet of CrashHawks got grounded after several whirly birds made unorthodox and unplanned landings :blah:. Damn, those were the good ole days!!

Just so you'll know, I am from an Army dominated family (1st of the 1st, 101st Airborne, 82nd Airborne). I chose the Corps because the recruiter was smart enough to NOT make promises he knew he couldn't keep.

Semper Fi!

2001toomey - if you want easy living there is nothing easier than the Hair Force. They wear baseball caps and patent leather zip-up boots :D:D

[ak_stick]

Haha, yeah, there is money to be made in alot of fields, no doubt, I just found your calling other jobs Pogues amusing.

As for the groundings, that was because the army upper management decided to skimp on funding and remove a coupling, that protected the aircraft from EMP, and as such, when they flew near a radio tower, or some such powerful electrical device, the aircraft would decide to pitch nose down and find the dirt.

Its all good, as long as you dont join the navy

[2005-400exYA]

Army Aviation Baby

15R- Apache Crew Chief

I'm currently in Iraq right now, but I love the job. Different stuff to do most days, and aviation its self is just a more relaxed atmosphere than say..infantry...Anywho, hope you have fun and enjoy it no matter what MOS

[rtm1216]

My brother was in the Navy for 9 years as a sub nuke tech. When he finally got out he had job offers coming out of his ***. He now makes more in one year than he did all 9 years in the Navy combined.

He also got to travel the world. He definitely saw more than my cousins who were in the marines and army. It may be worth it to check out what they are offering. If you can get into anything that deals with energy (steam, turbines, nuclear, etc...) you will have people lining up to hire you on your discharge.

my brother is going to West Point next year. Once he gets back from his camp (thats actually at west point haha) i'll have him right some stuff. hes been there like 10 times already and loves everything about it.

[TRXMaddness]

2001Toomey... I have been in the Navy for 13 plus years now. I have had many experiences, so I could give many experiences that I have had. My job in the Navy is Aviation Maintenance Administration, Aircraft log books mainly or best known as a pencil pusher. Right now I work with the Marine Corp as a Navy Liason between the Marines and Navy. Also, I am a Career Counselor for the Navy also. If you want to join the Navy, and be a mechanic one of the best fields would be Support Equipment Mechanic and aircraft mechanic. If you want send an e-mail to me about what you might want to look into.

Russ

[ak_stick]

Lot of us propeller heads in one freakin forum....

If your looking into aviation

I'll say I'd never join the navy as an aircraft mechanic for only a single reason.

Most of the naval aircraft are getting old, and probably have more years in service than you've been alive, and as such, some of it is extremely hard to work on/maintence intensive. Especialy when you go into rotor wing.... Aircraft like the CH-53 and 46 the AH-1 are Vietnam era aircraft, and while they do thier mission well, they are just pigs to work on. I think even TRX will back me up on this.

As far as the rotor wing aviation side of the house goes, the army is ontop of it. If your interested in fixed wing, then I'd say navy over AF, because the 18 is alot easier to bend wrenches on than that new pig the 22, and the 15 is getting old herself....


But no matter how you cut it, aviation is a world thats different from any other one. You have to be on your game 100% of the time, and has a small margin for error. However, NOTHING in the world will give you the feeling you get when you watch your baby you just spent 10 hrs fixing take off and go fly her mission.

[2005-400exYA]

agreed ^^^

Where you at in Iraq ak_stick? I'm in Balad..Cant miss us, we're the only Apaches there, but we use to be up in Camp Speicher.

[ak_stick]

No, I'm in Tal Afar. Usualy run to Balad once every couple weeks for parts tho.

How much time you got left? under the 2 month mark yet?

[2005-400exYA]

yup, just hit under the 2 month mark :) Its great...I'm so ready to go home..Just had a baby boy 5 months ago, and i've only actually seen him for 2 weeks when I was on R and R.

When you fly into balad, we have a big ***** 101st patch painted on our hangar. Thats us..Plus the birds are parked right there..hard to miss :)

How long you got left?

[ak_stick]

a few days less than you.


Ever hear crash hawks under the ICY call sign thats my crews.

[2005-400exYA]

alright cool, we go by either Attack or Widowmakers..just depends on who's flying...lol

[Cole Trane]

I was in the Air Force for 6 years (99-05). It was great. Anyone that tells you the AF doesn't have it the best, is a straight up liar. There may be jobs in every branch that are fun/cake jobs, in fact I know there are. But for the most part AF is going to treat you the best. Just don't go in as a cop (security forces), unless you like taking it up the rear all the time. They get screwed quite often.

Now, I was an instrument and flight controls technician (2A573) on MC-130H, MC-130P, and HC-130P aircraft. Awesome job, wish I was still doing it. Basically you would get training on basic electronics and basic avionics. The rest is all on the job training. A lot of your credits from training can transfer to college. Plus the AF has the Community College of the Air Force. If you get an associates through them, it will transfer to almost any college in the country. If you have anymore questions, you can message me on here or hit me on aim coletrane811

[250R-Dee]

The only bad part about the GOOD MOS's is you have to go to a very long school on the worst bases. I spent a year in 29 Palms, Ca and all Ic an say is holy HOTNESS. You know it is hot when Marines are not allowed to march after 9am in the morning. It was so hot your spit shined boots would look like Hersey Bars after 1 minutes in the sun.

Thank god for Palms Springs, San Deigo, Big bear Mountain and LA because there is nothing in the high desert. me and my buds went somewhere almost every weekend if we could get off base. We would drive to the neighboring town Yucca Valley just to feel the moisture in the air. 120* temps with almost no humidity sucked major turds.


To my brethren in the big sand box - I hope you guys make it back safe and sound!! Keep up the good work. If you need some pogey bait send me a PM and I'll try to hook you up. I have been sending Jim Beam Sunflower seeds, Jerky beef and some other snacks to buds in the desert.

Semper FI

[Merriman]

Do the Marines allow you to pick your job? Around the time I joined the Army, the Marines would allow you to pick a field, but then they would slot you into a job, if there was something available at the time. If not they put you were they needed you. The Army allows you to pick your job.

As for nice cush jobs that can pay well once your out, I would suggest the Intelligence field, or electronics.

The reason I joined the Army is because I wanted to be on the ground, up front.....(right behind the Marines ofcourse:devil: ) The Airforce and Navy, you won't see (for most jobs atleast) any type of combat, or real life action....you'll just get to hear about it.

I went into Intel, because I wanted to be part of the decision making process on what the hell we were going to do once we got to the "action". It also has nicer than most benefits once you get out of the service.

Lastly, NO MATTER WHAT get everything your recruiter promised you IN WRITING. And do your research on what exactly you want to do, and what options come with that enlistment. If you don't they will get the best of you........Your negoitiating a contract for 4 years of your life......make them give you everything you possibly can:macho

[250R-Dee]

yes, you can pick your MOS but only if you have the appropriate ASVAB score. Because of the starting dates for schhols it isn't always possible to get a slot if you want to leave ASAP.

The Corps always needs grunts, drivers, admin people and so forth so those MOS's are easy to get. The better MOS's also require a person to sign a 6-year contract since bootcamp plus MOS training can consume 1 year or more of the initial contract.

[Prey]

joining the military was the best thing i ever did for myself,

the navy allows you to pick your job (rate) prior to enlisting and you are pretty much locked in for your career fairly independant of the needs of the navy unless you choose another job

[ak_stick]

One thing I've seen alot in the military.

Army joes complain that they never do anything in thier MOS, the other branches complain that they never do anything BUT thier MOS.

[calds650]

I did only 22 years in the ARMY. I was a tank mec for 3 years (get a BFH to fix it) then went in too M.I. I had good times and i had bad times and if I had to due it over again I would due it in a heart beat.

SFC ret