Thinking of joining the military

[UpstatePanther]

Just curious for advice and your experiences. I have a bachelors degree in foreign language and would like to work in that type of career. Would be willing to travel. I was thinking about the navy, air force, army, or nat'l guard.

Any recommendations?

[Reapuh]

I've been in the Air Force for almost 5 years now, so I can speak a little about this branch. What are your motives for joining?

[Bama Panther]

I have been in the Air Force (in some form) since 1999. I enlisted in the Air Guard, in which I served seven years, before commissioning and entering Active Duty. I have now been Active Duty for almost nine years. My family and I have loved every bit of it. Since May 2008, we have lived in five different places (with our sixth coming up this summer). Our children have experienced things many never get to experience (currently live in Japan). It has been an all-around, great experience.

The Air Force does have linguists that it sends all around the world, so your degree may help in that regard. Often times, those folks attend the Defense Language Institute for training before being sent off to wherever they go. I believe a lot of those assignments are overseas though.

I'd be happy to answer any questions you may have. Good luck with your decision.

[Paa Langfart]

What foreign language ?

[UpstatePanther]

10 hours ago, Reapuh said:

I've been in the Air Force for almost 5 years now, so I can speak a little about this branch. What are your motives for joining?

Mainly to gain entrance into my linguistic career. Also getting in better shape and adding some discipline to my life. I want to travel too, while I'm young, be part of something bigger, and yes, serve my country.

7 hours ago, Bama Panther said:

I have been in the Air Force (in some form) since 1999. I enlisted in the Air Guard, in which I served seven years, before commissioning and entering Active Duty. I have now been Active Duty for almost nine years. My family and I have loved every bit of it. Since May 2008, we have lived in five different places (with our sixth coming up this summer). Our children have experienced things many never get to experience (currently live in Japan). It has been an all-around, great experience.

The Air Force does have linguists that it sends all around the world, so your degree may help in that regard. Often times, those folks attend the Defense Language Institute for training before being sent off to wherever they go. I believe a lot of those assignments are overseas though.

I'd be happy to answer any questions you may have. Good luck with your decision.

I'm honestly torn between the AF and Navy at this point. Can you give me some reasons why I should choose the AF over the Navy? They both seem to have positions in my field of expertise.

Just now, Paa Langfart said:

What foreign language ?

Spanish, but I'd be excited to learn any others they'd need me to learn.

[Jangler]

11 hours ago, Reapuh said:

What are your motives for joining?

Foreign tail, duh.

[Reapuh]

1 hour ago, UpstatePanther said:

Mainly to gain entrance into my linguistic career. Also getting in better shape and adding some discipline to my life. I want to travel too, while I'm young, be part of something bigger, and yes, serve my country.

 

I don't know much about linguist, so I can't speak on that part too much.  As far as the AF in general, Air Force PT is fairly simple.  You have 13:36min to compete 1 1/2 miles.  33 pushup and 43 sit-up minimum, you get a minute to complete each, but that is the bare minimum.  Since you're young you should be able to handle that, but I've seen people struggle...

Discipline, you'll get that for sure.  You'll definitely need that when you have hmmm "unfit" superiors haha.  On the flip side, though.  I have made some of the best friends I could ask for since being part of the AF, you'll meet some really awesome people.

Travel is awesome as long as you get to go over seas, I always hear about people being stuck in USA.  I was stationed in Spangdahlem, Germany for 4 years.  Nov 2012-Nov 2016 and loved every minute of it, I think I traveled to about 10-11 different countries.  I actually happened to get the opportunity to deploy to Israel in 2015 on a construction team, I am in CE (Civil Engineering).   Had an awesome time seeing the Red Sea, Dead Sea and of course Jerusalem.  Israeli chicks are fine as hell, btw.. 

I'm actually engaged to a German girl now, working on her Visa stuff (blah).  Stationed in Davis-Monthan, AZ right now.

[h0llywood]

Not to be that dude, but why not the Marine Corps?

 

[Davidson Deac II]

In the Navy, you would be a CTI (Cryptologic technician Interpretive), unless you want to try and become an officer.  Even though you have a degree in Spanish, you would still have to go to the Language school at Monterrey.  You could pick another language if you want something besides Spanish.  I imagine Chinese is a big deal right now.  You would have to get a very high level security clearance and pass a background check that goes back 15 years.  But as long as you are honest, and don't have a criminal record and didn't belong to the Klan or the Black Panthers, you should be okay in that regard.  

 

If you don't try for officer, the degree would give you a little bit of a head start rank wise.  I think you start as an E3 instead of an E1.  Also, I don't think CTI's do as much shipboard time as other ratings do.  Best I can remember, they tend to go out with a ship for a few months, then leave and spend some time on a shore base.  Or they go with Air Squadrons.  Or they go to work at Fort Meade (the dreaded NSA), or some other shore facility.  

 

My only recommendation is that if you decide to do it, understand that the first few months sucks (Boot Camp, A school, and your first few months at your new command).  Once you get past that, its a pretty decent life.  And with a degree and some experience, you might be able to get a job with the State Department or some other entity that specializes in foreign services.  

[imminent rogaine]

On ‎3‎/‎5‎/‎2017 at 10:01 AM, Jangler said:

Foreign tail, duh.

Man, if we start pulling missions in Scandinavian countries, someone better get a stop watch on me because I'm going to set all sorts of records on my way to enlist.

[UpstatePanther]

On 3/5/2017 at 1:47 PM, h0llywood said:

Not to be that dude, but why not the Marine Corps?

 

I know alot of Marines and I respect them to the fullest, but from what they've described, I'm not cut out for that life. That's in addition to the fact that I'd rather not be in the "first in" brigade. Lol. 

19 hours ago, Davidson Deac II said:

In the Navy, you would be a CTI (Cryptologic technician Interpretive), unless you want to try and become an officer.  Even though you have a degree in Spanish, you would still have to go to the Language school at Monterrey.  You could pick another language if you want something besides Spanish.  I imagine Chinese is a big deal right now.  You would have to get a very high level security clearance and pass a background check that goes back 15 years.  But as long as you are honest, and don't have a criminal record and didn't belong to the Klan or the Black Panthers, you should be okay in that regard.  

 

If you don't try for officer, the degree would give you a little bit of a head start rank wise.  I think you start as an E3 instead of an E1.  Also, I don't think CTI's do as much shipboard time as other ratings do.  Best I can remember, they tend to go out with a ship for a few months, then leave and spend some time on a shore base.  Or they go with Air Squadrons.  Or they go to work at Fort Meade (the dreaded NSA), or some other shore facility.  

 

My only recommendation is that if you decide to do it, understand that the first few months sucks (Boot Camp, A school, and your first few months at your new command).  Once you get past that, its a pretty decent life.  And with a degree and some experience, you might be able to get a job with the State Department or some other entity that specializes in foreign services.  

Thanks for all that info! Honestly I'm leaning most toward the Navy at this point. But it's probably going to come down to which recruiter gives me the best offer.

[h0llywood]

15 minutes ago, UpstatePanther said:

I know alot of Marines and I respect them to the fullest, but from what they've described, I'm not cut out for that life. That's in addition to the fact that I'd rather not be in the "first in" brigade. Lol. 

Thanks for all that info! Honestly I'm leaning most toward the Navy at this point. But it's probably going to come down to which recruiter gives me the best offer.

You have a bachelor's degree and I would say that it would be totally not in your best interest to join as an enlisted. Do not settle for anything but officer.

Have you been in contact with any recruiters at all?

[UpstatePanther]

3 hours ago, h0llywood said:

You have a bachelor's degree and I would say that it would be totally not in your best interest to join as an enlisted. Do not settle for anything but officer.

Have you been in contact with any recruiters at all?

No sir. But that will come in the next week or so.

And I intend to pursue officer training as quickly as possible!

[cookinwithgas]

I am ex Navy, submarines, but it was a long time ago LOL - my wifes first husband was AF and actually went to the language school in Monterrey CA, learned German and Russian, and got sent to Germany right when the wall was coming down.