Joining the military is a honorable thing to do. No one can say or dictate why someone should or should not join the military unless of course there is a draft going on. If someone wants to make excuses on why THEY do not want to join, then that is good enough for me. The military also doesn't want people who don't want to be their either AND its less safe for those who do. For all of the fine young people who join they do it for many reasons and for those who join for one reason, they end up staying and loving the life for different reasons. The military changes people for the better and I've never came across anyone for whom that is not true.

With a Family this is a tough call. For a family man, Id still pick the military over driving a truck any day of the week and twice on Sunday. When you join the military you join a family who will support you. When you join trucking, you are in for a ride where practically no one supports you and hardly anyone cares..

 

see that was a thing with me atleast in the Army you will be respected not in driving a truck.

 

I don't crave respect from others, you have to do what is right for you. You will run yourself in circles trying to conform to what other people respect.

Many people have so much pride that they think they are "too good" to drive certain cars, work certain jobs or even shop at K mart.

If it was a choice between working as a school teacher making $32,000 a year or being a truck driver or coal miner making $45,000 a year, i would take the job paying $45,000 respect is not a factor to me.

 

Well add up you BAS, BAQ, base pay, hazardous duty pay, when on ship...sea pay, get in an MOS that pays Pro Pay, get flight qualified as a crewman in C-12 and get flight pay and top it off with VHA. And when I worked in Washinton DC i got an allowence each year to buy suits to work in. Maybe you should have checked out all the opperatunities that were there for you to take when you were in. I retired a MSGT. I have a nephew that is in the Navy in their Nuclear program and he was an E-6 in lest than a year so go figure.

 

Well, "young man," you've got a question of life on your hands! It happens to MANY of us at your age! :lol:

Ignoring, for awhile, the petty fighting and insults of a few on this thread, I would like to TRY to give you my advice.

First, though, I am confused by your mention of the "reserves." Do you mean the National Guard? If so.... these days, you might as well consider that a fulltime enlistment! If you meant reserves.... well, you can do that AND be a truck driver!

You have been given many good opinions on this thread, and I see that you are taking them all in! That's a sign of a maturing man. Many who join EITHER of these "professions" at a much younger age, never stop to think about it.

This could JUST as easily be said about truck driving.... especially if you choose tankers! :wink:

I agree with this entirely! You MAY only do 4-8 years in the military (who says it has to be Army?) and you'll STILL be more than 10 years younger than I was when I chose to drive a truck! However, if you decide on trucking, you may well end up "stuck" in it like many say they are! And the chance to serve your country AND have the personal experience of wearing the uniform of this country may be gone for life!

Sorry, but I disagree! Obviously, your wife (at least) should be consulted, but I believe there are MANY "truckers" on here who have done BOTH.... and can offer SAGE advice! For all the "family considerations" involved, a man's choice of occupation, especially where it concerns his self respect and/or ego, is one that only HE can make! If the MAN is not happy, the LIFE suffers!

Again, I disagree! Throughout the history of this great nation, from the Patriots of the Revolutionary War on down, MEN of all ages have answered the call, and EARNED their self respect whenever it became necessary, or unavoidable. Not only for the defense of country.... but for the satisfaction of their OWN conscience. YOU alone can decide what satisfies YOUR idea of manhood.

I believe someone said something about NEVER regretting the time he spent in the military.... whether it be a career, or only a "stint." This, I have found to be true of nearly EVERY veteran I have ever known. Another mentioned how it made a "man" out of him. I can personally attest to this, and see it in others.

Regardless of what one feels about this current "war," I have found nothing that can replace the discipline, fraternity and purpose of serving this great country in uniform. And it will "open" more doors for you in the future than trucking will!

I know just a "bit" about struggling with a decision. And mostly what I know is that, if you ARE struggling, the decision has already been made! What is lacking, is the committment!

As I am against THIS war, it would be hard for me, in good conscience, to counsel a YOUNGER man to join up for no reason other than patriotism. But, as you are a more mature man, knowing what I KNOW from experience in the military, I could not advise you AGAINST it! Someday, perhaps, you will understand what I mean.

I won't quote Fozzy's entire post, but I call your attention to it, as it is one of the most sensible posts HE has ever made! :lol: And I WILL repeat this line:

I couldn't have said it better!

With eyes 20 years older than yours, I see this as a "no brainer!" One path offers you BOTH options, the other..... probably only ONE!

There is nothing worse in life, than regretting what one DIDN'T do! 8)

Hobo

 

I think the army has special programs that allow you to enlist for less than 4 years now. I read that a while back in an effort to get recruitment up.

 

Not to confuse the issue, but you could join the military as a truck driver, that way you get the benefits of military experience and some truck driving experience as well. Of course after you leave the military the experience won't count much for getting a civilian job.

 

Well golfhobo I think your right about everything you said and about the committment thing I think you are right because that was a big thing with me was being in something that I cant just quit if I dont like it anymore, but I know it would be a good experience for me I guess if I did decide to do it I need to get over that. Banditscousin they do have 2,3,4,5, and 6 year options. And Rawlco I checked into that and sounds good but damn from what I hear there is a 70% casualty rate on that MOS.

 

I figure I give you my 2 cents worth too. I was never in the military, but served as an army wife. Yes, I say served. I moved every couple of years when told to do so, when living on post observed the rules given to us, because non compliance would reflect bad on hubby. Took care of everything on my own, no matter how big or how mundane.

A lot of wives could not handle that, having to take care of everything. I had several friends who in my opinion burdened their hubbies with the kind of stuff I would have done myself, and let my better half enjoy his time home.

The seperation for weeks, months or even a year is awful. A lot of marriages don't survive it. The spouse at home gets used to doing everything, making the decisions.....the one coming home is not the one that left. War changes people. And not necessarily for the better.

But, it is not all bad. The pay is ok, not great, I make more money driving a truck than hubby and I did together while he was in. I made some of the most awesome friends, that I am still friends with today. The military bonds you together, kinda like glue.

I got to live in exotic Fort Devens, Mass.......right! Well, I did come here from Germany, so all of the US is exotic I guess.

I miss the commissary, the variety and god, it was soooo cheap. Military health care got so much better after they got Tricare, not like the olden days where it was the military hospital and that was it.

Living on post......never again, there is no such thing as free. Too many rules, too many kids, too many people.

Well, hope my perspective helps a bit. Do talk to your wife. A good stay at home spouse makes the marriage, a bad one can break it.