I looked into the military, and did a lot of research:
1. Right now, they have all the people they need because of the economy (except maybe the army). They advertize they may give big bonuses, but they are actually awarding few if any because so many people want jobs. Yes, they are authorized to give big bonuses, but rarely do.
2. If you enlist in the airforce or navy, you will likely be sent to Iraq or Afganistan on loan to the Army, doing patrols along side them. There is no "rear"; it is guarilla urban warfare.
3. If you enlist for even 2 years, they still have you for a total of 8, and can call you back at any time. Even 1 month before your 8 are up, they can call you back and keep you for 400 days.
4. Dispite what your recruiter tells you, the IRR, which you are place in after discharge, is frequently reactivated. It is where you go after you get out. No drilling. Just waiting for you 8 years to end. Many were called back in 1991 for desert storm, and many several times since then, especially in 2004, but also 2006.
5. If you ever get a punishment that reduces your monthly pay by $1200, you no longer qualify for the GI Bill.
6. All pay, bonuses, and other incentives are taxable. College loan repayment is taxable at 28% just for the federal. Also, they only pay 15% per year, which is taxed first, and only starts a year after you finish your training. They are typically late.
7. To use the GI bill in the reserves, you have to still be drilling. Being activated could interrupt your school. And you could be called active for a long time. And once you leave after your 6 years, you are no longer eligible to use the GI bill.
8. When you sign the contract, you are government property. You must get permission from your CO to take any risks (like rock climbing maybe) or supplements. The military must approve propecia for you for you to use it. No guarantee they will. You find out after boot camp. If the corps person in your plantoon feels propecia is a non necessary drug for a cosmet problem, then you better not be caught with it in your room during their thurough inspections or you may end up in prison with a felony on your record. They make your health decisions for you.
9. Most electronics and computer jobs were outsourced to civilian contractors. The job titles remain, but just to lure you in to infantry. The schools typically are 2 months long. But once you get there, you may be doing regular patrols. Likely you will be the guy carrying the radio. Unless you are good and experience, you likely will spend more time cleaning toilets. I tried to sign up for electronics recently, and they would not take me. Dispite the website saying they are short staffed, the recruiter said it is not up to date, and they are overloaded. They have many people waiting 6 months to go to boot camp, and no specialty lined up.
10. During peace time, they make sure to keep you busy making your wall locker perfect. Everything has to be folded and ironed within tolerances which take a very long time to perfect. Maybe this helps people with ADD though, since they must focus to get it done.
11. As for hazard pay (when you are in a fire fight), it is $225 per month, tax free. Typical pay is around $1500 per month. Not counting the long hours, and just basing on 40 hours per week, that is $9 per hour. Higher if you count the food and housing, though I would not since they inspect the housing so much.
12. And if you get injured but there is no blood, they may not believe you. They are not going to give every person and MRI, but they will imprison many for refusal to perform. Might get worse than that in a combat zone. Enlisted people may be put to death without a jury. When you sign the contract, you sign away your constitutional rights. It is a volunteer force, but they totally own you once you are there.
Not bashing the military. Just letting people know what they are getting into if they sign up.
1. Right now, they have all the people they need because of the economy (except maybe the army). They advertize they may give big bonuses, but they are actually awarding few if any because so many people want jobs. Yes, they are authorized to give big bonuses, but rarely do.
2. If you enlist in the airforce or navy, you will likely be sent to Iraq or Afganistan on loan to the Army, doing patrols along side them. There is no "rear"; it is guarilla urban warfare.
3. If you enlist for even 2 years, they still have you for a total of 8, and can call you back at any time. Even 1 month before your 8 are up, they can call you back and keep you for 400 days.
4. Dispite what your recruiter tells you, the IRR, which you are place in after discharge, is frequently reactivated. It is where you go after you get out. No drilling. Just waiting for you 8 years to end. Many were called back in 1991 for desert storm, and many several times since then, especially in 2004, but also 2006.
5. If you ever get a punishment that reduces your monthly pay by $1200, you no longer qualify for the GI Bill.
6. All pay, bonuses, and other incentives are taxable. College loan repayment is taxable at 28% just for the federal. Also, they only pay 15% per year, which is taxed first, and only starts a year after you finish your training. They are typically late.
7. To use the GI bill in the reserves, you have to still be drilling. Being activated could interrupt your school. And you could be called active for a long time. And once you leave after your 6 years, you are no longer eligible to use the GI bill.
8. When you sign the contract, you are government property. You must get permission from your CO to take any risks (like rock climbing maybe) or supplements. The military must approve propecia for you for you to use it. No guarantee they will. You find out after boot camp. If the corps person in your plantoon feels propecia is a non necessary drug for a cosmet problem, then you better not be caught with it in your room during their thurough inspections or you may end up in prison with a felony on your record. They make your health decisions for you.
9. Most electronics and computer jobs were outsourced to civilian contractors. The job titles remain, but just to lure you in to infantry. The schools typically are 2 months long. But once you get there, you may be doing regular patrols. Likely you will be the guy carrying the radio. Unless you are good and experience, you likely will spend more time cleaning toilets. I tried to sign up for electronics recently, and they would not take me. Dispite the website saying they are short staffed, the recruiter said it is not up to date, and they are overloaded. They have many people waiting 6 months to go to boot camp, and no specialty lined up.
10. During peace time, they make sure to keep you busy making your wall locker perfect. Everything has to be folded and ironed within tolerances which take a very long time to perfect. Maybe this helps people with ADD though, since they must focus to get it done.
11. As for hazard pay (when you are in a fire fight), it is $225 per month, tax free. Typical pay is around $1500 per month. Not counting the long hours, and just basing on 40 hours per week, that is $9 per hour. Higher if you count the food and housing, though I would not since they inspect the housing so much.
12. And if you get injured but there is no blood, they may not believe you. They are not going to give every person and MRI, but they will imprison many for refusal to perform. Might get worse than that in a combat zone. Enlisted people may be put to death without a jury. When you sign the contract, you sign away your constitutional rights. It is a volunteer force, but they totally own you once you are there.
Not bashing the military. Just letting people know what they are getting into if they sign up.
unk: