Okay, I am thinking about joining the army, marines, navy, or air force. I just want to know a few things before I go to the recruiting office.
First of all, I am starting to understand the paycharts now after reading up on them, which is a good thing. I just was wondering typically how long does it take someone to move from E-1 to E-2, etc...
I am 20 years old and I still live with my mom, and I am having an extremely hard time finding a job, that's why I am turning to the military right now.
I also understand you can have "jobs" in the army or whichever branch you serve in. I was wondering how exactly those work and how do you get them? Are the "jobs" extra pay over your base pay?
Also just out of curiosity, I know everyone probably made different amounts, but how much did you make after serving 4 years in the army, marines, navy, air force, coast guard? Oh yeah, I have very little college, I just couldn't go back because I couldn't afford it and I don't qualify for FASFA because of what my mother made last year.
I was wondering how I would be able to make it in the military, I am in horrible shape, do they at least start out slow in basic on the whole running part? I am not fat or anything, just havn't really done much in a while.
5'9
165lbs.
Also if I were to go to recruiters office how long before everything gets started? I know I should just go and find out, but wondering how long it took all of you... I'll tell you from my experience, the Navy is the hardest in which to advance beyond E-3. From that point, advancement is determined on your evaluations, a Navy-wide competitive test including leadership and your knowledge of your specialty, and the needs of the Nay. If a thousand guys take the test for advancement to E-4, and there are only 20 E-4 slots available in the Navy, only the top 20 advance. And they have to retake the test each time they try to advance.
On the other hand, though the Air Force and Army must have some standards for advancement, enlisted guys seem to advance simply because they've been around a while.
The pay's a whole lot better now than when I joined in 1960, but I think if that's your sole reason for enlisting, it's a pretty poor reason to join.
If I were you, I'd go Army -- Regular Army as opposed to the reserves. I'd rely entirely on their assessment of your abilities. I'd look for no guarantees, no bonuses, nothing.
In all honesty, I never worried about my paycheck. I don't think I could tell you at any point in my carer how much I was making. Occasionally I'd notice an increase and I'd be grateful. But for the 25 years I was in, just about every cent I made was free and clear. The Navy fed me -- free on base as enlisted, cost me a little at the BOQ, clothed me -- they gave me a clothing allowance, housed me -- even off base they gave me a housing allowance, doctored me -- meciall and dental were free, transported me -- most of the time. I did purchase a car while in Washington, D.C. But almost everything I got went into the Navy Federal Credit Union.
As far as getting into shape, When I lettered in swimming in college, I was 6'2" and weighed 180, so I'm guessing you're not fat. But to get into shape, start running, do push-ups, pull-ups, sit-ups, and rope-climbing. Swimming's good too, especially if you're thinking Navy. Push yourself, but don't kill yourself. Running: start with a mile. Run a hundred yards, walk a hundred yards. Maybe start with 500 yards if you're REALLY out of shape. The other stuff, go for form before quantity. You can do a thousand push-ups and none of them will count if they're not done correctly. When you do a rope climb, start from a sitting position. Try to work up to being able to do the whole climb in that position. I don't believe everybody can do it. But if you can, it'll knock the socks off any DI.
I lived with my parents while going through college. But, as soon as I graduated, I enlisted. That was at age 20.
One more thing: Don't prepare for the ASVAB. It's designed to determine the jobs for which you're best qualified. If you prepare, you might do better, but it will not honestly indicate your abilities, and aptitudes. The high scores might make you qualified for something you can't really do.
Guy, if you want in, you're going to have to work. If you get in, you're REALLY going to have to work.
Good luck. there all good choices but if you're a little on the slow side (which it sounds like you are) the army would be your best bet.. I'm in the army national guard so I can't speak for any of the other branches, but in the army moving fro E-1 to E-2 usually happens within a matter of months. If you have college credit then you might be able to come in as an E-2. Most of the time you can choose whatever job (MOS) you want, but that can be restricted by what state you join in and what jobs are in the highest demand. You don't get paid anything above base pay though.
In the guard you can get AGR jobs that pay pretty well, but you won't start making much more than the base pay shown on the pay chart untill you move up in rank or untill you've been in X number of years (it goes up each year).
Or course there's also the possibility of getting an enlistment bonus in the ballpark of $20k. Upwards of $40-50k for critical MOS' and if you're willing to ship to basic within 45 days.
Also on the physical aspect, you'd be cheating yourself big time if you didn't get into as good as shape as possible before going to basic. The minimum qualifications are (If I remember right) 13 pushups, something like 15 situps and a 1 mile run in 13 minutes. If you don't pass that they put you through a PT course before you actually start basic training. all that you stated -----about a year to move to move upon rank
second part...good choice
third ...the job you pick is the one for advance training after basic
most are the same...if you fill a critical or a shortage job, more bonus..
my sister said one thing to remember, for every one actual fighting, there are six in support...such as she in medical I can only speak from my experience with the Army.
As of late people are getting promoted rather quickly, especially if you are in combat. (E1 to E5 in 36 months)
There are verities of jobs. You'll have to score decent on the initial entry test in order to get one of the more technical jobs (Network Administrator, Intelligence, etc.)
You don't have to worry about being in shape when you start basic training. They'll whip you into shape. Also be sure to tell your recruiter about your college experience. You may be able to join as an E2 or E3 depending on how much you accomplished. every body gets paid the same base pay regardless of what their job is based on paygrade and time in service. some jobs come with additional pays, but not all do and many of them are not going to be available to a first termer anyway.
to progress in rank from E1 to E3 is automatic , typical 6-12 months for each paygrade. After that, there are tests to take and other assorted things to get done before you can advance.
as for being out of shape: you must be at minimum standards, weight and physical before you can ship. so might as well get off the couch NOW and start working out. im goin thru the same thing they are all good if you want education do navy because the career you choose you become certified and you travel. if you want to get in shape before boot camp the marines or navy have a delayed entry program. processing in the army in the marines is alot quicker. |
