So I'm gonna be going to the US Navy - General

[QUOTE=Uberman77883;30183346]I have one question. When I graduate from college in a few years, I know I have to go through officer's training to become a pilot. As far as I know, there are only 2 realistic options for me after college: Air Force Academy or OTS. I'm unsure as to actually be eligible to apply to OTS. Do you have to already be enlisted in the air force to apply? Or can you recruit and go right into it after other engagements with the military? From what I understand, you can apply directly after college, I may be wrong.[/QUOTE] You should be able to go right to OTS. Air Force Academy is a different way to approach being an officer. Basically, you go into the Academy, you are then a cadet, while there you do military things and learn military standards, rules, regulations, how to be an officer, how to lead.. things like that, then when you get your degree you receive your commission and are now an officer in the USAF. But since you're in college, you just get yourself all qualified for the job, stay healthy, don't get hurt, and then apply to go to OTS and get your commission that way. I do say all of this being an enlisted person who has little knowledge of how it works beyond talking to pilots for a bit at a time, and hearing how it works from people who plan on doing it. I, however, do not plan on doing it so I may not be PERFECT in my knowledge.. but I'm 99.9% sure I'm right. Is there anything you need/want to know? I (used to) talk to pilots on a (roughly) daily basis, but tomorrow I change shifts so if you want me to ask something I might get a chance to talk before they do their thing. [editline]1st June 2011[/editline] [QUOTE=UncleJimmema;30184613]It's great if you plan to work for the DoD or FBI after your enlisment. And yes Minneapolis MEPS friggen sucks.[/QUOTE] My recruiter was in Wilmar, I was in Marshall and I processed in Fargo, ND. 8 hour drive up there, but he did it specifically to avoid Minneapolis MEPS station. Shatteredwindow, just make sure your good in every aspect.. also I'm sure your recruiter will have your back as (sadly) you're a number! and he might need that number. So he'll know the tricks of the trade and make sure you do things right.

[QUOTE=Valdor;30151914]At least you didn't join the Army.[/QUOTE] Nothing wrong with the Army.

[QUOTE=CabooseRvB;30189469]Got back from recruiter. I scored ~117 in ALL fields. 25 Bravo is [B]MINE[/B][/QUOTE] Out of curiosity what test did you take? ASVAB only goes up to 99.

[QUOTE=JeffAndersen;30194836]Out of curiosity what test did you take? ASVAB only goes up to 99.[/QUOTE] He is talking about the individual scores, like how you need a GT score of 110 for some jobs

[QUOTE=Uberman77883;30183346]I have one question. When I graduate from college in a few years, I know I have to go through officer's training to become a pilot. As far as I know, there are only 2 realistic options for me after college: Air Force Academy or OTS. I'm unsure as to actually be eligible to apply to OTS. Do you have to already be enlisted in the air force to apply? Or can you recruit and go right into it after other engagements with the military? From what I understand, you can apply directly after college, I may be wrong.[/QUOTE] I know quite a few people that are currently in the Air Force, so I'll pass on what I've heard from them. First off you should know that the Air Force uses OTS to fill slots that are not already filled by the AF Academy or AFROTC. Now days, it's very hard to get into OTS. The OTS route is not only the least reliable way to commission in the Air Force, it's also the hardest. From what I hear, they're not in dying need of people, so they're being VERY picky. I'm unsure what you're going to school for, but if you're serious about becoming a pilot, you should go to a college that offers ROTC(if you're not already in one) and take it all 4 years. That's your best bet, as you'd have a MUCH better chance of being selected as a pilot than you would through OTS. If you've received a 4 year degree, in order to be competitive for OTS, you need to sustain at least a 3.8 GPA if your degree is non-technical. They're looking for technical degrees, such as engineering, math, physics, computer science, foreign languages, etc. You should at least have a 3.5 GPA to be competitive. Ideally you'd want to be in the top 10% of your class. They are also looking at community service, and sports you have done throughout High School. On top of all that you should have a high AFOQT and TBAS score. If you enlist, your chances of becoming a pilot are pretty much shot. You'll be able to go in as an E3, but it'll be harder going OTS after enlisting. I hear it doesn't happen all that often. This is all generated from a handful of people I know, so I hope this will be helpful to you. Wish you the best of luck.

[QUOTE=CabooseRvB;30189469]Got back from recruiter. I scored ~117 in ALL fields. 25 Bravo is [B]MINE[/b][/QUOTE] Chances are you will work in the NETOPS of your Signal Unit. Oh, and btw, enjoy Fort Gordon. You will be introduced to a running track called Barton Field. It;s this 3 mile running track that consist of this red clay. Then when it rains it turns into this muddy substance that sticks to everything and makes running a complete bitch. However the taxi service there is cheap, $3 anywhere on post, $6 to the mall, $8 to Washington Road.

[QUOTE=Testabar;30199228]Chances are you will work in the NETOPS of your Signal Unit. Oh, and btw, enjoy Fort Gordon. You will be introduced to a running track called Barton Field. It;s this 3 mile running track that consist of this red clay. Then when it rains it turns into this muddy substance that sticks to everything and makes running a complete bitch. However the taxi service there is cheap, $3 anywhere on post, $6 to the mall, $8 to Washington Road.[/QUOTE] Well right now I'm debating between 25 or 35.

[QUOTE=adam1172;30153968]The Navy and Airforce have awesome uniforms.[/QUOTE] You don't need to be in the Army to get those though :smug:

[QUOTE=CabooseRvB;30199370]Well right now I'm debating between 25 or 35.[/QUOTE] Signal is right now the more competitive field with better turnovers in the a civilian work place, because once you get out, networking is in very high demand. [QUOTE=Sgt Doom;30186135]There's very little you can learn in the military that's useful elsewhere that can't be learned elsewhere. [/QUOTE] I tend to disagree with that statment. I have never meet a finer group of people in my entire life. Sure there were a few bad apples up they were delt with. The fact that I have meet people from all walks of life, those were poor and had no place to go, those who lead privladged lives, those who grew up in good parts of town, and those who grew up in the worst part of towns. In the years that I have been away from my family, they became my second. Faces and names who will stick with me forever. I would do anything for them, and they would do the same for me. Try finding that in any other work place.

[QUOTE=Sgt Doom;30186135]The valuable lesson my dad learned from 20 years in the Army was: don't join the military, even if you fuck up your education. There's very little you can learn in the military that's useful elsewhere that can't be learned elsewhere. Listed by percieved level of badassery, rather than more important things like the quality of equipment issued to it's members, amount of pay, quality of postings etc.[/QUOTE] Lets get 1 thing straight, quality of equipment does not equal quality of troops. As the smallest branch of the military (which is technically a part of the navy, thus lies under the navys budget) we get issued the oldest shit. I've got canteens that are 40 years old, trained with flak jackets from vietnam, and use tires for weights. We get the bottom of the barrel when it comes to equipment, but our troops are the best standard issue troops out there. Just take a look at the differences in boot camp, that style translates into our work ethic. Example: [media]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qthj9pUnWAU&feature=related[/media] (1:35 is my favorite, if I had said those words the way he did (not yelling) I would have been grilled. More than likely I would have been quaterdecked for crying in the first place) Second, pay is standardised across the board. E-3 pay is e-3 pay in all branches. Lastly, what I know comes from my experiance and the experiance of friends and family. Ask my cousin whos a Ssgt in the army, ask My best friend who's PO3 in the Navy, ask my old keyboardist whos a technical sergeant in the airfoce, none compair. [editline]2nd June 2011[/editline] [QUOTE=Sgt Doom;30186326]That can be learnt from elsewhere, though, which was my point. Nothing taught in the military that is useful outside in the military is only taught there. And many countries either give financial aid for higher education, or make it free altogether; although in the US it's probably an easier way to fund college/university education.[/QUOTE] So I guess a GSE licence isn't worth $120,000 a year, driving tractor trailers isn't a means of income, being a cop is not longer a job, working as a mechanic won't get you money, being an accountant is a worthless skill, running a warehouse wont get you anywhere, ect. AL's, motor T, MP's, Mechs, Admin, supply, pretty much any job save infantry has a practical application. Contrary to popular belief there are a lot more Pog's out there than grunts, and even grunts have a pretty damn good chance at working in the private sector or becoming a civil servant. On top of traning that will pretty much land you a job in any of the fields you're trained in, they give you the benifit of the New GI Bill as well as $4,500 a semester while on active duty to furthur your education in whatever field you wish.

Ho there, fellow enlistee! I'm currently in the process of enlisting in the US Army, hopefully as a 35F, intel analyst. Got a 97 on my ASVAB, 130+ on line scores. Not trying to brag, just really proud of that. I'm also going to see if I can get an option 4 on my contract, because I really want to be in an airborne unit. My first choice would be the 101st, but you can't get air assault school in your first enlistment contract, so that's out. Stay safe in your sub, maybe we'll run across each other sometime.

[QUOTE=Capn'Underpants;30152713]Because who can honestly say they need 80 thousand dollars a year to survive? Who the fuck requires that much fucking money dude? that's like 6000$ a month, I can honestly say I can live real easily off 1500-2000$ a month, with plenty of luxurys such as satalite TV, cell phone, internet, games, etc... That's an extra 4 grand to go to fuck knows what.[/QUOTE] You do know that those 4 grand that are "fucking around" can go to your pension savings, so you can live off that money when you are old and crumbling and you cant work for the rest of your miserable life.

[QUOTE=Holy Altnir;30208404]You do know that those 4 grand that are "fucking around" can go to your pension savings, so you can live off that money when you are old and crumbling and you cant work for the rest of your miserable life.[/QUOTE] Hes um... Not too smart, as for you Amerigo, your smart. I made an 82, not the best, but it makes me happy.

[QUOTE=UncleJimmema;30205549]Lets get 1 thing straight, quality of equipment does not equal quality of troops. As the smallest branch of the military (which is technically a part of the navy, thus lies under the navys budget) we get issued the oldest shit. I've got canteens that are 40 years old, trained with flak jackets from vietnam, and use tires for weights. We get the bottom of the barrel when it comes to equipment, but our troops are the best standard issue troops out there. Just take a look at the differences in boot camp, that style translates into our work ethic.[/QUOTE] And yet you guys have such lavish TV advertisements. Well, we have them too [media]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ppje4-wxuQU&feature=related[/media] [media]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pgV6VUinDEA[/media]

I'm enlisting in the Army on Monday when my recruiter comes to see me but as far as the Navy goes my step brother has been in it for almost 20 years. He enlisted right out of highschool and now he's a Lt Comander. They paid for him to go to officers training school and after that he was on a submarine for awhile as a Supply Officer. I think the Navy is great but I'm still going in the Army.

if u dont join the army as infantry more specifically airborne infantry then you are a big dumb baby (dont join rangers they suck and are dumb) [editline]3rd June 2011[/editline] really though if you join the military at all you are dumb and will hate it [editline]3rd June 2011[/editline] go to college [editline]3rd June 2011[/editline] [QUOTE=Amerigo;30207090]Ho there, fellow enlistee! I'm currently in the process of enlisting in the US Army, hopefully as a 35F, intel analyst. Got a 97 on my ASVAB, 130+ on line scores. Not trying to brag, just really proud of that. I'm also going to see if I can get an option 4 on my contract, because I really want to be in an airborne unit. My first choice would be the 101st, but you can't get air assault school in your first enlistment contract, so that's out. Stay safe in your sub, maybe we'll run across each other sometime.[/QUOTE] sorry bud if you go airborne you are either going to bragg or richardson (25th ID). nobody gets italy anymore :(

Who does more actual flying, navy or air force? It may sound dumb, but I thought that the air force did more reconnaissance stuff and UAV's, but the navy flew the jets and stuff.

joining the military is a bad choice, your not fighting for the people your fighting for the federal government which is not looking after the people in the country. [editline]3rd June 2011[/editline] if your in a sub you will probably be safe, but the US military has ruined plenty of peoples lives and mental states, its not worth the risk...

[QUOTE=UncleJimmema;30205549]Just take a look at the differences in boot camp, that style translates into our work ethic. Example: [media]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qthj9pUnWAU&feature=related[/media] (1:35 is my favorite, if I had said those words the way he did (not yelling) I would have been grilled. More than likely I would have been quaterdecked for crying in the first place) [/QUOTE] That's mostly just a bunch of fancy editing. Switch up the music and put in footage of a Marine crying and you can make the marine's training look soft. The person that one soldier was crying at wasn't a drill sergeant so he wasn't even allowed to do anything to him. If it was a drill sergeant he would have had his ass chewed. That being said I believe the Marines do have the toughest basic training out of the four branches, but Army basic training wasn't anything like what that video portrayed. The worst thing is probably mass punishments, if one person falls asleep during fireguard, shows up late for formation or shows up in the wrong uniform then it's going to be a long night.

Replace NSA with Navy. [media]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fJqWHDuOpc4[/media]

[QUOTE=DamagePoint;30227054]That's mostly just a bunch of fancy editing. Switch up the music and put in footage of a Marine crying and you can make the marine's training look soft. The person that one soldier was crying at wasn't a drill sergeant so he wasn't even allowed to do anything to him. If it was a drill sergeant he would have had his ass chewed. That being said I believe the Marines do have the toughest basic training out of the four branches, but Army basic training wasn't anything like what that video portrayed. The worst thing is probably mass punishments, if one person falls asleep during fireguard, shows up late for formation or shows up in the wrong uniform then it's going to be a long night.[/QUOTE] Everyone gets that. It's the environment. The environments completely different. In that video it shows them all online with their gear, their name taps and rank already on their uniform, being explained everything. For us it was throw your shit all over the ground, have it mixed all up, try to find enough of it to be able to function, all whilst being screamed in your face constantly and/or being IT'd (we passionately call that day black friday). We had to name tapes, no rank, boots unbloused, blouses fully buttoned. We were recruit jackoff, we referred to ourselves as recruit jack off, we had no identity other than recruit jack off. If a marine was caught crying, anyone and everyone (drill instructor or not) was in your face screaming. If you made one mistake, any kind of mistake, they were screaming. The army gets a nice little peice of paper called a stress card (I think they finally phased it out) that when help up basically says "i cant handle this, i need time to relax" and a Drill sergent can't touch em. That NEVER happened in marine boot. Even at medical someone was always yelling in your face, watching your every move. I didn't get a boner for 3 month, not because of some magic meds they put in the eggs or whatever, because I was stressed the fuck out 24/7. I couldn't take a piss without being berated and finding myself on the quaterdeck. Army boot camp isn't easy, but compaired to marine boot it's a cakewalk.

How DI's operate? Do they punish everybody for an individual's mistake? Do they do administrative punishment?

[QUOTE=UncleJimmema;30234399]The army gets a nice little peice of paper called a stress card (I think they finally phased it out) that when help up basically says "i cant handle this, i need time to relax" and a Drill sergent can't touch em. That NEVER happened in marine boot. Even at medical someone was always yelling in your face, watching your every move. I didn't get a boner for 3 month, not because of some magic meds they put in the eggs or whatever, because I was stressed the fuck out 24/7. I couldn't take a piss without being berated and finding myself on the quaterdeck. Army boot camp isn't easy, but compaired to marine boot it's a cakewalk.[/QUOTE] Well, no. The "stress card" thing was something they tested for one training cycle, years ago. I'm not even 100% sure it was the Army, it might have been a Navy thing. Anyway, the brass decided they really didn't like it, so it was tossed out almost right away. They realized it pretty much entirely defeated the point of basic training. Again, disagree on BCT being a cakewalk. It's only two weeks shorter than Marine boot camp, and most of those extra two weeks is taken up by the Marines doing their swimming qualification and other aquatic stuff the Army doesn't do, and more thorough combatives, which you'll almost never ever need. Ever. Sure, the PT requirements for the Army are lower than that of the Marines, but the Army has exponentially more support and non-combat roles than do the Marines, personnel who don't need to be as fit as your average Marine. As for the combat MOSs, those guys get all the intense physical training they need at AIT, or with their unit. No, BCT isn't as tough as boot camp, but it's not a cakewalk.

[QUOTE=UncleJimmema;30152250]So true, I've got a lot more respect for the navy than the army (still not marines though!) Marines > Navy > Coast Guard > Airforce > Army You joined at a good time, they bumped up the training to 12-13 weeks now and you'll actually recieve some combat training. It used to be just 40 rounds from an m9 and 3 from a mossburg 500! it didn't matter what you scored either![/QUOTE] Bahahaha, the Air Force can [b]never[/b] be any lower than number 1.

Do any of you have any experience in the field of armor?

[QUOTE=kekedakis;30196377]I know quite a few people that are currently in the Air Force, so I'll pass on what I've heard from them. First off you should know that the Air Force uses OTS to fill slots that are not already filled by the AF Academy or AFROTC. Now days, it's very hard to get into OTS. The OTS route is not only the least reliable way to commission in the Air Force, it's also the hardest. From what I hear, they're not in dying need of people, so they're being VERY picky. I'm unsure what you're going to school for, but if you're serious about becoming a pilot, you should go to a college that offers ROTC(if you're not already in one) and take it all 4 years. That's your best bet, as you'd have a MUCH better chance of being selected as a pilot than you would through OTS. If you've received a 4 year degree, in order to be competitive for OTS, you need to sustain at least a 3.8 GPA if your degree is non-technical. They're looking for technical degrees, such as engineering, math, physics, computer science, foreign languages, etc. You should at least have a 3.5 GPA to be competitive. Ideally you'd want to be in the top 10% of your class. They are also looking at community service, and sports you have done throughout High School. On top of all that you should have a high AFOQT and TBAS score. If you enlist, your chances of becoming a pilot are pretty much shot. You'll be able to go in as an E3, but it'll be harder going OTS after enlisting. I hear it doesn't happen all that often. This is all generated from a handful of people I know, so I hope this will be helpful to you. Wish you the best of luck.[/QUOTE] I'm taking either Aeronautical sciences or engineering. AF academy isn't an option, neither is ROTC so OTS is my only option.

[QUOTE=CabooseRvB;30234451]How DI's operate? Do they punish everybody for an individual's mistake? Do they do administrative punishment?[/QUOTE] They punish indeviduals as they see fit, and punish the group as they see fit or if a particular person keeps fucking up.

op is a fag who joined because of cod

Have fun and stay safe!

[QUOTE=Amerigo;30235076]Well, no. The "stress card" thing was something they tested for one training cycle, years ago. I'm not even 100% sure it was the Army, it might have been a Navy thing. Anyway, the brass decided they really didn't like it, so it was tossed out almost right away. They realized it pretty much entirely defeated the point of basic training. Again, disagree on BCT being a cakewalk. It's only two weeks shorter than Marine boot camp, and most of those extra two weeks is taken up by the Marines doing their swimming qualification and other aquatic stuff the Army doesn't do, and more thorough combatives, which you'll almost never ever need. Ever. Sure, the PT requirements for the Army are lower than that of the Marines, but the Army has exponentially more support and non-combat roles than do the Marines, personnel who don't need to be as fit as your average Marine. As for the combat MOSs, those guys get all the intense physical training they need at AIT, or with their unit. No, BCT isn't as tough as boot camp, but it's not a cakewalk.[/QUOTE] They don't have more non-combat roles, they have more people in those roles. The Marine Corps can fight the 3 block war, so with that in mind we not only have support personnel for ground units but for aircraft and seacraft as well. As for the extra 2 weeks, thats actually taken up by PT and field time. The swimming you speak of really only takes 1 day for the avarage marine, the only folks that require 4 days are those in aquatic/aircrew MOS's. You must realise that you're "avarage" marine is trained first in a combat MOS, we all leave MCT with the ability to fill the MOS of 0311 infanrty riflemen. A majority of us all train like the grunts do, since most of us can be used as grunts instead of our PMOS.