Thinking of Joining the Military? V2 - General

[QUOTE=VitaminAG;37815964]What does the ASVAB consist of? Is it easy to get a good score on?[/QUOTE] It tests more on critical thinking than rote memorization. There's a section on how automobile engines work so you might want to brush up on that a little.

[QUOTE=zacht_180;37836488]Does the military use figure-8's as their rappelling device? I'm just asking because I do a lot of climbing and mountaineering, I remember when I was like fourteen I got into a massive accident with my dad. His setup was with a figure-8, but something went wrong. He fell about seventy-two feet before he hit the ground. I was scared as hell and all of course, but miraculously he survived. It was kind of traumatic but I got over it, I still climb and all. We don't know for sure what was the fault in the rig, never really found out but we know it's not the carabiner. Are they D shaped carabiners or oval-shaped?[/QUOTE] They were using D-shaped ones and we hadn't used figure-8's which I thought was the problem since in Basic they hooked us up with figure-8's and I didn't fall on my first go.

[QUOTE=tyanet;37839817]I'm joining the Army as an 89D (Explosive Ordnance Disposal). I'm going to MEPS to oath and phys in on Monday, and will be shipping to basic by the start of July and finishing AIT 45 months later. Just thought I'd share.[/QUOTE] EOD is meant to be pretty hard, good luck.

[QUOTE=tyanet;37839817]I'm joining the Army as an 89D (Explosive Ordnance Disposal). I'm going to MEPS to oath and phys in on Monday, and will be shipping to basic by the start of July and finishing AIT 45 months later. Just thought I'd share.[/QUOTE] Best of luck to you. I'm sure it will be a rewarding experience.

[QUOTE=tyanet;37839817]I'm joining the Army as an 89D (Explosive Ordnance Disposal). I'm going to MEPS to oath and phys in on Monday, and will be shipping to basic by the start of July and finishing AIT 45 months later. Just thought I'd share.[/QUOTE] Please warn us before setting off explosions, I am not a fan of heart attacks. Thanks.

[QUOTE=SKEEA;37843350]Please warn us before setting off explosions, I am not a fan of heart attacks. Thanks.[/QUOTE] Heh, will do. Where are you stationed?

[QUOTE=tyanet;37843927]Heh, will do. Where are you stationed?[/QUOTE] FOB Salerno, Afghanistan.

[QUOTE=SKEEA;37782615]Hey Savyetski, I am currently in the 101st CAB, deployed. 2-17 Cav. Never seen someone else from Campbell on here, other than one person. Sorry to hear that Currahee sucked so much. I am livin the aviation life.[/QUOTE] Haha, I was with Bastogne not Currahee. Currahee is 4th BCT (Spade insignia on helmets). I was actually put in 1-32 Cav Barracks while I was in. Living with 32 Cav sucked. :suicide:

Ah, my bad. I got my BCT's mixed up.

[QUOTE=zacht_180;37836488]Does the military use figure-8's as their rappelling device? I'm just asking because I do a lot of climbing and mountaineering, I remember when I was like fourteen I got into a massive accident with my dad. His setup was with a figure-8, but something went wrong. He fell about seventy-two feet before he hit the ground. I was scared as hell and all of course, but miraculously he survived. It was kind of traumatic but I got over it, I still climb and all. We don't know for sure what was the fault in the rig, never really found out but we know it's not the carabiner. Are they D shaped carabiners or oval-shaped?[/QUOTE] All I've ever used were D shaped locking carabiners and swiss seats, the two times I've rappelled. Also, I don't think they use figure-8s for Air Assault, since they can be cumbersome to undo and AA needs to move fast.

Does everyone in the Marines go into infantry or do you actually have a choice of what you want to do?

[QUOTE=Zerokateo;37870268]Does everyone in the Marines go into infantry or do you actually have a choice of what you want to do?[/QUOTE] No, they all have jobs like any other branch. However, you don't get a choice. The Marine Corps chooses your job for you. You could be anything from Infantry, to water tech, to AH-1 maintainer.

I see, well I guess if I don't like it after my first 4 years I could go join the Army or the Navy.

[QUOTE=Zerokateo;37870899]I see, well I guess if I don't like it after my first 4 years I could go join the Army or the Navy.[/QUOTE] Or join the Army and get to pick exactly what job you want. Just saying. What exactly is it that you want to do again?

Not sure yet, I kinda want to do something with computers. I really want to be a Marine though because my grandfather was in the Marines. I just want to make the military my career and then have a college degree in something I like just in case things go wrong. [editline]1st October 2012[/editline] What I REALLY want to do is join some sort of special forces like Force Recon or Green Berets, which I know is extremely difficult but I believe 100% that I could make it if I put myself into it. [editline]1st October 2012[/editline] I mean, now that I really think about it, the Army or the Navy sounds like a good idea for picking the job I want. That and apparently my friend who is in the Marines says that they are always trying to get rid of people after their 4 years are done because they can pay a private less to do the exact same job and some other stuff. And I haven't really heard of that in the Army.

[QUOTE=Zerokateo;37871468]Not sure yet, I kinda want to do something with computers. I really want to be a Marine though because my grandfather was in the Marines. I just want to make the military my career and then have a college degree in something I like just in case things go wrong. [editline]1st October 2012[/editline] What I REALLY want to do is join some sort of special forces like Force Recon or Green Berets, which I know is extremely difficult but I believe 100% that I could make it if I put myself into it. [editline]1st October 2012[/editline] I mean, now that I really think about it, the Army or the Navy sounds like a good idea for picking the job I want. That and apparently my friend who is in the Marines says that they are always trying to get rid of people after their 4 years are done because they can pay a private less to do the exact same job and some other stuff. And I haven't really heard of that in the Army.[/QUOTE] The Army offers all MOS's the chance of going to selection for Special Forces. If you want Special Forces that badly, try to get an 18 series contract with the Army. I don't know about rules for Force Recon, if you had to have been infantry or not, but I know that Army SF doesn't care where you come from MOS wise as long as you have what they are looking for. Believe me, I know what it is like to want to be a part of a special unit. I am thinking about applying for the 160th SOAR myself. Just give it a good hard think over.

[QUOTE=SKEEA;37871829]The Army offers all MOS's the chance of going to selection for Special Forces. If you want Special Forces that badly, try to get an 18 series contract with the Army. I don't know about rules for Force Recon, if you had to have been infantry or not, but I know that Army SF doesn't care where you come from MOS wise as long as you have what they are looking for. Believe me, I know what it is like to want to be a part of a special unit. I am thinking about applying for the 160th SOAR myself. Just give it a good hard think over.[/QUOTE] Thanks SKEEA, I'll definitely think it over.

[QUOTE=Zerokateo;37871928]Thanks SKEEA, I'll definitely think it over.[/QUOTE] You can get into special forces from any MOS in the marine corps as well. Every 6 months they hold a try out at Camp Pendalton for those that want to join Recon from outside of the infantry community. Alternatively you could always get a FAST contract or Air Crew. It's not true that they pick entirely for you, it's just that they can change it to fit the needs of the Marine Corps. I got exactly what I signed up for, while a few of my buddies who signed up for infantry later became TMO's (otherwise known as movers). If you've got a good recruiter you've got a pretty damn good shot at getting what you want. Just don't sign an open contract. If that's all that is available at the time wait until orders for what you want comes out. This is one of the few times where you get the opportunity to choose what you want to do in the military, so make sure you weigh all of your options before signing on the dotted line.

I heard the Marines can guarantee you a field, but not an MOS.

What is the whole process like to get a color-blind waiver in the Army? It is never a problem for me, it's just those goddamn dots. They also use the FALANT test?

[QUOTE=zacht_180;37877340]What is the whole process like to get a color-blind waiver in the Army? It is never a problem for me, it's just those goddamn dots. They also use the FALANT test?[/QUOTE] IIRC you can't waiver colorblindness, you are just restricted to certain jobs.

[QUOTE=UncleJimmema;37873345]You can get into special forces from any MOS in the marine corps as well. Every 6 months they hold a try out at Camp Pendalton for those that want to join Recon from outside of the infantry community. Alternatively you could always get a FAST contract or Air Crew. It's not true that they pick entirely for you, it's just that they can change it to fit the needs of the Marine Corps. I got exactly what I signed up for, while a few of my buddies who signed up for infantry later became TMO's (otherwise known as movers). If you've got a good recruiter you've got a pretty damn good shot at getting what you want. Just don't sign an open contract. If that's all that is available at the time wait until orders for what you want comes out. This is one of the few times where you get the opportunity to choose what you want to do in the military, so make sure you weigh all of your options before signing on the dotted line.[/QUOTE] My uncles friend is a recruiter and knows a few recruiters that may be able to pull a few strings, also force recon does strictly recon right?

[QUOTE=Zerokateo;37877759]My uncles friend is a recruiter and knows a few recruiters that may be able to pull a few strings, also force recon does strictly recon right?[/QUOTE] No, they do all sorts of things. If it's battalion recon you usually are attached to an infantry component and serve as the scouts for it. The games different in force recon, you act as the quick response unit for a MEU. Gotta start in recon before you can go there.

[QUOTE=SKEEA;37871829]The Army offers all MOS's the chance of going to selection for Special Forces. If you want Special Forces that badly, try to get an 18 series contract with the Army. I don't know about rules for Force Recon, if you had to have been infantry or not, but I know that Army SF doesn't care where you come from MOS wise as long as you have what they are looking for. Believe me, I know what it is like to want to be a part of a special unit. I am thinking about applying for the 160th SOAR myself. Just give it a good hard think over.[/QUOTE] 18x is the specific contract for SF, isn't it?

I've got meps on thursday. Any tips?

[QUOTE=Fueger;37879448]I've got meps on thursday. Any tips?[/QUOTE] Don't lick anyone you shouldn't.

[QUOTE=Fueger;37879448]I've got meps on thursday. Any tips?[/QUOTE] The number one word coming out of your mouth had better be "No". [editline]2nd October 2012[/editline] [QUOTE=WubWubWompWomp;37879369]18x is the specific contract for SF, isn't it?[/QUOTE] Yes, that is the MOS for Special Forces Recruit.

[QUOTE=SKEEA;37881314]The number one word coming out of your mouth had better be "No". [editline]2nd October 2012[/editline] Yes, that is the MOS for Special Forces Recruit.[/QUOTE] What are the contracts for the 160th SOAR?

[QUOTE=WubWubWompWomp;37881438]What are the contracts for the 160th SOAR?[/QUOTE] There aren't any contracts or specific MOS's for the SOAR. They only recruit from specific MOS's anyways, 95% of them are understandably Aviation. When you get your orders for your first duty station in AIT at Fort Eustis, you have a possibility of being DA selected to go to Green Platoon. You also can fill out a recruiting form and submit it to the SOAR. I am a 15S, OH-58D Helicopter Repairer. If I went through Green Platoon after deployment and made it into the SOAR, I would maintain their AH and MH-6 Littlebirds. The SOAR is an aviation unit, so you really need to be aviation in order to apply for Green Platoon.

[QUOTE=SKEEA;37881693]There aren't any contracts or specific MOS's for the SOAR. They only recruit from specific MOS's anyways, 95% of them are understandably Aviation. When you get your orders for your first duty station in AIT at Fort Eustis, you have a possibility of being DA selected to go to Green Platoon. You also can fill out a recruiting form and submit it to the SOAR. I am a 15S, OH-58D Helicopter Repairer. If I went through Green Platoon after deployment and made it into the SOAR, I would maintain their AH and MH-6 Littlebirds. The SOAR is an aviation unit, so you really need to be aviation in order to apply for Green Platoon.[/QUOTE] That makes sense, be sure to do a lot of running.