Kids and the Military

[TennNole17]

I have a Junior, and they are considering Air Force or something similar after High School. None of my living family is Military, so I don't know much about any of it.

They are considering because they'd like to get out of current city and see other places; understand they need help with structure, like that it pays for school; and maybe give them some ideas for career path. They've considered straight enlistment or ROTC type thing, and then enlist after school?

 

[SoProudNole]

3 years in the Army and get in to a local LE outfit. Then spend your days emptying your clip at the sound of acorns hitting your car. No downside.

 

[NDallasRuss]

3 years in the Army and get in to a local LE outfit. Then spend your days emptying your clip at the sound of acorns hitting your car. No downside.

**Magazine

Weapons haven't used "clips" in a long, long time. A random internet link says that the Korean War was the last time the US military used them. #TheMoreYouKnow

 

[Hendy hawk]

Good luck to the young man. The Air Force or Navy I would say would be the better choice.
army or Marines can get you more in situations/places you might not want to be.

 

[NDallasRuss]

I have a Junior, and they are considering Air Force or something similar after High School. None of my living family is Military, so I don't know much about any of it.

They are considering because they'd like to get out of current city and see other places; understand they need help with structure, like that it pays for school; and maybe give them some ideas for career path. They've considered straight enlistment or ROTC type thing, and then enlist after school?

I don't have any ore experience than you, but I'd be wary of them getting stuck with a job that offers no education or experience that's useful once they're out of the military - or jobs that would just be terrible jobs to have to do during your time in the military. For Example:
#5. Culinary Specialist (MOS 92G)
#4. Shower, Laundry & Clothing Repair Specialist (MOS 92S)
#3. Quartermaster & Chemical Equipment Repair (MOS 91J)
#2. Mortuary Affairs Specialist (MOS 92M)
#1. Water Treatment Specialist (MOS 92W)

5 Worst Jobs in the Army - Operation Military Kids

There are few journeys in life worth pursuing more than a life in the military. Serving the U.S. Armed Forces can open up many avenues as well as develop discipline, teamwork, and leadership skills. Nevertheless, there are some military jobs that you want to avoid. The worse jobs in the Army are...

www.operationmilitarykids.org

I'm not sure what kind of assurances you can get prior to signing the paperwork. I know that recruiters might make - if not promises, at least strong implications - that you will get what you want, but not sure any of that is/can be binding

 

[BelemNole]

I was an airforce brat. Can't imagine a better way to grow up.

Son's friend from HS went into the army after school because he didn't know what to do. Been in Korea for the past 3 years and loving it.

If he is smart and wants a career ROTC is the way to go. If he just wants out enlisting is fine. Lots of good bonuses these days.

Real issue is that you have no control over where they send you. Could be great, could suck.

Don't go Navy. Army if they're a meat head. Air Force if they want to build towards a career afterwards.

 

[alaskanseminole]

My daughter just hit year 4 in the Air Force. She's a Cyber Intelligence Analyst (1N4X1A) stationed at Ft Meade. She's working towards her Bachelors in Homeland security. She has no debt including a paid off car and 20K in her savings. She's meeting with my financial advisor next month to open a Roth IRA. So, yes, she's doing very well; especially when compared to my miserable 25 year old daughter who's a broke middle school teacher.

I can answer specific questions if ya got 'em. When you say they, do you have more than one wanting to join? Both mine looked into it, but only one wound up joining.

 

[lucas80]

I don't have any ore experience than you, but I'd be wary of them getting stuck with a job that offers no education or experience that's useful once they're out of the military - or jobs that would just be terrible jobs to have to do during your time in the military. For Example:
#5. Culinary Specialist (MOS 92G)
#4. Shower, Laundry & Clothing Repair Specialist (MOS 92S)
#3. Quartermaster & Chemical Equipment Repair (MOS 91J)
#2. Mortuary Affairs Specialist (MOS 92M)
#1. Water Treatment Specialist (MOS 92W)

5 Worst Jobs in the Army - Operation Military Kids

There are few journeys in life worth pursuing more than a life in the military. Serving the U.S. Armed Forces can open up many avenues as well as develop discipline, teamwork, and leadership skills. Nevertheless, there are some military jobs that you want to avoid. The worse jobs in the Army are...

www.operationmilitarykids.org

I'm not sure what kind of assurances you can get prior to signing the paperwork. I know that recruiters might make - if not promises, at least strong implications - that you will get what you want, but not sure any of that is/can be binding

I never was in the military, but honestly several of those bad jobs seem like good stepping stones in the private sector. I worked in restaurants in college, and some of the very best kitchen people I worked with had military experience. They were well trained in safety and sanitary food prep handling procedures, and they were unfazed by a dinner rush.
The same for #3 and #1, you can take learning real world mechanical repair skills, and transfer them to other jobs. If you are trained on working on water systems you can work for any municipal or privately owned water treatment entity. Not glamorous, but a solid non degree job.
I say these things because I've worked with, hired and politely asked a lot of people to leave places I've worked. A whole lot of the military people were very adaptive and good problem solvers. Then, there were the bullet catchers or the @Moral types...
One other thing to the OP, be wary of where they might be assigned. A lot of my co-workers have talked about how excited they were to go into the service, and then they spent 4 years in the swamps of southern Georgia at King's Bay Naval Base, or, the not so good parts of New Mexico.

 

[TennNole17]

My daughter just hit year 4 in the Air Force. She's a Cyber Intelligence Analyst (1N4X1A) stationed at Ft Meade. She's working towards her Bachelors in Homeland security. She has no debt including a paid off car and 20K in her savings. She's meeting with my financial advisor next month to open a Roth IRA. So, yes, she's doing very well; especially when compared to my miserable 25 year old daughter who's a broke middle school teacher.

I can answer specific questions if ya got 'em. When you say they, do you have more than one wanting to join? Both mine looked into it, but only one wound up joining.

Just one, also a Daughter. Was trying to keep the responses generic, but I suppose a female in the military is different

 

[ConvenientParking]

Coast Guard. I didn't realize they accepted Iowans when I was in high school because I think they Army told them to stay away from our HS while they were preparing for troop surge

 

[ICHawk-I]

My daughter just hit year 4 in the Air Force. She's a Cyber Intelligence Analyst (1N4X1A) stationed at Ft Meade. She's working towards her Bachelors in Homeland security. She has no debt including a paid off car and 20K in her savings. She's meeting with my financial advisor next month to open a Roth IRA. So, yes, she's doing very well; especially when compared to my miserable 25 year old daughter who's a broke middle school teacher.

I can answer specific questions if ya got 'em. When you say they, do you have more than one wanting to join? Both mine looked into it, but only one wound up joining.

My son is stationed there with the Air Force for similar job as your daughter. He's liking it and has been able to move off base and still save a lot of money, pay off his car and add to his ROTH IRA. He's looking into continuing his education now that he's settled into his job.

He went in to see the world, get his education paid for and get out of our small Iowa town. Couldn't be more proud of the young man he has become.

 

[theiacowtipper]

If your child can do concurrent enrollment into a community college they should really consider getting an associates degree prior to entering. They will be paid much more and have a ramp towards promotion sooner.

Im going to disagree about the training for post military work. Number 1, they probably don’t know what they want to do for the rest of their life ergo joint in the first place. Number 2 the experience often doesn’t transfer. You still have to do the same post military training.

Have them do what they find interesting and something that pays the largest bonus to enter. Save the bonus.

 

[Sharky1203]

I have a Junior, and they are considering Air Force or something similar after High School. None of my living family is Military, so I don't know much about any of it.

They are considering because they'd like to get out of current city and see other places; understand they need help with structure, like that it pays for school; and maybe give them some ideas for career path. They've considered straight enlistment or ROTC type thing, and then enlist after school?

From a Marine, if he wants to be in the middle of it all, go Army or Marines. If he wants something that will transition to civilian life, Air Force. Navy is good, the long ship rides can get old fast, but the food is A-1.

 

[SSG T]

I have a Junior, and they are considering Air Force or something similar after High School. None of my living family is Military, so I don't know much about any of it.

They are considering because they'd like to get out of current city and see other places; understand they need help with structure, like that it pays for school; and maybe give them some ideas for career path. They've considered straight enlistment or ROTC type thing, and then enlist after school?

Here's what I told my kids...

A) Don't join the military, go to college or a trade school, continue your education.

B) If you do screw up and join the military, join the Air Force and get the most highly technical job that you qualify for and has translatable skills, use TA to start your college or trade school, then get out and use the GI Bill to finish.

C) See A


But yeah, if they are dead set on the military, the AF is the way to go for a myriad of reasons. Get an MOS (or whatever the AF calls their job codes) that translates to well paid, technical jobs. Do 3-5 years then get out. Use whatever tuition assistance is available to further their education.

 

[Jimmy McGill]

This former Army man has stayed on both Air Force posts and Army posts....


If they join, join the Air Force. Quality of Life is better.

But as SSGT said, if they join, take an MOS that can translate into contractor work once they retire.

 

[TennNole17]

This former Army man has stayed on both Air Force posts and Army posts....


If they join, join the Air Force. Quality of Life is better.

But as SSGT said, if they join, take an MOS that can translate into contractor work once they retire.

What’s MOS?

What’s the difference between going straight in; versus ROTC versus school first then enrolling?

 

[Jimmy McGill]

MOS - Military Occupational Specialty.

I'm biased, but I think the best officers are former enlisted folks. ROTC guys/gals sometimes don't understand what enlisted folks do for them. Former enlisted folks that become officers later on tend to understand not to ask their servicemembers to do something that they haven't/wouldn't do themselves.

 

[binsfeldcyhawk2]

I have a Junior, and they are considering Air Force or something similar after High School. None of my living family is Military, so I don't know much about any of it.

They are considering because they'd like to get out of current city and see other places; understand they need help with structure, like that it pays for school; and maybe give them some ideas for career path. They've considered straight enlistment or ROTC type thing, and then enlist after school?

The 9/11 GI Bill is nothing to sneeze at. 36 months of tuition and book stipend along with a housing allowance.
In the AF it’s pretty easy to get a CCAF associates degree in a 4 year enlistment. All public universities recognize it as such.


So if someone plays their cards right…knock out 2 years of college while in…get a bachelors and could get a Masters with the 36 months of GI bill benefits


It’s not a bad way to go IMO.

 

[Jimmy McGill]

The 9/11 GI Bill is nothing to sneeze at. 36 months of tuition and book stipend along with a housing allowance.
In the AF it’s pretty easy to get a CCAF associates degree in a 4 year enlistment. All public universities recognize it as such.


So if someone plays their cards right…knock out 2 years of college while in…get a bachelors and could get a Masters with the 36 months of GI bill benefits


It’s not a bad way to go IMO.

My cousin who is the same age as me retired from the Navy at 40, got two college degrees during that time. And he couldn't really spend much when at seas. He is set for life, travels the world. I'm envious. Good for him. He also wanted to get away, which made the Navy the perfect spot for him.

I'd have been banging my head all the time in a ship.

 

[HawkMachine]

Have a buddy that got a 4 year degree and then joined the military to help pay for med school.

My daughter is contemplating the same. She loves to travel and it would help with loans so a double bonus.

She will get her 4 year degree debt free. Now she's slightly freaking out as she doesn't want $300k of debt.

 

[alaskanseminole]

But yeah, if they are dead set on the military, the AF is the way to go for a myriad of reasons. Get an MOS (or whatever the AF calls their job codes) that translates to well paid, technical jobs. Do 3-5 years then get out. Use whatever tuition assistance is available to further their education.

MOS = AFSC

Come on, man. I knew AFSC equaled MOS for the Army.

AF enlistments are 4 or 6 only.

 

[Jimmy McGill]

In today's environment, there are few military jobs that are "safe", but they are still more safe than during WWII, Korea, Vietnam.

Another added plus is the discounted life insurance program. You can set up some generational wealth if you are smart.

 

[alaskanseminole]

The 9/11 GI Bill is nothing to sneeze at. 36 months of tuition and book stipend along with a housing allowance.
In the AF it’s pretty easy to get a CCAF associates degree in a 4 year enlistment. All public universities recognize it as such.


So if someone plays their cards right…knock out 2 years of college while in…get a bachelors and could get a Masters with the 36 months of GI bill benefits


It’s not a bad way to go IMO.

I got 2 CCAF degrees and a Bachelors using tuition assistance. That allowed me to transfer my GI Bill to my oldest.

 

[binsfeldcyhawk2]

I got 2 CCAF degrees and a Bachelors using tuition assistance. That allowed me to transfer my GI Bill to my oldest.

I got a bachelors with tuition assistance as well. Hell of a deal.

 

[SSG T]

MOS = AFSC

Come on, man. I knew AFSC equaled MOS for the Army.

AF enlistments are 4 or 6 only.

Fun fact...I was a 1SG in a joint unit and had 4 enlisted AF personnel. I knew AFSC at one point, but that was 12 years ago, I'm retired, and, frankly I'm to the point of not caring about Army things any more, let alone USAF. 😁

 

[alaskanseminole]

Fun fact...I was a 1SG in a joint unit and had 4 enlisted AF personnel. I knew AFSC at one point, but that was 12 years ago, I'm retired, and, frankly I'm to the point of not caring about Army things any more, let alone USAF. 😁

Just busting your ballz.

I've been retired 10 years, but that stint at NSA from 2019—2020 got me refreshed on current mil stuff. I had all branches working for me, even a Coastie. Prior to that my last joint assignment was 2008.

 

[ICWestfan]

Navy. We have friends whose son is a Nuke Tech on a submarine. He did basic, then Nuke school for a year, and now is the operator/maintainer of the Nuke Sub he is on. Downside as we have been told is the deployment, upside is when he opts out, he can go to work at a nuclear reactor. He is basically set for life.

 

[TennNole17]

.

Can’t for the life of me figure out how to send a direct message- but if you do drop me a line so we can exchange emails.

 

[comp_sci_hawk]

Don't go Navy. Army if they're a meat head. Air Force if they want to build towards a career afterwards.

Don't go Navy? You likely have no idea what your talking about.

I enlisted in the Navy immediately after high school, spent 6 years as an Avionics Technician working on Tomcats. Probably the best decision of my life. Could have done the same in the Air Force but as the posters say, Sailors have more fun!

I deployed on two-6 month cruises on a carrier, saw half the world before I was 21 years old. Met friends for life, kinda like a big fraternity.

Navy technical schools are probably the best of all the services. Spent first 18 months just in training before hitting the fleet. When I finally got out I had enough credits towards a full year of college at University of Iowa working towards computer science degree. I hardly took any electives. Now a Director of engineering and look back on my Navy days as a big reason for my career success.

 

[ZachJump]

The one thing I learned in the Air Force was that there was those in the Air Force, and there were those at Baumholder and Vegelweh that couldn't get into the Air Force.

I had the misfortune of getting stuck at Ramstein. Learned Paris gets boring quickly and that there is no shame with having bartenders great you by name when you walk into one of your favorite bars in Amsterdam.

 

[Tenacious E]

I have a Junior, and they are considering Air Force or something similar after High School. None of my living family is Military, so I don't know much about any of it.

They are considering because they'd like to get out of current city and see other places; understand they need help with structure, like that it pays for school; and maybe give them some ideas for career path. They've considered straight enlistment or ROTC type thing, and then enlist after school?

Air Force ROTC in college. USAF has the best quality of life in the military, and rotc gives gives them a taste before they are fully committed and cannot drop out. I don’t think you’re fully committed until after your sophomore year and you do boot camp/field training/whatever it’s called now. I was a finance major and was a weapons system cost analyst in Boston for 4 years. Loved it but didn’t want to move around long term, so I knew I was going back to school. I kept my Iowa residency so I could keep instate tuition. If I was stationed in Virginia I probably would have become a Virginian for their instate tuition. While active duty, I studied a lot on LSAT strategy and then took it and did well. Once I separated, I had the GI bill to pay for a good chunk of law school. I think it is way better now and it would pay for all of it. I did thread the needle about perfectly, but I would not have done it differently.

 

[Finance85]

I don't have any ore experience than you, but I'd be wary of them getting stuck with a job that offers no education or experience that's useful once they're out of the military - or jobs that would just be terrible jobs to have to do during your time in the military. For Example:
#5. Culinary Specialist (MOS 92G)
#4. Shower, Laundry & Clothing Repair Specialist (MOS 92S)
#3. Quartermaster & Chemical Equipment Repair (MOS 91J)
#2. Mortuary Affairs Specialist (MOS 92M)
#1. Water Treatment Specialist (MOS 92W)

5 Worst Jobs in the Army - Operation Military Kids

There are few journeys in life worth pursuing more than a life in the military. Serving the U.S. Armed Forces can open up many avenues as well as develop discipline, teamwork, and leadership skills. Nevertheless, there are some military jobs that you want to avoid. The worse jobs in the Army are...

www.operationmilitarykids.org

I'm not sure what kind of assurances you can get prior to signing the paperwork. I know that recruiters might make - if not promises, at least strong implications - that you will get what you want, but not sure any of that is/can be binding

MOS depends on timing and what specialties are available.

I'd recommend taking the ASVAB test and seeing how that plays out. It replaced another test I took back in high school. I got in-school visits from 2 recruiters (Army and Air Force). Army wanted me to enlist. Air Force was offering college ROTC, and going in as an officer.

 

[BelemNole]

Don't go Navy? You likely have no idea what your talking about.

I enlisted in the Navy immediately after high school, spent 6 years as an Avionics Technician working on Tomcats. Probably the best decision of my life. Could have done the same in the Air Force but as the posters say, Sailors have more fun!

I deployed on two-6 month cruises on a carrier, saw half the world before I was 21 years old. Met friends for life, kinda like a big fraternity.

Navy technical schools are probably the best of all the services. Spent first 18 months just in training before hitting the fleet. When I finally got out I had enough credits towards a full year of college at University of Iowa working towards computer science degree. I hardly took any electives. Now a Director of engineering and look back on my Navy days as a big reason for my career success.

Like I said, avoid the navy.

 

[alaskanseminole]

Like I said, avoid the navy.

Is this why?

U.S. Navy petty officer based in Japan charged with espionage​

Eleanor Watson, Caitlin Yilek
Updated Thu, February 22, 2024 at 8:45 AM CST·1 min read

Washington — A Navy sailor who was based in Japan was charged by the U.S. military with espionage for allegedly giving classified information to an employee of a foreign government.

Bryce Pedicini, a chief petty officer fire controlman, is accused of providing documents to an employee of a foreign government at least seven times between November 2022 and February 2023 in Hampton Roads, Virginia, according to a charge sheet obtained by CBS News.

In May 2023, in Yokosuka Japan, he tried to pass photographs that showed the screen of a computer connected to the military's classified network.

Bryce Pedicini / Credit: U.S. Navy Photo

He was providing the information "with reason to believe that it would be used to the injury of the United States and to the advantage of a foreign nation," the charge sheet said, adding that it was "relating to the national defense." It's unclear what exact documents he passed or to what nation. Pedicini is also accused of failing to report a foreign contact and the solicitation of classified information by an unauthorized person.
The Navy confirmed Wednesday that a sailor assigned to Japan-based destroyer USS Higgins was under investigation and legal proceedings are underway.

"A sailor assigned to the Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS Higgins (DDG 76) is suspected of mishandling classified documents and information. The incident remains under investigation and legal proceedings continue," Cmdr. Arlo Abrahamson, a spokesperson for U.S. Naval Surface Force, said in a statement.

Pedicini's service record from the U.S. Navy says he enlisted in 2009 and served on a number of destroyers. He was promoted to chief in 2022.

U.S. Navy petty officer based in Japan charged with espionage

Bryce Pedicini, a U.S. Navy chief petty officer, has been charged by the U.S. military with espionage and attempted espionage for providing documents to an employee of a foreign nation.

www.yahoo.com

 

[BelemNole]

Is this why?

U.S. Navy petty officer based in Japan charged with espionage​

Eleanor Watson, Caitlin Yilek
Updated Thu, February 22, 2024 at 8:45 AM CST·1 min read

Washington — A Navy sailor who was based in Japan was charged by the U.S. military with espionage for allegedly giving classified information to an employee of a foreign government.

Bryce Pedicini, a chief petty officer fire controlman, is accused of providing documents to an employee of a foreign government at least seven times between November 2022 and February 2023 in Hampton Roads, Virginia, according to a charge sheet obtained by CBS News.

In May 2023, in Yokosuka Japan, he tried to pass photographs that showed the screen of a computer connected to the military's classified network.

Bryce Pedicini / Credit: U.S. Navy Photo

He was providing the information "with reason to believe that it would be used to the injury of the United States and to the advantage of a foreign nation," the charge sheet said, adding that it was "relating to the national defense." It's unclear what exact documents he passed or to what nation. Pedicini is also accused of failing to report a foreign contact and the solicitation of classified information by an unauthorized person.
The Navy confirmed Wednesday that a sailor assigned to Japan-based destroyer USS Higgins was under investigation and legal proceedings are underway.

"A sailor assigned to the Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS Higgins (DDG 76) is suspected of mishandling classified documents and information. The incident remains under investigation and legal proceedings continue," Cmdr. Arlo Abrahamson, a spokesperson for U.S. Naval Surface Force, said in a statement.

Pedicini's service record from the U.S. Navy says he enlisted in 2009 and served on a number of destroyers. He was promoted to chief in 2022.

U.S. Navy petty officer based in Japan charged with espionage

Bryce Pedicini, a U.S. Navy chief petty officer, has been charged by the U.S. military with espionage and attempted espionage for providing documents to an employee of a foreign nation.

www.yahoo.com

Well, mostly it was tweak the squid, but I have no desired to hot bunk it in a tin can for 6 months at a time.

 

[alaskanseminole]

Well, mostly it was tweak the squid, but I have no desired to hot bunk it in a tin can for 6 months at a time.

 

[SoProudNole]

**Magazine

Weapons haven't used "clips" in a long, long time. A random internet link says that the Korean War was the last time the US military used them. #TheMoreYouKnow

 

[NDallasRuss]

I know what I am...

 

[comp_sci_hawk]

Well, mostly it was tweak the squid, but I have no desired to hot bunk it in a tin can for 6 months at a time.

Tweak the squid?

Dealing with Marines who also attended the Navy Avionics A school I've heard it all in terms of the crap they dole out. You need some new game in that regard, yours sucks.

Your reference to hot racking is one for the Submarine Navy, On a carrier that doesn't happen. Being on a carrier beats living in a fox hole or a tent city on deployment. Pulling into ports and visiting foreign cities certainly doesn't suck.

 

[OrlandNole]

Heading up to Newport, RI in May to attend my BIL's retirement ceremony. He's retiring after 35 years of service as a Command Master Chief. He had a pretty good run.