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armywife
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My husband is in the Army and he loves it. But if I were you I would choose the air force. You won’t see any combat and if you do stay in with a family they are the most family friendly branch of the military.
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EsclavoDeCristo
Guest
Thanks for the info! Do you know anything about the Navy as well?
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ElizabethJoy
Guest
This is going to depend upon which career path you take.
Most staff and line officers will go to “knife and fork school” in the Navy. Sort of a finishing school, where you learn Navy traditions, history, social customs, ranks and insignias, a bit about the different types of warfare systems(surface, air, submarine, shore) and other general info types of things that you will need to know in order to operate as an officer. You will also have PT, (physical training) GMT (general military training - orders to the sentries, chain of command, etc.) dental hygiene, health, etc.
If you are selected for the pilot training program, you will go to a very tough “boot camp” run by Marine Corps Drill Instructors. You will not enjoy much of this, but like Purgatory, it is a period of cleansing.
Then you will enter the pilot training pipeline, beginning with two-seater turbo-prop aircraft, and then moving into multi-engine props or jets or helicopters.If you are selected for Nuclear Engineering, you will have intense and lengthy training in how to run reactors on ships and submarines.
If you are selected for Admininstration, you will go to schools where you will learn the various procedures and forms that must be followed for all the situations which you are likely to encounter in the administration of personnel, budgets, etc.
The early training isn’t terribly difficult in most cases, but it may be annoying at times, not just in “basic training” but throughout your military career, if you are not ready to put the “needs of the Navy (Air Force)” ahead of your own.
You may find some aspects of the bureaucracy incredibly frustrating, banal and even stupid.
That may be the biggest hurdle of being an officer, especially as a new Ensign or a new LT(jg). (In other words, lower than the bottom of the ocean.
) Learning to take counsel from your senior enlisted people will be an exercise in humility. Learning when to stop taking **all **the counsel from your senior enlisted people and start acting like an officer will take discernment and objectivity and confidence. (Which you’ve gotten from your senior enlisteds if they’re worth their salt.)Most people with time in the Navy will be very patient with you even though they’ll give you some good-natured ribbing for the first couple of years you’re in. Chiefs will tell you they’ve got more time in the Chief’s mess than you’ve got in the Navy. (Well, that’s not saying much - because they’re always in the “goat locker!”
) If you handle it all with good grace and a willingness to learn, you will do fine.And it can be extremely difficult to be a good leader in some commands - the poor leaders and bum-kissers seem to get ahead, while you, plugging along, standing up for your people, loyal to the chain of command up and down, following the correct protocols, you’re stuck with the scut work. It can be very trying.
That said, that’s the bad side of the military and it’s not the main part of it. What you carry away from your six years or your 30 years will be the friends, the camaraderie, the spirit of working together on something important and worthwhile - those will be the things that stick with you.
You will have much to be grateful for in every day. You will have many opportunities to exercise patience, as Mother Angelica says.
A recruiter can give you much more up-to-date information. A recruiter might also be a little pushy, especially if you want to go into a field which is critically undermanned, but that’s easily dealt with, hm? If it’s critically undermanned today, it’s probably going to be equally undermanned in a month - time for you to think and make sure that it’s the right thing.
On the other hand, the spirit just may move you into signing on the dotted line as soon as you hear what sounds like the right thing for you. Either way, celebrate! You’re about to embark (no pun intended.
) on a fabulous adventure in many ways.Continued (gee, 5000 characters already???
)
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ElizabethJoy
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A six-year commitment seems like a very long time when you’re young - but six years will fly by like nothing, after you look back. My son left for boot camp three years ago this week - his first tour is half over. Seems like just a couple of months ago - he’s even talking about re-enlisting, even though he could get out and earn $90/yr today. It really does become a way of life. And there’s something about taking that oath of office that can really get under your skin and into your heart. 
So, that’s rather loquacious, hm? And to think I was going to try to be less talkative, this week. Blew that!
Best of luck to you as you weigh your choices - oh to be young and have so many enticing options in front of you! What a wonderful time of life!
God bless you with clarity and enthusiasm, whatever you choose!
Elizabeth
So, that’s rather loquacious, hm? And to think I was going to try to be less talkative, this week. Blew that!
Best of luck to you as you weigh your choices - oh to be young and have so many enticing options in front of you! What a wonderful time of life!
God bless you with clarity and enthusiasm, whatever you choose!
Elizabeth
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mjdonnelly
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Run silent, run deep! go subs!
The only way you get shot at is if there is a real war! Just try to avoid the underwater mountains.
I knew the CO of the San Fran., good guy, but ultimately responsible.
The only way you get shot at is if there is a real war! Just try to avoid the underwater mountains.
I knew the CO of the San Fran., good guy, but ultimately responsible.
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EsclavoDeCristo
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Elizabeth,A six-year commitment seems like a very long time when you’re young - but six years will fly by like nothing, after you look back. My son left for boot camp three years ago this week - his first tour is half over. Seems like just a couple of months ago - he’s even talking about re-enlisting, even though he could get out and earn $90/yr today. It really does become a way of life. And there’s something about taking that oath of office that can really get under your skin and into your heart.
So, that’s rather loquacious, hm? And to think I was going to try to be less talkative, this week. Blew that!
Best of luck to you as you weigh your choices - oh to be young and have so many enticing options in front of you! What a wonderful time of life!
God bless you with clarity and enthusiasm, whatever you choose!
Elizabeth
Thank you so much for the information! As always, I have more questions. What does your son do in the Navy? What is his rank? Is he enlisted or officer? Does he have a family? If so, is it hard for him to have a family and serve?
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kp1
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My Husband is in the Navy! Originally he was Subs Officer, but recently transfered to Enginereering Duty, he now builds subs. His brother was an active duty Marine (once a marine always a marine), but now is in the civillian world. I tell you this because he joined the military to try to figure out what he wanted to do too. My dad was in the Army before I was born, Vietnam and saw some scary things. But the Air Force has the better quality of life, we were in Pearl and highly enjoyed being able to use the Air Force facilities!It really depends on what your degree is in and what interests you. The military gets a bas rap from the media, but it has a much stabler job market that the civilian world. You are less likely to be layed off due to down sizing. You get paid more in the civialian world for the same type of job, but there is something to be said for serving your country. I look at my husband eveyday and think of him as my hero! Someone has to fight for our freedom and I am proud to say he does. While he no longer takes the long deployments due to the transfer, we still respect those that do. It is not an easy job, but what job is?
My husband is a Naval Academy grad but I have a close friend whose husband went through OCS (Officer Cadet School) in New Port, Rhode Island after graduating from college. The Navy takes more than half of their officers from the Academy, then ROTC at the colleges and universities, and then from OCS.
I was sad to hear the Navy recruiter was not that helpful, I think you should give them another call and ask to speak to the officer in caharge of your district. It might a little time, but he/she would be more knowledgable on the officer program than the enlisted personnel at the desk. The recruiter at the front desk is there mainly to enlist people, for there are more enlisted than officers in every field. You can go to the Navy’s website for even more information at www.navy.mil.
As far as being a devoted Catholic, it is much easier than in the civillian world. The military loves structure, order, and a time honored tradition. “If it ain’t broke, why fix it” mentality! So it is easier to follow your faith because of the structure. Plus, it is the only organization that seems to fire officers for “Conduct unbecoming” (like sleeping with someone of a lower rank, or sleeping with the lower ranking person’s spouse). Their is a moral code that is lacking in the civillian world. Plus no one has mentioned the medical benifits. I hear how much my siblings pay for their medical expenses, and it is not the same. I had my son via c-section and he was in the NICU for ten days, I payed $75 for the upgrade to a private room and nothing more. I pay nothing for immunizations and medicine if filled at the military clinic. Some will question the military’s quality, but I have had no problems (and that is who takes care of the President).
Army and Marines see the most action. Air Force has great facilities and family life. If you are not a pilot, you will see less combat. The Navy has little eye contact with the enemy, but must endure the sea time. They all have their pros and cons, but I love the Navy. You get more money in the sub field, and have the best food in any service. My husabnd figured it out one time that a submarine officer (O-4) with housing allowances makes around $120,000, and the regular Navy Officer of same rank makes around $85,000.
I hope this helps!
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ElizabethJoy
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He is a nuclear electronics technician - a reactor operator on an aircraft carrier. He’s an unmarried enlisted man.
I was an enlisted woman, an Air Traffic Controller. Very good-paying job with the FAA, had I chosen to pursue that.
Over 24 years, my husband went from E1 (Airman Recruit) to O4 (Lieutenant Commander) and held a variety of collateral duties as well as his main job, which was to be a pilot.
Being in the military does present some rather unique challenges to family life. Long separations are the worst, probably. The 6-9 month deployments of the ship create some terribly uncomfortable moments, especially if your marriage has some weak spots. There is some danger in some jobs, so your wife may have some fear for you, in addition to the almost suffocating loneliness for you.
When you’re assigned to a permanent duty station or while the ship is in port for extended periods, the hours may sometimes be long, but it will be pretty “normal” compared to the deployments.
Serving in the military when you have a family does not have to be a life of hardship, though - far from it. It has its challenges, but it has benefits, too. Decent pay, good medical benefits and excellent health care, a supermarket (commissary) where prices are set at a much lower profit rate than at commercial supermarkets.
Instant community - complete with the usual assortment of people that you would find anywhere else except that criminals are rare. There is usually a chapel on base shared by all denominations. There are also recreation facilities and clubs and group meetings.
Your children are safe outside playing in base housing - playgrounds and tons of playmates. All the parents communicate and defuse trouble situations and look out for other peoples’ children, just like the grown ups did in the neighborhood I grew up in.
Our children learned adaptability and openness to new people, new foods, different ways of living.
If your spouse is willing to support you and take on the added work in those times when you must be gone, you’re halfway there. I must admit that I was sometimes childish, selfish and petulant about these things, but I did learn to handle my disappointments a little more maturely and unselfishly after a few years.
My first-born tendencies eventually kicked in and I started taking care of the new wives - and that was a real turning point. When you’re supporting someone else, you can’t help but lift yourself at the same time.
Hope that’s some help,
Elizabeth
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chevalier
Guest
A friend’s brother went to an air force school and it was a great problem for him and his girl. They split up and then got back and got engaged when he came home. It didn’t last long since then.
Probably not all soldiers are separated from their wives, I don’t know. But if yes, it must be very hard for the lady to be unable to see her husband. The younger they are, the greater temptation for both, as well. Then there are children growing up proud of the father but removed from him…
God bless you whichever way you choose.
Probably not all soldiers are separated from their wives, I don’t know. But if yes, it must be very hard for the lady to be unable to see her husband. The younger they are, the greater temptation for both, as well. Then there are children growing up proud of the father but removed from him…
God bless you whichever way you choose.
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opticks
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If you have a pulse, you can probably get into USAF pilot training. They will take damn near anyone these days. Of course, you’ll be deployed to BFE 75 percent of the time, but if you are single and looking for adventure, you can’t go wrong. And pilot wings are called the “Universal Management Badge” because you’ll be able to take any job in the Air Force if you decided to quit flying.
Other good jobs for USAF officers are Space, Intel, Scientist, Engineer, Communication (think computer networks). Intel and Comm get deployed alot right now. But the good news is that all of these jobs will directly translate into a civilian job should you desire to punch. Additionally, many of these career paths require a Top Secret clearance, which are highly sought-after by employers (they cost alot of money to process). That brings up another issue. If you can’t get a TS for some reason, that’s a huge disadvantage as an officer. A Secret clearance is pretty much worthless.
Other good jobs for USAF officers are Space, Intel, Scientist, Engineer, Communication (think computer networks). Intel and Comm get deployed alot right now. But the good news is that all of these jobs will directly translate into a civilian job should you desire to punch. Additionally, many of these career paths require a Top Secret clearance, which are highly sought-after by employers (they cost alot of money to process). That brings up another issue. If you can’t get a TS for some reason, that’s a huge disadvantage as an officer. A Secret clearance is pretty much worthless.
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Flounder
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I’m an Air Force officer and a pilot… one of those guys who couldn’t manage a MacDonalds. My Dad was in the Army, so that says something right there. I think generally speaking the Army and Navy are military organizations, and the Air Force is more a corporation.
Don’t join if ultimately you’re not willing to fight and die for your country…after all, that’s kinda the whole point. Previous posters are correct that there are many career fields that don’t require direct combat.
The recruiter wants you to enlist, and you can go to OTS after enlisting. But you can also sign on directly to OTS. Whether or not they will take you depends on officer retention numbers and your degree if it is useful. Don’t let him push you into enlisting if you don’t want to (although there’s certainly nothing wrong with enlisting).
Don’t join if ultimately you’re not willing to fight and die for your country…after all, that’s kinda the whole point. Previous posters are correct that there are many career fields that don’t require direct combat.
The recruiter wants you to enlist, and you can go to OTS after enlisting. But you can also sign on directly to OTS. Whether or not they will take you depends on officer retention numbers and your degree if it is useful. Don’t let him push you into enlisting if you don’t want to (although there’s certainly nothing wrong with enlisting).
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kp1
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Do not let the seperation from loved ones deter your desire to join. There are always a few bad apples, but “what does not kill you makes you stronger”. I will not say that deployments are easy and you never get use to it. However, it is strength building! God gives us the things we need when we need them, so how can you be expected to endure something you have not had to deal with just yet? The wives groups are very strong, especially in the submarine field (sorry but I am use to a male division, others call it a spouse group). They look out for each other and are there for each other when needed. So the marriage must have trust, and even the strongest ones will have a few moments of doubt during those lonely times, but that does not mean they are cheating! I have found the cheating issues less prevelent in the officer community, I think it has to do with the maturity of the individuals before they are thrust into a difficult situation. This is not a cut on the enlisted, I have several friend who are, just that you react differently to things when you are 18/19 than when you are say 23/24. And Faith fills in the gaps! God will get you through it if you only ask.When I met my husband I knew he was a Navy man and I knew it would mean some sea time. Those that think their spouse will be there like the civillians are in for a reality check. So when the issue comes up, be as honest and informative as you can be with your loved ones, this will put their fears to rest or give them some understanding. Someone has to go out there and do the job. I would tell my children that Daddy was keeping an eye on the bad guys so they would not get near us! They think Daddy is their hero too!
Good Luck!
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itsjustdave1988
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I’ve been an officer in the USAF for the past 16 years and have truly enjoyed it. It is a good career. It has a mission focus, not a profit focus. In the military, you are trained to lead and given many opportunities to do so. I find the kind of folks who join the military have a similar sense of duty to God and country, so I do not find it difficult to be a good Catholic and have a career in the USAF. There’s more unity of purpose in the military than outside of it.
Can you join and not be sent off to war? If you join, you ought to count on being sent to war. It’s what we do. Consider the words of our Code of Conduct, which has its roots in the American Revolution. If you cannot live by these words, you ought to consider another profession:
My aunt sent her child to Westpoint, saying to my mother that “it’s a free education.” My mom, being a spouse of a wounded Vietnam vet, replied to her: “it’s not free, and sometimes the cost can be too much to bear.” My aunt didn’t understand what she meant until my cousin spent the first two years after graduation commanding a tank in the Iraqi war. If you want to join for selfish reasons, don’t.
If it is your intent to join, you ought understand that the reason for the military is to fight in wars if ordered to do so. Nobody wants to go to war, but every member of the military ought to understand that it is their duty and honor to protect the U.S. against all enemy’s foreign and domestic.
The preamble to the US Constitution tells us why we fight wars …
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itsjustdave1988
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Also, just because you have a degree, that doesn’t make you an officer. That’s just one of many prerequisites. You must be board selected to enter Officer Training School, and it is very competitive. In my board, a person with two bachelors degrees was rejected. I have worked with many NCOs that have Master’s degrees. So, a degree is but one item, and in my view, not a very important item is determining one’s potential to be a leader.
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itsjustdave1988
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I graduated with a B.S. in Electrical Engineering before I considered joining the military. To apply, go see the nearing recruiting office. They will march you through the process. There’s a gnarly AF Officer Qualifying Test (AFOQT) test (4+ hrs in length). In your applicaiton, you must show your potential as a military leader, which will primarily be based upon your past leadership experience. If you didn’t do much beyond academics in college, your chances are not good.
Officer Training School was not easy. It was a test of wills. Everyone there is an over-achiever type. They give you too much to do and too little time to do it. They want to see how well you handle stress, so they will do everything to try to make you cry. I slept on average 4 hrs per day for 90 days and lost 20 pounds (and I was NCAA soccer player in college, so the 20 pounds wasn’t fat). You also need to be in good physical condition before you attend OTS. If you are not, you will fail. Run alot, do situps and pushups. The fit test was hard for those not used to atheletics.
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itsjustdave1988
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Good choice. In my opinion, it is much harder for an enlisted person to go to OTS (more competitive) than for a civilian. Do you have a techinical degree? In the USAF, they want OTS candidates with technical degrees for the most part.
He is correct with regard to the difficulty of being selected for OTS. In my board, it was one selectee for about 2500 eligible candidates.
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Benedictus
Guest
Make sure you are talking to an officer recruiter. These are not the same people as the ones who have an office at your local mall. The Navy typically has separate recruiters for potential officers and enlisted.
My experiences talking to recruiters hasn’t been very different than yours. I think the ones recruiting enlisted personnel are often concerned about meeting their quotas. On the other hand, the officer recruiters I’ve been in contact with have been extremely professional.
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opticks
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I’ve gotta second itsjustDave1988’s warning about physical fitness. If you are not physically fit, forget about the military. While you’ll undoubtedly see rotund folks in a military uniform (especially in the AF), you will be seeing a lot less of them in the future. I fully expect promotion to be directly proportional to your PFT score. I know the Army is like this, and the Air Force will likely follow suit.
About the level of difficulty of becoming an officer, I think itsjustDave1988’s opinions are a bit dated. These days they will commission almost anyone, especially if you come out of ROTC. Of course, many of these folks punch after four years because they aren’t qualified to do any of the cool stuff and realize they were a warm body filling a chair.
I also forgot to mention that if you are qualified, the AF will pay for Med/Law school and commission directly to Capt upon graduation.
About the level of difficulty of becoming an officer, I think itsjustDave1988’s opinions are a bit dated. These days they will commission almost anyone, especially if you come out of ROTC. Of course, many of these folks punch after four years because they aren’t qualified to do any of the cool stuff and realize they were a warm body filling a chair.
I also forgot to mention that if you are qualified, the AF will pay for Med/Law school and commission directly to Capt upon graduation.
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itsjustdave1988
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My experience is specific to those who already have their degrees and are applying to USAF Officer Training School (OTS) because they actually want to be in the military, some having to take a cut in pay to do so. However, I believe the selectee to qualified applicant ratio for OTS is still about 1 selectee to 2500 qualified applicants.
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Leeta
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My son is in the Marines. They are the toughest. My son is at a base with Air force and Navy. He said he would be embarrassed to be be doing such namby- pamby physical training as he sees them doing. The Air Force, he says, get paid extra because they haveto use the “shabby” Marine quarters at Pensacola.
I have a problem with the feminized military. Women are not good soldiers. The PT scores for women are considerably lower than the men’s. I heard it at boot camp graduation. The quarters are not separated in the field (women sleep with units in the army). The Marines have been able to keep the women separated out to a great extent.
The navy has men and women on boats and subs for months. High pregnancy rate and unmarried. It is totally the wrong place for a woman to be .
So, I put my two cents in for the Marines.
I suggested to my son that if there were to be a rebirth of the Knights Templar (fighting monks whose rule was written by St, Bernard of Clairvaux) that it would fit within the Marines the best.
I have a problem with the feminized military. Women are not good soldiers. The PT scores for women are considerably lower than the men’s. I heard it at boot camp graduation. The quarters are not separated in the field (women sleep with units in the army). The Marines have been able to keep the women separated out to a great extent.
The navy has men and women on boats and subs for months. High pregnancy rate and unmarried. It is totally the wrong place for a woman to be .
So, I put my two cents in for the Marines.
I suggested to my son that if there were to be a rebirth of the Knights Templar (fighting monks whose rule was written by St, Bernard of Clairvaux) that it would fit within the Marines the best.
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