my (slightly drunken, as always) question is am in the us army and have found it to be the wrong path for me i need answers i need help i need to follow my heart i need to pursue my genuine talent being music ive never been good at anything except entertaining people and playing guitar combined with a vocal talent as my dearest friends explain to me... i am lazy slothful and weak but i have the strength to rise up in what i feel is right i am currently searching my soul to find a way to have my discharge in the army my options are many and a number of them feaseable with no actual negative consequence except that if i choose a discharge i will never live a white collard mans dream in this world but i have never wanted that i want to be good at something and i am and my current situation denies me the ability to pursue i am asked to place the mssion first but i have a mission to free myself i am out of characters so help me with what you see ...i can go on but i am a voodoo chile.. help
200865
Sometimes it is hard to make the choices that we want with out sacrificing a lot. And on your part, you have to let go in order to achieve those dreams. \n\nHappiness can only be achieved by doing what your heart dictates you. But I must tell you, there are consenquences. \n\nI will not be bias. So the only way I can help you is by letting you see the two sides of the coin. YOU decide. And your decision is one step in making changning your future. or even achieving total happiness and contentment.\n\nIF YOU STAYED AND FINISHED WHAT YOU'VE STARTED...\nthen you might find out sooner or later that this is one way or should I say ANOTHER way in finding happiness. Maybe you haven't yet realized that behind your job lies a dream you haven't yet realized. Or the happiness you haven't yet found because you were so busy soul searching or finding more faults with your decision. Why not learn to accept and be contented? Not everybody has the luxury to have a job. And staying will give you more security in the future. And the risk of being unsuccessful is minimal.\n\nBut\n\nIF YOU FOLLOWED YOUR HEART AND GO\nYou might find what you are truly good at. Maybe that is the answer to all your dilemma. Remember that the BIGGEST RISK IS BY NOT TAKING ONE. We cannot assure ourselves that once we followed what our heart dictates we can became happy because we'll never know unless we are already in that situation. But the joy of know we tried is immense. Atleast you tried. Many people are afraid to go out of their shell in fear of the world outside their cocoon but you cannot see the beauty of the world, even the pain, unless you go out and seek it. Even if it means letting go of you haven.\n\nDo what makes you happy. But Sometimes we also have to think of what we feel.
473889
Before you kill yourself, give yourself a chance. The military has some kind of counseling. It's usually always darkest right before things get better. I get depressed to and think about killing myself, but I'm glad I havent done that. Good things are coming I promise, you just need to be patient. Now do me a huge favor and talk to a professional. It's free for you.\n\nDo you see how many people in here care about what happens to you?
605001
First let me say up front, I am a former US Army officer so my response to you inquiry may be a little bias!  Your boyfriend made a considered decision to join the service and has a copy of his signed contract to remind him of that.  I have heard that under the right conditions and tons of paperwork some people have been released from service after they completed basic training. Although with the current forces demand and stop-loss order in effect I don't see that his chances are very good.  \nA couple of things your boyfriend might want to think about.  #1...NO ONE likes bootcamp...heck, I sure didn't but it does eventually end.  Just not liking bootcamp is a pretty lame reason for wanting to quit; and that is what it would be, quitting.  #2...if he is released he will not receive an honorable discharge as one of the respondent's to your question suggested; he wouldn't have earned that privilege.  While there is nothing wrong with a General Discharge he will be given he might want to remember one thing regarding his future employment.  Practically any job worth having will ask if you have military service and the type of discharged the applicant received.  In my experience, most employers will move on to the next application as soon as they see General Discharge.  Why....a lot of reasons and he will never know that was the reason he was passed by.  Besides, there are probably enough people applying for the same position who have an Honorable Discharge listed.  Is it fair? No, but I have been in the business world for 25 years and have hired over 200 people and I never once even considered hiring a person with a General Discharge.  You might tell him that his decision to get out will follow him in regard to obtaining a job.\n\nAlso, if he has TB I find it incredulous that it wasn't discovered during his medical evaluation.  The military is very big on keeping people with communicable diseases out of the service.\nGood luck to your boyfriend.  I really hope things work out for him.
568519
well my dream career is to be a bassist in some type rock band and im already started on it too. I bought a bass so im gonna teach myself. And i also write lyrics already too. So i wanna do that job cuz i lovvvve music! It is my life. there are so many bands i listen to that have influenced me greatly. so advice to you is don't give up on ur dream otherwise you will be just another person that lost one of their goals. so don't fall into that. make something new happen. don't be like others be different. see my parents don't take me  serious about playing bass. so i know its what i want so im not gonna let myself down. So good luck to you and never give up. who knows maybe we'll both be in a great  rock band some day. so im not gonna give up!!!! i luv music too much.
476017
I was in the Army for two years, and I was honorably discharged. For me, it was not a positive experience. When you join the Army, or any military branch, you go into a situation in which you are constantly controlled by others. In a very real way the military owns you, and can dispose of you as it wishes, just as it can dispose of its inanimate material.\n\nI don't exactly consider myself anti-military, as I believe we need a strong military force to defend our country. I am definitely not against, or negative about the personnel who serve in the military. I suppose my feelings are somewhat complicated. I definitely don't think military service is a "growth experience".  If you decide to join up you should realize you may very possibly be mis-used. I feel I was, and I was serving when a war wasn't going on.
16503
What do you want?? Why is it so important to him to have you join? My point is that if it is not what you want to do then don't do it. Basic training is not easy (ask my brothers)and school afterward (if you do that) is not easy. War is hard. You could be called on to defend your home. Talk to a friend in the service, or your parents. Try for someone who will be honest. Serving your country is great, if that is what you want to do, then go forth with honor.
219864
Go talk to a recruiter and see what options you have.  Just be prepared that recruiters are trying to make quotas and will say lots of things to get you to join.  Make sure this is something you really want to do, it's not like a job you can just quit.  The Army can get you off to a good future, unless you get killed in action.  There is the GI Bill, and you can take classes while you are in the Army, tuition is often cheaper and often times it's waved, and there are several colleges that offer classes on-line.  You won't get rich in the Army, but you can gain a lot of experience and maturity.  Think hard of what you might like to do.  Also, take the ASVAB and see what MOS (job) you can go into, the higher your score the more choices you will have, so it wouldn't hurt to buy a study guide, there are lots of them out there, like ASVAB for Dummies.  (You will have to take the ASVAB anyway to join the Army.)
60266
Yours is a tough descision. I went through the same thing when I was in the service. I left as soon as I could and when I was offered a job in the government I ran ,lol. I have been working for myself pretty much since then. To be true to yourself and not conform more than your soul can take is what you have to find out. I wish you good luck and patience.
607236
It sounds like you don't have the so-called "warrior-mentality" that many of the Soldiers and Marines have, so you may feel out of place in the Army or USMC.  I agree with the others about the Air Force, Navy or CG.  As far as which of the three, look at your options for MOS through your recruiter for each.  Remember, too, that the Air Force generally allows for more time "at home" whereas the Navy is deployed at sea a lot, as well as the CG.  Thus you have a much greater chance of "seeing the world" sooner with the Navy or CG than with the AF, though you will end up spending more time away from home.  With the AF you have a better chance of actually being stationed overseas than with the other two.\n\nHowever, I am a bit concerned about your reasoning for joining.  Don't get me wrong, the benefits such as MGIB are AWESOME and definitely can be a huge draw.  But you must not forget that it's not a "free ride".  Especially nowadays you will PROBABLY be asked to serve in some sort of combat situation, or at least in support of such actions.  If you have real concerns about supporting combat actions or being in combat yourself I'd suggest taking out loans or applying for civilian scholarships to continue your education.  While it may have been commonplace a few years ago, the excuse of "I joined the military to get an education, I never knew I'd have to fight and I want out now" just doesn't fly anymore.  Seriously think about this before you, quite literally, sign away your freedom on the dotted line.
278391
I am a proud American and would love to join the militraty and be able to fight for my country. The reason I haven't is:\n\n\n1. I have 2 small children and no one to take care of them if I went into the service because my husband works, my parents live too far away from us plus my mom is very sick, and my husbands mom is also very sick. \n\n2. I live in a different country.\n\n3. My husband is militraty for his country and because of confidentiality rules, it excludes me from being able to join. FYI, we got married when I was still a teenager.\n\nI have other reasons, but they are a little bit private to be mentioning in a public forum. I gave you 3 valid reasons why I haven't joined the military. What are your reasons for not joining when you had the chance? Don't judge others on something that you haven't even done yourself.
305390
Been there, done that, Viet Nam.  The extreme right thinks you can do no wrong and the extremem left thinks you can do no right.  As I looked over the answeres here, just like in American society the majority of people will support you.  A soldier does not have a blank check to do what he wants during a war and is always responsible for what he does.  You state your feelings excellently and it is impossible for those who have never been through a combat experience to know what you are going through in your thoughts and in the actions you have to perfrom during combat.  You must  live with your experiences the rest of your life.  No, it is not easy being a soldier and I pray that you have made the right decisions in your experiences.  I would never judge you and neither should anyone else except God. You sound like the kind of soldier that all of America can be proud of.  Always do the right thing and don't worry about people that want to condemn you, they don't really count.
272103
Absolutely by no means take the advice of someone who "loves" you. \n\nSomething to think about:\n \nMilitary:\nGet paid to think about what you want to do.\nGet paid to make up your mind and train to do it.\nGet ANY job you want simply because you were in the military and have that on your resume.\nGet to look damn good in suit.\n\nCollege:\nSpend a bunch of money you don't have figuring out what you want to do the rest of your life.\nGo broke.\nEat Ramen noodles for 4+ years.\nNever afford a suit.
45513
Listen bud... I am an Army vet... \n\nFirst, do not listen to agenda driven, uber-liberal peaceniks\n\nSecond, the casualty rate in the Army has been as high in peace time as it has during the Guld War(s)\n\nThird, do not go in with a pre-chosen job or idea. Study for the ASVAB, see what you qualify for. Ask questions of current soldiers. Ask questions to your parents. Ask questions to your pastor or someone you trust. And ask questions of yourself. Then and only then if you feel the benefits outweigh the risks, then do it and choose the job that will also help prepare you for a career outside the Army. **By this I mean that an infantry man is prepared for what job when he gets out? Look to learn a job you like that means more on the outside as well. Not that I am knocking the infantry, but if you can do better, do better.**
213062
Wow...where do I begin?  Your are absolutely right. A lot of people that respond to this stuff are total idiots who don't know how to spell, or put a proper sentence together (watch, someone will pick apart what I write here) but I think that a great number of people have nothing better to do with their lives but sit on the computer and say stupid things about everything.  I don't think that you should really put to much thought into the stupid stuff.  Always look to the positive.  Only pay attention to the good stuff that people have to say when you are on the computer, and listen to your friends and family for constructive criticism.  The people here don't know you, they don't know how hard you have worked for what you do and they cant appreciate that.  There also might be a little jealousy.  So just keep on doing what you do to the best of your ability, and take all the bad stuff with a grain of salt.  For the record...I have seen some intelligent questions and some really helpful answers on this site.  But again...there are idiot everywhere you go, so just tune that stuff out and be who your are the best way you know how.  Keep playing that guitar...I wish I had that talent.  Best of luck to you.
209873
I am currently a military spouse and if I could do it all over again I would have told my husband to just get a job in his major and not the Army.  The Army takes care of us, they have some great benefits probably the best in the world.  But none of that is worth risking your life for.  I'm not anti-Army, I'm just living the life supporting my husband.  We have a 3 year old, and he just came back from a deployment in Dec and possibly will be leaving again within a month.  Imagine a 3-year old asking for his daddy everyday while he is fighting in a senseless "war".  If you can't, it's pure hell.  I don't recommend military life to anyone unless you are single and times are REALLY hard for you financially.  There are alot of sacrifices you have to make in a military environment.  I have some research for you, go and find out the divorce rate for military servicemen, its beyond the means of high.  I think I just told you the reason why!!
670246
I'm a former Military wife and daughter. My brother is in the army, my brother in laws are both in the Marine corps, my husband was a marine and my father just got out in March. Choosing the road of a military man, is a long rough and proud road. Many, who do not serve (as myself) will not understand the brotherhood and pride that each marine feels. But don't get me wrong, there are jerks in the Marine Corps too. Usually they are the young and foolhearted ones, with great intentions but poor follow through.  Being a military wife, is a lonely job that takes a lot of great friends and patience. But it's not a job I would've traded for anything. Tell your friend I said thanks and OOHRAH DEVIL DOG!
99600
First, before you go have it in your mind that YOU WILL NOT EVER GIVE UP! That's what is going to get you throuh.  Rememberthat Basic Training isn't really as hard as it is going to seem like and millions of other American Soldiers have completed the training.  You can get through it- you just have to keep trying and keep a positive additude.  Never quit when you feel like quitting, and you will have times when you feel like quitting.  Erase from your brain that quitting is even an option.  Your mental and emotional state needs to be solid before you get to Reception- it will help everything else fall into place.  Leave your relationships back home on a good note; try not to levae any unfinished business that you'll have to go back to. It will only make you worry about other things when you need to concentrate on training.\nOnce you get that prepared. . . .\nRun, Run, Run, Run, do push- ups and sit-ups, and then run some more.  Most females have the toughest time with push-ups and running, so make sure that you are as prepared as you can be. That being said, you will still get smoked, no matter how good of a shape you can work yourself up to, the Drill SGTs will push you harder.  Remember that this is a good thing and take something from it- teh Drill SGTs will make you better than you thought you could be, if you let them. This will be a chance for you do to things that you never expected and will teach you that your limits aren't as low as you thought the were.  Overall, it's a positive experience; one that you can be glad of.  Try to enjoy the challenges, but take them seriously- you will probably have to use what you learned someday soon.  \nI'd advise keeping your hair at least long enough to pull it back into a bun.  Shorter hair requires constant maintence to keep it within the regulations, and you won't have much time for that, and you don't want o have to worry about a dozen bobby pins every day. Don't expect long showers, or many chances to shave your legs either, but you'll get used to it, and make the time if it's important to you.  Good luck!\nOh- one last thing- start getting used to drinking lots of water!