Leaving the military for Hawaii?
368289
My dad was stationed at Schofield and I loved living there. There are many issues you will need to consider. First off the cost of living is pretty high. Everything costs more and I mean EVERYTHING. There are lots of jobs but you are going to get crackin' right now on finding employers that will work. There are a several civilian companies that do lots of work with the military and hire many people such as yourself. If you check out monster, hotjobs, etc you should see some open jobs at Hickham and Pearl Harbor. That would be a good place to start. Since your wife is from Hawaii she can prepare you for the culture shock.
915126
Please be a little careful about what the ROTC instructors tell you. They can and do give out inacurate information for various reasons, one being they want to keep you. It is all about numbers.\n\nDo your own research. My son did just that and found out it is not easy at all. Here is why:\nHe found out that when you complete ROTC for one branch and at any time want to switch to another branch, they look at you as DAMAGED GOODS. They want to know why you are not happy? They think you are pulling out so therefore you are not dependable. It is just like any other jobs. You try to switch and they feel you are hopping around looking for the best deal. There are a few exceptions but it is not easy.\nMy son took NAVY ROTC in high school while he did Civil Air Patrol (Air force Aux). But then the Army gave him a scholarship to college so he went Army hoping later to switch to Air Force. It never happened. As soon as he graduated he was assigned to transportation and shipped out to East Coast for training. From there he was assigned his base in Texas and from there he was shipped to Iraq. He is now a 1st Lt in the Army and proud of it.\n\nAnother thing is that the Army advances you in rank much faster than the Navy or Air Force. Higher rank means more responsibilites and more pay. But the Air Force treats its men the best (food, lodging, education).\n\nSo keep in mind if you go Army dont plan on a switch as it may not happen. The Air force can tell you they dont want you and the Army does not have to let you go. Simple as that.\n\nAlso remember, ROTC is a recruiting tool. They have you and they want to keep you. They will help pay your education but you will serve your country for 8 years. Dont do it just for the education or the money. Make sure you are a soldier first.
819844
My recommendation would be this.  Go to each of the armed services recruiters and talk with them.  Before you go, write down exactly what it is you want from the military, i.e. job, benefits, etc.  Second, take someone with you, preferably someone older than you like a parent, grandparent or aunt/uncle.  Tell that person you do not want to make a decision right now, you want to find out as much as you can, before you make a decision.  Ask that person to intercede if the recruiter starts pushing you towards making a decision.\n\nRecruiters are taught methods and questions to use that will get you thinking along their lines.  I know I worked with them before and saw/used many of them.  Once you have all of your questions answered, leave.  Thank the person for their time and leave.  Do not make a decision until you have talked to each of the four branches.
1077452
It depends if you enjoy where you are. If you choose to stay (extend) you may even be paid more not to leave. It saves the Army money if you stay. I stayed in Schweinfurt, Germany from 1986-1995 and have been in the California Bay Area from 1995 to Present. I have moved one time in over 20 years. There is no real answer, but the Army (except hardship tours) prefer stability. 3 years overseas and 5 years Stateside (Alaska and Hawaii are overseas assignments).\n\nAs far as signing up for the Army, I chose the Army because no other branch allowed me to choose my job BEFORE I enlisted. 21 years later, it is the same.
408092
Absolutely... Join the military... Travel to strange and exotic lands... meet interesting people... and shoot them!!!\n\nSeriously... I'm in the Army... we still travel a bit... but its not to the touristy spots you'd really want to go... I've always heard the Navy goes to different ports and spends weekends ashore.... I don't know how true that is... \n\nAir Force... depending on your job... as a Load Master on an aircraft you could squeeze in quite a bit of travel... but probably won't have much time to actually go off the base and experience the "culture" of those places... \n\nThe Marines... well I don't think the Department of the Navy really trusts them to get off the boats in most of the ports of call... \n\nYour familiar with the Army through your parents... I suppose it depends if you want to keep that "familiarity" or try something new... and piss your parents off!!! LOL... just kidding
544748
I served during the Viet Nam era, in the Army, also I am a guy so things can be a little different for women. If I was a woman,  I would pick the Air Force. The Navy can be quite confining and in the Air Force when you go on 'leave' it is allot easier to 'take-off' from where you work. The one big factor about military service you have potentially at your finger tips, schooling and education learning you can use almost endlessly.
1008900
To hawaii, via around the world!
298395
This is hard, and it amounts to what do you really want to do.  There are many benefits to marrying in the military.  However it is going to be a reality that you will have to move away from your family.  Listen to what your heart tells you.
46716
That is certainly a decision that you and your family need to do some serious thinking about.  My husband, and I were also in the military, so I know how hard it can be when you are deployed.\n\nDo you know what you will do when you get out?\nWill you have to serve another tour over in Iraq?  How long will it be?\nWould you like to make a career out of the military?\nThere is a lot more information that I would need to know, and how you feel about them, before I feel like I could give any amount of decent advice on it.\n\nThank you for your service to our country!
511804
If you two are legally married, then if your husband is deployed to any other base, you will both be going together. The military does not force the spouse to leave the other spouse. Only if you are married however. If he is deployed to war...that is a different story. Depending on his job in the military as well. \n\nIf you need anything, feel free to IM.
1012335
Move on honey. Unless he's in the military, he chose to be in another state
1135569
Move away from Kentucky/Tennessee.
17493
Ohh, i was actually considering that in high school, some guys from it came to talk to my AP physics class last year to get us to enroll.  I really like physics, but wasnt sure of a stable career in it so that program was kind of appealing.  If it's the Nuclear Power Program that they came to talk to us about, basically you control the nuclear reactors on submarines, so yes, you have to go out to sea a lot, but you won't really be in direct battle, you'll be working with the nuclear power that makes the sub work while the other people on the sub shoot missles at things.  You'll travel a lot to other countries and stuff.  They pay for your college, and you can go anywhere you want that you get accepted to, then you go to their college, i forget where to get the nuclear power training for a year.  Personally, I decided not to do it because you are always traveling and in strange places.  It would be nice to see the world, but it would be impossible to settle down because you are gone for weeks and weeks at a time and only get to be home a few days before you depart again.  That's all I know about it, good luck.
463283
All leave considerations follow this simple rule: As conditions warrant."  Each commander (ship, battle group, Navy (CINCPAC, etc..)) makes up policies which are then modified by lower level commanders.  When you move to a new station, new policies apply.\n\nBasically, if they want you to go, you get to go.  If they do not want to let you, they say "Operational necessities do not allow leave" and deny the leave.
195796
That's not a question.  Are you asking if a medical examination is an option for Army separation? If that's the question, you'll need an awful good reason to be medically separated -- a reason that would cause you not to be able to perform your MOS.
1129541
If you want to get out, the best way is to go to the chaplain on base. The chaplain is your best hope. Speak with him about being attracted to your fellow officers (yes, in a gay way!), that you find you feel this way often, don't know what to do about it, your'e really confused, etc. Also, if you had any recreational drug use in your past, now is the time to mention it, and that you just don't feel you made the right choice in joining the military., etc. The chaplain was the first person I spoke with before I got out. If you are already on base, he will be your best resource. Whatever you do, just make sure you don't go overboard (sounding like a total nutjob will get you some serious time in the psychiatric ward, where no one will be able to contact you, you will have no contact with the outside world, and godknows what could happen to you.) \n   Failing a drug test is also a way to get booted quick, but think, think about your future. Do what you can to get an honorable discharge, or a medical discharge, having a dishonorable discharge is almost like having a prison record.\n  Accidentally shooting yourself in the foot might do it, but save that for a last resort. Also, do not try to committ any crime to get out. The only thing/place worse than a military psyche ward is military prison.\n          Good luck- I truly wish you the best. If none of my advice works, I would suggest bookin' it to Canada or Mexico until this frigging war is over. \n                                  Love, Joan
113550
Chris,\n\nThis is actually a very good question, and I'm glad you had the wherewithal to post it.  The only problem is that you're going to get a LOT (seems to me you already have) of answers from folks who have absolutely NO IDEA what military training, or life in uniform is about.  My opinion is that if you haven't been through it yourself, your answer is formed without basis, and is basically without any merit whatsoever...you people reading this that posted above...you know who I'm speaking to.\n\nAnyhow, good question, Chris!  There are a lot of advantages to military service, but it is not for everyone.  I enjoyed every second of my active service, even basic training...I thought it was FUN.  My experiences were positive, but I noted some things.  These are:\n\n1.  Basic training AKA "boot camp" - I had fun there...it's a mind game more than anything else.  So far as the physical part, that's easier to negotiate.  I saw a bunch of people break down however...but understand that this is what "they" want to happen.  If the lifestyle, mind-set, discipline and taking orders is not for you, you will find that out quickly...the military does not want folks that are not cut out for the life any more than those folks want to stay.\n\n2.  The enlistment period - this isn't as bad as it could be.  One can opt to sign up for two years at a time now instead of four...two years ain't so bad, but it could be if you're miserable.  Four years, if you're not having a good time, must be like purgatory.  Once you sign the contract, it is binding...so, if basic training doesn't weed you out, it could be a loooonng wait.\n\n3.  War - let's face it...that's what you're there for.  You could minimize your risk by picking a specialty that doesn't involve actual combat...nothing wrong with that, everyone has a job to do.  Combat situations are stressful in of itself though...\n\nThat's all I can think of right now.  I'm sure I'm missing something, and I'll update the answer if I think of any more.  Like I said before, it's not for everyone, but heck, either is say, being a CPA.  The only way you're going to know for sure is to try it...you never know, you might be the 1% of the U.S. population that could not think of doing anything else.\n\nADDED 2/25/06 1531 EST:\n\nmedolfan,\n\nPlease read my post, sir...did I single YOU out?  I opined, like you, that SOME folks are offering opinions without basis in fact...since you answered, Chief, are you feeling guilty about something?\n\nIf the statement doesn't apply to YOU, then it should be ignored.  Live and let live, guy.\n\nADDED 3/1/06 @1317 EST:\n\nmedolfan,\n\nYou did imply that you did retire, did you not?  If you cannot accept being called "sir" now that you are in the civilian sector, you're in a world of hurt.  To tell anyone unsuspecting that you "work for a living" when anyone dared show you a bit of respect would mark you as one who can't let go of being out of uniform...your loss, sir.\n\nIF what I wrote was truly meritless, then why post a reply?  Live and let live, guy...your FIRST lesson on being out in the civilian workforce.  I hope you learn it well Chief.