If you had to join the US military, which branch would you go into?
400428
I think the Air Force would give the best options for education and learning...without the potential for infantry and front line combat issues.
865637
JPB and Just are correct:  you must be either a US citizen or a legal permanent resident in order to serve in the US military.
757533
Hey,\nI am a member of the United States Navy. This question should have a follow up question because it definitely depends on your preference. I am obviously going to go with the USN mostly because the Rates we offer transfer into the Civilian sector and most sailors can make a career coming out of the Navy. When you ask which branch is the toughest, its a very wide question because it all comes down to whether you mean physcially, which is trained more harsh than the other? We are all tough in our own ways. The SEALs are a very tough spec ops rank to achieve and overcome, they are trained mentally and physically to a high extreme. Also, Hooah is the Army's saying. Oorah is Marines and Hooyah is Navy.
1118
Being a Navy wife for 30 years, I would say the Air Force. The brances go by reading levels. Air Force, Navy, Marine, Army are the levels. Then you want the pay. Same levels. Education, Medical, Dental is offered by all branches no difference. You want to get a job that pays good and one that advancement is in. It is all about time in and money. When the recuritor tells you you will be getting your Medical "Free" that used to make me laugh, because it comes out of your taxes you are paying for it. Not the president. No there is no money transpired, but you are still paying for it. If you want to go into the service, go to college first, go in as an officer not a civilian. Money money money.  That is what you want to get. Your rate and rank has to go up.You will always be tested to achive a better rate. Now, it is a big commetment.  You are going to get married to the service.  There is no way out until your tour is up and then they ask you if you want to stay in.  Will you be educated enough from the military to go out into the world and get a good paying job?  Suppose you fall in love and get married, you cannot live on base unless you are a certain rate. Base living is very nice, but you are not making a lot of money. So now you have to live off base.  Rent is high. So no marriage until your first tour is up get your education and your money.  Better still, go to college before you go into any branch of the service. \nPlease go to college first.
552505
well brother, joining the army is a big deal. i myself joined the military but decided to go the navy route because they focus mostly on school, a career, and family. i met several army and marine hopefuls at MEPS. these kids (that's right KIDS) thought they were invincible. they couldn't wait to serve their country and blow sh*t up! has the thought of going to iraq crossed my mind, totally. but i have faith i will see the other end and take what i have learned from my future experience. if you have researched enough about that branch and you're confident that is your path, go for it.
1158690
I joined the military to defend the rights that my parents spent more than twenty years defending in the military for me. I joined so that my children would have rights, so my daughter could get a job, so my son can worship God, or Allah, or whomever he chooses. We don't want to die but it's a sacrifice we are willing to make for the good of our country.   Someone has to do it and we are willing to step up to the plate.  We don't want to die but it's a sacrifice we are willing to make to keep our families, our friends, and strangers we have never met who call themselves Americans free and safe!\n\nGOD BLESS AMERICA!!!
838922
It depends on the individual. I can only answer for myself as to why I joined the branch I did.\n\nI wanted to join the military. I am not a person given to doing lots of workouts and exercise. I am not a jock or sports minded person. ( mind you I am not out of shape though. I do love rock climbing, Caving, and hiking.) So I did not see myself as a foot soldier with a rifle. This rules out both the Army and the Marines.\n\nI am more a technical kind of person. I love computers and knowledge. ( A geek you might say) Both the Air Force and the Navy are highly technical. But which to choose? I wanted to be in the know. and to see the world, to travel. I wanted to be right on the front as to see all the exciting things there are to see in the military.\nOK so I looked at the Air Force. Except for the small 5% that are the pilots and aircrew, All of your Airforce personnel are stationed far behind the lines and never see much at all. Most are just one form of Mechanic or Supply Clerk. Other than watching the planes take off, they see nothing at all of the action.\n\nSo now I looked at the Navy. Again the Branch is highly technical. but even if you were just a cook or a supply clerk, you were right there with the rest of the ships crew. When the ship performed a weapons test, you were there to watch it. (Not sitting back at some airbase miles away like in the Air Force). \nAnd travel?! No other branch of service sees more of the world than the US Navy! I have seen most of Asia and the Middle East due to the USN. Not just one or two other countries like I would have with the other branches.\nI became an EW in the USN (Electronic Warfare Systems Operator) I stood watch up in C.I.C. (Combat) and was one of the first to know if we came under attack and first to start a defense against the attack. It was the EW's who briefed the Captain and other officers of any threats posed by potential enemies in our area of operation.
658738
I have a friend who is like an older brother in the Coast Guard. He loves it he has been in for almost 30years and is a W-4 or a Warrant Officer. He says its is the best military branch to join if you are going enlisted due to all the fun jobs out there in the Coast Guard for enlisted personnel. I joined the Navy, wished I had joined the Coast Guard. I love the Navy didn't get me wrong but the work in the Navy is not as good for an enlisted man as the Coast Guard.
904398
I can't say which branch to join, but I'll give you some real info regarding each branch.\n\nNAVY:  Great if you like to travel A LOT.  You'll be on a ship for most of the year, and you'll go virutally everywhere.  The downside is, you start off swabbing (cleaning) the deck and doing other manual labor for the first couple years.  You'll also be greatly outnumbered by horny, desperate guys.  Not all Navy jobs require you to be on a boat, though.\n\nAIR FORCE:  Also good for travel, but to a lesser extent.  You'll still be surrounded by horny desperate guys, but you'll be on land, so they'll have other options.  On occassion, you'll have to do some manual labor (about once a month, at the most), but you'll mainly be doing your AFSC job.\n\nI am in the AF, so I'm biased.  I'm glad with the choice I made.  Basic traning is a joke, and my job will get me paid well when I get out.  Also, we only deploy for 4-6 months at a time.  Then, we get 15 months before we're even considered for another deployment.  \n\nDon't EVER listen to recruiters, though.  They'll throw every lie and trick in the book at you to get you to join.  \n\nGood luck in your decision.\n\n.
1142420
I'm thinking about joining soon too.  I found a few good online resources to help me out.  My favorite is military.com.  Check it out:
698664
You can go straight to active duty, I believe.  You may even have to.
661426
The US Air Force was the first service to get better pay, better housing and better everything for its members. You can't go wrong with the USAF. Had considered it myself when I was 17, but I wanted to be a US Army Ranger. Now, more than 18 years later, I am still here. Now I am a First Sergeant for an armor company of M1A2 SEP Main Battle Tanks.\n Good Luck with your choice. Talk to a recruiter or check out www.af.mil
611537
As a former Marine...the very things you mentioned are the things that would be a deficit, no matter what branch you picked.  Until, and unless, you decide that the way and the type of life your living is in serious need of change, then what would be the point of joining.\nThe military looks for the best, the cream of the crop, in those they choose. And they have the applicants to do this. If this is what you want...become something that they would WANT, not something they would dismiss out of hand.\nBoot camp is a preperation, but you can wash out of it easily, and in part it is to filter out those who cannot cut it in the military.
1109573
I enjoyed my stay in the Army, had a pretty high ASVAB score, but still wanted to be combat arms (fire support specialist), and had the time of my life.   I also had some friends that went in the Marines, and they loved it too, I don't think you can go wrong, it will probally be some of the best years of your life.  Just make sure you figure out your job options first, I chose the Army because I could pick my specific job instead of just a general field, not sure if that has changed lately.
1089723
Air Force.  It's more cool and you're not out to sea for months.
1051279
If your intentions are to possibly leaned towards a career I would highly reccommend the choice you have already made. The Air Force is an excellent choice family wise also. If you like to spend months onboard a ship, then by all means join the Navy. If you like walking, marching or bouncing around in a vehicle, join the Army. If you think you are the macho type and enjoy running errands on a ship, plus like to march or strut around like a tin soldier and think your the badest ass in town, go with the Marines. It's as simple as that. There is no such thing as the best, we're all in this together and should act as such. To me there is no single hero, in my personal opinion anyone who puts on a uniform and serves his country (USA)honorably for a full tour of duty in any branch of the services deserves to be called a hero.
553227
Enlist in a branch of the military, especially the army and ask your recruiter.