can anyone tell me about their army experiences?
598480
I am currently in the Army and am writing this from Southwest Asia.  I love being in the Army.  Where else can you get paid to jump out of planes, go to the range, and travel.  Sometimes these experiences have their downsides but I wouldn't trade any of it.  You meet people with backgrounds very different from your own and that helps you grow.  The Army offers a lot of opportunities that you can't find anywhere else.  Even people who decide not to stay in often say how the Army gave them a direction and helped them to be more disciplined.  The other answers on being wary when you talk to a recruiter are good.  Really research what you want to do in the Army and make sure you get it in writing.  Good luck.
980077
Having been in for 20 years and deployed many times, I can honsetly say that it has to be harder to be left !!  While I was deployed I usualy was kept occupied on the mission at hand, worrying about my soldiers etc...    My wife on the other hand though  had to keep our Household running,  all the bills had to be paid, the kids school and after school activities needed to be met (Taken to and from, all the practices, all the games) etc...  Our household still had to run and she was the one who did it and she had to do it alone most of the times.  Yes the FRG was there to assist and the friends were there to assist also but it was all on her shoulders to keep our household up and running.   I have always said that the role of the Military Spouse has never been properly addressed.  A Good Military Spouse is a rare gem and one that needs to be kept and appreciated (Something that Military Members need to keep in mind).  I thank God for my wife who dealt with the military during our service and all of the deployments.  \n\nThe Military Spouse   \n\nWhen the good Lord was creating military spouses, He was into His sixth day of overtime. \nAn Angel appeared and said, "You're having a lot of trouble on this one. What's wrong with the standard model?" \nThe Lord replied, "Have you ever seen the regulations? It has to be completely independent, must be sponsored to get on base, have the qualities of both mother and father during deployments; Be a perfect hostess to four or 40, handle emergencies without military orders, cope with the flu and move around the world, have a kiss that cures anything from a child's torn valentine to a soldier's weary day, have the patience of a saint when waiting for the unit to return stateside, and have six pairs of soft hands."\nThe Angel shook her head slowly and said, "Six pair of hands? No way!" \nAnd the Lord answered, "Don't worry. We'll make other military spouses to help. Besides, it's not the hands that are causing the problem - it's the heart. It must swell with pride, sustain the ache of separation, beat soundly when it's too tired to do so, be large enough to say 'I understand' when it doesn't, and say 'I love you,' regardless." \n"Lord," said the Angel, touching his sleeve gently, "go to bed. You can finish that tomorrow." \n"I can't," said the Lord. "I'm too close to creating something unique. Already I have one who can heal itself when sick, feed unexpected guests who are stuck in the area due to bad weather, and wave goodbye to its spouse from a pier or runway and understand it's important to the country that the spouse leave." \nThe Angel circled the model of the military spouse very slowly. "It's too soft," she sighed. \n"But tough," the Lord said excitedly. "You cannot imagine what this being can do or endure!" \n"Can it think?" the Angel asked. \n"Can it think? It can convert 1400 to 2 p.m.!" the Lord said. \nFinally, the Angel bent over and ran her finger across the cheek. "There's a leak," she pronounced. "I told you that you were trying to put too much into this model." \n"It's not a leak," said the Lord. "It's a tear." \n"What's it for?" asked the Angel. \n"It's for joy, sadness, pain, loneliness and pride," the Lord said. \n"You're a genius," said the Angel. \nThe Lord looked somber and said, "I didn't put it there." \n~Author Unknown
115191
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.**
735701
Two....\n\nOne while on active duty at Ft. Sill, OK detonating Claymore mines in series, "digging" holes with C4 and cutting down small diameter trees with Det cord with 2 British artillery Officers and another FA 2LT from my battery.  It was serious and important training!\n\nThe second was years after leaving the service while working in Iraq on a DoD contract. Myself and some English lads (Royal Marines) were traveling to Basrah.  As I recall we had a RON  at DUKE; a small camp in southern Iraq with the civilian facilities (DFAC, laundry,billeting, etc) run by a great bunch of Australians.\n\nWhile having a small "get together" we were hit by a significant mortar attack by the bad guys.  And true to form what I had hear about the Royal Marines, they made it their 1st priority to make room for the grill and tub filled with ice & Foster's beer in the bunker.
61347
Have a look on here - www.army.mod.uk\n\nIt will give information about joining and the addresses of the recruiting offices and then you will need to speak to them.
271302
Try these links for more info:\nhttp://www.armyjobs.mod.uk/\nhttp://www.army.mod.uk/
844046
i have been a navy wife and i have been an army wife.  it depends on where you end up being stationed for either on what it's like.  when you are in your home city (or close enough where you don't live on post or deal with the FRG) you're only real source of what's going on is your husband - which is actually helpful as you don't hear 40 different things - none of which are right, and you don't get 4 billion emails about crap you don't care about, and you don't get stuck in the damn rumormill.  \nit was fine in the navy - when he left, i stayed with my parents in san diego because that was where he was stationed.  we are abroad now and we did the blue to green so we are now army.  it's a wonderful experience, but at the same time totally frustrating!  my FRG (i'm sorry, FRG is Family Readiness Group and you refer to the leader as the FRG) never  sends me any relevant information about my husband's unit and yet i get all this useless information that i don't care about.  there is supposed to be a POC (point of contact person) who calls at least once a month - i've been here 6 months, 2 months with my husband gone and she has never called - i don't even know who my POC is!  granted, i don't go to the FRG meetings - but why would i go when they don't do anything that is relevant to me and they make it difficult for me to go with a 14 month old?  \nalso living on post leaves you very vulnerable to the rumor mill, it seems especially the higher ranked enlisted wives do it.  they also tend to wear their husband's rank - abosolutely unacceptable!  myself and the 3 ladies i have made friends with are the wives of an E3, an E5, and 2 E6's (one E6 is only friends with me) so we don't care, and that's the way it is supposed to be in housing.  your rank does not go with you when you are out of uniform.  everyone gets the same respect out of uniform and since wives are never in uniform... yeah.  but it tends to not work that way.  there is this whole web of crap to deal with.  i tend to not.  i have also already made it clear that if i am included in this rumormill i will take them to court on charges of slander and defemation of character - i won't put up with it, but most wives will and that's why it's so widespread.\n\nif you are going to be stationed abroad, don't expect any help from the army to get you to your husband quickly - it was 6 months for all the paperwork to go through because no one could tell us everything we needed to do it so as we got one thing done we were then told another thing we needed to do and since he was already in europe and i was in arizona it was very difficult.\n\nother than that, it's fine.  you get to meet new people, have new experiences - if you live on post it's like it's own little world... kinda wierd to me, but you may like it.  and depending on your personality and what your husband does in the army you may not ever notice the rumors spreading like wildfire.\n\nmy tips, make friends with your housing person before you get a residence on base, find out where everything you NEED is at on base (they give you lots of useless info you have to sift through) and try to make friends with your neighbors, they are going to be the people you see most.
335158
I'm in Iraq right now. Me being on here should give you an idea of what I'M doing...nothing. What's it like? HOT! Alot of people do have it pretty rough over here though, but I wouldn't say the majority have it all that bad. It just sucks being away from home for so long. I don't think it's really getting better. They're gonna fight us as long as we're here.
353768
As a US Army Ranger, I never once thought of getting out of the service, until I reach mandatory retirement at 60 years of age. Simply for the fact that I am not granted the opportunity to get to do the things that Rangers do. Like blow stuff up, go off to far off lands. Meet people I don't know and learn a new skill for the use of my job. Sit for days, motionless to watch certain activity. And don't forget to play with all the new and neat toys the US Army has. You can sign up for a 4 year hitch, but if you plan to get out, you shouldn't join the Rangers, you have your thought process to believe that your time in the US Army is only temporary. Choose the Air Force or Navy and get a job with technology. \n  I have seen a lot in 18 years. I joined when I was 17, I begged my mom for a week to sign for me. I went thru Ranger School at 17, in great shape. My recruiter gave me hints on what to expect. I trained for four hours a day on running, push ups, and sit-ups. That is the key to success, Physical Fitness. That is why most guys fail they are not ready to put up with the physical part of it. Not to mention the long sleepless nights. \n The Darby Queen gets most of them. It is tough. I made it through Ranger School the first time. Out of the 173 guys that started with me. Only 26 made it out with the coveted Ranger Tab. Think about it.
805619
The DOD website "America Supports You" has a ton of useful information... here's a page called "Helping Troops Help Others" that should steer you in the right direction.\nhttp://www.americasupportsyou.mil/AmericaSupportsYou/help_troops.html
356722
Have you been in the military?  Do you have a criminal record?  What is your education level?  Do you have any experience?
590409
I was stationed at FT Jackson as a Drill Sergeant for a time in the 1990's. Lots of sand and bugs. Lots of heat as well. Expect early mornings and long days. Just remember it is all a head game. The Drill Sergeant's job is to make you a soldier. It is not hard, you just have to listen and do what is asked of you. You can do it. Their job is to make you think, walk, talk, like a soldier. You will have to learn military customs and tradition, rank structure. How to properly maintain and fire a weapon. How to properly wear your uniform, boots and how to have a professional look about yourself. Be proud to be in the US Army. \n Physical training is a big part of it. Be ready to get fit and lean. Don't worry, they will not leave you behind. They will make every effort to help you and make you a soldier. Also weapons qualification is the other key. If you don't qualify with the M16A2, you will not graduate. A soldier is nothing if he or she cannot properly use the weapons they are given. \nBe ready for FTX(field training exercise) for about 2-3 days and a 10-20 mile road march. Don't worry they will be checking on you and you will stop and take breaks. Keep plenty of water in you at all times. You can't drink enough water. Drink it till it makes you think you will hurl. You don't want to get stuck by a medic with IV bag or in the hospital. Also you will have access to medical care. If you have a problem,let your Drill Sergeant know. Good Luck!
1181432
hey boss i was at campbell for a while its a great place take advantage of everything u can don't be stuck in the barracks all the time. and as far as the army it takes a coupple of years to get us too but i love it. its not for everybody but the getting craped on doesn't lats forever if u need some advice give me a email \njust be where Ur suppose to be on time and in the right uniform and fucking enjoy life \nafter u get to about e-4 life gets easier (best rank in the army) \n\nPS. good luck at air assault school
799115
good question and the answer is yes\n\nthis from a former army recruiter / active army
559802
Hi Funny,\n\nIf you check out my profile you'll see that your getting honest answers.  After Lackland he will go to Tech School and not AIT (Advance Individual Training=ARMY).  His tech school will be easier than basic training.  Yes the AF basic training is somewhat easy, but they are making it tougher and longer for the new generation of airman.  Basic is all about discipline and mental strength.  No branch of service wants their members breaking under pressure.  Gotta separate the adults from the children ya know.  As you were told by previous respondants, he may come back tougher, but I guarantee that he will come back different, wiser, and more mature.  More man like and less of a boy. \n\nHis tech school will be easier than basic, but not quite like the normal AF routine.  He's there to learn and they are gonna throw a lot at him to absorb, or they will wash him out.  Don't get upset because you don't hear from him very often.  He'll be maxed out at basic the entire time he's there except for the last two days.  Tech school is spent studying.  He will have some weekends off, so hopefully he will email and call you every so often!  Email is a great thing isn't it!  Most of us didn't have the luxury of instant communication when we went through this.  Had to use snail mail!\n\nAfter tech school he may go TDY (temporary duty) for (I forget what it's called now)?  From there he will be sent to his first duty location.  He will fill out a form (the Dreamsheet), in Basic with his choices of CONUS (Continental United States) duty locations as well as overseas duty locations.  AF members at Randolph AFB in Texas will make the final determination where he goes from there.  Air Force Needs always come first Funny!  I wanted Nebraska for my first duty location, I ended up in Germany!  At least it snowed in Germany.  After Germany I wanted Florida or Nebraska, they sent me to Texas.  And so it goes, but I never had a bad assignment during my entire career.\n\nMy nephew is in the Air Guard.  He went in at 18 years of age.  He made it, but it wasn't easy for him because he had a girlfriend.  You folks are young, and things happen in life.  People change and mature with age, well for most of us that is.  Funny, support him!  Write him everyday, even if it is just a little letter.  He needs to know that you care about him.  Those perfumed letters get us through the tough times because it tells us that we are doing this not just for ourselves but for you as well.  Even if you have doubts about the relationship after he leaves, support him just to help him get through it all. He deserves this!\n\nThe first 3 years will go by fast.  The fourth year will be tough because he'll have to decide to stay or get out.  For some it will be an easy decision, for others a tough choice.  I wish the two of you the best of luck, and welcome you to the family!\n\nOne more thing, don't listen to anyone that says he's going to Iraq!  He will be non-deployable for at least 18 months and probably longer depending on what AFSC he has selected?  You usually need to have your 5 skill level before the unit will deploy you.  Security Forces have some different policies on that as well as Transportation.  But for the general AF population, he ain't going nowhere near boom-boom land anytime soon.
207156
It really is amazing how many people you find in the Army that are willing to go out of their way for you, I guess that is why `they joined up. It is one of the biggest things I miss about being in. And rizzo822002, thank you and keep your head down.
756193
from my experience  about 95% made it through, from my platoon.   Not quite sure on overall numbers though.....a big part of it is that you have to meet certain physical requirements before going in