I need a little advice, preferably from someone who is or has been in the military

[ARTYWOLF0811]

So my 17th birthday is coming up in May and I plan on enlisting into The Marine Corps and I have a few questions for anyone who has military experience from any branch of service it doesn't matter if it's Marines Corps or not. I know I could just ask the recruiter, but I already know they tend to lie about some things so you join.
Here's what I would like advice on if you have any: (Please excuse me if I sound stupid because of the questions I ask)

-I plan my MOS being somewhere in the Artillery area working with the M777 Howitzer
-I want to do 10 years in Artillery and re-enlist for another 5 years as a Diesel Mechanic so when I get out I can find easy work as a mechanic
-Any boot camp advice?
-Any advice for when I hit the fleet?
-Would it be harder for me to earn respect from my seniors if they knew I was a furry? I mean I'm not saying I am going to tell them, but should they find out for whatever reason.
-If people in your unit found out that you were a furry, how did they react/treat you when they did find out?

 

[Teckolf]

Re: I need a little advice, preferably from someone who is or has been in the militar

*facepaw* Just don't bring it up on the second to last question.

Not military but have spent the last 3 years at an engineering school where everywhere you turn they shove Navy down your throat. From what I know if you enlist you don't really get much of a choice what you end up doing. This is especially true for a non officer. I think you can get a hair more selective if you complete ROTC with a bachelor's and a decent GPA but even still I think you can't be too picky.

With all that being said I know some people who went in thinking they would love it, and they hate it. Others that were neutral and love it. And others that have and will always love it. If you really want to do it, go for one term, then decide if you want to continue. Your plans and direction will adapt based on your experiences wherever you go.

 

[Sarcastic Coffeecup]

Re: I need a little advice, preferably from someone who is or has been in the militar

Currently in my nation's army training to defend this stretch of land I call home.
First of all, in the military hierarchy, the artillerymen are generally frowned upon as a cowardly choice since they sit far behind the action in a relative safety, though I'm not sure how it works in there. It's mostly just bickering and kind of a brotherly mocking.

Hobbies matter not, in here everyone's equal to everyone and what they do in their free time is their thing, and it isn't allowed to cause negative actions (unless ofc you like to skin puppies and hang them in other people's doorsteps, which will get you the insanity boot).

Ten years is a long time, but if you're up for a military career, go for it.
As for boot camp advice, do things right and fast, don't slack off and you'll gain respect of both your peers and your superiors.

E: bear in mind that real life isn't vidya game. Things are heavy to haul and all it takes is one mistake to kill someone you know. You're also responsible for a lot of things, and in the american army (as far as I know) you get tossed in the 'stan where there's a real risk of death.
There's a high probability you've got this idea of enlisting because you fancy action films or vidya. It's nothing like them.

 

[ARTYWOLF0811]

Re: I need a little advice, preferably from someone who is or has been in the militar

Currently in my nation's army training to defend this stretch of land I call home.
First of all, in the military hierarchy, the artillerymen are generally frowned upon as a cowardly choice since they sit far behind the action in a relative safety, though I'm not sure how it works in there. It's mostly just bickering and kind of a brotherly mocking.

Hobbies matter not, in here everyone's equal to everyone and what they do in their free time is their thing, and it isn't allowed to cause negative actions (unless ofc you like to skin puppies and hang them in other people's doorsteps, which will get you the insanity boot).

Ten years is a long time, but if you're up for a military career, go for it.
As for boot camp advice, do things right and fast, don't slack off and you'll gain respect of both your peers and your superiors.

E: bear in mind that real life isn't vidya game. Things are heavy to haul and all it takes is one mistake to kill someone you know. You're also responsible for a lot of things, and in the american army (as far as I know) you get tossed in the 'stan where there's a real risk of death.
There's a high probability you've got this idea of enlisting because you fancy action films or vidya. It's nothing like them.

Well artillery does get some crap because they sit far behind the action, but it's mainly brotherly mocking.
I'm actually wanting to be an artilleryman because my great grandfather was an artilleryman during WWII, Korea and Vietnam and retired as a Chief Warrant Officer 4. I'm kinda doing it to honor him even though he was in the Army and I'm going Marines because my brother is an active duty Marine and my uncle is a Former Marine.

I know ten years is a long time and I do plan on making it a career and sometime during those ten years, if I can, I'll become a warrant officer like my grandfather.

I can see why you would think I'm joining because of action movies and video games, I know those are nothing like the actual military. I've talked to quite a few active duty and former military personnel, I have done my research and gotten the best idea I can about the military and I think it will be worth it.

As for getting thrown in 'stan, of course the chances of me dying are high, but by that time I'll have the training needed to increase my chances of surviving that place. Even with that training, I know I may not come back alive, if that's the cost of defending my country, then it's well worth it.

 

[Kosdu]

Re: I need a little advice, preferably from someone who is or has been in the militar

So, I don't really know much about the marines, but made it through basic in the AF and hopefully can say atleast a couple of things:

-Make sure you have absolutely everything in order before basic training - it's a long time even with the AF 8 1/2 weeks and if you don't have them in order you still have to face the consequences while being helpless and overtasked trying to deal with them in basic.
-Learn everything you can about the process of getting a job, and do your research on all this shit.

-Find a BMT survival guide somewhere. I didn't have one, and even if I did AF BMT is different from marine BMT.

In everything involved with the military, take it into your own hands because you can get shafted hard if you don't.





All I really know about Marines is that you guys get lots of combat training, have a very long basic, and in general have a stick up your ass.

 

[Mintys]

Re: I need a little advice, preferably from someone who is or has been in the militar

I'm not a Marine, I thought about taking that path and decided on another branch so I can be of some help.

first talk to your recruiter, figure out how you feel about them and notice if they're feeding you the truth. While some recruiters are great, others are not so just double check with what information they give you. Don't take a job that you don't want, and if/when you go to meps do not sign without a job. If you do there is no guarantee you'll get what you want, so just take your time and don't be suckered into anything.

for boot camp ours is different but I know some of my mates who took that route will have the same advice as me:
Get your things in order.
Check with your cellphone provider see if they will put a freeze on your account so you won't have to pay while you're gone.
if you have a bank account let your bank know where you will be going, that way if you're traveling out of state they won't put a halt to your account but they can also be aware of large purchases in case of fraud.
just check with your fam, and all of your loved ones to have pets/car taken care of.

This also has to do with meps, check where your A school is, mine was suppose to be Texas I ended up in a completely different state so all the things I planned for my husband was tossed out.

Other then that with boot just do what your told, be respectful, stay quiet and work hard.

For the fleet.. Um.
personally I've never let my people know I'm interested in this stuff, it shouldn't affect your job because it's out of work and is not against the ucmj but that doesn't mean people won't be assholes.

Again just be respectful, use the titles that they've earned and try to learn from them instead of fighting them.

 

[Sarcastic Coffeecup]

Re: I need a little advice, preferably from someone who is or has been in the militar

Well artillery do get some crap because they sit far behind the action, but it's mainly brotherly mocking.
I'm actually wanting to be an artilleryman because my great grandfather was an artilleryman during WWII, Korea and Vietnam and retired as a Chief Warrant Officer 4. I'm kinda doing it to honor him even though he was in the Army and I'm going Marines because my brother is an active duty Marine and my uncle is a Former Marine.

I know ten years is a long time and I do plan on making it a career and sometime during those ten years, if I can, I'll become a warrant officer like my grandfather.

I can see why you would think I'm joining because of action movies and video games, I know those are nothing like the actual military. I've talked to quite a few active duty and former military personnel, I have done my research and gotten the best idea I can about the military and I think it will be worth it.

As for getting thrown in 'stan, of course the chances of me dying are high, but by that time I'll have the training needed to increase my chances of surviving that place. Even with that training, I know I may not come back alive, if that's the cost of defending my country, then it's well worth it.

"Defending my country"
A defense requires an attack first. Nobody is attacking the states. If you go in a foreign country fighting for resources, it's far from defending.
Your life isn't worth oil and politics.