Marine's, Natianal Guard, Navy, Army, Airforce, Coast Guard, wanting to join the military but  which one?
440892
Every branch has its pros and cons, it really boils down to what do you want to do while you are in.  If you are in it only for the college money, then look really hard at the servics with college funds.  All the services have the GI Bill.  I would recommend taking CLEP and DANTES tests and earn college credit via testing - not all colleges accept CLEP & DANTES tests as transfer credit though, so check with the registrar at the college you plan to atttend.\nThe Coast Guard has multiple jobs (search and rescue, military readiness, aids to navigation, boating safety inspections).
796141
I retired after 22 yrs of military duty in the U S Navy.  I was a naval police ( Master - At - Arms ), with the K9 division.  I worked with / assisted Navy SEALs', Army Special Forces, Marine Recons, FBI, NCIS, FDA, DEA, Secret Service, U S Marshalls, U S Customs, various city / county / state / and Federal agencies, both U.S. and over seas, and U S Coast Guard.  I've been on task force teams, in helo's, assault watercraft, raids, line of defense for restricted areas, worked with FEMA on guarded escorts for supplies, pursuit of armed suspects, plenty of excitement for a life time.  Most of this was tied to being a K9 handler / trainer / instructor.  If you like ( no love ) police work and K9s then I guarantee you can have as much action as you want.
5446
Im active duty Navy right now.  This is what I have noticed:\nArmy- Low recruitment= high bonuses  but they have the lowest standards of living\n\nMarines- You really have to want to be a marine... they don't mess around.  Hard to get into technical programs. A lot of PT.  Harder than some branches to get promoted.\n \nNavy- A huge variety of careers.  Transition from civilian to soldier not to difficult.  At sea a lot during your first tour. Some very long days underway.\n\nCoast Guard- Cake. I was talkin to a gas turbine mechanic in the coast guard today.  He just came back from a 30 day tour which included: Key West, Fl\nCozumel, mexico some columdian island....and a couple more very cool places.  This guy is getting out in jan.  looking to make $100 per hour in miami.\n\nAir Force- My best friend has been in there for five years.  They have the best standard of living and the easiest working hours.\n\nI ranked them from worst to best in my opinion.  Hope this helps- I know it would have if I read it before I joined.  Any other questions just email me, I know someone in active duty from each branch.
236705
The military is great for some people, and totally disasterous for others. If you have a problem with authority, and get into trouble at every chance you get, the military is not for you. You need to be able to follow the rules, and if you can't it will not be a good experience.\nI joined the Air Force right after HS, and I am deployed to Iraq right now. In my personal opinion, the Air Force is the best route to take, period. The other military branches get treated like crap, and many people usually try to switch to the Air Force. It is very rare to meet someone who left the Air Force for another branch.\nHowever, this choice MUST be made by you. Talk to ALL the recruiters, not just one branch. Then research them online yourself to verify everything that they told you.\nThe military isn't for everyone, but it will be a great expericence if you get a good job, and take advantage of all the opportunities that are out there.\nIf you have any further questions, feel free to email me: mfred987  at yahoo.
637241
the airforce is the easiest followed by the navy. after them two is the army national guard and then the regular army (national guard tends to be less strict). then the marines would have to be the hardest and most discipline branch of the armed forces.
653809
it depends on what you would like to do. If you join the Army in a combat arms unit it will be like never leaving basic training; always in the field, pt every morning, marched to chow, etc etc...If you do not go into a combat arms unit life will be simular to a regular job in either branch. The Army and the Air Force both have many vocations to choose from(noncombat arms army)but the Air Force may have a greater degree of high tech training available but this is just an opinion as I have never been in the AF. I can tell you with first hand knowledge however that if you are not looking for combat or a regimented life where you are not in control of much at all do not go into a combat arms unit I.E. Infantry, Artillery, etc. Army, Navy, Air Force, Marinesm combat or no what ever you choose you will be able to hold your head high as they are all noble and something to be proud of.
852566
Where we are the army rule and we all think the navy are gay .Seriously choosing should not be based on other peoples opions as this will be your life .I found the army more of a fast track career with better opportunities for females with a higher chance of promo if you are good at the job.The army r the best though at sports,social life,functions the army rule
437091
If you are thinking of going into the National Guard, you may be limited in the array of MOS's you can select.  It often depends on which jobs are available at the unit(s) you are trying to do.\nMy experience was this;\nI did well on those areas myself, and I ended up selecting an MOS in electronics in the Ordinance Corps.  I served 4 years in the regular Army in my regular MOS, then I joined the national guard, and chose an MOS that was available at the unit.  I never trained in my new MOS, and I ended up getting out of the guard back in 2003.\nI certainly do not want to tell you what to do, but I do suggest that you watch what you sign, and talk to more than one person.  There are some dirtbag people in the Armed forces that are out to stick it to the serviceman, be it senior officers, senior ncos, DOD Personnel, and those in the community that are not connected to the military.  especially if you are stationed conus at a large military post.\nRegardless of what you do, I wish you the best.\n\n================\nDid they change the policy since I was in the military?  I was regular army, then I went into the National Guard.  That was in 2001.  Have they changed the policy since then?
787999
Joining the national guard is a great decision.  I joined the army (active duty) about three years ago and am very happy with my choice.   I am a much better person both personally and professionally for it.  Some of the most challenges times of personal moral change have been in the army.\n\nNow for the national guard vs. the reserve or active duty their are many pros and cons.  While he will get to stay at home for a good part of the time and live an otherwise normal life, the guard and reserve actually have a higher chance of deploying than active duty soldiers.  Now, I really do not think deploying is a bad thing.  It will make your fiance a better soldier, leader and will give him a chance to save up some money.  \n\nAnother downside of the guard is that promotion is slower.  Becuase of how the guard is structured and because of its size they need less people to get promoted every month than the regular army does.  If he joined the Army Reserve or went active duty, he would get promoted faster.\n\nAnother downside of the national guard is the quality of equipment and training.  Though this is changing because they are doing so many deployments, the budgets for equipment and training are sometimes smaller than they would be for the reserve or for active duty soldiers.  If you want to go the citizen/soldier route, I would reccomend going into the reserve rather than the guard because they will generally have a little more money for training and equipment.  Yet this does not mean that the national guard is a low quality organization at all.  It is a group of high quality nco's and officers.\n\nGood luck to him whatever his choice.
1176416
What branch?  The army, I'm assuming.  If you do join, you will go to war with the army.  My fiance is in the navy.  That is the only branch, other than the air force, that is over there on volunatry basis only.  He loves the navy, and ships out in October again.  If you do join, join active duty, not the reserves.  You do not qualify for the benefits and pay if you join the reserves.  With active duty, you get great medical and dental, as well as better pay, and you qualify for combat pay, hardship pay, etc.  Since you are a female, I reccommend the navy.  My sister was in the navy, my dad the army, and my grandfather the marines, my uncle the air force.  I am from a military family, and I think the military is a great thing.  I would reccommend getting a degree first, though, because if you do, you will go in as an officer, with more rights and better pay.  Some cons are being away from your family.  There aren't really that many cons in my opinion.  When joining, you are serving your country.  With the military, you are financially secure and, if you choose to stay in, there are great retirement benefits.  This is a life-changing decision, and a very difficult one to make.  I wish you all the best, and if you have any questions, feel free to contact me.  Good Luck!!
775266
You got that right... But the other units aren't NAVSOC...  although they do the same stuff...  Check out SWCC (the boat guys), or EOD (the bang guys), they do such special stuff the Navy just gave each thier own Rating!
761656
Army-The Army’s mission is to fight and win our Nation’s wars by providing prompt, sustained land dominance across the full range of military operations and spectrum of conflict in support of combatant commanders. \n\nNavy-The mission of the Navy is to maintain, train and equip combat-ready Naval forces capable of winning wars, deterring aggression and maintaining freedom of the seas.\n\nAir Force-The mission of the United States Air Force is to deliver sovereign options for the defense of the United States of America and its global interests -- to fly and fight in Air, Space, and Cyberspace.\n\nMarines-Marines are trained, organized and equipped for \noffensive amphibious employment and as a “force in readiness.”\nTo provide a Fleet Marine Force with combined arms and supporting air components for service with the United States Fleet in the seizure or defense of advanced naval bases and for the conduct of such land operations as may be essential to the execution of naval campaign.  To provide detachments and organizations for service on armed vessels of the Navy and security detachments for the protection of naval property at naval Stations and bases.
305426
Join the Marines. Qualify for the USMC team.
1181000
If you're looking for a better chance of advancing and more choices of jobs. Army. \n\nIf you're anting to learn how to fight and truly defend yourself and you're not worried about advancing really far. Marines.
841457
Marines is the best in soldiery.  It is the most disiciplined fighting force as a large unit and you will become respected by people by being a Marine.
576163
Joining the Air Force was the best thing I ever did for myself -- I loved it.  The Air Force is one of the more "intellectual" branches of the military (no offense to the others).  It's just a lot more cushy, but that's not everyone's thing.  If you want to sleep out in the wild during your field exercises, go Army or Marines.  If you want to stay in a nice hotel-like room during your deployments (complete with maid service) then the AF is for you (my brother was in the Army while I was in the AF, and he just hated the unequal treatment, but the mission is just different for the various branches so the lifestyle is as well).  Bit it wasn't all peachy keen when I was in, we had our field exercises and mock-wartime scenarios to contend with, too, but for the most part it wasn't all that tough.  I'm not opposed to doing my part when wartime arises, but the reality is that the Air Force is probably a safer branch of the military when that arises.  I just can't say enough good things about it, the opportunities are so great and I think everyone would be better off having experienced any military service, not just the Air Force.
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.