Army questions

AR-tim · 12-09-2005, 10:03 PM

First off, how old is too old to join the Army in your eyes (and probably experiences)? I have tossed around the idea for some time now. I am getting to the point where if I am going to do it, I should probably do it soon. I have weighed the pros and cons, and I think there are more pros. It is quotes like this that make me want to join;

Quote:

Originally Posted by Stew

As one friend said, "I wouldn't do it again for a million dollars, but I wouldn't take a million dollars for the memories." He's right!!

I thought about a couple of MOS's or 'jobs'. First being infantry (11B). I am not really sure why, but this is the one I want to do most. And to take that a step farther, possibly airborne. Then, I have thought about being a medic (91W) or possibly a crew chief (probably on a UH-60 Blackhawk... and no, not just for the mini-gun!).

Any thoughts on 'todays' Army would be very helpful. I am single with no kids so don't hold back on telling me to go jump out of a plane with everyones not-so-favorite rifle on my back.

When I talk about doing this with most of my friends/family, I do not get a lot of positive support. So, I thought I would ask here (because I couldn't find any 'ask your Army questions here' forums on the internet).

ash · 12-09-2005, 10:14 PM

I joined the Air Force when I was 17 and a half and I wish I would have joined sooner. All I can say is if you want to do it.DO IT NOW! Don't wait till the last minute and don't put it off. Go to a recruiter and find out what you need to do to get in (whether enlisted or officer).Then hit the gym and don't stop till you go to basic.

Lonegun1894 · 01-03-2006, 10:24 PM

Saw way too much incpmpetence among the Army guys i met. Rangers/airborne, etc werent quite as bad, but just the average guys had us rolling watching them make stupid mistakes. I cant comment if that was just the caliber of the guys we ran into, or a general training issue the Army has. I'd say dont limit yourself to just the Army, look at the other branches too as they all have pros and cons. Either way, as was said, get in shape, do your research, and if you're sure you wanna do it, dont waste time making yourself nuts with it. If you're gonna do it, go for it. You will have experiences and make friends like you never would on the outside as a civilian. You will also see things that will make you question everything you thought you knew before then, and things you wont ever forget and wish you could. So there will be some of the best and worst times of your life. Best of luck and choose wisely. And as far as the people telling you not to do this... the way i explained it to my family was that we can either take the war to someone else while our loved ones live in relative peace, or let the enemy bring it to us and fight on our streets, and in our homes. They still didnt like it, but they understood it better than before.

Calvin · 01-03-2006, 11:26 PM

I went in the Army back in 1986, and things have sure changed since I got out in '90.
Like it was said before, work out until you leave, and run your a** off every chance you get!!!
The Army isn't bad, but could be better. Take the other advice here and look at all of the branches, including Coast Guard.
Whatever you do decide on, DO NOT go in on an open enlistment!! Make absolutely SURE you know what you're going into and where you're going. Your recruiter WILL lie to you, so be forewarned!!
Try to pick something you can also do in the civilian world when you get out. That's the best advice I can give you.
If you must go infantry in the Army, go in as an 11 X-ray
(AB Infantry/Unassigned Ranger). That way, you'll have a guaranteed slot in jump school. That Airborne tab will unlock a lot of doors in the military, but won't mean squat in the civilian world unless you become a member of the Civil Air Patrol and become a Smokejumper.

jerry · 01-04-2006, 05:21 AM

Maturity counts for something. Be a leader.

Dallas · 01-04-2006, 07:26 AM

I learned a lot in the Army, leadership,patience, tact, how to set up an interlocking field of fire, how to call in Arty support, how to lay a mine field (no jokes please) and lots of other really nifty stuff that is totally irrelavent in the real world. Whichever service you choose, pick a job that will give a skill in the civilian world. Sure being an Airborne Ranger is great and looks and sounds good while you are in. But once you're out unless you get a job with Hallyburton over in the sand box it has little practical application in the real world. A skill on the other hand may just set you up for the rest of your life. And speaking from expierence eating one cold MRE (c-rations in my day) being cold/wet or hot/sweaty and sleeping on the ground, if you get any sleep aint all it's cracked up to be after awhile. My .02 cents.

Copper · 01-04-2006, 11:41 AM

I spent 4 years as an 11B on active duty. It's a rough life and you will hurt in places that you didn't know that you could hurt. It's not for a family man or one that has a girlfriend, because you will be deployed.....alot. That being said, the 4 years I spent as a grunt has helped make me into the person I am today. I have spent the last 8 years in the Army National Guard, but the 4 years on active duty were some of the best years of my life. I agree with some of the other posts here, keep your options open. See what each branch has to offer. There are enough members here that are prior service or are still in from each branch to give you some insight on each one. Squids (Navy), Zoomies, (Air Force), Jar Heads (Marines) and Dog Faces (Army) have all of there own pro's and con's.

AR-tim · 01-06-2006, 09:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lonegun1894

Either way, as was said, get in shape, do your research, and if you're sure you wanna do it, dont waste time making yourself nuts with it. If you're gonna do it, go for it. .

I would say I am at that point right now. Trying to get in better shape and doing my research. And I am definitely driving myself nuts with this lately (stupid fear of the unknown

).

Thanks for all the replies guys. I stopped in at the recruiter the other day and talked casually. He had guys that were 26 and 28 that have joined up recently, so I didn't feel so bad (I am not that old yet). I really should go for it, but time will tell.

And what is 11-Xray? Can you explain this any better? What does the AB stand for in AB Infantry? Unassigned Ranger? Do you go to Ranger school for this? I did notice at the recuiter one of the pictures on the wall a guy was listed as 11X, but I forgot to ask about it. So if I am not mistaken, 'normal' infanty is 11B, so what is the difference here?

Not to get ahead of myself, but I have another question. Thinking into the possible future, I found myself pondering where to be stationed. What are the pros and cons to over-seas service? I know a guy stationed in Korea who loves it. I have a friend stationed in Germany who likes it there too. I think it would make it a better experience to live in say, Italy. On the other hand though, I bet I would really miss just being in the US.

Thanks again.

Copper · 01-07-2006, 12:29 AM

11X is an open infantry enlistment. What that means is that you will be signing up for the infantry, but you won't be guaranteed a specific infantry MOS. When you enlist in the infantry, you go to what's call OSUT (One Station Unit Training) Your Basic and AIT (Advanced Individual Training) is at the with the same unit. That means the same Drill Sergeants, which can sometimes suck. As an 11X, you can list your infantry preferences (11B - regular ground pounders or 11C - Mortar crew) but that doesn't mean that you will get them. If you really want to go into the Rangers, try to get an ABN Ranger enlistment option. I think its called Option 40, but don't hold me to it. If you can't, go with the 11X - unassigned. When you go to jump school at Ft. Benning, some Rangers will come over and ask if you want to sign up for RIP (Ranger Indoc. Program). IF you make it through jump school, and IF you make it through RIP, you will be assigned to a Ranger Battalion. Ranger school just wasn't my cup of tea so I declined. One option I wish I would have known about when I enlisted was to be a
19D - Cav Scout. It's essentially the same thing as infantry, but you get to ride in a M2 Bradley or a M113. Hey, why walk when you can ride? As far as deciding where you want to be stationed, state side is okay, but being in another country is a good experience. I was stationed in Korea briefly and loved every minute of it. (of what I can remember anyway. LOL) If had to pick where I was going to be stationed again, it would be anywhere in Europe without a doubt. I trained at Graffenwoher, Germany before going to Bosnia, and from what I saw, I loved it. The thing that I loved the most about the infantry is that we trained hard, and we played hard. Its a hard, hard life, but a rewarding one.

01-04-2006, 05:21 AM	#5
jerry Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2002 Posts: 10,882 Images: 9 Blog Entries: 1	Maturity counts for something. Be a leader. __________________ I'm a down home back woods redneck

01-04-2006, 07:26 AM	#6
Dallas PUKHA DAWG Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Virginia, just outside of Washington D.C. Posts: 3,595	I learned a lot in the Army, leadership,patience, tact, how to set up an interlocking field of fire, how to call in Arty support, how to lay a mine field (no jokes please) and lots of other really nifty stuff that is totally irrelavent in the real world. Whichever service you choose, pick a job that will give a skill in the civilian world. Sure being an Airborne Ranger is great and looks and sounds good while you are in. But once you're out unless you get a job with Hallyburton over in the sand box it has little practical application in the real world. A skill on the other hand may just set you up for the rest of your life. And speaking from expierence eating one cold MRE (c-rations in my day) being cold/wet or hot/sweaty and sleeping on the ground, if you get any sleep aint all it's cracked up to be after awhile. My .02 cents. Last edited by Dallas; 01-04-2006 at 09:34 AM.

01-04-2006, 11:41 AM	#7
Copper Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Southern "Mizzeruh" Posts: 246	I spent 4 years as an 11B on active duty. It's a rough life and you will hurt in places that you didn't know that you could hurt. It's not for a family man or one that has a girlfriend, because you will be deployed.....alot. That being said, the 4 years I spent as a grunt has helped make me into the person I am today. I have spent the last 8 years in the Army National Guard, but the 4 years on active duty were some of the best years of my life. I agree with some of the other posts here, keep your options open. See what each branch has to offer. There are enough members here that are prior service or are still in from each branch to give you some insight on each one. Squids (Navy), Zoomies, (Air Force), Jar Heads (Marines) and Dog Faces (Army) have all of there own pro's and con's. Last edited by Copper; 01-06-2006 at 06:42 PM.

12-09-2005, 10:14 PM	#2
ash Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Maryland Posts: 934 Images: 3	I joined the Air Force when I was 17 and a half and I wish I would have joined sooner. All I can say is if you want to do it.DO IT NOW! Don't wait till the last minute and don't put it off. Go to a recruiter and find out what you need to do to get in (whether enlisted or officer).Then hit the gym and don't stop till you go to basic.

01-03-2006, 10:24 PM	#3
Lonegun1894 Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Waco, TX Posts: 206	Saw way too much incpmpetence among the Army guys i met. Rangers/airborne, etc werent quite as bad, but just the average guys had us rolling watching them make stupid mistakes. I cant comment if that was just the caliber of the guys we ran into, or a general training issue the Army has. I'd say dont limit yourself to just the Army, look at the other branches too as they all have pros and cons. Either way, as was said, get in shape, do your research, and if you're sure you wanna do it, dont waste time making yourself nuts with it. If you're gonna do it, go for it. You will have experiences and make friends like you never would on the outside as a civilian. You will also see things that will make you question everything you thought you knew before then, and things you wont ever forget and wish you could. So there will be some of the best and worst times of your life. Best of luck and choose wisely. And as far as the people telling you not to do this... the way i explained it to my family was that we can either take the war to someone else while our loved ones live in relative peace, or let the enemy bring it to us and fight on our streets, and in our homes. They still didnt like it, but they understood it better than before.

01-03-2006, 11:26 PM	#4
Calvin Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Columbus, Ohio Posts: 2,000	I went in the Army back in 1986, and things have sure changed since I got out in '90. Like it was said before, work out until you leave, and run your a** off every chance you get!!! The Army isn't bad, but could be better. Take the other advice here and look at all of the branches, including Coast Guard. Whatever you do decide on, DO NOT go in on an open enlistment!! Make absolutely SURE you know what you're going into and where you're going. Your recruiter WILL lie to you, so be forewarned!! Try to pick something you can also do in the civilian world when you get out. That's the best advice I can give you. If you must go infantry in the Army, go in as an 11 X-ray (AB Infantry/Unassigned Ranger). That way, you'll have a guaranteed slot in jump school. That Airborne tab will unlock a lot of doors in the military, but won't mean squat in the civilian world unless you become a member of the Civil Air Patrol and become a Smokejumper.

01-07-2006, 12:29 AM	#9
Copper Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Southern "Mizzeruh" Posts: 246	11X is an open infantry enlistment. What that means is that you will be signing up for the infantry, but you won't be guaranteed a specific infantry MOS. When you enlist in the infantry, you go to what's call OSUT (One Station Unit Training) Your Basic and AIT (Advanced Individual Training) is at the with the same unit. That means the same Drill Sergeants, which can sometimes suck. As an 11X, you can list your infantry preferences (11B - regular ground pounders or 11C - Mortar crew) but that doesn't mean that you will get them. If you really want to go into the Rangers, try to get an ABN Ranger enlistment option. I think its called Option 40, but don't hold me to it. If you can't, go with the 11X - unassigned. When you go to jump school at Ft. Benning, some Rangers will come over and ask if you want to sign up for RIP (Ranger Indoc. Program). IF you make it through jump school, and IF you make it through RIP, you will be assigned to a Ranger Battalion. Ranger school just wasn't my cup of tea so I declined. One option I wish I would have known about when I enlisted was to be a 19D - Cav Scout. It's essentially the same thing as infantry, but you get to ride in a M2 Bradley or a M113. Hey, why walk when you can ride? As far as deciding where you want to be stationed, state side is okay, but being in another country is a good experience. I was stationed in Korea briefly and loved every minute of it. (of what I can remember anyway. LOL) If had to pick where I was going to be stationed again, it would be anywhere in Europe without a doubt. I trained at Graffenwoher, Germany before going to Bosnia, and from what I saw, I loved it. The thing that I loved the most about the infantry is that we trained hard, and we played hard. Its a hard, hard life, but a rewarding one.