welcome all

get out while you can! Don't kill and die for someone else's money and power.

Interesting, I have two uncles, twins, Bob and Bill Boswell...both played football for USC and Bill became the Varsity Football coach for my High School in Westminster,CA

Capt! Hand Salute!

Well young man, the first smart thing you did was seek advice, I hope you get some good info to consider. You will unfortunately get some people like dig who feel bitter. First my Bona Fides:

Enlisted in US Navy, May 1976, rate was as an Operations Specialist, worked in the Combat Information Center (CIC). I was a 'Tin Can' Sailor and any good Tin Can man will tell you that is the real Navy. I served on three Frigates, USS Richard L. Page FFG-5, USS Connole FF-1056 and USS Simpson FFG-56, and was stationed in Dam Neck, VA as an instructor in my speciality which was ASAC (Anti-Submarine Air Control). I got out of the Navy as a Chief Petty Officer in 1988 due to service related injuries (non-combat).

I currently work for the US Army in support of the Black Hawk helicopter program.

First thing I tell anyone wishing to join any service as a Junior Officer (JO), is to pay attention to your NCO's, they can make or break a JO's career. If you have good NCO's (there are bad ones out there) and you show them their due you will learn a lot and do just fine. Listen to their advice but always remember YOU are the officer, some will test you to see how you will react. Try to do so with good humor when you can as it will help you. Don't feel that because you are an officer that you can't ask your men questions, they have been there a while and can help you also, but remember that you are not there to be their friend, you can be close to them and even party with them some, but when the party is over they need to know and understand that YOU are an Officer and in charge.

If you have any specific questions feel free to ask and I will try and answer them as best I can. BTW - MAST? Great school!

Best of luck in your career, you'll do just fine!

Well,
Sharkey is right on all counts - listen to your NCO's. AS a boot recruit, listen. As an enlisted - Listen, as an Officer - listen. A lot of Chiefs will say "been there, done that." Well remember, they have been there, they have done that. Through the years, there have been many attempts to "suggest" to the Chief to do it a different way - that didn't work. At some point there will be a different way, but generally the senior enlisted have tried it all. The worst Junior Officer is one that won't listen to his Chief.

My resume is fairly simple - 21 years in the Coast Guard, 11 years at sea. Qualified As Underway Deck and Conn on Patrol boats, Medium Endurance Cutters and The Mighty Mac (Mackinaw WAGB-83, the old one, not the new mini Mac). I can drive a ship better than most officers and am not afraid of a little "off the dock wind." I retired as a Chief Petty Officer.

Each service has it's good and not so good points. All veterans joined for different reasons, many stayed for different reasons, those that don't stay leave for one reason - they don't like the structured environment. I enlisted in the Coast Guard because I liked the idea spending my days saving lives, not practicing (or for real) to do the opposite (and as a closet aviator that wears glasses there was no way I was going to get into a pilot's seat of anything with wings). Oh - It used to be a guy joined the Marines to "be come a man." Becoming a man is more than what military service teaches you, but don't discount the lessons.

The only other two pieces of advice I can pass along - Learn your service's core values and live them as you would the ten commandments. All the services have good core values - when I served at the Joint Command, I was honored to serve with members of all the services. Remember - Listen, Listen, Listen and don't be afraid to make a decision.

Finally - nobody volunteers for military service to become rich.

I can only wish you much luck. I can also tell you in advance that we civilians sometimes hear news stories out there about those in the service who do some pretty questionable things, abuse of animals, etc. From our perspective that casts a dishonorable view of yourself and the military. Sometimes it's hard to stand up and say "hell no, that's not for me!" when everyone around you is behaving questionably and want you to join in but I would ask and advise you to carry yourself with honor remembering that you represent not only the military but our Country as well. Not to mention your personal honor is something no one can give you and no one can take away.

Thank you in advance for choosing to represent our Country and for your future service. Very admirable of you and very respected choice.

5 years so far for me in the army. I'm currently finishing up a deployment in Afghanistan and I'll echo alot of the things said already, respect your NCO's, and take your branches core values to your heart. I joined just out of high school myself and I'm guessing you're either in a JROTC program(I was in one myself) or a military academy.

Don't ever let stupid things come between you and the others in your unit. When it comes down to it you and they are there for each other. Watch each others back and help through things. I hope you never have to deploy but if you do you will become closer to your brothers in the unit than you ever have with anyone else.

So what branch are you interested in and doing what job?

also BTW I sent you a FR and requested to join the military club