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March, 2025

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Joining the military

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skiblandford
Posts: 1503 - Karma: 2
I have decided to join the military when i come of age. Army National Guard exactly. Just wondering if anyone had any tips or other stuff when i go to see a recruiter and such stuff i have done extensive research and shit and i know that it is right for me. Is anyone else in the Guard and can tell me what its like
15 years ago
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cobra_commander
Posts: 16909 - Karma: 4,681
It is getting harder and harder to go officer for the army, we commissioned more LT's last year then there was room for, and are slated to do the same again this year. As a NG (depending what state) you will probably sit on your ass, with no pay for a few years before they find room for you.

Or you could enlist, and go through that route, there is nothing wrong with enlisting. It is way easier then trying to be an officer. As an officer, especially an infantry officer, you will have to make a lot of very hard decisions very quickly. For example, deciding who is going to die, and who is not going to die. I am not looking forward to getting to make that decision. You will get to shoot guns either way.

No matter what you do in the army, you could be a culinary corps specialist, you will need to learn to shoot the M16 (really the M4 now) proficiently. Every one is a rifle man. There is no longer rear echelon people. Ocmed does not care what your MOS is, he will still try and kill you. This is no longer WWII where there is a front line of infantry with support behind them. Convoys get attacked. Truck drivers need to know Battle Drills.

Either way you go the Army is a great choice, and once you are part of it, you will notice it help you more then you ever though possible. I personally am headed the Officer route, I was already in college when I started, and that was the path. I have thought about enlisting and then trying to go through OCS, but I want to finish school first, and having the Army help pay was too good an opportunity to pass up.

If your not yet in school, or want to take a break, there is no reason not to enlist, and when your enlistment runs out go to school through ROTC. I know several people who have done that.
15 years ago
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cobra_commander
Posts: 16909 - Karma: 4,681
But ya, get everything in writing.

If you don't get it in writing, don't count on it.
15 years ago
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cobra_commander
Posts: 16909 - Karma: 4,681
15 years ago
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squibble
Posts: 4569 - Karma: 104
soldiers are meant to follow orders and be expendible, so wouldnt you expect those type of people to be... i dont know how to put it delicately so ill let your mind fill in the blank
15 years ago
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theabortionator
Posts: 52334 - Karma: 170,857
I'm not really a fan. Don't support what were doing. Won't ever join myself. Even if they end up drafting at some point
15 years ago
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rontonsoop
Posts: 237 - Karma: 25
i am currently enlisted in the Air National Guard. i started gaining info and first set up a meeting with a recruiter in February of last year. in april they sent me to MEPS and what not. then since they were so full at the base i "applied" to i waited until september 24th 2009 to finally sign the contract. i am currently part of the 200th red horse division det.1. the original plan that the recruiter had mapped out for me was id leave in the summer of 09 for basic and get back in august to start my college. But a position didnt open up til sep. so that messed everything up. now because of my enlistment date i was unable to get tuition covered for my first semester of school, causing me to stay home which started my journey to being behind they rest of my school mates. then i moved on to thinking that i would be able to just take classes in the winter but because of the unknown looming "dates" that i could be assigned to, yet another semester was messed up. as of now i have tentative dates to leave around march 20th. but this has not been set in stone and could very likely be pushed back yet again. now the biggest thing with going to basic is not the actual basic training, its all based on your tech school following basic. they ship ppl out every week for basic training but if there is no seat for you in your job's tech school, your 8.5+ weeks at basic are for nothing. which is what im running into. there are no seats for me. now because of this i am possibly looking at leaving for basic and completing it just to come back home and remain on the student flight and still am of no use to them. under this condition you will recieve no benifits except tuition.(gi bill money for being a full time college student, sign on bonus, etc.) because all of that relies on you graduating tech school and being "trained" now another thing popped up at a drill weekend. i was told that my tech school could have been lengthened from 9.5 weeks to 16 weeks long which if the case, i will not get back til after august/september yet fucking up another semester of school providing i even get into a tech school. when i brought this to my recruiters attention he had no idea and i am still waiting on a response from him to figure out if this is true or not.

so basically out of this whole rant im trying to illustrate that once you sign on, they basically control your life and you just have to roll with it. there are SO many unknowns in the military that all come down to hurry up and wait. personally i cant wait to leave for basic and what not and am not trying to scare you out of joining but this kind of stuff the recruiter will not tell you can happen and im VERY close to my recruiter. the reasoning behind that is that even they do not know everything. everything they tell you is based on theory of a text book enlistment, which happens to be the most appealing to a potential recruit. so BE CAREFUL and educate your self as much as possible.
15 years ago
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49566738265
Posts: 0 - Karma: 7,705
Not the Coast Guard Academy...
15 years ago
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Mr.Panda
Posts: 17711 - Karma: 564
Pretty sure the Coast Guard have Grenade launchers on some of their cutters.
15 years ago
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fujarome
Posts: 8630 - Karma: 1,561
well, and the fact that the coast guard is extremely active when it comes to patrolling harbors, stopping illegals from entering the US, and various other things...They are basically in charge of all the water right off our coasts. and remember, joining the coast guard won't necessarily keep you away from the middle east.

and to the op-best of luck. admirable thing to do.
15 years ago
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C-Burg
Posts: 4729 - Karma: 130
to all who think it is just a bunch of killing

http://www.navy.mil/search/display.asp?story_id=50498
15 years ago
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theabortionator
Posts: 52334 - Karma: 170,857
I know that's why some people don't like it. I have a problem with the way they hype it up. Do something amazing in our world with the air force. The navy is like an extreme sport. all the branches.

It's not like that in all. It's serious shit. And too many people are doing it with complete ignorance or just for the wrong reasons.

Being in the military does not make you an amazing person. Your not a hero just for being in the military. The military is not an extreme sport. Yes our military has done some great things, but we've also done some fucked up things.

We're involved in so much bullshit right now. And have been in many different points for years. I just don't see what the point is. I;m in no way anti military, but I am 100% against a lot of the stuff we're involved in now. Protecting your country is one thing, so much of what we're doing now is completely different.

We have military bases in all these countries around the globe. Constantly involved in war's and conflicts, in places that we shouldn't even be. Supporting different militia groups with money and weapons to over throw leaders we don't approve of. Who the hell are we, america, to tell other countries what they can and can't do.

Unfortunately these days, nobody seems to look at things from both sides. So many people with a one sided perspective, and for many it's blinded by ignorance and propaganda. How would we feel  if some of these countries had military bases in our country, had their troops in our country.Like I said before I'm in no way anti miltary. I know people respond with the whole we have to defend ourselves lines.  We can, we have the strongest military in the world, with a ridiculously massive budget. We haven't had a military conflict in our country in a long time, yet we've been involved in countless wars and different military operations. Like even today, people are dying over seas. And for what?

I just don't want to be a pawn in someones agenda. If it was just about defending our country, and strictly that, I would join in a heart beat. Unfortunately it's far from that. IF your planning on joing the military regardless of branch, you really need to think about that stuff.
15 years ago
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Mr.Panda
Posts: 17711 - Karma: 564
Can we avoid this becoming a military/political debate thread and just try to help the OP? If I recall Abortionator didn't you make a thread in Site Discussion asking why every thread becomes an argument?







15 years ago
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spliff.Life
Posts: 7847 - Karma: 1,538
I agree 100%

cant do shit? join the army they tell you exactly what to do all you gotta do is do it.

and fuck the military i never want to become part of the system

my 2 cents.


congrats on figuring out you life and such, and i know graduating from the military is something to be very proud of (no hate or sarcasm). so good luck, dont get sucked into the system and forget who you are.
15 years ago
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Z_rob
Posts: 3076 - Karma: 152
not the kind of boats the military uses...

ignorance...
15 years ago
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Relish_man
Posts: 5386 - Karma: 551
im goin to the Canadian Forces reserve this summer and i guess ill see where that leads me. best of luck OP.
15 years ago
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3ski6guy0
Posts: 9201 - Karma: 135
you could try to be a warrant officer in the army and fly helicopters. if i join thats what ill be shooting to do
15 years ago
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sereguy
Posts: 134 - Karma: 20

Sir, I cannot tell you how inacruate that statement is about the armed forces...I'm going to put this as tactfully as possable, I was in college at one point in time. things were going pretty good, their is only so much bad news I could take before I felt like I had to do something...anything. In fact most enlisted people like me have college dagrees(I'm persuing criminial justice, making good headway) I'm sick of people who think we joined the military cause we couldn't get ahead in life. It was my choice NOT to live a life that was 'normal'. I'm going to stop cause seriously bro, this pissed me off

New Schoolers, sorry for the rant. Needed to say that though.

15 years ago
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salomonskiier12
Posts: 2862 - Karma: 19
This thread is full of ignorance.  Coming from someone who is in the Air Force, I can say that freedom ISN'T free.  Someone must fight for it.  Freedom is the right for you to speak negative towards the military.  Without the military, you would not be able to complain about your government.
15 years ago
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GANDALF
Posts: 6312 - Karma: 6,706
Mad respect towards you. I support what your are doing fully. Make our country proud.
15 years ago
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beermuscles
Posts: 1821 - Karma: 100
Congratulations on your decision, and thanks. I know I never foresee myself fighting for my freedoms in war, brave thing you are doing.

Be careful on what you read and are told on here and elsewhere, just be sure it is what you want.
15 years ago
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BIG_BIACK
Posts: 92 - Karma: 15
man you know all the military is is a way out of life. you dogs not be reppin the smarts so you join the army. if you really want to be in the military join r.o.t.c or something and get a college degree. Dont be a tool, Educate ya fool
15 years ago
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theabortionator
Posts: 52334 - Karma: 170,857
To whom am I arguing with, The op made yet another I wan't to join the military thread. I stated my views on the subject and then haven't posted since. No arguments.

I'm not jumister
15 years ago
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Coalescent
Posts: 4871 - Karma: 2,063
You make me sick.
15 years ago
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PaleCelery
Posts: 7228 - Karma: 609
Too bad I already  had you at 0/10
15 years ago
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alden.
Posts: 855 - Karma: 360
THANK YOU
15 years ago
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skibikeclambake
Posts: 2346 - Karma: 27
i am going to make a thread in reply to this one. quite a few things need to be cleared up.
15 years ago
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karmagod
Posts: 925 - Karma: 11
I bet it's going to say that I'm stupid for what I said. There are plenty of college grads who are in the military and are quite successful.

No fucking shit

It's like people get butthurt and act like I said the entire national defense were a bunch of retards or something.

I mean my own brother is contemplating going in to the Air Force. He graduated with a computer science degree at a very good school. Yet he has no fucking clue what to do with his life, so he copped out for the military. Through my own experiences, most of the people I've met who go into the military are either fuckups who go in to infantry and become all Hoo-ahh and demand respect because they are "protecting my freedoms" or smart people who have no clue what to do with themselves so they let someone else tell them.
15 years ago
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MNS
Posts: 5386 - Karma: 3,241
dude you don't have to be a dick about it. yeah sure some people join the army because they aren't sure what they want to do or if they have anything else going for them, but its a lot better than sitting on welfare twiddling your thumbs. the forces have my respect.

 Also, you never know the circumstances in which people are raised. So while you grow up in your big house with a nice family, the "jarhead" down the street may have grown up with an alcoholic father, or mom or something to that extent. Perhaps they had some bad life experiences, made the wrong choices, or have a mental disorder. You're being extremely stereotypical and unfair. People in those circumstances don't always have the same options as you, or perhaps they're passionate about the forces. YOU ARE A DUMB IGNORANT LITTLE PIECE OF SHIT AND SHOULD CRAWL UP YOUR OWN ASSHOLE TO TAKE A SNIFF OF WHAT YOUR OPINIONS SMELL LIKE.
15 years ago
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MNS
Posts: 5386 - Karma: 3,241
you have no life experience, thats why everything you say is so fucking stupid
15 years ago
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Mr.Panda
Posts: 17711 - Karma: 564
The biggest reason I know for most of my friends joining the military and me considering it is that even with a basic college degree, you can't get shit for jobs and honestly, the military you can get a job and they are ALMOST always "hiring".
15 years ago
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skibikeclambake
Posts: 2346 - Karma: 27
wasnt even going to mention what you said. It was actually going to be about joining the military, and the specifics of some of the things mentioned in this thread.
15 years ago
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r0dubs
Posts: 1764 - Karma: 19
you should probly change your name from karmagod to something a little bit more like outrageous faggot
15 years ago
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karmagod
Posts: 925 - Karma: 11
What would be a lot better is that they figured out something to do with their lives instead of giving it up to the government.

But really, who's stereotyping now. You have automatically assumed that since I ski, I must be from a wealthy, upper middle class home where everything was happy. I'm not even going to respond to that.

Funny thing is you kinda proved my point for me. Even you're admitting that most of them are fuckups with mental disorders. Sure there are some people who are really passionate about joining. From what I've seen it is usually those with military parents, and good ones, not shitty infantrymen.

I think you're being the ignorant one saying that if you're poor and on welfare all it is that you can do is join the military or some trivial job like that. It's sad that there are still people in America that don't realize this is the land of opportunity and you can do whatever you like. You just have to be able to think for yourself. Which is something a lot of people who go into the military can't do.
15 years ago
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PaleCelery
Posts: 7228 - Karma: 609
Just stop
15 years ago
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Mr.Panda
Posts: 17711 - Karma: 564
America is NOT the land of opportunity anymore.
15 years ago
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PaleCelery
Posts: 7228 - Karma: 609
Yes, but most people on here get their parents to buy them college so they can go and party for 4-5 years and get shitty grades, or they are handed a job due to connections that they have that most people dont have, and then act like total ungrateful bitches.
15 years ago
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Mr.Panda
Posts: 17711 - Karma: 564
Agreed. My parents is helping me pay for school and as long as I keep above a 3.5 they are willing to help me pay but if my grades slip I am on my own with student loans. Let me just say I now have a year and a half of student loans to payoff.
15 years ago
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factory81
Posts: 3967 - Karma: 63
Join the coast guard if you never want to die. Or the Navy.
 Wherever America goes the coast guard is there to protect the coastline or some shit. So just cause you join the CG doesn't mean you wont' be situated in the middle east.

The CG has basically 2 jobs though now. Search and rescue, and drug interdiction. I don't know about you guys, but rescuing people up in Alaska doesn't sound too fucking fun. And taking drugs and not being able to use them doesn't sound fun either.

I thought about joining, and since I have an associates they said there is a good chance I could become an officer right off the bat and start at an O-1.

One tihng that sucks about the CG is the fact you might be called to ship, where you gotta sit and go out and do whatever for 3-6 months at a time.

I would sit and negotiate with a recruitment officer and get a like $40,000 or $75,000 enlistment bonus. The military is doing anything they can to get more soldiers.

I thought about joining but I thought yeah well I kind of like hitting the snooze button and deciding when I want to shit and stuff.

Although in these tough economic times, joining the military financially makes sense. You have health care, you can get school paid for, and since you are being fed and clothed by the military you can bank nearly your entire paycheck. Get out of the military, buy a house and shit.

And I think that the experience you get from the military makes you stand out like a motherfucker now. Support the troops yes, but America has become real patriotic about the military (unlike say during the vietnam era).

I know 3 people who all got great jobs and they hardly looked for a job (after they got out of the military), and this is in Michigan. Where no one has a job....

If you can live for 4 years without smoking weed, and being able to take orders from someone 24x7.........and have no control of your life, or where you are right now.

It's a dangerous job, and someones gotta do it, but do you want to be called upon to say....clear a mine field? Or drive an insufficiently armored Humvee down a dirt canyon road in Afghanistan?


15 years ago
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PaleCelery
Posts: 7228 - Karma: 609
Everything you say seems pretty spot on to me, besides the elistment bonuses. If they were that high we would be having a lot more people joining the military. The absolute MOST you can get for an enlistment bonus is $40k, and thats if you enlist in the seals or some other elite unit

Most people who are joining as enlisted will get much less, depending on the need for whatever job they do or what their recruiter "promised"
15 years ago
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Mr.Panda
Posts: 17711 - Karma: 564
I wouldn't mind being in the Humvee mainly because that means a combat bonus.
15 years ago
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factory81
Posts: 3967 - Karma: 63
i'd rather be in a submarine. You get hazard pay for that, and no ones currently shooting at us underwater.

Oh yeah, like everyone else said, your recruiter has been told to say whatever it takes to get you to enlist.

So if he answered yes to there being a disney land retreat for the family, hes lying, and if he promised really anything. Hes lying

15 years ago
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3ski6guy0
Posts: 9201 - Karma: 135
thats not a very good reason to hate. yes theres a way better chance of achieving what you want in the US than in some other countries but still there are so many people whos background basically prevents it. do you know how hard it is for people to move up in "class"? people who come from the ghetto, go to shitty ass public schools with a crappy education, and are constantly surrounded by violence dont have anywhere as close of a chance to becoming what people (probably including you) who grew up in nice places can be. theres definitely still tons of barriers preventing it. i think the military can definitely provide some good training
15 years ago
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Thenowhereman42
Posts: 5682 - Karma: 65
Well my advice is don't. The Army blows, and right now we are blowing up rural desert people that don't have much to do with us, its not like we are fighting Nazis or something. Just a shitty time to be in the army right now IMO. I would love to shoot me some Germans, but I really have no interest in shooting any Afghanis. They make hash and are pretty cool I guess.

My buddy joined the national guard and amazingly actually got out on time instead of having his tour of duty extended ridiculously like everyone else I know who joined the real army. I played airsoft with him the other day though and he doesn't exactly seem like a tactical expert or a killing machine so I don't know what they were teaching him there. Probably to run a lot.
15 years ago
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karmagod
Posts: 925 - Karma: 11
So now we're admitting that it's a bunch of poor, unintelligent people in the military?

That's fine. I just don't think I should have to support the troops and all that bullshit. Do people really think that the troops are really protecting us? Terrorists only game plan is sending bums on a plane with explosives strapped to their dick. It's not like these desert people are out training troops to fly fighter jets or shoot some intercontinental missiles at our major cities.

15 years ago
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PaleCelery
Posts: 7228 - Karma: 609
The reason they are using guerilla tactics against us like the one youhave posted is because of our military strength. They wouldnt have a chance against us in a typical battle scenario, so they resort to these strategy's because not only does it get them more publicity for little money/ casualties but it is the only way they can be effective. If we didnt have a strong military do you think they would be training troops to fly jets and whatnot? Probably.

Dont be so quick to run your ungrateful mouth. The men and women over there are doing what your cowardice prevents. Serving their country. SOMEBODY has to do it..

I'm joining the marines in a short period of time. I have college education, I'm not dumb and I'm not poor. (Not rich either, but I come from a middle class background where my parents have always supported me). It's not like I'm joining o escape a poor background, which I'm sure many have, but thats the point of TRAINING. They may go in poor and uneducated (I'm pretty sure you need a High school degree to join anyway) but when they get deployed, after months of training, they are educated on the job they have to do and much more.

I fancy myself a democrat, and don't support this war, but if we left now it would be much worse than if we never went, we need to pick up our mess. Not only is what you said offensive, but it is flat out incorrect. It's not like the only purpose our military serves is to go shoot towelheads who are doing nothing wrong, that couldnt be farther from the truth. What about eh conflict in haiti and the relief aid thats going on over there? What about our bases in other countries? A lot of service men and women are stationed in hawaii, or japan. What about Search and rescue that the coast guard does to people who get lost at sea or in the mountains? What about training police forces in the middle east to help them have a fighting chance against terrorist regimes?

What I'm trying to say is, what you said is a gross exaggeration, it is flat out ignorant.  If You are being a dick just to be a dick and cause drama, you are doing a pretty good job, but making yourself look like an idiot in the process. I'm not surprised that I already had your karma at 0.

Grow up.
15 years ago
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Mr.Panda
Posts: 17711 - Karma: 564
Good luck with that Dan. Depending on how college goes I may join after my undergrad is done. Be safe and good luck.
15 years ago
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ssherwood1117
Posts: 1 - Karma: 10
this
15 years ago
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Zump.
Posts: 3338 - Karma: 306

hey OP, thank you. it takes a lot of balls to join and risk your life for our country. thank you for keeping my country safe

15 years ago
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skibikeclambake
Posts: 2346 - Karma: 27
Joining after getting your undergrad degree and becoming an officer is a great idea. There are opportunities to further your education whether you leave or stay. The leadership training you get in officer candidate school is highly sought after by many potential employers. 
15 years ago
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