This is topic anyone here been or is in the reserves? in forum General Talk at Northern California Ford Owners  .


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Posted by nineteen90coupe (Member # 8034) on :
 
i am thinking of joining the navy reserves. i was trying to get some info on the internet. i also talked to a recruiter. i just wanted to get some other advice. i am 33 now. only have a h.s. diploma. no college. some trade school training.no kids.
basically just wanted to know what benefits you could get out of it.and your experiences while in it. training etc.
any help would be appreciated.thanks mike
 

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Posted by nineteen90coupe (Member # 8034) on :
 
1
 

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Posted by 68bullitt390 (Member # 9707) on :
 
Hi Mike, I have some advice i hope you will listen to. First off the reserves in my opinion is not the way to go. Sure they will give you 20k up front for a 4 year stretch but you get no benefits and your the first to go. Second and most importantly recruiters are salesman, they can lie straight to your face and never break a sweat, once your in thats it, no going back. I would 100% recommend the Air Froce, with your job picked out in writing and signed. An actual contract, thats the only way to not get fucked over. Im 34 hs grad, jr college grad, basicly no job history, but i have more buddies in the service that i could care to count, and they have given me some VERY good advice from their ACTUAL expiriance. Of coarse everyones story will vary. But my buddies up in the air couldent be happier! Hope this means anything----Shane
 

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Posted by RODRIGUEZ (Member # 9104) on :
 
I also thought of doing this, do you really have to sign a minimum of 4 years?

20k but no benefits????

What about the Army or Marines?
 

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Posted by jaejae (Member # 7958) on :
 
ive also been thinking about joining the service..but id like to choose the right path without feeling played and regreting a decision
 

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Posted by 50Reasons (Member # 6452) on :
 
They say your going to do four yrs but if you read the fine print they can call you back and they always do cuz the militAry is shorthanded you'll end up doing more like 6yrs and when you get out your back to square one in the job force but it will be easier to get one
 

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Posted by BladeX10 (Member # 9444) on :
 
I'm going to join the airforce soon. still trying to figure out what i want to do though.
 

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Posted by 68stanger (Member # 7842) on :
 
make sure everything they promise is in writing, no matter what they tell you, IT HAS TO BE IN WRITING! from the job you want, any rank advancements they promise, your bounus, whatever.

usally the contracts are 4yrs + 2yrs inactive (total 6yrs). what that means is that you will be drilling 1 weekend a month and then you have your Annual Training or AT (for the NAVY its called AT) which is 2 weeks a year, thats for the 4 years the 2 other years you will be basicly doing your civilian stuff and not have to drill...but within those two years they can call you back and activate you (ship your ass off).

being the full time military guy isn't my thing personaly, I got too much shit happening in my life besides the military, so I don't need to be stationed far as hell from the things that matter to me, thats just how I feel about being on active duty.

the reserves is kick back in my opinion

one last thing, shit ain't final until you swear in. so if you don't feel right about stuff just stop and think about it, if it ain't good for you just walk. your not obligated to anything unless you signed your contract and have swore in. remember join on your terms not your slimeball recruiter's terms.
 

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Posted by adower (Member # 5955) on :
 
Well from the research I did. Most people like to go in for the GI bill or what not. Do you plan on going back to school?

Also the pay is not that great. My buddy said that he only gets like ~200$ a week when he does it time.
 

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Posted by 68stanger (Member # 7842) on :
 

quote:

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Originally posted by adower:
Well from the research I did. Most people like to go in for the GI bill or what not. Do you plan on going back to school?

Also the pay is not that great. My buddy said that he only gets like ~200$ a week when he does it time.

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if your going to join any branch of service just for the GI bill it will a little harder to use it if you choose to go active duty and try to balance part/full time school (just not enough hours in a day to do that. the pay for the reserves ain't shit no matter what rank you are, it ain't that bad if you get activated though. usally people who join the reserves are not doing it for the peanuts they pay you (its only one weekend a month, honestly how much do you think they are going to pay?
 

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Posted by nineteen90coupe (Member # 8034) on :
 
thanks everyone for your help. clears a few things up.one more question. how about going active in the army. my feeling is that your going straight to iraq. especially cause of my age and education. i was looking at casuality rates for the army and that alone kinda steered my away from it. i would like to go. but, thats a big gamble. any input?
 

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Posted by 68bullitt390 (Member # 9707) on :
 
Half my brothers are active Army, easy to get in, ut not that great of a choice to be honest. People above me gave a lot of good solid advice. When you go in, its all or nothin. Your putting your life on the line. I'm not tryin to steer you away, but just make sure your 100% commited to the plan. My cousin now has a permanent back injury will limp for the rest of his life and all he's gettin is 1k a month. Pretty brutal treatment from the Army. Seriously consider going into the airforce as a career. long term, sign for 6 years. Get some good training you will be somewhat ahead when you get out and hopefully land a decent job. Like i said all my buddies in the USAF are stoked, the other ones sittin in the desert in 110 degree weather, not so much...
 

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Posted by nineteen90coupe (Member # 8034) on :
 
thanks shane for the advice. I will have to really consider this. So your family that is in the army now are kinda hating it. whats the morale from there. i only know a couple people that served in the army. but, they got out before or during the 1st year of the war.so i really have no input other than what you hear in the news or the recruiter which i know i can't trust 100%.
 

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Posted by JohnCM (Member # 1076) on :
 
don't do air force, go coast guard!
air force is not what it seems...
 

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Posted by 68stanger (Member # 7842) on :
 

quote:

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Originally posted by JohnCM:
don't do air force, go coast guard!
air force is not what it seems...

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quote:

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Originally posted by nineteen90coupe:
thanks zeke for the link.

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