First and foremost, you should decide if you should even join the military.

The military is not for everyone, and some people find that out too late.

Ask yourself why you want to join the military?
Do you need a job?
Do you want to serve your country?
Are you thinking of making the military a career, or just do a term or two?
Is it for the college benefits?
Is it to learn a trade?
Do you want to travel the World for awhile?
Just need some time to "mature?"

Before you join, recognize the fact that a stint in the military is not civilian employment. It's not just like having a regular job. You can't just up and quit anytime you want to

You can go to jail just for being late for work. (Granted, it's unlikely that a commander would impose nonjudicial punishment, or court-martial action the first time you are late for work, but it would be entirely legal for him/her to do so -- See Article 86 of the Uniform Code of Military Justice (UCMJ).)

No matter how high your rank, no matter which service you join, there will always be someone telling you what to do, and when to do it. This is a fact of life in the Armed Forces. You will not be able to change it.

Many times you won't like or agree with your orders, but you take a solemn oath to "obey the orders of the President of the United States and the lawful orders of those appointed over you."

Disobeying those orders can have serious consequences.

If you can't live with this simple fact, save yourself and the government some valuable time and money, and don't enlist.

In a civilian job, if you don't like your boss, or don't like the job, you can simply quit. Not so, in the military. We get requests all the time from recruits who just graduated basic training and/or technical school (job training), asking how they can "quit" the military. The short answer is that you can't -- unless it is for a valid hardship reason (i.e., someone in your immediate family is terminally ill, and your presence is required). The military can throw you out for several reasons, but you can't simply quit because you don't like it. If the military decides to throw you out (discharge you), the consequences of the discharge (depending on the type of discharge you're granted) can follow you the rest of your life.

If you like to smoke a joint once in a while, don't join. The military uses random, no-notice urinalysises, and -- if you're found positive, you may very well go to jail (as well as being discharged). The DOD urinalysis test can find THC in your urine for three weeks after you've smoked a joint.

The military is allowed to discriminate by gender. If you're a woman, know that there are some jobs and positions which are not open to you (most in the Marines, fewest in the Coast Guard -- in fact, all ratings are open to women in the Coast Guard). In fact, the Navy even limits the number of women they will allow to enlist. This is because there are only so-many berths on ships that have been designated for women, and if the Navy allows too many women in at one time, they wind up with an inbalance of those serving on sea duty.

If you're homosexual, or bisexual, understand up front that you may not engage in homosexual activity while in the service (on or off duty), and you may not tell anyone of your homosexuality. To do so will result in an immediate discharge. While the military will not ask about your sexual preferences, neither are you allowed to tell anyone else that you are homosexual or bi-sexual while you are in the military. This is the infamous "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" policy.

In today's military, expect to spend a significant time away from "home." The average Navy enlisted person can spend a significant amount of time each year at sea. On any given day, 40 percent of Navy personnel are assigned to a ship or submarine, and 35 to 45 percent of those ships will be deployed to sea

Depending on your Air Force AFSC (job), and duty assignment, you may find yourself spending up to seven months out of every year deployed to such garden spots as Kosovo, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Afghanistan, Iraq, and Turkey.

The Army deploys a significant amount of folks to beautiful downtown Iraq, Afghanistan, Bosnia and Kosovo.

The Marines are also scattered around (although not in as great numbers as the other services). Recently, however, the Marines have been taking their turn in Iraq and Afghanistan. However, unlike the Army (and like the Navy), a Marine may find him/herself spending significant amount of time deployed to sea on Navy and Marine Ships.

Even if you elect to join the National Guard or Reserves, these branches now spend a significant amount of time deployed to areas such as Iraq, Afghanistan, Bosnia, Kosovo, and the Gulf

Which Service Should I Join?
Next, you'll need to decide which service you are interested in. Sometimes, you'll know this in advance. Perhaps you had a friend or relative who served or are serving in a particular branch of the military and you want to follow in their footsteps. You should give this matter much study. Each of the services are different, and some people may be more suited (based upon qualifications, temperament, and/or interests) for one service vs. another. Make sure you select a service that YOU are interested in joining, based upon YOUR interests.

Don't join a service just because someone else liked it, or expects you to. It's your life, your interests, your decision.

The Marines are, without argument, the most "military" of all the services. If you join the Marines, expect to eat, sleep, and breath "The Corps," 24 hours per day, seven days per week. All Marines are considered a "rifleman" first, and whatever other MOS (Job) they hold second. This is attributable to the high level of marksmanship training that all Marines receive.

The Army is probably the second most "military." Many Army Combat Arms units, such as the elite Rangers, are just as intense and "gung ho" as the Corps.

The Navy, while not as "rigid" as the Marines and Army, has many deep-set customs and traditions which are immobile. For the "gung-ho" sailor, the Navy possesses, probably the best-known special operations force -- the Navy SEALs.

The Air Force, tied with the Coast Guard, as the "least military" service, also has it's share of "gung ho," in the elite Combat Controllers and Air Force Pararescue forces.

Recruiters see lots of folks who want to enlist and serve in one of these elite fields. The truth of the matter is that most people who apply for the "elite" programs wash out due to the very rigorous training requirements. If you enlist to become one of these "elites," and you wash out of training, you don't get to quit. You'll be required to serve the remainder of your enlistment contract in a different job.

If you like shooting (a lot), and want a complete change of lifestyle, to include a deeply ingrained pride of service, commitment, and sense of loyalty, the Marine Corps may be just what you're looking for.

This may be a minor point, but it is very telling:
When you ask an airman what he does, he will respond, "I'm in the Air Force."
When you ask a sailor what she does, she'll respond, "I'm in the Navy."
If you ask a Marine what he does, he'll say "I am a Marine."

If you want a little more flexibility in your lifestyle, but still want a strong sense of being in the military, the Army may be for you. If you like to crawl through the mud and blow things up, using the latest and greatest of "blowing up toys," consider one of the Army's combat arms branches. You'll likely get all the time "in the field," that you want.

The Navy is probably the best place for those who like to travel -- a lot. There are few ratings (jobs) in the Navy that won't spend a significant amount of time at sea. This might be great if you are single, but might be something you'll want to think about if you have a family.

Great points, Gunny!

I would add that deployment right now is at an all time high. Many units are spending 8 months overseas every year. Most units spend 6-8 months every 18 months. Almost every "new" Soldier and Marine I know has done at least one tour each in Afghanistan and Iraq in their first 3-4 years in. It is slowing down, but just barely right now.

(I work on an Army base, so I still see these new guys).

Great info for new troops Gunny. You're telling them things alot of them dont find out till after they join. And patoloco is right no unit is exepmt from the sandbox. My unit's primary mission is the Antarctic Airlift and we still go on AEF missions to Iraq and Afganistan.

antartic airlift? so you are the guy's bringing back all them darned penguins!