I am currently going to school to get the last three credits I need to join the Army as a hischool grad. I am thirty years old and have always felt that the military is somthing that I had to do. For my self "Knowing that I can" and my country. I have a wife and a one year old daughter, and I am just wondering if I am making the right decsion. The mos I am considiring is Infantry. Mostly because I can not get a security clearance do to a wavier. Really limits the job choice in the begining. I know bullits are real and the enmy wants to kill soldiers, but how can I not follow my gut and swallow my pride? I have a decent job with good benifts, but every day I go to work I think to myself about how much more I can be doing and helping. Would I or could I really make a diffrence? I think any body willing and able should be in the military. But can I really justify sacrifice, for a country thats as divided as ours? I would choose to go for the people that are there{at s@$t hole places fighting}, the people that still belive in our country and the morals that it was founded on, and the sons and daughters that have faught in previous wars in our history that made it what it is today. Where do you find this answer? I am pretty sure my self. I guess I just need a kick in the arss. I'm going to do it no matter what, but I guess I am just looking for a few opinons. Any would be gladly taken. Thankyou.

Only you can answer that question, you have to figure what is best for you and your family.

Dbharr,excuse me, but I believe your story suggests that you are not fit for military service.

How is that Mastertanker?

The maximum age for non-prior service enlistments for each of the services are:

Active duty Army - 42
Army Reserves - 42
Army Natinal Guard - 42
Active duty Air Force - 27
Air Force Reserve - 34
Air National guard - 34
Active duty Navy - 34
Navy Reserves - 39
Active duty Marines - 28
Marine Corps Reserves - 29
Active duty Coast Guard - 27
Coast Guard Reserves - 27


You are well within the age limit for what you are wanting to do. As for the requirement of a high school gradute or GED, 3 credits shouldn't be too hard to complete. Its good that you are taking care of that. The security clearance issue? that can be worked on moving forward. Just need to address the items or issues that are being given as reason for not getting the clearance.

You will be starting out in the Army at the bottom of the ladder rank wise. Proper motivation and attention can rapidly allow one to move up in ranks. I have seen it occur over and over. Not unusual for one to go from E-1 to E7, E8, E9 in less than 10 years.

Family situation will pose a burden on you and the family. Be prepared to be seperated for extended periods of time from day one. They will have to stay where they are during your training. Depending on your command once training is completed only then should you consider moving them to that area, and only with command aproval up front.

Your early years of service will be hard on everyone, so be prepared up front and fully understand the implications of this service committment. Note I haven't even mentioned bullets?

My Wife and I have thought and know about all of these things. It will be hard on us all. We have been seperated before for three months when I went fishing in Alaska. So we have a taste of what that will be about. I do think I am at a point in my life where I am mature enough to pay attention and to do the best I can all the time. I do not give up on anything,when I make a committment I see it through no matter what. Thanks for your help. And "Gunny" Its not the bullets I am afraid of.

Dbharr I agree with gunny and I served for 21 yrs in the army so I can speak with experence. That said plan for a few years that will try you hard. Get your physical condition up and keep it there, you need to remember that your not as young as the other kids. What ever MOS you pick, study hard and get ahead of the rest and STAY on top, that is where the promotions come in. BTW there are a lot of MOS'S that don't require a security clearence in the beginning, you will have time to work that out. If there is any more I can tell you about the army let me know. Good luck and don't forget that 3 months is short compaired to 12 months.

I just want to serve along side of the people that are protecting my freedom. I have put this off for far to long and if I am going to do it now is the time. Coachman do you regret any of the time you spent serving your country? I don't no how I will feel in a year or two after enlisting. But I don't belive in regret just how can change for the future. and I think only good things will come of it. I am in shape and am getting better at exeeding my requirments every day. From what I here our kids now days arn't in the best of shape. I have held my self to the 17-21 age standerds. And will exceed them in my entrance test for DEP. I have Three months to soul search but every time I come up with the same answer, Do it. If I dont I will regret it for the rest of my life. As far as Infantry goes, I am considiring other MOS but for some reason I feel the need to prove somthing I guess. I think thats where my imaturity comes in. Thanks for your reply Coachman.

NO I DO NOT REGRET ONE SECOND OF MY TIME IN THE ARMY!!!

What about the first time you were served SOS during breakfast?

Well HarryP that is another story for later

What is SOS breakfast?

I have to say I didn't mind SOS but those Pork & Beans for breakfast sure did suck.By the way what about fourskins on toast.

Trust me, when they serve it, you'll know exactly what it is. Actually with a good dose of salt n pepper, 7 or 8 shakes of tabasco sauce, and wringing the sweat out of a combat boot sock, it don't taste half bad.

Is that the breakfast they serve after your last march in Basic?

If i keep this Forum going, will you guys stick around and B.S. From reading around this site I think there will be alot to take from your entry's. A laugh or to will help me along my way. It's time for me to get serious and it's not going to be easy. No more beer, no more whiskey, till the week before I leave for basic, til I get out of OSUT. That will be a while. I I dont think I will have much time for those kinds of activites while active and a family at home. Certanily not while deployed. My diet will and does consist of low fat foods, good protien and carbs. No suger. P.T 0500:strech,cardio,run 2-5 miles, Eat low fat breakfast. 0800: work,snacks and lunch. 1645:strech,Weights,pushups,and sit ups. 1830:Family,low fat high protien dinner.2000:Sack, wake up and do it again. Need to loose about ten pounds, From the beer and whiskey! Damn stuff anyways. Any excerciss sugestions would be appreciated.

It is something that every recruit needs to find out for themselves. You will and have stories to tell your grandchildren!

Dbharr

Yeah, we'll be here. As for preperation before boot? Not a bad idea as long as you don't overdo it. They will test you upon arrival or within the first few days to see where you stand. Oh yeah, SOS or shit on a shingle is chipped beef in a gravy poured on a slice of toast and it's a standard fare served daily. It'll be that or scrambled eggs bacon or sausage and hash browns. Recommend going light on the serving until you see how much time they allow for one to eat it. They will expect you to eat what you take in whatever time they allow. Find out what the physical training expectations are for the Army and train to those. If weights are part of that training, then do weights. I don't think they are part of the physical training. Weight training in the Marines revolves around being able to perform various man carries over limited distances. Check out this link for Army physical training:
Army Physical Fitness Test

Train around that.

In the USN SOS is either wet Chili no beans on toast or ground beef in white gravy on toast.Fourskins on toast is chipped beef in white gravy on toast.I doubt if you will ever be subjected to any of those .Military Bases are quite different now days.The only thing a young Recruit will be subject to will be pranks by senior enlisted on juniors but not in Boot Camp.

I will eat just about anything when I'm hungry. Sounds good. I work at a hospital and it dosnt sound to far off from what they serve. Why is it that pranks are so prolific in the Military? People just have nothing better to do, do they really want to put people down or are they just seeing who can take it. I dont mind goofen with a Friend. But when sombody I dont know or that dosnt no me does it, not so much. I guess most of it is to see if you can be one of the boys hay?