I'm thinking about enlisting

[David J.]

I'll graduate from college this december. And right now, my prospects do not look good at all. So I am looking at enlisting. Well, the airforce that is. Not the military, navy or marines.

Sorry, but paying college debt until I am 40 is stupid, nor does sucking on corporate america's dick, thus making not even enough to live off until I die is worse. That and this area is awful. Expensive housing, no attractive single women who aren't bitchy, no jobs... unless I want to work for fast food AGAIN (Great things start here my ass...) And the grocery bussiness sucks royally. I'm not treated like shit like I was at BK, but the future is almost as bad - if not worse in some aspects. My managers, god bless 'em, work from 8 in the morning, to 8 at night, when they shouldn't really... but hey I give them a lot of credit, great people.

I want to get out of here, I want an adventure, and I want to do SOMETHING.

I worked with a girl who spent six years in college and still is working in fast food. What a dumbass. When my old managers got word of my rant I wrote about them, here's what they said: "Dumbass (the girl), got a new car, new apartment, and got promoted to Shift Supervisor. So she's just fine" What they didn't realize was, that the rant was over a year old, and she still makes less than $25,000 a year. I know that, because she proudly displayed one of her paychecks, and I did 2+2, and it was less than $25,000 a year.

Anyone in the armed forces, or thinking about it?

[Mr Smith]

The problem with being in the military is people try to kill you. Also you lose certain rights. With conflict in Iraq, Afghanistan and (soon) Iran I couldn't think of anything worse than joining the military – maybe being impotent.

[Zebbe]

I will make about $25.000 a year when my education is over next summer. It won't be much, but there will be no debts to pay and I will hopefully always have work, a work I enjoy.

[Drixxel]

A close friend of mine joined the Marines about two years ago.

He was told that if he were to join on, he could do so as a military policeman and stay out of direct combat. This turned out to be bunk, and after having been officially signed on by the military, it turned out that he was in fact headed for Iraq as a regular grunt. His deployment date was accelerated by about three months, and he ended up spending an extended tour in Iraq.

I had a chance to see my friend last summer while he had some leave time. On the outside, he's mostly the same dude, although he now drinks Budweiser doublefisted and has a number of bizarre Marine-related stories to tell. But psychologically, there is some absolutely bad shit a-brewin'. He's seen absolutely terrible things, killed a lot of people, and lost friends in battle. And he's back in Iraq now, as of February 9th, redeployed a month and a half ahead of schedule.

David, if you're looking at the military as a job, there is a lot of money to be made. The fact that your expenses while serving in the military are virtually nil, you save a huge chunk of what you earn, and your income will feel enormous because of it. But if money is all you want right now, there has to be a better solution than the military.. if the job prospects are terrible where you live, what about moving away?

[David J.]

I'm looking at the air force, not the marines or military. So don't worry about that. This is almost a year away, so I have some more time to think about it.

Moving away isn't any better. Right now, I am going to a SUNY College (SUNY = State University of New York) so transfering my credits is really damned tough. I live in New York state, and don't be fooled... the state is a complete shithole. There's no jobs *anywhere* that pay enough to live on, even with a four year degree and a masters. Even when you get out of New York City, in the boondocks, like I do, it is almost as expensive here, as it is in NYC.

[David J.]

Well, I'm talking with a Air Force Recuriter tommorow. Oh yeah, and Drixxel, when you enlist in the marines... you ARE a Marine. Being a marine comes first, and your job comes second.

Zebbe, I'd make that much in a job locally with a 2 AND a 4 year degree, but you'll have 20 years of debt. The USA, despite not being as bad as Europe, is not as cheap as you think it is.

There is an agency that has lots of work, but with a four year degree, the most you can make is $10.97 an hour. Nurses at $15 an hour, when nurses make around $40 an hour at a hospital.

PS: This website is full of shit: http://www.jeffersoncountynewbeginning.com/

[metalliqaz]

It's Air Force, Marines, Navy, and ARMY. They are all part of the military. (Army and Military are not synonyms) All four of them can land you in Iraq. If you join, that is your decision and nobody else's. Just remember the following: Never, ever believe anything that comes out of the mouth of somebody who is trying to sell you something. That includes recruiters. Find out all the facts yourself, and make an informed decision.

-d

[metalliqaz]

Also, I dont know what is wrong with you people, but a 4-year degree in any decent major will land you a job that you can easily live on. If you have gone to college, I see no reason why you cant land a job that pays $40,000+ , even if you were in a retard major like communications or psychology.

-d

[extrarice]

What is your degree for? Hardly anyone actually gets a good paying job right out of college. Loan consolidations are dirt cheap, btw. Like 3% interest, depending on who you go with. As much as I'm with you on hating debt, it's the American condition these days. Millions of others cope with it every day. Hell, I live in a place where $18/hour is the high-end wage. I have thousands of dollars of college loans to pay back, a home mortgage, and auto loan. But I make it, and the principal is getting paid off bit by bit. Will it take me a long time to pay all that off? Sure it will. Welcome to the new American Dream: debt.

As for finding a 40k+ job fresh out of college, it really does depend on your major and the current market. Computer Science used to be the golden ticket, but unless you got your degree from the best-of-the-best CS colleges, forget it. There's hasn't been any entry-to-mid level CS jobs ANYWHERE in this country for the past 6 years.

Guess what my degree was? When the CS job market took a dump just before I graduated I realized I had to do something. I taught myself graphic design and left professional CS behind.

Short version: don't throw your life away because you're not given a golden parachute as soon as you toss your cap in the air. You have to work your ass off to get anything, moreso than any previous generation in this country.

Think long and hard about enlisting while this country is fighting a war against an idea. Ever wonder why it's being called "The Long War" now by politicians?

This all being said, if you want to enlist and fight in the military because you *want* to fight this Long War, by all means do so. But if your reason is just paying off college debt, I'd suggest you try to stick it out in civillian life first.

[David J.]

Human Services, think like social work, advocate, etc... But right now, the prospects are non existant in my area, unless I want to go into service work (again) which are the "hot jobs" in my area.

I get my A.S. in December,. In my area, there are people with Master Degree's working at these agencies only making 30 grand a year. I took an exam for a police officer, the starting wage was *barely* 30 grand a year. And the citizens are wondering why our deputities are leaving left and right.

[Melf]

Your pay in the military isn't going to be much better, and considering the military situation we're in right now, you're going to find that all the knowledge you gained in college means squat in the Air Force. I was in it, and it was amazing to find that very few guys there join because they want to. Most of the dudes in my flight joined because they had been tossed out of their families, gotten their girlfriends pregnant, or were recommended by their parole officers. Don't believe shit that the recruiter tells you either, as he will say anything to get you to sign on the dotted line. They're going bonkers trying to get people to enlist, and nothing is beneath them. The mimium enlistment age has been raised to 41. That's up from 36 only a few years ago. No one wants to join now, and you will find yourself fighting this war. My friend is in the AF, and he was sent to Afghanistan for three months.

After I finished my stint, I left and never looked back. The politics and racism I encountered there was incredible, and it appeared to be run by the biggest bunch of idiots ever to wear a uniform. I want no part of the bullshit that is today's military ever again.

[David J.]

I still don't know what I want to do, or where I want to go for college to get a four year degree. I'm a C-student, so I would feel odd going to a four year school. I said, if I can get a job in the air force, not related to my degree - I'm taking it. Everyone was not amused.

It's funny I mentioned enlisting the military, as they are running the economy locally. I live out in the boondocks, and we have this military base, Fort Drum, and this whole city and county pretty much caters just the to the soldiers. If we lost Fort Drum, we'd be fucked! It'd be like the great depression. We used to have factories, but when they about died out in the early eighties, but I'm sure you know about the evils of outsourcing. Companies are looking at bringing factories here, but the incentives aren't very good.

They are building eighty-odd apartments for low-income families... shit when 19% of the population in my city of 26-something thousand is below the poverty line, what do you expect? They'll have no shortage of clients. The prices seem fair, and it looks like it'll be maintained - the roads are another story however. I wouldn't be half-assed if most of the housing went to the soldiers anyway. And their housing isn't even ON the base, and is actually nicer than what they could rent in the city. My area has some awesome scenery, and some very lenient cops, so you better believe I go ape shit on country roads and know the whole area like the back of my hand, I don't remember the names, but visually I do.

A place like Ruby Tuesday opens, and people about shit themselves... it means jobs. At my old job, I worked with this lady who spent six years in college, and she was working in fast food. She still is as a matter of fact. I'm sure she could have gotten a better job, I think she had some teaching degree. But she's a bad example - she's stupid in the first place. :D

I want to move out soon, but the landlords are taking advantage of the military housing allowance, so lifelong residences are fucked when finding a place to live - $700 for a one bedroom apartment that's barely livable in the crime ridden neighborhood is meh.

Also that agency I mentioned, they are hiring nurses at $14 an hour. A RN makes around $40 an hour at the hospital... and the hospital is hiring a whole bunch of them - I looked for work, and hmm... they may have some prospects for my degree, so I wouldn't rule them out.

PS: You out of state drivers with your riced out Subuaru Impreza WRX piss me off. You are not cool, and you are not original. If you fucking tail-gate me again I'll slam my brakes and you are more fucked than I.

[ErinO]

I wish you luck in whatever you decide to do, David J. Just be careful - you certainly can't take any recruiters word!!

[ErinO]

Also, I dont know what is wrong with you people, but a 4-year degree in any decent major will land you a job that you can easily live on. If you have gone to college, I see no reason why you cant land a job that pays $40,000+ , even if you were in a retard major like communications or psychology.

-d


I was enjoying this community until I read this. What is wrong with a communications or psychology major? I was a psychology major. I don't really know what a communications major is but I am sure they aren't all "retards." I know I'm definitely not! :mad:

[VinnyT]

That was a bit rude, never thought much about it till now since no one really complained. Maybe we do need a little explanation.

[ErinO]

That was a bit rude, never thought much about it till now since no one really complained. Maybe we do need a little explanation.

Thank you, Vinny. :) I was surprised no one said anything. Psychology (depending on the school like everything else) can be a very challenging field and I am angry that I was called a "retard" of all things. I consider myself very smart actually (not to sound conceited). I'm sure this forum is full of all kinds of people with different interests and majors and they should all be respected.

Metalliqaz - can we have an explanation please?

[metalliqaz]

Well, what can I say?

I went to a large state school. Needless to say there are many people there who are only at college because thats what you do after high school. Also to get laid and drink lots of beer.

Lots of people with no direction, no ambition, and aren't particularly brilliant students. By the time they have to pick a major, they choose either (A) the easiest one they can find, or (B) the one that all their friends are in.

They always seem to end up in one of those two majors. How many of those psych majors do you think actually go to graduate school and become psychologists or teachers? Most of them go to work for company XYZ as an "associate" and never think about it again.

At graduation day, there are so many students that we don't all go on stage individually, they just ask a department to stand up, and all the students stand up. Then they sit right down. Communications and psych are obviously much, much larger than most majors, followed by anthro/soc and english probably.

Now, I'm not saying they're all "retarded", I'm fully aware that isn't the case, but I don't see the riff-raff settling on physics, engineering, or economics....

Be offended if you want, that is bound to happen on the internet, but i would hope that people take away the important point from my previous post: don't join the military simply because you don't think you can find a decent job... at least look first.

-d

[ErinO]

Well, what can I say?

I went to a large state school. Needless to say there are many people there who are only at college because thats what you do after high school. Also to get laid and drink lots of beer.

Lots of people with no direction, no ambition, and aren't particularly brilliant students. By the time they have to pick a major, they choose either (A) the easiest one they can find, or (B) the one that all their friends are in.

They always seem to end up in one of those two majors. How many of those psych majors do you think actually go to graduate school and become psychologists or teachers? Most of them go to work for company XYZ as an "associate" and never think about it again.

At graduation day, there are so many students that we don't all go on stage individually, they just ask a department to stand up, and all the students stand up. Then they sit right down. Communications and psych are obviously much, much larger than most majors, followed by anthro/soc and english probably.

Now, I'm not saying they're all "retarded", I'm fully aware that isn't the case, but I don't see the riff-raff settling on physics, engineering, or economics....

Be offended if you want, that is bound to happen on the internet, but i would hope that people take away the important point from my previous post: don't join the military simply because you don't think you can find a decent job... at least look first.

-d

It's also very hard to find a job in your field when you graduate. I want to be working in psychology but can't find a job in that field so I am making a lot less than $40,000 doing something else.... so I guess you'd call me a retard for that too? Maybe you had an easy time finding a job doing what you wanted to do but it isn't easy for most people. Most people have to settle. You seem to live in some kind of bubble.

[metalliqaz]

I want to be working in psychology but can't find a job in that field so I am making a lot less than $40,000 doing something else.... so I guess you'd call me a retard for that too?

Of course not. I don't believe that I ever implied that.

I know it seems hard, but if you really don't like what you're doing then you have to keep trying to improve things. Keep looking, move if you have to. It will happen. Don't forget that the single most important thing is to seek help from others.

Now, if you'll excuse me, I'm going to climb back into my bubble and continue working my fingers to the bone.

-d

[Mr Smith]

Psychology = The art of stating the obvious.
Philosophy = Babbing crap with no right or wrong answers.

[David J.]

I AM going in the Air Force. Even with a four year degree in any field there isn’t shit HERE. My area exists only to serve the military, and I’m fucking sick of them street racing while I am driving home from the store.

The only thing keeping this economy open is restaurants and retail work. There are only a few manufacturing jobs, but they barely make a blip on the radar. Housing, there is none... because the damn GI's want to live off base and the military housing is sure nicer than what they rent out. Someone is building 80+ new apartments, but five bucks says they'll all go to soldiers.

When a new restaurant opens, people shit their pants because it means jobs. 13 years ago when Wal-Mart came to town they where promising wages starting at $9 an hour... well, more people came to apply than expected so they lowered the wages. A call center known as Stream came to town and again people shit their pants because it would pay $10+ an hour... and it'd bring 300+ jobs to the area. Well, they have the highest turnover of any place in the area and only pay twenty five cents over minimum wage - I think that new contract for XM radio really helped, yeah right. Did I mention they promise free coffee in their advertisements for employment?

With my major (Human Services) locally if you have a four year degree, you'll be making at best $10 an hour keeping tabs on mentally retarded folk. I realize my field doesn't pay the best; however, it does pay a lot better than that. Agencies don't have $$$ like companies do to hire employees and getting into one is harder also. Unless it is a state or government agency.

All of the manufacturing jobs that made the economy strong and paid well are gone. All we have now are restaurants and stores keeping people employed and the economy running.

I work part time at a grocery store, making minimum wage... the wages suck, but it's better than flipping burgers - I worked at a Burger King for three years and only made a few cents more. But corporate is really full of them selves, so part time people are getting hours cut. I was getting twenty in a week, now I'm getting five on average. I only pocket $40 a week for pocket money and the rest goes in the bank for savings. Competitive wages my ass... they used to be a real popular employer, because people would love to work there, but they can't compete with all of the restaurants coming to town paying much better, people are going elsewhere All the people hired nowadays are cashiers and baggers, in which we have too many.

It's funny how I want to go into the military, yet I detest them in a way.

[Mr Smith]

Good luck. Drop a bomb on Tehran for me. :D

[ErinO]

Good luck......I understand your reasons but I am worried for you! Just be smart about it.

[metalliqaz]

You can move dude...

[ErinO]

You can move dude...

I'm sorry if I snapped at you (although you were a jerk in your comment). I am going through a really hard time right now because my boyfriend and I broke up. It's one of the reasons I came to the community. I broke out my sega and it gives me some comfort, not much, but some.

[Drixxel]

I'm sorry if I snapped at you (although you were a jerk in your comment). I am going through a really hard time right now because my boyfriend and I broke up. It's one of the reasons I came to the community. I broke out my sega and it gives me some comfort, not much, but some.

Classic gaming heals all wounds. Welcome to Sega-16!

David, if you have indeed made your commitments to the Air Force, best of luck to you, but I can't help but agree with metalliqaz in that there have to be better job prospects than the minimum wage poverty doom of your immediate surroundings. It sounds like you've let yourself slip into the same hopeless and ambitionless mindset that is plaguing your area and keeping it the crippled mess that it is. Life exists beyond New York state! If you're prepared to go through boot camp and fight a war for your country, you would be fully capable of moving away and starting a new life somewhere with a brighter future. The Air Force is one solution to get you out of your current situation, but don't for a second think it's the only god damn means of escape.

[ErinO]

Thank you Drixxel

[Mr Smith]

Classic gaming heals all wounds. Welcome to Sega-16!

Damn right! I hope you played Ecco the Dolphin.

[ErinO]

Damn right! I hope you played Ecco the Dolphin.


Nah, I don't have that game.

[ErinO]

Any other suggestions? :(

[metalliqaz]

ErinO: Just out of curiosity, did you happen to go to ConnColl ?

[Mr Smith]

Any other suggestions? :(

Buy Ecco the Dolphin. :D

[ErinO]

ErinO: Just out of curiosity, did you happen to go to ConnColl ?

I went to Clark University near Boston, MA. Why??

[ErinO]

Buy Ecco the Dolphin. :D

Okay then, I guess I'll have to

[metalliqaz]

I just had a feeling you were someone I know in real life, thats all. That person went to ConnColl.

MrSmith: Ecco is creepy, Sonic for teh w1n.

[Mr Smith]

MrSmith: Ecco is creepy, Sonic for teh w1n.

Ecco is creepy and that's what makes it so God damn awesome. Ecco the Dolphin is a masterpiece and that is a fact. The music is awesome too.

[Zebbe]

Nothing is creepier than meeting those aliens in the "Welcome to the Machine" level in Ecco the Dolphin. Not even Mortal Combat or Knight Rap.

[ErinO]

I just had a feeling you were someone I know in real life, thats all. That person went to ConnColl.

MrSmith: Ecco is creepy, Sonic for teh w1n.


Do you mean Connecticut College? A friend I used to have from high school went there. It's a really good school. I assume that's not where you went since you said something about a big university!

[Benjamin]

You can move dude...

This. David, you seem to be missing the obvious choice. You're saying the area/state you're in is expensive? Well, go to another state. It sure beats taking a risk getting blown up in some mindless war. Otherwise, consider going to another country on a work visa. Ultimately, it's your choice, but putting your life in jeopardy -- which is what you will be doing in the military by joining -- seems to be a poor substitute for a short move to take advantage of lower prices and job opportunities.

[ErinO]

Now, if you'll excuse me, I'm going to climb back into my bubble and continue working my fingers to the bone.

-d

What do you do? I work at a college...

[David J.]

I risk my life leaving my home at times, but you don't see too many airmen getting shot at, or on the frontlines. I won't deny it happens, but there's not much of an infantry in the air force. Hell, I might not do well on the ASVAB, so I might not be able to even get in.

This summer, I'll hopefully have my associates of sciences in Human Serices, or be pretty damn close - only a few classes left. Either way, with most AS degree,s your job prospects in another state aren't really better. Housing and living might be more common and affordable, however.

I will tell you I am going to quit my current job.

[ErinO]

David - Where in NY do you live? I can't imagine there aren't more opportunities for you. It's not like you live in Wyoming or something ;)

[David J.]

Watertown, NY. It's claim to fame is NY Air Break... which has shipped many manfacturing overseas, and Fort Drum. And Fort Drum is the only thing keeping this economy running, and I guess we are all forced to cater to the soliders and their excess baggage.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Watertown%2C_New_York

[David J.]

Wow... necrobump. About almost three years later since my last post, well almost and here I am in the military. Looking at doing four more, just to get my degree and maybe going in the guard and finishing out twenty years or staying high year of tenure in the reserves which is like never lol - if I want to stay in that long. Or retrain and finsh out twenty active. Either way I want to retrain.

I will say that active duty has been a good experience, but not the one I was hyped up to belive from basic and tech school. No regrets, but it leaves a sour taste in my mouth at times. And after talking to quite a few people in the reserve and guard from tech school to now... parts of me wish I went guard or reserve and became a reserve bum and focused on college on the side, but this was before the economy tanked. But on the flipside... I have the new GI Bill which I wouldn't really recieve if I was guard or reserve, since education benefits are a bit different - I made sure I transferred it over, and had stable employment while the economy crumbled.

Plus I am stationed in an area I just love and wouldn't mind settling down in... so we'll see how things go.

Things aren't going the best, but they'll get better, but as for staying in... we'll see in twenty years. :)

[17daysolderthannes]

So where do you live and what is your degree in?

If jobs are that bad where you live, move somewhere else, it's not that hard to figure out.

The military fucking blows, the only people I know that like it are borderline psychos that get off on shooting at people. Most of military life is getting up at obscene hours to do tedious, repetitive work or get shot at. You're basically a legal slave except for your couple days here and there of leave. I would never join the military, ever. When foreign boats are storming our shores, I'll consider it, but we haven't been involved in a necessary conflict since WW II.

[NavesRegge]

How many more years of the military do you need to look like this guy?

http://www.flyingomelette.com/oddities/pics/sab2/4-marco.jpg

Or this guy?

http://t1.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:QSuJL6SpNVhY9M:http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/Duke_Nukem_004.jpg

[David J.]

Shit I need liek 500 years.... I really have a desk job LOL. Fuck degrees and I live in the DC area.

[17daysolderthannes]

Shit I need liek 500 years.... I really have a desk job LOL. Fuck degrees and I live in the DC area.

what do you mean "fuck degrees"? Why the fuck did you go to college if you aren't even getting a degree you care about?

I don't know why liberal arts degrees are even still offered at universities. There is literally no real-world application for them. Even if you want to make a living as an artist, actor, etc., why do you need a college degree for that? Either you can act or you can't, you can make appealing art or you can't, taking some history class isn't going to change that. Those things should be taught at some sort of 2 year (or less) technical school just to teach basic techniques and call it a day.

Like I said, just move. You'll have to get a job somewhere, why stick around some place you don't like and doesn't have any good jobs?

[Rusty Venture]

17days, if David stays in the military he can't "just move". He can request a transfer, but that doesn't mean it will go through.


I really have a desk job LOL

Someone has to file away those forms that are filled out in triplicate. :p


All I can tell you is that if you stay in, and you end up someplace where you get combat pay (even if you don't see any) save that extra money. I calculated what my dad made when he was still new in the AF (mid 60's) and if he had saved what he earned (mostly the bonus combat pay), by the time he retired (early 90's) his savings + retirement would mean he would never have had to work again.

As it stands now, his retirement covers my parents house payment (and then some) so they pretty much only worry about bills and repairs.

[promking]

Which SUNY school? I went to Stony Brook.

[Baloo]

So where do you live and what is your degree in?

If jobs are that bad where you live, move somewhere else, it's not that hard to figure out.

The military fucking blows, the only people I know that like it are borderline psychos that get off on shooting at people. Most of military life is getting up at obscene hours to do tedious, repetitive work or get shot at. You're basically a legal slave except for your couple days here and there of leave. I would never join the military, ever. When foreign boats are storming our shores, I'll consider it, but we haven't been involved in a necessary conflict since WW II.

I can see you're very patriotic.

[Rusty Venture]

I missed that golden nugget of 17days inserting his foot in his mouth.

I'll just address it as politely as I possibly can:

17days, shut your fucking mouth. You don't know shit, and your comment is proof of that.

[17daysolderthannes]

17days, if David stays in the military he can't "just move". He can request a transfer, but that doesn't mean it will go through.


Oh, I misunderstood, he said "enlisting" not "re-enlisting." If he's not tied to the military, he can move anywhere.




And as for being "patriotic", go eat a dick. As I said, the military hasn't been in an ethical involvement since WW II, and I stand by that statement. An isolated terrorist attack does not justify a full fledged attack and occupation on the whole god damn middle east. You think it does, go get yourself killed, I'm not putting my ass on the line over nonsense.

[WoodyXP]

Wow... necrobump. About almost three years later since my last post, well almost and here I am in the military. Looking at doing four more, just to get my degree and maybe going in the guard and finishing out twenty years or staying high year of tenure in the reserves which is like never lol - if I want to stay in that long. Or retrain and finsh out twenty active. Either way I want to retrain.


Good for you.. glad to see you like it. I'm in the Air Force, too.. been in for 12 years. It seems the longer you stay in, the better it gets. With the economy being the way it is now I'm glad I stayed in. After taxes and only having a phone/internet bill to pay(no rent or any of that bullshit) I take home about $34k a year. Works for me! :cool:

[WoodyXP]

17days, shut your fucking mouth. You don't know shit, and your comment is proof of that.

Cosigned.

[David J.]

And now today I was notified that I can get BAH... but i'm not at my three year mark.

I wonder how I can move my shit back in my bedroom to here in DC/VA? I did a DITY move here... just loaded up my dads truck and got here. So WoodyXP... you have any expeirence with moving?

[WoodyXP]

And now today I was notified that I can get BAH... but i'm not at my three year mark.

I wonder how I can move my shit back in my bedroom to here in DC/VA? I did a DITY move here... just loaded up my dads truck and got here. So WoodyXP... you have any expeirence with moving?

You will more than likely have to DITY that stuff, too. The housing office should be able to set you straight on that.

[David J.]

Feels good to be allowed to move out of the dorms... shit I dont want to do a DITY since my home of record is like eight hours away. I'm in DC and my HOR is back in NY.

[ApolloBoy]

The military fucking blows, the only people I know that like it are borderline psychos that get off on shooting at people.
So would you call my a cousin a psycho? He's in the Air Force right now and he really enjoys it. And he's a real nice guy too. My grandfather really liked being in the Air Force as well and he traveled around pretty much all of Europe. I'm not big on the military either, but to generalize everyone who likes being in the military as a psychopath is fucking ridiculous.

[Rusty Venture]

And as for being "patriotic", go eat a dick. As I said, the military hasn't been in an ethical involvement since WW II, and I stand by that statement. An isolated terrorist attack does not justify a full fledged attack and occupation on the whole god damn middle east. You think it does, go get yourself killed, I'm not putting my ass on the line over nonsense.

You wanna know why you need to shut the fuck up? Because having an opinion about Iraq doesn't make you a goddamn expert on the military.

[Melf]

See, this...




The military fucking blows, the only people I know that like it are borderline psychos that get off on shooting at people. Most of military life is getting up at obscene hours to do tedious, repetitive work or get shot at. You're basically a legal slave except for your couple days here and there of leave.

... has nothing to do with this...




I would never join the military, ever. When foreign boats are storming our shores, I'll consider it, but we haven't been involved in a necessary conflict since WW II.

And as for being "patriotic", go eat a dick. As I said, the military hasn't been in an ethical involvement since WW II, and I stand by that statement. An isolated terrorist attack does not justify a full fledged attack and occupation on the whole god damn middle east. You think it does, go get yourself killed, I'm not putting my ass on the line over nonsense.

Your opinion of America's foreign policy is a TOTALLY different topic than what military life is like, and judging by what you said, you know nothing about being in the military. If that's what you think all being in the armed forces is, then you need to do a little more research before you opine, because what you said is just ignorant.

[David J.]

You will more than likely have to DITY that stuff, too. The housing office should be able to set you straight on that.

Shit I'll have to fly home then rent a uhaul and drive it hack here. I might sign off on a place friday hopefully. it'll be close with my BAH, but worth it since it is in a nice area and in great condition/care.

So I dunno...I am in better shape than most single airman who move out of the dorms.

[Rusty Venture]

I'm rather curious David, what aircraft fly out of whatever the name of your base is?

F-16 & F-15's? F-22's?

And perhaps I asked this before, but what is it you do in the AF?

[David J.]

They don't fly aircraft out of my base. Our mission is the AF Band and Honor Guard... serious.

My job is Public Health...a medical job that I want to retrain from. Seemed to be cool back in the day, but we where merged with another career field around 2002-04 time frame, and our mission has changed there. Plus they either want to take away the career field we merged with and make it its own again, or add more stuff. Either way I want to retrain...Do things ranging from tracking diseases/std's, food facility inspections, deployment processing, medical standards, helping people for retraining, hearing exams, reviewing profiles.

I do like the medical standards stuff - the career field we merged with, but it can be stressful at parts.

[Rusty Venture]

Our mission is the AF Band and Honor Guard... serious.

Riiiiiiiiight

http://unrealitymag.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/01/dr_evil.jpg

[David J.]

Nope. Look up Bolling AFB. And my ex cheated on me with an honor guard guy.

[Rusty Venture]

It isn't that I don't believe *you*, I just can't believe a base would exist for the purpose of Air Force Band and Honor Guard.

I see there is also Communications and Medical, which makes up for the other stuff...but still, no planes at all? Bogus.

[David J.]

Ah... well its true. Base used to have a flight line back in like 1950 something.

[Rusty Venture]

Bogus man, totally bogus.

[WoodyXP]

Bolling quit flight operations in the '60s. Hell.. it's hosted by the 11th Wing. The 11th Wing doesn't fly.. lol. Bolling is a Headquarters/Ceremonial/Family/Military Community type base.

[David J.]

We have 11th Wing people at the Pentagon, along with the 79th Medical Wing, err... the 579th Medical Group which can make it confusing. I think they should be their own group or wing at the Pentagon. I've been at the Pentagon a few times to work, and it's pretty interesting.

For example: We had this Captain win CGO of the Year, and Quarter a few times last year for the 579th, and we were all like... who is this person?

Shit, the whole medical side of things is confusing here in the NCR, and I can't wait to get out of here because of it sometimes. :daze: