results from my ASVAB

[mikealicious]

which bases are better than the others? I'm from California, and I know they don't have any bases near me.

[TiStick]

Originally Posted by mikealicious

which bases are better than the others? I'm from California, and I know they don't have any bases near me.

Air Force bases....

[Graves]

Only Army base I can say stay away from is Ft Polk.

Here's a little map to help you out.

http://benefits.military.com/misc/in...owse_USMap.jsp

If you make it through to Ranger Bat there's always Ft Lewis

[Graves]

Well if you go Infantry don't even think about taking college courses, maybe online if you can find the time. 6 years I was in not one person got to take them, didn't fit in the training schedule. Now the guys who stayed in are getting the boot because they didn't move forward with schooling.

[Nik00117]

Sometimes 11x or Special Forces can be beneficial. A friend of mine (who is now very well off) did 8 years in the Army as Special Forces. He got out in like 96 and started working Executive Protection. He did this for 2 yrs, in 98 he formed his own company, they became quite successful, a series of poor decisions resulted in the company going up in flames in 2003, in 2004 he went to work as a security contractor for the Military in Iraq. Because of his many years of experience (8 years in the army, 7 years in Executive Protection) he quickly was promoted up in ranks and was a program manager by 2007 he worked 2 more years in that position. Took a cushy job in Europe for 2 years and in late 2010 he got a crazy job offer to be program manager for protecting ships in the horn of Africa, he makes damn near half a million a year.

He went into Special Forces because his dad told him not to join the Army, and if he did get a desk job. He hated his dad so he went Special Forces in the Army.

Although I would add that I really don't think his success comes from his background but more so his personality, he is very smart, a great decision maker, and extremely good at net working.

[craigsfocus]

Originally Posted by NanoAnimal

One thing to keep in mind when you hit your duty station... self improvement. take college courses which cost very little. you can also go on ako and order courses for other mos's, there are lots of different options for education.
The more you do for yourself, the better your record look come time for promotion and such. Most units will work with you so you can have the time to attend courses if needed. There are also tons of online courses which can be done from anywhere.
It also helps immensly when re enlistment time comes.
with the drawdown, some are being denied re-enlistment for various reasons including lack of self improvement.

Great Advice here. I am currently serving myself Active Duty Army as a 91E (Machinist). Been in for 3 years already and just re-enlisted in Afghanistan. Do as much College as you can, it's paid for as long as you are Active Duty through Tuition Assistance from the Ed Centers on Post. Don't think because you are a Infantry guy, that you are going deployed a lot. You will have the time to do college and your leadership should support you as well. I completed some college while I was deployed in Afghanistan. Now in December I am moving to Eglin AFB to reclass (change MOS) to 89D (Explosive Ordnance Disposal). Network as much as you can, including with the Contractors, if you deploy. If you get a good contact with one of the contractors at a private security firm, you could land on of those high speed high paying jobs when you decide to get out, if you do. When you go through Basic/AIT, be motivated, even if it is false motivation. Listening to the Drill Sergeant's and being motivated will make Basic and AIT much easier for yourself. If you decide to go Special Forces, you will go to Airborne and Air Assault School before you start SF school,the whole process is very long. I have a few friends that are SF, they say it is very hard, but worth it. But it requires you to have your whole heart in it. If you have any questions, feel free to ask. I will do my best to answer them or find you the right answer.

[mikealicious]

well I was sworn in yesterday. Was a long day. Up at 4am, and dind't get sworn in until 3pm. so excited though. Got the 11x option 40 (ranger). I ship out for Basic November 6th at Fort Benning. I'll be attending OSUT, airborne school, and RASP there. here's a picture of the swear in.

[TiStick]

Good luck, I hope it turns out to be everything you expect. Keep your chin up, head down, powder dry.

[minesweaper]

Ok here you go, you have made up your mind but there are still some things to think of; college, ranger, duty stations ect. Now take all this you hear on the internet with a grain of salt. All the advise is great but make sure its up to date. If someone is not currently in then their info may be a bit off. Hell, I am an E6 at Fort Campbell and been in since June 2002. I am 11B4P85WF7 (all that means is 11B, SSG, Airborne, Instructor, Jump Master, Pathfinder) and my info may not be up to date enough.

Now all that say you cant do college while being 11B is wrong! I do it all the time. Do online school. Pick a major after you get to your duty station. I am working toward a BA in Homeland Security and Emergency Management. I spend about 5 hours a week doing school work and get A's and B's. Don't go strait to the bar after work. Take some time to do school work and then go. there is plenty of time. Now while deployed you can still do it. Deployments are easier and easier every year. You will have down time. And if for what ever reason you don't there is plenty of time between cycles, my classes are only 5 weeks long. College is free and your dumb not to start knocking it out asap. Look how many other 11B's get out with out it. You will have a leg up.

Now ranger, I never went but should have. I always here about people who had orders for it and never did it. Most were sick of all the BS that is basic. Might as well get it all done at once. Promotion is much easier and re-enlistment bonuses are much bigger with a ranger tab. Going to Ranger Batt sounds great, I don't have much experience with that. I have worked with them in the sand box and it was great.

Lastly, volunteer for schools. Every dumb school you can get. No matter what the more schools you have the more likely you will get promoted. Every thing from Field Sanitation to jump master makes you more marketable then the next guy.

Good luck and if you have any questions PM me your number and I will give ya a call.

Remember never quit. That's what they want you to do.

[minesweaper]

sure, Ill give my experiences but like with anything, I would not expect him to take what I say as gospel. Being in the military is like working for the biggest corp. in the world, experiences may very. I would hate for him to come back and say that he followed what was said here to the T and he still had a bad experience, weather the info comes from me or someone else.