what is being in the army like?

[1v0ry_k1ng]

any guys here who have served or are in the service? how would you rate being in the army?

I'm in the UK (so being our army is probably much shitter) but I'm seriously considering signing on for 3 years when I finish my teacher training next july, just to get out of the educational grind and do somthing a bit more representitve of the real world. I think some time under army discipline might help me feel like a young man instead of an old adolescent. I dont know that much about what being in the army is like, or if this is a good idea, so advice from people who a thing about stuff is welcome

[Sucky_Lord]

Ive never known a single person to say joining the army was a mistake

[Licho]

Ive never known a single person to say joining the army wasn't a mistake

[SirArtturi]

[...] and do somthing a bit more representitve of the real world. I think some time under army discipline might help me feel like a young man instead of an old adolescent. I dont know that much about what being in the army is like, or if this is a good idea, so advice from people who a thing about stuff is welcome

That is the reason of going there seriously? Is there no other, maybe more ideological or sublime reasons? Have you even thought about in what game you are signing yourself?

In Finland we have national conscript. "Everyone" has to sign in. It's a historical leftover from times of Soviet threat, which still haunts in minds of finns, whom hasnt been able to get over it.

So I've been there. Service itself isn't a big deal though not neat. It's more of moral issues I've been gone through. I'm always ready to protect me and the ones I care. Im also ready to protect human rights and justice, but where goes the limit? Am I ready to go these commercial wars and campaigns of pure greed and oppression of some elite or ideology?

as you in the UK, which is part of NATO (if im right), I would be very careful with these matters.

[Gota]

Want to feel grown up?want to be more mature go volunteer somewhere,help people.
Army is a waste of time unless you get higher education through it.
All the moral mambo jambo is silly the only issue is YOU getting hurt for nothing.

[FLOZi]

any guys here who have served or are in the service? how would you rate being in the army?

I'm in the UK (so being our army is probably much shitter) but I'm seriously considering signing on for 3 years when I finish my teacher training next july, just to get out of the educational grind and do somthing a bit more representitve of the real world. I think some time under army discipline might help me feel like a young man instead of an old adolescent. I dont know that much about what being in the army is like, or if this is a good idea, so advice from people who a thing about stuff is welcome

Are you insane?

[AF]

I lold

Wait your serious?! O SHI....

[Das Bruce]

I think some time under army discipline might help me feel like a young man instead of an old adolescent.

Not being able to feel like a grown up without someone telling you what to do all the time is pretty childlike.

[Gota]

Dont forget you can also get killed in training.

[AF]

and our country is at war, you'll be expected to serve...

[Licho]

Check this
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DShDaJXK5qo

[pintle]

I have mates who have been in the marines, 3 rifles, the REC, and a guy who tooled round Afghanistan in an LAV of some sort, don't know his regiment.

Very very mixed experiences for them, some point blank refuse to relate any of their experience in Iraq/Afghanistan.

If you are looking for a short rotation, learning some life skills, and adventurous travel, maybe think about the navy (or even the merchant navy?)

You know I am a pacifist, (I recognise the need for an armed force as a nation-state pls no stupid derailing) so obviously as a mate I would try and persuade you against it.

tl;dr= go navy or REC (edit: if you have to do it at all)

[Panda]

any guys here who have served or are in the service? how would you rate being in the army?

I'm in the UK (so being our army is probably much shitter) but I'm seriously considering signing on for 3 years when I finish my teacher training next july, just to get out of the educational grind and do somthing a bit more representitve of the real world. I think some time under army discipline might help me feel like a young man instead of an old adolescent. I dont know that much about what being in the army is like, or if this is a good idea, so advice from people who a thing about stuff is welcome

Are you serious? Being a teacher is an important job. You are responsible for helping young people receive an education and expand their opportunities by giving them some idea of what the outside world that they will have to work and support themselves in once their adults is like. It takes a mature and responsible person to do those things even if you aren't given a lot of respect. Teaching is not an easy job either, even if it isn't something like being a police officer where you're getting shot at or a business executive where you have a lot of control over who gets hired an fired from their jobs. You have to do paperwork, deal with people, deal with children, and influence future generations. You might want to try to taking more pride in your work, do some extra classes in order to improve your teaching skills, get a second job, or take some kind of exercise classes. One would think that there would be some kind of activity that you could do aside from joining the military that is considered to be manly. It just seems kind of extreme to me. Don't most teachers want to do things like actively participate in the community? That would give you some real world experience and so could traveling. Maybe you could try doing that.

[SwiftSpear]

any guys here who have served or are in the service? how would you rate being in the army?

I'm in the UK (so being our army is probably much shitter) but I'm seriously considering signing on for 3 years when I finish my teacher training next july, just to get out of the educational grind and do somthing a bit more representitve of the real world. I think some time under army discipline might help me feel like a young man instead of an old adolescent. I dont know that much about what being in the army is like, or if this is a good idea, so advice from people who a thing about stuff is welcome

It's like getting stuck in a REALLY REALLY shitty contract, and you die if you violate it.

[edit] Sometimes you die if you don't violate the contract too actually.

[bobthedinosaur]

I was in the US Marine Corps for 4 years. I wouldn't re enlist in for all the bonuses they were offering, but I did have a good four years and I wouldn't take it back. I don't know what the UK offers veterans but in the US the post 911 GI bill is a great resource for college and I recommend to any one who wants a life change and doesn't have any money for school.

I noticed there are a lot of people who join the military thinking it will be everything their recruiter told them it was. All recruiters lie, just expect it to be rough and suck it up while you're new, and eventually if you aren't a total sack of fail you'll earn your respect.

Another misconception is that the military is all going to be dangerous, while in reality 10% of most militaries are actually the combat units, and 90% is support. Sure you are going to do some dangerous stuff for training but most POGs (personel other-than grunts) never face much more danger the shooting or grenade range. More marines where killed in each year I was in from drunk driving than in combat, just something to think about.

[SpikedHelmet]

Although your current military is a fascist tool of capitalist tyranny and racist oppression, you get to shoot guns and blow stuff up. I would join if I wasn't so fat and lazy.

And yeah, Navy is an alternative, you still get to learn to shoot guns and blow stuff up (and shoot really big guns that float) and probably have more oppurtunities to visit far-off places where your only worry is suicide shark attacks and sunburn.

[SwiftSpear]

Just sayin. If you like to choose weather you kill people or not, military probably isn't a good idea.

[Spawn_Retard]

it depends on the type of mind set your in.

Saying that, the army will change you.

I've got alot of relatives who have served in the army and all have come back different people, all have said they loved being there, but that isnt before they were crying to come home originally.

[Gota]

Check this
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DShDaJXK5qo

This is a fun series...I especially liked part 2 about total war.

[luckywaldo7]

You are responsible for helping young people receive an education and expand their opportunities by giving them some idea of what the outside world that they will have to work and support themselves in once their adults is like.

Actually schools teach you jack shit about real life.

My cousin recently joined the navy, and I was considering joining myself but, well there are particular reasons I can't join that I'm not able to get around. Although as bobthedinosaur said, getting the college money is the big incentive in the US, so I'm not sure if in the UK offers particular incentive for you.