Im going to Join the... Army, Navy or RAF
 

UK.

Im at a crossroad in my life (23) atm. Looking for a change of lifestyle and surroundings. May consider a combat role if unsuccesful at whatever I decide to go for. Done my background work on all three, would prefer. Navy, Army, RAF in that order but im open. Atm im working on my fitness, would like to train for around 4-6 months before even applying.
Anyone been in any of the above, experiences. Comments welcome.

good luck in your endeavors

My cousin is in the Army, he just got back from Afghanistan last week. I've lost count how many tours it is he has done but its a lot now. He isn't in a rush to go back. I think he is staying home for a while now, getting a post in the UK for more training. Happened before then they sent him back, so no doubt he will end up back there.

I joined the US Marines when I was seventeen. Best fucking thing I ever did. I was doing drugs, crashing at various friend's houses, and living a life of small petty crimes. Marines straightened me out quickly and give me direction.

Yeah, thats why I would like to join, I want some direction I seem to be drifting by, plus I want to prove to myself I can do it.

Go to college and keep your legs.

The problem I see with people I know who have enlisted for reasons like this, is once you are out you still have to do something with your life. They return from the middle east and just go fucking crazy blowing money on strippers and junk, then sometimes they are worse off than when they enlisted once that runs out.

good luck

you might want to consider an extreme job change instead, like lobster fishing the arctic ocean. lots of money, the same grueling punishment on your body and mind, and more rewarding than fighting pointless wars for oil.

Serving your country is a very honorable thing to do, not to mention you'll get to do some really exciting things that most civilians can only do in video games. You'll learn that you can push yourself far beyond your own self-imposed mental and physical limits. You'll learn that nobody can tell you that you cant succeed at something. You'll develop a high level of integrity and an unbelievable attention to detail.

And after you've left military service, you'll see many different things in a way that non-veterans could never understand.

Some very good advise.

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Being in the military today is very different from 50 years ago. While I respect all those that serve in the forces I suggest you think long and hard about it.

My advice would be not to risk your life for some political bullshit.

army or navy

I'm not sure what "wars for oil" you talking bout. The United States gets it's oil from Canada and Mexico, and I don't recall anyone invading them.

But you just kind of reinforced my point. The military doesn't make decisions about where it goes or what it does; It is (for the most part) apolitical and does as it is ordered. Ironically, the people who protect our democracy do not practice it.

the misinformation fed to loyal patriotic citizens like you by the govt and media is what bankrupted the US and caused hundreds of thousands of unnecessary deaths all over the world. every international political decision since the 70s oil crisis has been about oil.

Iraq was all about securing future oil rights. its true that currently only about 49% of US oil consumed is imported, and the largest exporters to the US are Canada and Mexico, but Saudi Arabia is #3 and Nigeria is #4 (link). the US pursued Saudi Arabia as an oil trade partner almost as soon as they found oil - in 1933 (link).

from the 70s to 90s, as more and more gas-hogging cars got on the road in the US, oil reserves fell (graph). if you remember, the Bush/oil clan tried to get into Iraq in 1991 (after a sharp reduction in US oil production) but failed and pulled back. 10 years later, they tried again and were able to secure oil rights. most of the contractors that won contracts in Iraq are oil or land related (link). what is their purpose if not to rape the land and people of its resources?

if you do some reading about oil consumption and correlating political actions, you can piece together a lot about what is happening in the world. it is all about oil. check out where all the oil is in the world and suddenly you realize these are all the countries of highest interest to the US govt and media:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oil_reserves

:2 cents:

in the uk we now have more civil cervents working in the army, than we have solders.

if you want to join the army, go to uni then join as an officer, get paid more and safer.

personaly i would not join, years ago yes, but today, why be cannon fonder?

if you join good luck, but put it this lots and lots are comming back with arms and legs blown off. to be its not worth fighting for wars that are just about oil.

by the way is it true that the usa goverment baned footage of the dead being brought back to the usa as they only want a postitive message being sent out.

I have mixed feelings about this. My initial thoughts are that it is an honorable choice that can make you into a man. But then I stop and think that I know nothing of you. I do not know where you are at mentally.

My son has a brother-in-law that just got back from Iraq. We have been FB friends for a while so I was there for him on FB while he was there. He sounded very depressed and talked all this [suicidal] crap. My son informed me that the guy wasn't even in combat but was training Iraqis to be cops.

Since he has returned all his updates talk about being unable to get work, and considering going back. I guess the point of that story is to go in to get trained for something that there is demand for in the real world. There are not a lot of cop jobs available where he lives, so being an MP probably not a great idea. Sniper might be fun, but not a lot of real world application. So if you are going to do it, do it smart. Pick an area that will get you a good job when you get out.

When i was a kid, we had this goofy song which was a spoof of the US Army recruiting commercials of the time......

"Army, be all that you can be...
Get a messed-up life
and an Asian wife
In the Arrrrrrrmy"

Ironically enough, the song turned out to ring true...haha
( did 10 years myself )

But seriously, not sure what the UK military is like, but mine in the US mil was the experience of a lifetime......travel, adventure, great benefits, slutty army girls, and yes.....lots of Asian pussy.

the honour of being in the army is long gone. You're a pawn of the businessmen who make the decisions where to go to war - in short: You put your life on the line to make them more money.
If you understand that this is how the world works, you'd be crazy to go in the army. There is no higher cause, you are cannon fodder for the pockets of politicians and companies, simple as that. They couldn't care less about your life.

When did soldiers ever decide where to go to war? Soldiers do what the commanders tell them to. Its no different today than it ever has been. In the past, Kings conquered other lands in order to grow their empires and lay taxation to more people, making themselves richer and richer.

Tell me how it is different now.

dont do it man

do something honorable with your life, go volunteer in africa and help some kids or something like that

like someone above said this isnt 1940 anymore and the US army isnt really doing honorable things these days

you've got a point, i retract my statement. It has never been honourable.

Seen Ross Kemp in Afghanistan on Discovery Channel?

"Candid and brutally honest, ‘Ross Kemp in Afghanistan' is the British actor's very personal account of British soldiers at war."

Norway has mandatory military service of nineteen months for men and I've done my bit. No way I would go back if I wasn't desperate.

Its all a matter of perception.

excellent advice:2 cents::thumbsup

I like this suggestion :thumbsup

I've had friends in the British Army, what they got out of it was mixed at best.

One of them was trouble when he was at school and it got him on the straight and narrow, he was doing peacekeeping in Northern Ireland last time I saw him about maybe 5 or 6 years ago, lost touch with him so not sure what he is doing these days.

Another friend of mine has left in the last year or so, he was posted to Iraq. After he came back from just one tour he had changed, not for the better either really. He used to be kind of quiet kept out of trouble kinda thing. But when he got back he seemed to have gone a bit crazy, wanted to get drunk all the time (and did) and just didn't seem the person. But that was when he was on his breaks so he probably just wanted to let loose.

Also, whenever fireworks went off, they scared the shit out of him after he got back. Never seen someone duck for cover behind a car in the middle of town before after a firework has gone off.

He's left now after 2 or 3 years and works at the Airport.

Take from them 2 stories what you will, everyone gets affected differently. It changes some people for the best and some people for the worst.

Just taking a second look and reading through all your valid comments, I had no high intention of joining to be cannon fodder or frontline but was drawn towards the non direct combat roles within the RAF and NAVY mostly. Going to speak to a recruiter next week and start the process. Thanks for the replys.

I was in the army in REME and loved every single day of it. Its a great life for single people, if you are married or long term relationship (that you want to keep) its a different story though.

I still have friends I served with still in service and done Afghan and Iraq, and they say their time in Afghan is 10 times worse than the service we did in NI - and if you sign up today you have to expect you will go to theatre and fight. But that is what you train for.

I have no regrets in having been in the forces, it taught me some discipline and skills you will not get in any other career - and is the best grounding anyone can have in life.

Wow, you're a moron. So many things wrong I don't even know where to begin. Let alone you think in 1991 "we tried to get into iraq" and then "we couldn't so we pulled out". Epic lulz on that one.

I have no regrets about the army and desert storm. Were there great things about it? Yes. Were there horrible things about it? Yes. Did it change me? Yes, in some ways for the better, and maybe it did some damage also. All in all, though, it is an experience that no one who has not served can ever know, as many books they read, movies they watch, or video games they play.... NOTHING is like the real thing. It will give you a unique set of experiences, that you will carry with you for the rest of your life.

Personally, I think that memories and experiences, in the end, are all we can take with us from this life, so fill up on them.




.Just my two cents....



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well prove me wrong dickhead or you are a bigger moron than me :321GFY
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So because you have no direction in life you want to become a war criminal? Ok good luck with that:thumbsup It would be different if you wold be defending your country but we all know that will not be the case.

Its as simple as this really. I can work my normal job and continue my internet ventures, or improve my life and gain skills that will ultimately be beneficial my future.

war criminal? Is that what you can people in the army.

Soldiers haven't 'served their country' since WW2. You will be serving the needs of the banking and corporate elite.
Having said that it serves some people. Have a cousin serve in the Royal Marines for 10 years. He left and does maritime security protecting ships against Somalian pirates.

Your logic is flawed. You seem to think that the US benefited from invading Iraq. We don't get any more oil from them, and we don't get it any cheaper.

By your logic we should be invading Canada.

funny that you think you are the "we" of America. have you even been following this 1% movement? no political decision has been made for "you" since Eisenhower. the "we" is a small group of elitists way above your status. and yes they did benefit from Iraq, just as they do benefit from pumping billions of barrels of oil out of Canada every month.

my father is a senior exec at one of the top 10 Iraq contractors. he has gone from being an Air Force Colonel to the ranks of the 1% in the span of 15 years. he doesn't include me in his "we" so i know he doesnt include you.

YOU (the "we" you refer to) do not make a dime from any oil pumping anywhere in the world. it is funny that all Americans think that they are part of every political action. you are just paying for it.

sorry if I sound bitter but it is time the beer chugging, NASCAR watching Americans wake the fuck up. the Romans thought they were a "we" too right before that society crashed.. no offense of course lol

EDIT: ynotmail is awesome btw lol

Soldiers always serve their country/government...by doing what their country/government tells them to do.

He is the "we" of America. Everyone in America enjoys the fruits of oil. Everyday products used by the "we" of America would not exist without the oil. Many many products are made from the by products of oil...needless to say...without oil life in America would not exist as we know it.

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/arti...Iraq-wars.html

enjoy.

ah so you dont know the difference between having the "right" to buy petroleum-based products and profiting from petroleum-based products? yes the soldiers of the Western world have fought hard for the rights of average citizens to buy petroleum-based products. but the average salary of a US soldier deployed in Iraq is still $28k a year, while the average US Senator makes over $200k a year (for life, without kickbacks) for sending that soldier down the path of an IED.
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he must get tired if he attempts it every 80 minutes.

sorry, bad joke. or poorly written title.
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Of course I know the difference...and yes in our society some people are paid more than others...so what? Also soldiers have the potential to become a U.S. Senator if he chooses to. The fact is "we" all enjoy the fruits of oil and if it were not for those that are willing to invest in and profit from oil...life as we now know it...would not exist in the U.S.

tell it to the polar bears man :thumbsup

NAVY = Never Again Volunteer Yourself
 

http://profile.ak.fbcdn.net/hprofile...8480_245_n.jpg

I've written about it before, but I served six years in the US Navy, and because of the type of work I qualified for, I received a lot of education and training, so I ended up never going on a ship or into combat the entire 6 years of my service. As others have stated, I also enjoyed some incredible experiences for a young man (I enlisted when I was 17), traveling all over Asia, and for the most part living life large.

I also benefitted from the experience afterwards, having attended college and purchased my house with GI Bill funding (I even get a Veteran's discount at my local cannabis collective, lol). Likewise, the leadership skills, and courage and confidence which military training and living provided me, continues to serve me daily.

Nonetheless, I am inclined to agree with the many in here, that say there are other ways to obtain incredible experiences and training, without risking life and limb (and possibly a part of your humanity), and without having to harm or kill other people.

It is sad but true, that most people in the military (no matter for which country) are pawns, and are used as so much cannon fodder for some very ignoble purposes. If I were to be able to do things over, I would not have joined the military, knowing now what I do now about the world. Nonetheless, it is a personal decision for you, and you are getting a wide range of advice, so I trust that you will think long and hard before making such a life changing decision, and I wish you good luck with whatever you decide.

ADG

Nobody puts a gun to a young man's head and forces him to join any branch of the military. At least not in the US or UK. Military pay scales are made available to all recruits before signing a contract, accurate job descriptions are provided, and everything promised to the recruit is right there in a legal binding contract. Recruits know what they will be making before they sign anything.

So what is the point in comparing salaries? Nobody promises them anything other than what they are getting. People dont join an all-volunteer military force not knowing they are going into the war fighting business.

See the world, do some good, my daughter earned a couple medals for humanitarian efforts in the Philippines, it's something that a modern aircraft carrier is built for, it can power a city with one of it nuclear reactors, filter drinking water from the ocean, portable airport for incoming supplies and a full surgical team.
People would ask me if I was concerned about her safety, My reply was she was safer on that air craft carrier than she would have been in some of the cities in the US.

When she first started thinking about the military, I told her that part of the uniform for the army was a bullet proof vest and helmet and asked her why they had to wear that, she started leaning to wards the Navy really fast!

To many times people will say shit about our military like that asshole PJ, who was probably frightened by a clown at the circus at an early age.
It's dangerous , but so is most things in the world, if you raised your kids right, their chances are better for surviving life.

Like ADG, I'm a vet. I can tell you it will change who you are, you will be stronger, the friends you left behind will seem less interesting to you. You will be better prepared for life. There are those that can't handle it, if you can imagine being put in a nuclear powered can thats designed to sink with enough fire power to wipe out a country!!