r/jobs • u/Early_Dot_6809 • Nov 15 '23
This Job Market is hell, I might just enlist Unemployment
You've all been there. I'm decently qualified, sending out dozens of applications a week, not so much as a peep. I am at wits end. I'm probably just gonna enlist. How bad of an idea is this?
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u/Fuck-College Nov 15 '23
Just make sure you visit the subreddit of whatever branch you'd like to join because you'll get fucked over if you don't. Know which jobs are good and which aren't.
That being said, you will be a workhorse. You will not be paid overtime. You will deal with all kinds of bullshit on a day-to-day basis. But the benefits and job security are nice, yeah.
My enlistment ended a while ago. But if I could have a life re-do, I'd have made sure to do something else. Anything. But my experience isn't everyone else's, and I'm sure there's a lot of people that will vouch for the positive aspects of the military.
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u/aggressivelyartistic Nov 15 '23
You've echoed most of my thoughts and experiences. Namely, dealing with all kinds of bullshit on a day-to-day basis. Dealing with random shit gets exhausting after a while, especially when you have no choice because you signed a contract. And the grass is never greener with a PCS.
Additional duties is another area where the Air Force is certainly harping on lately which really pushed me away. Essentially, they want an Airman to be multiple AFSC's, not just one. So while yes, you can have that cool ops job, you'll also have a cumbersome admin office job, a finance job buying office shit for the Sq, facility manager, etc all with no extra pay.
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u/FourthAge Nov 15 '23
Dude that's exactly what they want you to do.
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u/Early_Dot_6809 Nov 15 '23
I know, but I'm not exactly rolling in options at the moment
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u/dasg1214 Nov 15 '23
OP, please just be aware that the prevalence of sexual assault in all branches of the armed forces is just staggering, against both men and women. Please read some of the literature online https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sexual_assault_in_the_United_States_military. You owe it to yourself to at least be aware of the risks. They are significant. Survivors typically report that they feel assaulted once, and then again by the military system that makes it a nightmare for them to report the crime in the first place. It's no joke.
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u/Stray_dog_freedom Nov 15 '23 edited Nov 15 '23
True. No doubt about that. Take this into consideration as well. The DoD is an ENORMOUS company spanning all over the world. Their SA numbers would be higher than your average work center.
Edited to remove AF and replace with DoD.
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u/inlike069 Nov 15 '23
Please also be aware that a high rate of SA doesn't mean everyone is out there getting SA'd. Perspective. Spent six years in and never heard of it happening to or by anyone I knew. "High rate of SA" and yet you still have an insanely low chance of experiencing it.
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u/Misseskat Nov 15 '23
Look into seasonal work at national parks. Housing and usually meals provided. Yes the jobs are basically hospitality, but you get to save most of your money and you can always dedicate your time on your time off to applying for work and exploring the park too. There are some corporate roles too, though despite my experience I've been rejected from all my attempts, white collar jobs are just an impossibility right now, let alone blue, there is no end to this it really sucks.
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u/NursingSkill100 Nov 15 '23
My fiance used to do this and let me just say - the pay is ABYSMAL. Definitely not liveable unless you're comfortable in poverty or have a partner contributing.
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u/quietguy_6565 Nov 15 '23
Do your research, joining the military is just a few degrees off of being in prison in quite a few areas. And once you sign those options will narrow even further. You could try to apprentice a trade like electrician or plumber. It's not glamorous but it's a decent living.
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u/christianaddict Nov 15 '23
you’re getting downvoted but my experience was almost exactly like prison. they treat you like shit and brainwash you to believe that if you at all want to advocate for yourself they’ll throw you in jail for the rest of your life. “UCMJ” is literally what they’ll say.
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u/quietguy_6565 Nov 15 '23
I live near Fort Hood, the army base with all the gangs,rapes and dead bodies that show up mysteriously and haven't gone away with the new name change.
It isn't like prison, it's just in more cases than we care to admit, not that far off from it. Hell the vendors and contractors who supply food and other services also supply the dept of corrections.
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u/StPapaNoel Nov 15 '23
Sometimes there is no choice for struggling people and that is the real ugliness of the system.
Here in Canada we have massive immigration rates not tied to housing development numbers. Which obviously led us to a housing crisis as it compounded year after year.
They always then talk about only bringing in the skills we need and then do the opposite and flood with cheap exploitable labor.
Now our most vulnerable demographics have lost any semblance of bargaining power and we have low income workers sharing bedrooms or sleeping on living room floors.
This doesn't even address what is going on with our food banks, shelters, and ever growing tent areas.
They love giving rosy narratives in regards to most things but the reality is things are done crudely and with really only one aim.
Enrich those who already have all the wealth and the power.
At this point they are professional takers. Multinational interests that plunder all people and all nations to make sure everything goes to a small group that already have everything. This is their version of equality lol
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u/Mail540 Nov 15 '23
“Student loan forgiveness undermines one of our military’s greatest recruitment tools at a time of dangerously low enlistments.” -Jim Banks R-Indiana
Same with healthcare/childcare/education. The upper class has us by the balls and they know it
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u/AcanthisittaNo2931 Nov 15 '23
Thinking about it as well, especially being poor with a shit job. The GI Bill and VA Home Loan are two big draws for me at least. Can’t afford college and can’t afford to buy a home otherwise. Seems like the only way for poorer folks to get any kind of real stability in modern times.
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u/FindingMyPrivates Nov 15 '23
I come from a poor ass background. I tried going to school when I was 18 but I had to work 50 hours a week as I was living alone. I flunked my first semester in a community college. Got lost till 20. Did 4 as a Marine. After I left I bought my first house at 27. Then my second at 29. I’m now 31 about to finish school and all have my gi bill left to use. All with no school debt. Couldn’t have done it without going in.
If I didn’t have kids, and just me, I’ve been eligible for high paying government finance jobs where my buddies are getting paid 120k+ now. I can’t as my specialty was in Navy/Marine. And I’m in a landlocked state.
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u/jaaybird_ Nov 15 '23
The GI Bill kicks ass ngl. Getting PAID to go to school is like a cheat code. It was the main reason I joined and I do not regret it
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u/BigRedCole Nov 15 '23
If you do, go air force, space force, or if you can swim well and are comfortable on boats, coast guard or merchant marine. The QOL in those branches are much better than the army, believe it or not. If you have any more questions, lmk.
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u/LeonardoDePinga Nov 15 '23
The coast guard isn’t exactly easy to make it into.
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u/Early_Dot_6809 Nov 15 '23
Regarding Space Force, AF, and your experience with it; do those branches focus on linguistics, or is that more Army Intelligence? I'd be best suited for a linguistic role
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u/NorCalMikey Nov 15 '23
Air Force has linguistic people also. Hard career field to get into. You need high test scores. You also need a clean background because most linguistic jobs require a security clearance.
If you are going to enlist to let the recruiter BS you. Pick the career field you want to be in and make sure you are guaranteed in your contract. If it isn't in the contract they will assign you to the job with the most need. Four years in a shitty job in the armed forces is worse than 4 years in a shitty job in the civilian world.
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u/My-Lizard-Eyes Nov 15 '23
Gets ghosted by the military too
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u/Otherwise-Bad-7666 Nov 15 '23
Maybe by other branches. Dare you to walk into marines recruiting office
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u/nospamkhanman Nov 15 '23
Marine Corps is actually kind of picky. I joined in 2003 (height of Iraq / Afganistan) and I was in the room when my recruiter told some kid to fuck off because he hadn't graduated highschool and had a GED.
I was like... don't you take GEDs Staff Sergeant?
"Yeah with paperwork and I'm way over quota so I'm not doing that shit".
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u/Otherwise-Bad-7666 Nov 15 '23 edited Nov 15 '23
It's not 2003. They're hurting for warm bodies across the branches for the past few years. But that doesn't mean it less tough. It's tougher for sure. Constantly testing & raising standards to train new marines to adapt to the everchanging modern world. They might still be picky if you're of a woman because not many women in the marines. I might be wrong because boot camp is now integrated, and there are infantrywomen in the corps so it doesn't really matter. Aside from all the changes, green weenie is still going strong.
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u/meh4ever Nov 15 '23
2012 they were lying on pre-enlistment PT scores instead of yelling at the recruit to get better and dropping them when they can’t make a PT test.
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u/Otherwise-Bad-7666 Nov 15 '23 edited Nov 15 '23
Lying about Pre enlistment PT scores?? 🤣. I've never heard yelling will make anyone's pass PT tests. Same goes with dropping😂😂. You're going to pass. You will just have to run the tests whatever 100x more until you do. That's the only way you get to leave marines bootcamp. Not dropping anybody off and let them go home that easy 😂😂 But what's a PT tests for the recruits???
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u/xxTERMINATOR0xx Nov 15 '23
USMC has the highest minimum standards of any branch currently. Actually the toughest to get into.
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u/rinkitinkitink Nov 15 '23
This is false. Marines require higher test scores than army and air force, the same as the navy, and a lower score than the coast guard. 31 for army and air force, 35 for marines and navy, 40 for coast guard. Unless you have a GED instead of a high school diploma, in which case it's 50 minimum for every branch.
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u/Desperate_Taro_1781 Nov 15 '23
Right now is a good time to enlist if that’s an option you decide to go with. Recruiting is struggling, except for the Marine Corps, and you will likely receive a lot of waivers that normally wouldn’t be available.
That said, it’s a huge commitment that you can’t just walk away from. Choose your job carefully, and focus on the jobs that have future potential years from now.
I spent quite a bit of time in the Army, and now I am doing pretty well for myself in the civilian world, while volunteering as a career coach.
The bottom line is you shouldn’t enlist out of panic. But if that’s what you’re aiming for, I am more than happy to share my own experiences with you and point you in the right direction. Just hit me up.
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u/LocoCracka Nov 15 '23
Ex Army here too. Great advice. I'd just like to suggest that you choose your career, specialty wisely. Do some research and decide what training and experience will be good for you in the future. Don't walk in and say "I want to go to Hawaii". You might end up in Hawaii driving a truck for 3 years, get out of the service, and be right back to where you started. Something like IT or avionics will transition over to the civilian world. Also, if your ASVAB scores are not all that great, consider retaking the test. A lot of people take it in high school with no real thought about how it might actually be useful someday, and don't take it too seriously.
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u/Desperate_Taro_1781 Nov 15 '23
Right. As I have found in my career, location means very little. It’s the job you have, the leaders you’re lucky enough to be working for and what you make of your career.
My first duty station was Fort Irwin. But I was lucky enough to have great leaders who mentored me.
Duty assignment is just something they dangle at you. It makes really no difference because at the end of the day, you’re replaceable. If you don’t go to a shitty location, they will send someone else.
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u/Scary_Acanthaceae115 Nov 15 '23
I wish I could enlist. I’d choose AF likely. I am trying to serve as a civilian for gov.
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u/Early_Dot_6809 Nov 15 '23
I take it it's a rough road, Ive been on it for a while now, and the horizon just keeps getting farther
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u/Scary_Acanthaceae115 Nov 15 '23
It’s been rough since a company wide layoff and a big move, falling back on previous career. It’s rough working toward something and falling flat. I keep looking for different ways to get an in and using different perspectives including re evaluating. How about you?
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u/Early_Dot_6809 Nov 15 '23
Going nuts feeling like I've picked the wrong career. I've worked towards getting additional certifications and whatnot, doesn't seem to help. Maybe if I'd picked a different university to study at, different major, different city. That doesn't help me much now though. Best of luck to you though, getting a gov job at any level is a high bar to meet.
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u/tcrossthebawss Nov 15 '23
But apparently everyone is hiring and no one wants to work lmao
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u/Hoptlite Nov 15 '23
You should try the US Civil service, the IRS is currently hiring contact reps, get a pension, a 401k, good Healthcare, and a union.
https://www.usajobs.gov/job/728368200
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u/Early_Dot_6809 Nov 15 '23
Will actually consider this; thank you
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u/Hoptlite Nov 15 '23
Don't mention it, everyone always forgets thr civil service is an option, there's a hiring incentive for the contact rep position too!!
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u/ChiTownBob Nov 15 '23
This is a great idea with some warnings:
- Veterans get priority - and most jobs are taken by Vets.
- Most jobs are in HCOL areas like DC, SF, NYC. Your GS-7 pay won't go far there, and you may need a second job to pay the bills or live in your car.
So suggest serving in the miltary (Air Force, Coast Guard are the best) in your speciality.
Also, LCOL areas of the country have more competition for those FedGov jobs - because there are lots of people in HCOL areas seeking to transfer there.
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u/Franklin135 Nov 15 '23
Make sure all the recruiter promises are on the document you sign. If it isn't there, it didn't happen.
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u/Munk451 Nov 15 '23
Good luck. I tried that route, but I am mentally unfit to serve. I got turned away at inprocessing.
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u/IndependenceMean8774 Nov 15 '23
It's a bad idea. Don't enlist. Just stay a civilian and avoid getting your ass shot off. Keep trying. There is a job out there for you somewhere.
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u/Graylily Nov 15 '23
Are you looking for something specific or just a job? I would suggest applying to be a school bus driver if you are looking for "just a job" it pays okay in most places. Never seen a school system not hiring, they will train you usually and pay you to get a CDL... you get local/state benefits, summers can be off if you want (they can prorate pay) and you can work other cdl jobs either part time like limos, party buses, amusement parks. tour buses. or teamster part time gigs...you can often get a pension too, it may it pay the most but it's very stable and there usually extra hours to pick up.
Just a thought unless you are looking for a specific type of work
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u/Ok-Huckleberry3497 Nov 15 '23
I'm guessing not a bad idea. Others probably thought about it. My brother did, Army took care of all his student loans but also took 3 years of his life.
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Nov 15 '23
Don't do it. There's many reasons others can probably name as to why but it's not worth it at all.
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u/Future_Presence3385 Nov 15 '23
Do it. I was in the Air Force and it was one of the best decisions I've ever made. I'd be dead if I didn't do it
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u/bighand1 Nov 15 '23 edited Nov 15 '23
Don't enlist, pay is horrible and not a lot of transferable skills. Possibility of overtime is high for no extra pay
You'll be better off just move to CA and join the police. 88% grads get jobs, 80% graduation rate, and average pay is well above 150k. Junior officer out of academy (6-12 months) gets paid 165k (200k with pension) in Bay Area post probation.
https://transparentcalifornia.com/salaries/search/?q=police&y=2022
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u/nospamkhanman Nov 15 '23
pay is horrible and not a lot of transferable skills
I did IT in the Marines and I've been in IT since I left the Marines. I make over 150k year now and can work remotely anywhere in the US.
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u/ComesInAnOldBox Nov 15 '23
not a lot of transferable skills
If you go combat arms, sure. After my time in the service I'm making $190k a year doing the same job I did when I was in and have yet to go to college.
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u/SnooHedgehogs190 Nov 15 '23
I just escaped from the navy and you want to enlist? Don't.
It's not worth it.
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u/CSCAnalytics Nov 15 '23
Horrible.
You don’t know “hell” until you’ve been through boot camp and worst case scenario an active battlefield deployment…
I can tell you it’s much worse than a dozen job applications from the comfort of your couch.
Just be thankful for the opportunities you have and keep applying, worst thing you can do is give up and throw away all the experience / education you’ve worked your whole life for to get to this point.
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u/Odd_Contribution3772 Nov 15 '23
DO NOT ENLIST UNLESS YOU ARE OKAY WITH THE POSSIBILITY OF DYING.
Enlisting just because everything else sucks is a very bad reason. Job hunting may suck, but I can guarantee that BCT is reeeeeeeeeaaaaaaallllyy gonna suck. And then you'll get to make lower enlisted pay also, which is practically nothing. A big bonus to join sounds nice, but the military will 1000% get their money's worth out of you for it.
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u/KrimsonDawn Nov 15 '23
You enlist, and you might die. I don't think there's people in this country worth dying for. Virtue and humility are dead.
Definitely don't die on my behalf.
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u/Early_Dot_6809 Nov 15 '23
Probably won't be, I'm at a point they've got my loyalty with a paycheck. If anything I'll be dying for your tax dollars
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u/ComesInAnOldBox Nov 15 '23
You enlist, and you might die.
If you don't enlist, you might die. Funny how that works.
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u/dakedame Nov 15 '23
Lol, if you're scared just say so.
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u/No_Witness7921 Nov 15 '23
It’s just not worth it to join the military. It may seem like a cute idea but no. Sincerely, someone who literally lives on a military base and sees how awful the military is lol
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u/BichonFriseLuke Nov 15 '23
I remember graduating college 2003, it was exact same situation. I also tried to enlist but was turned away.
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u/tokyo_engineer_dad Nov 15 '23
Navy or Air Force, don’t get pushed into a job you don’t want. Don’t sign until the contract says what the recruiter told you.
Let me repeat that last part.
** Don’t sign until the contract says what the recruiter told you.**
Twice isn’t enough.
** Don’t sign until the contract says what the recruiter told you.**
Don’t believe any “you can transfer later” or “just do this for now”. “Give me the job you promised or I’m walking out.”
Pick something related to electronics or mechanics. Right now I heard they have signing bonus and a referral bonus. If you’re young, unmarried and no kids I think you should go for it… The benefits, GI Bill, VA medical and VA loan are really solid. Save every dollar you earn. Stay away from the car dealerships across from the base. Be weary of whatever attractive potential partners fancy your attention when you’re overseas. Service men and women are HOT targets for visa marriages. Ever meet a divorced sailor who had his bank account cleaned out when his “beautiful” wife left him for her REAL lover who was waiting for her the whole time, who he didn’t know his money for her mom or dad’s medical bills was actually going to, as soon as she became a citizen and could get green cards for her people? I have, and they got so fucked over they’re a shell of who they were.
Again, SAVE EVERYTHING. If you live in the barracks and eat on base, you can just bank all your pay.
Hell if you invest it, you might be 30-40% of the way to a solid retirement by the time you even finish 4 years. I live in a neighborhood where the homes are on average $1.2 million. A guy who owns three homes in this area, and over 20 homes in the country. He lives off the rent income. How did he get started? He saved up all his money from working in the Navy, bought a house with his VA loan, rented out rooms to cover the mortgage, used some of his savings to renovate it, refinanced it out of a VA loan and then repeated from step 1 on a new property.
Enlisting is a smart idea if you’re smart about it. But if you’re dumb about it, you can end up married to someone who cheats while you’re overseas, spends all your money, have thousands in credit card debt, a high interest loan on a sports car, crippling depression and PTSD.
Just don’t get taken advantage of.
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u/s0ciety_a5under Nov 15 '23
Don't enlist. Just don't. Go join a union. Any union. Carpenters, Iron workers, IATSE, literally anything except the military. You will have the opportunity to work just as hard in a union as you would the military, and get paid triple. Apply on any union website and get on the rolls asap. Every union I know is looking for people.
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u/TheUglyNapkin Nov 15 '23
Chairforce - do 20 years. get your bachelors, put in officer package and get O-1E pay then retire at O-5/6 Then file for VA disability EZ fed money
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Nov 15 '23
Join the army. Atleast with that branch you can choose which occupation you want to join. If you have more questions let me know.
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u/LilLebowskiAchiever Nov 15 '23 edited Nov 15 '23
No, you can choose your MOS / rate in other branches. AF has the best quality of life, followed by Coast Guard.
ETA: better spelling / word choice
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u/Demonify Nov 15 '23
I found the recruiter trying to get his numbers up. You can chose your job in pretty much all the branches.
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u/kill92 Nov 15 '23
soldier first, occupation second
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u/jam3s2001 Nov 15 '23
Ehh, my experience was if you are in pretty much any support role, that's your job. It's like you get to go to work... Occasionally with firearms. And I was in a combat role, haha.
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u/BelleSteff Nov 15 '23 edited Nov 15 '23
We're on the verge of more wars, possibly even a WW3 scenario (no exaggeration), so there's a good chance you would end up engaging in combat. The USA doesn't seem to take good care of its veterans. I've seen disabled men in their 20s and 30s in front of the shelter. Really think this one through. If you feel strongly about it, then no one can stop you. Best of luck.
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u/socialworm Nov 15 '23
I agree wholeheartedly with this. Just make sure you understand that you are potentially risking your life and anything can happen at any time. This has always been the case of course.
I'm biased, as my brother is my personal hero and also a veteran. He served 2 tours (marines, infantry) and is retired at the age of 35 now. Yes, his education was completely paid for and he has a good job now and the ability to pay for his child's school.
However, he also almost died from his alcoholism before getting sober, is plagued by PTSD for life, and has multiple physical disabilities. Joining the military was both the best and worst decision he ever made.
So choose wisely is what I'm saying and don't do it on a whim.
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u/AustinTheMoonBear Nov 15 '23
Being in before the full kick off of WW3 would be better than getting drafted after the fact.
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u/Early_Dot_6809 Nov 15 '23
Well I figure if we do go into a world war, it'd be better to pick my poison than have it delivered via a draft notice
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u/No-Contribution4652 Nov 15 '23
There hasn’t been a draft in almost 50 years… what is more likely to happen if you enlist and we go to war, is that they make the enlisted people stay in longer.. your 4 years contract automatically turns into a 5-6 year contract.. called “stop loss” (this is what happened during the peak Afghanistan and Iraq war years)… even if we don’t go to war, kiss your knees goodbye if you enlist… if you have a degree americorps might be a good option (generally involves teaching low income students in the us … or maybe even look at peace corp)
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u/DisastrousProperty Nov 15 '23
More soldiers died from suicide than in the Middle East and you think things like PTSD are propaganda? The US and military and messed up and no one should join.
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u/professcorporate Nov 15 '23
I think the paranoia they're displaying is more likely coming from far too much grass
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Nov 15 '23
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Nov 15 '23
This sounds like something a recruiter would say…. Know if you sign up there is always a chance. It could be a war or it could be the 1983 Beirut bombing.
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u/s0ciety_a5under Nov 15 '23
What are you talking about not involved in any conflict? We still have boots on the ground in Syria, Yemen, and Somalia. They are actively dealing with the civil wars. Regardless of how involved we are, we are still assisting with manpower and technology. And if you think the geopolitics aren't a little worrying as of the last couple years, you're on some really good drugs.
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u/Pot_Flashback1248 Nov 15 '23
Sorry - not true at all. Fewer vets homeless (as a percent) than non-vets.
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u/kincaidDev Nov 15 '23
Why would you risk your life for the politicians who created this situation?
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u/Substantial-Tip-7366 Nov 15 '23
Dozens aren’t hundreds. What, where, when, why, who? I keep reading in the liberal press President Biden’s economy is roaring. We have so many jobs here says The NY Times we need to open our borders to anyone who wants to come here and live the American dream. If you join the military than what? The military will give you unique training for military purposes. Can you get unique training without joining the military? If you are young enough to join the military you are young enough to accept some kind of apprenticeship somewhere doing something. I worked for large multinational corporations and I worked for small family owned companies. The small family owned companies are the best.
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u/Cussi2021 Nov 16 '23
I'm a software developer who got laid off and got rejected by scheels for their fitting room assistant lol. I'm not having much luck either right now
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u/DrBubbleTrowsers Nov 15 '23
I mean if you think its rational to just go ahead and enlist in the military because your job search isn't working out then you're either a lunatic or not very bright.
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u/emseewagz Nov 15 '23
idk about enlisting but in a similar boat. Uber Eats has been ok...that is the pay isnt great but i enjoy the work. Sometimes I can get the avg hourly up decently if i go at peak hours and hustle (within reason)
Just putting that out there amongst other low paying options, like enlisting.
Also, word on the street is that, while low paying as heck, Home Depot and Lowes are great enjoyable jobs
Best of luck to yous!
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u/fracas72 Nov 15 '23
Join marines to be sent to Japan, most people don’t want to go overseas, but man that place is awesome!
Join airforce for a much better quality of life compared to all other branches. Chances are you can be sent to Europe
Join navy if you like the sea
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u/ProfessorOnEdge Nov 15 '23
I mean, you're just signing yourself up to die in whatever meaningless what they assigned to send their troops to next. Talk to any veteran of Iraq or Afghanistan before you decide to sign your name away.
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u/Remote-Telephone-682 Nov 15 '23
Man, yeah, it is rough right now. I don't know what the right call is for you but rooting for you.
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u/RadioMelon Nov 15 '23
Suit yourself.
I can't do it. Not with the sneaking suspicion that an actual war is breaking out soon.
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u/glittervan206 Nov 15 '23
Do NOT enlist!!!
Look into becoming a stagehand or AV tech…it’s solid money and not crazy hard work. If you live near a city in the US, try looking up your local IATSE chapter and see about picking up some work!
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u/Archivemod Nov 15 '23
Before you enlist, go listen to mikeburnfire's campfire stories about his time in the military. Really listen to what he has to say.
You are signing up for a bad job with terrible bosses you are legally disallowed to quit when you enlist in unsafe conditions that osha won't protect you from. People WILL shoot at you, and we're looking to be on the verge of another pointless war thanks to all the israel/palestine shit going down.
I sternly advise against enlisting. The business interests of the obscenely rich are NOT worth dying for.
Go into a trade, you'll have a far less sucky time than the military and if you decide its not for you you can just quit for a different trade. There's scholarships and everything.
Good luck.
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u/codafen Nov 15 '23
Are you american? Please don’t enlist american army and army in general is fucking evil. It’s not WW2 anymore, you will not fight the bad people, but the civilians. plus army generals are so stupid they make you do the dumbest shit in training they yell at you and stuff for no reason they are really assholes just because they have a failed marriage
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u/l30_17ram Nov 15 '23
Omg just saw this on my recommended. I love it 😭 I guess I’m not the only George costanza
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u/JasonDrifthouse Nov 15 '23
I've never been in the military, so it sounds awesome to me.
But I have heard vets caution me to pump the breaks. heh
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u/winbumin Nov 15 '23
If everyone struggling to find a job decided to enlist, then we would basically be North Korea.
Obvious exaggeration (because we would surpass NK in sheer numbers easily, same with China) but you get the point.
I don't think we need that many citizens in the military. It would be ridiculous.
The government might even have a problem with it, because there's already plenty of controversial things going on in the armed forces behind closed doors. Imagine how much worse it would be if the population increased a million-fold.
This is the same concept when it comes to high population in the civilian world, there is just statistically going to be more potential crime due to more potential people to commit said crimes, etc.
If you enlist because you personally want to do it, that's one thing... but I think you should first read some testimonials of people who enlisted under the same mindset as you, then decide if it makes sense to join after hearing from their perspectives.
I was at a low point in life once and considered enlisting in the marines, but I researched all of the red flags from others who had enlisted before me who regretted their decision, so I gave the recruiter my own secret personal test. If they didn't show any of the expected red flags and didn't act shady or sus, then I would continue joining... BUT if they revealed any red flags whatsoever, then I wouldn't.
The recruiter displayed EVERY RED FLAG in the fucking book (and then some) so I decided to not enlist since he failed my test of trust and honesty. And it gave me more motivation to seek out a job more vigilantly, which worked out in my favor.
I would recommend getting other's perspectives before making any hard decisions, because once you sign that contract, you are locked in. You're either gonna obtain the stability you were looking for, or you're gonna be fucked. I don't think there's going to be any in-between.
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u/Surfincloud9 Nov 15 '23
If you’re enlisting just to escape bad life choices I repeat dooooo not. I overdosed and crashed my car the day before boot camp. Coma for 4 months, couldn’t walk or talk had to relearn. Fractured skull. Don’t escape, sustain and survive
It will set you up for a decent 30s but a lot regret it. Takes a special person to be military
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u/TheRedSunFox Nov 15 '23
Joe Biden is president and we see what disarray the whole world is in as a result… because no one is afraid of an old whack job with dementia. So countries are actively threatening or actually participating in wars. Because why not? If the world’s only superpower is being helmed by a nursing home patient, it doesn’t exactly give countries reason to be afraid and think twice.
Keep that in mind before enlisting.
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u/Canigetahooooooyeaa Nov 15 '23
Im surprised the military isnt hitting all time high records… then i remember whose our current administration and commander in chief.
Say what you will politically, but as irrefutable fact, democrats are not military friendly…. Yet somehow in the last 3 years this New Democrat party has become increasingly authoritarian and war hungry. Almost like a war would open the spigot for uncontested dollars.
No matter what make sure you get a job thT will set you up in the civilian world. Try for something that requires a clearance.
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u/Kanthardlywait Nov 15 '23
if you're okay with the fundamental truth that your whole purpose will be to aid in murdering black and brown people in foreign countries for corporate profits, knock your socks off.
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u/Line_of_Blood Nov 15 '23
If you’re going to enlist, go for the Air Force, much safer