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Thread: Should I join the army??????

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    Senior Member XOXO.Katie's Avatar
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    Default Should I join the army??????

    I haven’t really been posting on sw for a while because I’ve been in lurk mode but I’m having a total quarter life crisis. I just finished up my first year back in school (I dropped out after one semester as a freshman) and I got all A’s this year. The school I am going to is nothing to brag about and I applied to a couple different schools for next year. I haven’t heard back from any of them yet.

    So I’m going to be 25 soon. I have no car, own no property, have no significant other, and the only thing I have on my resume is stripping. I’m thinking about joining the army. I want to change my life, gain confidence, and be able to say I have accomplished something worthwhile! My long-term goal is to be an art curator so I need to finish up at least 3 more years as an undergrad and 2/3 years of grad school. My friend told me that the army pays your tuition and also gives you $2000 a month so you don’t have to work during school, for as long as you are in school. Is this true? My parents are paying my undergrad tuition so the army appeal is not having to strip while I’m in school and also have something to put on my resume. But is this worth four years of my life?

    I also just want to start over. I want a clean slate and for everyone to stop judging me for what I do.

    The two most important things to me in life are traveling and making close friendships. I feel like the army will help me find the things I am looking for. I also have some stupid concerns, like will my face break out in basic training if I don’t use my Duac gel and Retin-A and after I get through basic training am I allowed to have my civilian prescription face meds?

    So I fear that I am just in a confused mixed up place and I want to join the army for the wrong reasons. Is it a stupid thing to do at 25 without a degree and would I hate it? How do I know if joining the army is the wrong decision?

    (sorry this is kinda a fragmented, jumbled up rant. I'm just so torn and don't know how to make my screwed up life better)

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    Featured Member Christany's Avatar
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    Default Re: Should I join the army??????

    Sorry if this is a short post since I'm kinda tired atm, but if this is something you're looking at, you could also check out the Reserves. I can't speak from personal experience, I just had a close friend (female) that did (not Army). Her training was bi-weekly on weekends, then she had to go to Michigan for boot camp (a week or 2 if I remember correctly). She was very feminine too, everyone was surprised when she told them she did it. Maybe scope out the Coast Guard too.
    Quote Originally Posted by markx View Post
    I'd have to have a "4 simease twin strippers gave me head and then lite themselves on fire" story to blow anybody's mind here.

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    Senior Member Avery90's Avatar
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    Default Re: Should I join the army??????

    They do pay for school through the Montgomery GI Bill but Id suggest going National Guard to start Its like reserves but if you do the college option they pay you to go to college the contracts are 6yrs but its one weekend a month 2weeks out of the summer and a possible deployment so you can see if you like it if you do you can go active army which is 24/7. And National guard does other stuff not just Iraq/afghan deployments they do humanitarian aid like after the earthquake in Haiti and other places so you could help people. Just a suggestion. I was Enlisting in the National Guard till i got Lupus. Plus youll be posted near your home so if family is near by you can still see them

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    Senior Member Avery90's Avatar
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    Default Re: Should I join the army??????

    Quote Originally Posted by Christany View Post
    Sorry if this is a short post since I'm kinda tired atm, but if this is something you're looking at, you could also check out the Reserves. I can't speak from personal experience, I just had a close friend (female) that did (not Army). Her training was bi-weekly on weekends, then she had to go to Michigan for boot camp (a week or 2 if I remember correctly). She was very feminine too, everyone was surprised when she told them she did it. Maybe scope out the Coast Guard too.
    Boot Camp for all branches is 8-13 weeks depending on the branch so It was probably summer training not boot camp one weekend a month two weeks in the summer for reserves.

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    Featured Member Christany's Avatar
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    Default Re: Should I join the army??????

    ^^^
    You're probably right, sorry if I mixed up the terms. It definitely wasn't 8-10 weeks, she was only gone for about 2 and they had to do the pepper spray training and stuff. My brain is puffed cheese right now. I should go to bed.
    Quote Originally Posted by markx View Post
    I'd have to have a "4 simease twin strippers gave me head and then lite themselves on fire" story to blow anybody's mind here.

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    Default Re: Should I join the army??????

    Are things so bad these days, in academia, that you have to join the Army in order to become an art curator? I was thinking of that as a career for a while in college.

    If you can keep making and saving good money dancing, I think it would be better than joining the Army. But I've never been much for regimentation, so I'm biased.

    ETA Oh and if you like traveling, there is probably no finer profession than dancing! Way the fuck better than the Army which will send you wherever the hell they want to.

    Except beware of ads for clubs in foreign lands, islands, etc. There is some some nasty shit going on in some of these places.
    You must have chaos within you to give birth to a dancing star.
    Friedrich Nietzsche

    Free your mind, and your ass will follow.
    George Clinton

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    Veteran Member SteveSmith's Avatar
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    Default Re: Should I join the army??????

    I wouldn't. Even if you just join the National Guard, you'll probably be sent to Iraq or Afghanistan.

    There's a 30% chance that you'll be raped in the Army by a fellow soldier (This is the reported figure, the real figure is probably higher).

    http://newsjunkiepost.com/2010/01/26...ilitary-raped/

    If you serve in a heavy combat area, you'll be exposed to depleted uranium from the weapons that the U.S. has used. 60% of veterans from the first Gulf War are on disability due to Gulf War Syndrome. The government denies it but it's caused by exposure to depleted uranium.

    http://www.bollyn.com/depleted-uranium

    Plus, you have to worry about being maimed, killed, or having Post Traumatic Stress Disorder.

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    Default Re: Should I join the army??????

    I'd be very leery if joining the military. The military promises a lot and often lies just to get you in the door. When I was 17 I joined the Navy thinking it was a good idea. They had me convinced boot camp was like summer camp and lots of fun, that the barracks were fancy condos, etc. If you've ever seen Private Benjamin (which I recommend to watch before you enlist) that was me with the lies I was told. The job I was promised fell through and the jobs that opened up were ones I didn't want. I ended up getting a medical discharge and was happy to be honest. The military is not for everyone. Plus now with the wars, the lies are probably worse. Being a woman is hard too in the service. The overt sexism and comments I heard disgusted me.

    That's not to say the military isn't good. For some people it is a good idea. However, you have to be the military type to some extent. I was too much a free spirit. People who are loners, enjoy doing their own thing, etc aren't good candidates.

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    Default Re: Should I join the army??????

    I would NOT join the military in ANY form! Reservists, national guard, army, navy, etc...all of the above!

    I agree with Kellydancer...The gov't tries to play it off like you're going to get all these great benefits like money for college,etc. Travel, meet new people all that sounds great..beware though if you sign up for the army you'll immediately be deployed to Afganistan, etc. and what really worries me the most that you are so concerned w/ your face breaking out! What about loosing a limb or even your life???!! Most men who are coming back from Iraq are now suffering post-tramatic stress disorder and totally have their lives messed up now b/c of serving. Can't even get a "real" job when they get back b/c their so tramatized. Fucked up in the head mentally. It's got to be horrific for them and their families.

    Listen...I'm all for starting over with a clean slate but you really need to re-consider this. But me personally, I wouldn't wish my worst enemy to enlist!

    The gov't is so hard up for people they will do and say ANYTHING to get you signed up...don't believe the hype! You're still very young and have your whole life ahead of you, I'd say talk it over with your family and really do some research on joining.
    Last edited by deedee at the beach; 05-23-2010 at 04:08 PM.

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    Default Re: Should I join the army??????

    Quote Originally Posted by deedee at the beach View Post
    I would NOT join the military in ANY form! Reservists, national guard, army, navy, etc...all of the above!

    I agree with Kellydancer...The gov't tries to play it off like you're going to get all these great benefits like money for college,etc. Travel, meet new people all that sounds great..beware though if you sign up for the army you'll immediately be deployed to Afganistan, etc. and what really worries me the most that you are so concerned w/ your face breaking out! What about loosing a limb or even your life???!! Most men who are coming back from Iraq are now suffering post-tramatic stress disorder and totally have their lives messed up now b/c of serving. Can't even get a "real" job when they get back b/c their so tramatized. Fucked up in the head mentally. It's got to be horrific for them and their families.

    Listen...I'm all for starting over with a clean slate but you really need to re-consider this. But me personally, I wouldn't wish my worst enemy to enlist!

    The gov't is so hard up for people they will do and say ANYTHING to get you signed up...don't believe the hype! You're still very young and have your whole life ahead of you, I'd say talk it over with your family and really do some research on joining.
    I really couldn't agree more...with DeeDee and with Kelly.

    Besides....the bottom line is that when you join the Army, you are trained...and paid....to kill people.

    Can you honestly say that this is what you want.....to kill people for a living...or be killed yourself?
    [SIGPIC][/SIGPIC]
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    Default Re: Should I join the army??????

    What about the Peace Corps, does anyone have any experience with that? (Not trying to recommend anything, just putting options out there to research if desired).
    Quote Originally Posted by markx View Post
    I'd have to have a "4 simease twin strippers gave me head and then lite themselves on fire" story to blow anybody's mind here.

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    Default Re: Should I join the army??????

    If you are going to join the military, why not the AF? Shorter deployments-and you are practically guaranteed to deploy-and a lot less stress and issues.

    Yes, they will pay for school, but while you are in it will not work because of all the training and deployments you will have to do. School would have to wait until you get out, 2 years minimum.
    "You can close your eyes to reality but not to memories -Stainslaw J. Lec

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    Default Re: Should I join the army??????

    What should you do?
    You want to be happy. At the root of it, it's what you want. It's what all six billion of us want. We all have different ideas about what or who or how we will be happy, but it's what we all strive for. You think, "if only I had: a car, a house, money, I was an art curator, educated, etc...then I will be happy". But you don't know do you? You can have all these things and still not be happy.

    Can you be happy now, is the big question. If you could feel peaceful inside, and satisfied, would you really need anything else. Would you need to be making this life changing decision right now if you felt good? ...if you were happy right now?

    Your thoughts about what you are missing out on in life are what are making you feel bad right now. Not the fact that you don't have this or that....just the thoughts. If you want to do something...this is where you should concentrate your efforts. Study your thoughts, and your body's reaction to those thoughts, and you'll find you can stop living in the past (regrets), and the future (fears), and start living in this moment. Everything you are doing right now is just fine....except what you are thinking about it.

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    Default Re: Should I join the army??????

    Hah yes I have seen Private Benjamin a really long time ago. But my memory of it is that she winds up living in Paris and having this great life all because she joined the army and overcame being sad that she didn’t have her blow dryer. But yeah, that’s probably just how my mind warped it; maybe I’ll go back and rent it again.

    I guess it comes down to what hockeybobby said about not being happy. I’ve been fighting with my family like hardcore all week and today my little sister asked me what have I done with my life in the past five years (in a mean way, not in a helpful way). I don’t have health insurance so my mom convinced me to go to the doctor and told me she would pay for it and yesterday I get a letter that the bill was just turned over to a collection agency. Yesterday I also had a huge fight with a very passive aggressive friend who called me a spoiled princess. I feel like my family and friends have zero respect for me and I just want to prove that I really am a hard worker. Maybe my life is in shambles, yes because of my thoughts, but I don’t know how to gain control. I appreciate everyone’s povs because I didn’t really think about getting deployed to Iraq (and yeah I know I’m redic thinking about my complexion but I’m just being honest). Pretty much everyone I know in the army gets stationed in like Hawaii or Colorado, but I totally could not cope if I had to go to Iraq, or if I got raped. That definitely would not give me control over my own life… I’m still thinking about joining but I’m not going to make any impulsive decisions. I’m kinda going through a depressing couple weeks so I’m going to try and take some time off and go to Costa Rica and make this decision when I come back and am unstressed. I just feel like my life skills suck and the army will help that, but if they really still are deploying people to the middle east and making women fight in combat I definitely don’t think it’s for me.

    Oh and I would love to join the Peace Corps but you need some kind of skills/degree. What is the AF?

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    Featured Member Christany's Avatar
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    Default Re: Should I join the army??????

    ^^
    I think she was meaning Air Force (AF). Another thing to consider maybe is some charity work. You'll work for free most likely, but could use some of that experience to update your resume, ya know?
    Quote Originally Posted by markx View Post
    I'd have to have a "4 simease twin strippers gave me head and then lite themselves on fire" story to blow anybody's mind here.

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    Default Re: Should I join the army??????

    Quote Originally Posted by XOXO.Katie View Post
    Hah yes I have seen Private Benjamin a really long time ago. But my memory of it is that she winds up living in Paris and having this great life all because she joined the army and overcame being sad that she didn’t have her blow dryer. But yeah, that’s probably just how my mind warped it; maybe I’ll go back and rent it again.
    Yeah the later part gets unrealistic, but was talking about the early parts and how the recruiter lied to her

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    Default Re: Should I join the army??????

    af=air force. shorter deployments less often. army will get stationed somewhere-fort benning, georgia, fort carson, colorado...then ship off to the middle east. less likely in the air force.
    "You can close your eyes to reality but not to memories -Stainslaw J. Lec

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    Default Re: Should I join the army??????

    Join the Girl Force, Errrrrrrrrrrrr Air Force. The quality of life stuff is better. The Air Force has a more laid back attitude about Discipline and Order. 98% of the Air Force exists to fix something. PJs, Pilots, and Security Police do the fighting for the Air Force.

    They have a better College education system and better Base facilities.

    If you need: good pay, education benefits, to be around smarter, motivated people with direction and purpose; join the Military.

    The ASVAB and Basic Training have been great at weeding out the useless, oxygen thieving, witless, twits. seriously the people that get kicked out of the Military are better than the career fry cooks you see standing around.

    By the way, if you wanted to learn something OJT about running a museum, most Military Posts have a museum of some magnitude, run usually by volunteers.

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    Featured Member K Sweet's Avatar
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    Default Re: Should I join the army??????

    Honey, I live in a military town and a lot of my clientele (at my non-stripper job) are military. I also have a lot of military in my family, like my dad, both of my grandfathers, and several cousins. I even thought at a time I should join but my family wouldn't let me. Here's some reasons (I made them bold because this is a bit rant-y):

    First, PTSD is nothing to mess with. I've had big beefy army guys pass out on me because they saw a drop of blood, PTSD is very common, why do you think there are so many homeless vets? Also, military suicides are at an all time high this year. More soldiers commit suicide than are killed in combat now.

    Part of the problem is our soldiers aren't even being taken care of properly when they return. When my dad deployed, he was told he would be re-employed at his old job upon arrival home (Uniformed Services Employment and Re-employment Rights Act). He was hired for one day then fired. Also, the economy is bad. More soldiers are coming home to find they no longer have civilian jobs.

    I'm also friends with a lot of army wives, and they're pissed! So many their husbands' deployments have been lengthened... One of my friends has been married 5 years, and she says for 3 1/2 years of the marriage he's been in Iraq.

    Sexual abuse is common as well. I'm trying to look up stuff about Suzanne Swift but most articles are dated. She was sexually assaulted by superiors in Iraq. When she refused to re-deploy, was arrested and put in prison for 30 days. Sexual assault is already under-reported and even more so in the military because women (especially those with lower rank) fear hostile treatment if they say something.

    Life can be really tough sometimes. My mom actually did a similar thing to me with medical insurance. I got sick, she said I was insured under her, and after I went to the doctor my bill was sent to collections.

    I'm not in school but I'm working, doing sex work or whatever (6 days a week!), to get into community college. Our age can really suck because we are struggling to establish ourselves. However, your parents are paying your school! That's awesome! Even if you change your mind you'll have a bachelors degree, and you can go int grad school for all kinds of things. You are accomplishing things, and that degree will take even longer is you're overseas.
    Goodbye Seattle Lusty Lady, where every Miss is a Hit, and every Hit is Missed. 1985-2010.

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    Default Re: Should I join the army??????

    I'm feeling a LOT less depressed today and am starting to see that this was a silly idea. I thought I didn't have the strength to put my life on a focused path, but I am going to try to find that strength. And also work on the relationships I have here, not run away....or at least not give my relationships the power to derail me. (most cliche paragraph on sw ever lol!)

    I hate the government! I don't want it to own me! And yeah I'm sick of dancing but the grind of the army wouldn't be much better it sounds like. By the time I'm 30 I might not have a resume but at least I will be an amazing artist and will have a degree.

    Quote Originally Posted by K Sweet View Post
    I'm not in school but I'm working, doing sex work or whatever (6 days a week!), to get into community college. Our age can really suck because we are struggling to establish ourselves. However, your parents are paying your school! That's awesome! Even if you change your mind you'll have a bachelors degree, and you can go int grad school for all kinds of things. You are accomplishing things, and that degree will take even longer is you're overseas.
    Yeah my parents might be nut jobs, but you are right I am lucky they are paying for my bachelor's. I went to community this year and you SO don't have to hustle that hard to pay for it. Just go to fafsa and get a Pell Grant (I think the deadline is either June 1st or July 1st so try to do it asap). I didn't pay a dime for school this year and I even got back like $800 a semester, even with the stripper salary.

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    Default Re: Should I join the army??????

    That's awesome!

    A friend of mine told me once that applying for really dumb senseless scholarships is a good idea too. The reason is because no one applies to them, and they often will just select you because you have a good response. It sucks now, but you already know you'll be successful one day.
    Goodbye Seattle Lusty Lady, where every Miss is a Hit, and every Hit is Missed. 1985-2010.

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    Default Re: Should I join the army??????

    Quote Originally Posted by XOXO.Katie View Post
    I haven’t really been posting on sw for a while because I’ve been in lurk mode but I’m having a total quarter life crisis. I just finished up my first year back in school (I dropped out after one semester as a freshman) and I got all A’s this year.
    You're going to college and you're getting A's - you should be proud of yourself - you're headed in the right path... I know that school takes a LONG time and it sounds like you're anxious to do something NOW, but, just stay focused on your college education and be patient. Your patience and persistence will be rewarded with a college degree and that will be your vindication.

    Maybe you can intern somewhere or volunteer for a position that is relevant to your career choice.

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    Default Re: Should I join the army??????

    Military for 8 years......I love my country...but i wouldnt advise it for anyone. Last resort only. The ROI is horrible i did it cause i was bored with college. LOL so stupid
    A woman, if she so chooses, can give you everything but her heart. Without her heart she is giving you nothing.
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    Default Re: Should I join the army??????

    Quote Originally Posted by pussyinboots View Post
    Besides....the bottom line is that when you join the Army, you are trained...and paid....to kill people.

    Can you honestly say that this is what you want.....to kill people for a living...or be killed yourself?
    Can't say I honestly had a problem with it. Their trying just as hard to kill you.

    It is Spartan, Bushido, Chivalrous.

    "Nothing is more exhilarating; than to be shot at, and missed" - Winston Churchill.

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