Viking 0 #1 August 2, 2002 For all you guys that have been or are in the military, do you think that 22 is to old?I swear you must have footprints on the back of your helmet - chicagoskydiver My God has a bigger dick than your god -George Carlin Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Zenister 0 #2 August 2, 2002 nope i was 24 when i did and stil had a blast. (out running 18 year olds is FUN!) the biggest problem for me was dealing with the "children" (of all ages) who couldnt/wouldnt get their act together. that and the fact that the military (army) at least tends to treat rank as a measure of maturity, and that taks time to break with every new leadership change.. ____________________________________ Those who fail to learn from the past are simply Doomed. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
jtval 0 #3 August 2, 2002 Quotenope i was 24 when i did and stil had a blast. (out running 18 year olds is FUN!) the biggest problem for me was dealing with the "children" (of all ages) who couldnt/wouldnt get their act together. that and the fact that the military (army) at least tends to treat rank as a measure of maturity, and that taks time to break with every new leadership change.. I konw how you feel zenister. I am 28 now and still out running those kids. I was 23 when I joined. and yes the KIDS mentality is hard to ignore but you eventually learn how to control those people! there is certain courtesies rank gets but you will have to earn my respect no matter who you are. It says I have to work with and be professional with every one here but it doesnt say I have to like everyone. fortunately there is only one person I dispise here and I can deal with that.My photos My Videos Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
jtval 0 #4 August 2, 2002 if you do Join...MakE SURE YOU HAVE A GUARANTEED JOB. if you hear the phrase OPEN; GENERAL tell your recruiter to suck ass! very good possibility if you come in open;general thatyou will end up being a cop or a cook!My photos My Videos Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Spy38W 0 #5 August 2, 2002 Quoteif you do Join...MakE SURE YOU HAVE A GUARANTEED JOB. if you hear the phrase OPEN; GENERAL tell your recruiter to suck ass! very good possibility if you come in open;general thatyou will end up being a cop or a cook! Good point.. how bout some tips for us who might be considering this life path, but are totally clueless. -- Hook high, flare on time Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
jtval 0 #6 August 2, 2002 well I PM viking about my outlook on it.. heres the jist! I joined when I was 23. I had alot of experience with different things even owned my own business for a little while. I joined b/c I wanted to travel and leave N.Y. for a while. Since then I have seen some really cool places learned some really cool things and to quote form another post Ive met and had some "cheap people and nice beer" now you wonder if I can tranfer my experience to the civilian sector, right! YES! I can as a matter of fact. I am only making about 1/3 of what I could make in the real world...But I am looking to throw all of the experience and opportunity away and become A skydive instructor! The opportunity to take over the world is there you just gotta know: 1- how to find it 2- what kinda world youre looking for 3- what kind of people you want to occupy the world youve created 4- try it if you dont like it everyone will be there waiting for you, right where you left them(trust me on this). I'm sure the other military folks here will back me up. Ive been in for 5 yrs and I can go home to NY at ANYTIME and find everyone I know! its good to know I can find them but sad that they are in the same place as 5 yrs ago!My photos My Videos Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Shark 0 #7 August 2, 2002 QuoteFor all you guys that have been or are in the military, do you think that 22 is to old? Only if you think it is. You're in college, right? Why not check out ROTC and get a scholarship. (don't laugh) I did. You still might find some "youngster" mentality in a college unit, but you just have to deal with it and stand out from the crowd and be a leader. It is very different when you get to the fleet or a squadron in my case. Ask the dudes at SDSD. There are a lot of SEALs there you can bounce some ideas off of. Utilize your swimming skills. Whatever you decide on, go for it! Just remember: Quitters never win, and Winners never quit. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
thrillseek 0 #8 August 2, 2002 yeah, but if at first you don't succeed, try again. If you still don't succeed, quit...No sense in being an idiot! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
jtval 0 #9 August 2, 2002 Just remember: Quitters never win, and Winners never quit yea but mimes are always freaks! I think there is a korean Mime stalking me. That is some scary stuff right there, folks! with her face and her..eyes.blah that is wierding me out!(sorry, if you saw the animation of speech this would have been a whole lot funnier)My photos My Videos Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Shark 0 #10 August 2, 2002 Quote yeah, but if at first you don't succeed, try again. If you still don't succeed, quit...No sense in being an idiot! point made, but they would kick you out first... Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
jtval 0 #11 August 2, 2002 youd be surprised at how many slip through the crack!My photos My Videos Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Viking 0 #12 August 2, 2002 shark you were in the navy right? How did they pay?I swear you must have footprints on the back of your helmet - chicagoskydiver My God has a bigger dick than your god -George Carlin Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
jtval 0 #13 August 2, 2002 electronic fund....see I can be a wise ass too (about your reply to where you shave hahah that was classic)My photos My Videos Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
jtval 0 #14 August 2, 2002 electronic fund....see I can be a wise ass too (about your reply to where you shave hahah that was classic)My photos My Videos Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
JohnnyD 0 #15 August 2, 2002 I was actually in the military - a while ago. You will certainly give up a lot to be in. Freedom. Money. Hair. Weekends. Hair. Money. There are also great rewards. Honor. GI Bill. I am finishing my BS in November - completely funded by the GI Bill - and there will still be some left over to start an MBA program or flight training. It certainly sucked at the time, but looking back, I wish I could have given as much as I have gotten in return. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Viking 0 #16 August 2, 2002 i was trained well by my mother. Being a smartass is what kept me from getting into alot of school yard fights (i got picked on alot as a kid)I swear you must have footprints on the back of your helmet - chicagoskydiver My God has a bigger dick than your god -George Carlin Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
wingnut 0 #17 August 2, 2002 viking...dude..........i was in technical school with a 34 year old dude (he was reserve) (i'm in the airforce currently)....22 is not to old at all...all branches will take you for active duty up to 27 years old. i had this one girl in my basic training flight turn 28 in basic training.... you have plenty of time........ i also happen to be 22...well i will be monday....pm me if ya would like to ask someone your own age some questions....(cuz jt is an old man.....)lol....what branch were ya thinking?? i'v had experiance ith every branch except the coast gaurd and can let ya know what i think of em (what i've seen from a disstance) or about the af, firsthand...... lets just say i can't wait untill next year when i renlist....$50k coming my way.... ______________________________________ "i have no reader's digest version" Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
jtval 0 #18 August 2, 2002 ....(cuz jt is an old man.....) hahah. I sure dont act it...er...I mean feel old!My photos My Videos Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
jumpy 0 #19 August 2, 2002 sorry completely off the topic but i'm only 16 at the moment but am thinking of joining the australian air force after some travel when i finish school. I love flying and all that but i'm not really obsessed with ohh thats a hornet..it has blah blah kilo's of thrust etc etc....would this be kinda miss fitting in the air force? just wondering...thanks Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites flyhi 24 #20 August 2, 2002 Quote22 is not to old at all...all branches will take you for active duty up to 27 years old. i Vike, Lots of good advice here. Some stuff I have noticed: 1. Age is not a problem. And even though they say 27 is an upper limit, everything is waiverable. People with waivers get into flight school wearing glasses everyday. If in doubt, ask. 2. Get guarantees before going in. Check out what you want and get it on the paper and make it specific. The military is replete with stories about people who told their recruiters they wanted to work around aircraft or heavy equipment, and that is as close as they get, sweeping up around them. 3. If you want to live in comfort, style, and air conditioning, go in the Air Force. Granted people like Clay did not have it cushy, but they have the highest cush:bust ass job ratio out there. 4. If you want to stay close to skydiving, join to become a rigger. Do it in the Army, and you will probably end up near Chuck and Raeford, eventually. 5. Advertisers can make anything sound glamorous. Being on an aircraft carrier with 4,999 other people is not that great between port calls. Can be exciting and educational, but at times, it definitely isn't fun. 6. If you enlist, join the Thrift Savings Plan. Pay yourself first, and you will have a nice little chunk of change when you come out. Probably enough to buy two complete outfits so you never have to miss a load again. And that is before taxes. 7. Oh yeah, and stay away from officers. According to another post in this forum, they are all assholes.Shit happens. And it usually happens because of physics. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites jfields 0 #21 August 2, 2002 Viking, Search up old threads on this subject. There are some with lots of advice. My $.02... I was active duty Army for awhile as an enlisted paratrooper at Ft. Bragg. You do gain a lot and build character, but be aware of the sacrifices. There are a whole lot of them, and they vary in degrees of obviousness. For example: The pay totally sucks. You will have no guaranty of being anywhere close to a DZ for your entire military career. You might be stationed where civilization consists of a Burger King and a pawn shop. The food sucks. You can be deployed at any time, to places you may not want to go. You think dating is hard now, try when guys way outnumber women. Be prepared to be reduced to being a slab of meat with a SSN. If you stay in, you can look forward to a lifetime of low pay. I'm not saying that you shouldn't join. Just be very aware of the ramifications. Do your research and go in with your eyes open. Know that recruiters are about like used care salesmen. They have quotas to fill. Once the ink is on the paper, you are done and they have no further use of you. If I had to do a military experience again, honestly, I'd probably join the Air Force or the Coast Guard. Those give you the best standard of living and the most normal lifestyle. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites BikerBabe 0 #22 August 2, 2002 Viking, if you are already in college, I would seriously try for a 2-year ROTC scholarship. If you have done decently well in school so far and show a committment to continue doing well, you have a good shot of getting one. There's always the service academies, as well. DON'T LAUGH! I attended...uhhmmmm...a small, private college just north of Colorado Springs and there were several people in my class who had 2 or even 3 years of a civilian college under their belt before they came. Plus, I joined the jump team and got my first 250 skydives free! (a little-known perk...) Yes, the pay is less. Yes, you have to follow some rules that may seem silly. But the benefits to you personally far outweigh the downsides, in my opinion. Bottom line...it's totally up to you, but I wouldn't rule out anything at your age...you have tons of time to decide!Never meddle in the affairs of dragons, for you are crunchy and taste good with ketchup! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites ADRNALN 0 #23 August 2, 2002 No way, 22 is still super young, in fact you may get more out of it. I'm 35 and I am still flirting with the idea of going back. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites PhillyKev 0 #24 August 2, 2002 Take this for what it's worth....from someone who enlisted but backed out before shipping out. I signed up for 6 years in the Nuke program. My friend's father who had been in said something to me that made me change my mind. "You'll be spending the next 6 years of your life being ordered around by people dumber than you." The thought of that made me cringe. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites jfields 0 #25 August 2, 2002 Quote"You'll be spending the next 6 years of your life being ordered around by people dumber than you." Truer words have never been spoken! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites Prev 1 2 3 Next Page 1 of 3 Join the conversation You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account. Note: Your post will require moderator approval before it will be visible. Reply to this topic... × Pasted as rich text. Paste as plain text instead Only 75 emoji are allowed. × Your link has been automatically embedded. Display as a link instead × Your previous content has been restored. Clear editor × You cannot paste images directly. Upload or insert images from URL. Insert image from URL × Desktop Tablet Phone Submit Reply 0
flyhi 24 #20 August 2, 2002 Quote22 is not to old at all...all branches will take you for active duty up to 27 years old. i Vike, Lots of good advice here. Some stuff I have noticed: 1. Age is not a problem. And even though they say 27 is an upper limit, everything is waiverable. People with waivers get into flight school wearing glasses everyday. If in doubt, ask. 2. Get guarantees before going in. Check out what you want and get it on the paper and make it specific. The military is replete with stories about people who told their recruiters they wanted to work around aircraft or heavy equipment, and that is as close as they get, sweeping up around them. 3. If you want to live in comfort, style, and air conditioning, go in the Air Force. Granted people like Clay did not have it cushy, but they have the highest cush:bust ass job ratio out there. 4. If you want to stay close to skydiving, join to become a rigger. Do it in the Army, and you will probably end up near Chuck and Raeford, eventually. 5. Advertisers can make anything sound glamorous. Being on an aircraft carrier with 4,999 other people is not that great between port calls. Can be exciting and educational, but at times, it definitely isn't fun. 6. If you enlist, join the Thrift Savings Plan. Pay yourself first, and you will have a nice little chunk of change when you come out. Probably enough to buy two complete outfits so you never have to miss a load again. And that is before taxes. 7. Oh yeah, and stay away from officers. According to another post in this forum, they are all assholes.Shit happens. And it usually happens because of physics. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
jfields 0 #21 August 2, 2002 Viking, Search up old threads on this subject. There are some with lots of advice. My $.02... I was active duty Army for awhile as an enlisted paratrooper at Ft. Bragg. You do gain a lot and build character, but be aware of the sacrifices. There are a whole lot of them, and they vary in degrees of obviousness. For example: The pay totally sucks. You will have no guaranty of being anywhere close to a DZ for your entire military career. You might be stationed where civilization consists of a Burger King and a pawn shop. The food sucks. You can be deployed at any time, to places you may not want to go. You think dating is hard now, try when guys way outnumber women. Be prepared to be reduced to being a slab of meat with a SSN. If you stay in, you can look forward to a lifetime of low pay. I'm not saying that you shouldn't join. Just be very aware of the ramifications. Do your research and go in with your eyes open. Know that recruiters are about like used care salesmen. They have quotas to fill. Once the ink is on the paper, you are done and they have no further use of you. If I had to do a military experience again, honestly, I'd probably join the Air Force or the Coast Guard. Those give you the best standard of living and the most normal lifestyle. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
BikerBabe 0 #22 August 2, 2002 Viking, if you are already in college, I would seriously try for a 2-year ROTC scholarship. If you have done decently well in school so far and show a committment to continue doing well, you have a good shot of getting one. There's always the service academies, as well. DON'T LAUGH! I attended...uhhmmmm...a small, private college just north of Colorado Springs and there were several people in my class who had 2 or even 3 years of a civilian college under their belt before they came. Plus, I joined the jump team and got my first 250 skydives free! (a little-known perk...) Yes, the pay is less. Yes, you have to follow some rules that may seem silly. But the benefits to you personally far outweigh the downsides, in my opinion. Bottom line...it's totally up to you, but I wouldn't rule out anything at your age...you have tons of time to decide!Never meddle in the affairs of dragons, for you are crunchy and taste good with ketchup! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
ADRNALN 0 #23 August 2, 2002 No way, 22 is still super young, in fact you may get more out of it. I'm 35 and I am still flirting with the idea of going back. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
PhillyKev 0 #24 August 2, 2002 Take this for what it's worth....from someone who enlisted but backed out before shipping out. I signed up for 6 years in the Nuke program. My friend's father who had been in said something to me that made me change my mind. "You'll be spending the next 6 years of your life being ordered around by people dumber than you." The thought of that made me cringe. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
jfields 0 #25 August 2, 2002 Quote"You'll be spending the next 6 years of your life being ordered around by people dumber than you." Truer words have never been spoken! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
