The Military/War Thread

[Matt]

I've been talking with a national guard recruiter and am considering joining. I've always meant to be in (got through 3 years of ROTC in college before my life collapsed and I quit) and now seems like a decent time. I like the fact that its not full time but I have the option to go full time if I want. Anyone know anything about the special forces track?

 

[rms]

i always recommend to sign up as a regular dude and then ask to go to selection. if you enlist as 18X and then fail somewhere, you're reclassed to whatever the hell they want you to be.

but for prep? train with hiking 60+ lbs on your back for 10+miles and land navigation

 

[Matt]

Yeah I was concerned about that. I have a college degree so I was considering trying to go straight in as an officer but you can't go to selection as easily that way so idk

 

[The Ozzman]

I've also considered signing up but I'm getting near the upper tier of the age limitation. I have several more years for USAF though and I could also go in as an officer

 

[Dak]

Anyone know anything about the special forces track?

I can't tell you anything specific, but I can tell you I've known several dudes who were far more fit than myself (and I'm in pretty decent shape) who tried and they all failed out for either physical or mental reasons (and I'm including not passing screeners as well as mentally quitting in that). It's selective as hell and then when you're in it's no picnic either. You have to want that shit with your whole being and pass all the screening and not get broken in the training.

If you want a decent career just go officer in the branch that performs the general mission you are most interested in and offers a job you find specifically meaningful.

 

[Matt]

I can't tell you anything specific, but I can tell you I've known several dudes who were far more fit than myself (and I'm in pretty decent shape) who tried and they all failed out for either physical or mental reasons (and I'm including not passing screeners as well as mentally quitting in that). It's selective as hell and then when you're in it's no picnic either. You have to want that shit with your whole being and pass all the screening and not get broken in the training.

If you want a decent career just go officer in the branch that performs the general mission you are most interested in and offers a job you find specifically meaningful.

Yeah, I have a friend who made it through and he basically says the same thing. My fitness isn't where it needs to be, certainly wouldn't pass right now, but the mental side of things would be my strength. If I want something, I never quit on it. And I've wanted to do it forever.

 

[Matt]

I've also considered signing up but I'm getting near the upper tier of the age limitation. I have several more years for USAF though and I could also go in as an officer

Yeah, I've considered that as well. I'm thinking of enlisting to try to do the SF track and then go to OCS if I fail somehow.

 

[Dak]

If I want something, I never quit on it.

Yeah, this sort of attitude is a boon for anything. That's how I am; helped me through Marine bootcamp when I was in no shape whatsoever. Helps in graduate school too, because fuck this shit lol. At least bootcamp was only ~3.5 months.

 

[The Ozzman]

Yeah, I've considered that as well. I'm thinking of enlisting to try to do the SF track and then go to OCS if I fail somehow.

I don't have the balls to do SF but I wouldn't want to do an office type job either so I would probably do something with Infantry.

 

[Dak]

I don't have the balls to do SF but I wouldn't want to do an office type job either so I would probably do something with Infantry.

What appeals to you most about the military? I could see you enjoying having an R&D contracting job.

 

[The Ozzman]

What appeals to you most about the military? I could see you enjoying having an R&D contracting job.

-Structure
-The fact that I would have a purpose or feel useful
-Something I've always wanted to do (duty to your country and all that)
-The fraternity of it all

What kind of R&D?

 

[Matt]

Yeah, this sort of attitude is a boon for anything. That's how I am; helped me through Marine bootcamp when I was in no shape whatsoever. Helps in graduate school too, because fuck this shit lol. At least bootcamp was only ~3.5 months.

Yeah I just have to get my fitness back. Having a desk job has really fucked me. I'm still really strong but I've gotten a little fat.

I don't have the balls to do SF but I wouldn't want to do an office type job either so I would probably do something with Infantry.

See I wouldn't want want to do regular infantry. Doesn't sound fun at all.

 

[The Ozzman]

Yeah I just have to get my fitness back. Having a desk job has really fucked me. I'm still really strong but I've gotten a little fat.



See I wouldn't want want to do regular infantry. Doesn't sound fun at all.

Infantry, Communications or Intelligence are probably where I would excel

 

[Matt]

Intel has always been my second choice. Opens you up for civilian careers with the NSA, CIA etc afterwards too.

 

[Dak]

-Structure
-The fact that I would have a purpose or feel useful
-Something I've always wanted to do (duty to your country and all that)
-The fraternity of it all

What kind of R&D?

Well, there's not necessarily a lot of fraternity in R&D contract/GS jobs but the physical requirements are less and you get to work with military equipment and usually around a lot of vets. I'm not sure about how other branches handle R&D as much, but the Army has several Proving Grounds which do all sorts of testing and development. I did a year at one operating radar testing ballistic performance for mortars and artillery. Paid ok but just wasn't for me, but was a neat experience.

 

[The Ozzman]

Well, there's not necessarily a lot of fraternity in R&D contract/GS jobs but the physical requirements are less and you get to work with military equipment and usually around a lot of vets. I'm not sure about how other branches handle R&D as much, but the Army has several Proving Grounds which do all sorts of testing and development. I did a year at one operating radar testing ballistic performance for mortars and artillery. Paid ok but just wasn't for me, but was a neat experience.

I see what you're conveying now. I don't know if I even have the resume to do that type of contracting. Don't they typically want someone with prior military experience?

 

[Dak]

I see what you're conveying now. I don't know if I even have the resume to do that type of contracting. Don't they typically want someone with prior military experience?

Well that helps a bit, if nothing else than for connections to people in those jobs (I got the job because I had been in the Marines with the guy who let me know about it). Otherwise it's simply do you have the skills and do you interview well. There's all sorts of aspects to military R&D. Your skill set would likely map onto some, just have to find the application websites and be willing to move and/or travel. It's a good option for someone who likes things that go boom etc but has some barrier to going active duty.

 

[rms]

Yeah I was concerned about that. I have a college degree so I was considering trying to go straight in as an officer but you can't go to selection as easily that way so idk

infantry officers get auto-sent to RIPP but officers get whatever they want and get way more $. no brainer

 

[The Ozzman]

Itt we also post military pictures

"Fuck the bipod, fam. I'm just going to rest it on the flash suppressor."

Battle of Hue City

 

[Matt]

infantry officers get auto-sent to RIPP but officers get whatever they want and get way more $. no brainer

What is RIPP?