Anybody in the military or military knowledge

Originally Posted by lakedude90

Been thinkning about join up my self. Im stuck in between nuclear mechanic for the navy and Engineering officer for the army. I know there is a big gap in between the 2 but I love both topics. Another reason why I want to join is so I can finish up school. I know I want to go back but money isnt letting me do that right now and I feel like if I keep waiting and wating im gonna go no where.

Personally, I love being an engineer officer. What, specifically, do you want to do as one?

If you're going active duty, you will most likely be a combat engineer, because that's the majority of engineers in the AC. Get yourself ready for Sapper school. You'll have a great time.

If you're going Guard/Reserve, depending on your location, you'll most likely become a construction engineer. You can still certainly go to Sapper school, but it's not as highly recommended. Either way, you can't go wrong.

Originally Posted by Clean_3

Sorry to thread jack but I didn't want to start a whole new thread. I'm thinking of joining the Army with a BA. Recruiter thought it would be a better idea to join as enlisted instead of going straight to an officer. He suggested learning how everything works first and then trying to go for OCS. Can anyone give me some input on this? Suggestions? 26 yrs old and married

You're talking to a recruiter that needs to fill slots in a specific MOS. you get very little advantage as prior enlisted over 09S once you become an officer.

Yep!

Originally Posted by NOVAbimmer

Personally, I love being an engineer officer. What, specifically, do you want to do as one?

If you're going active duty, you will most likely be a combat engineer, because that's the majority of engineers in the AC. Get yourself ready for Sapper school. You'll have a great time.

If you're going Guard/Reserve, depending on your location, you'll most likely become a construction engineer. You can still certainly go to Sapper school, but it's not as highly recommended. Either way, you can't go wrong.

well I have been around constrution and engineering all my life. I like to build things and I like to tear things apart. I have always like demolition too and exsplosives. i have never been good at the technical aspect of it(explaing it and showing how I did it), but If im told what need needs to be done and show me what I have to use. I can prolly do it

Don't officers and enlisted have different recruiters?
Call a 1 800 number or something. IF u want to go straight commissioned.

Originally Posted by snikwad

Don't officers and enlisted have different recruiters?
Call a 1 800 number or something. IF u want to go straight commissioned.

To go straight commissioned officer in the Army you need to be a specialist of some sort (doctors, lawyers, chaplains). Anyone else just gets recruited as a 09S, sent to basic, then directly to OCS. Any recruiter can get you there.

Originally Posted by lakedude90

well I have been around constrution and engineering all my life. I like to build things and I like to tear things apart. I have always like demolition too and exsplosives. i have never been good at the technical aspect of it(explaing it and showing how I did it), but If im told what need needs to be done and show me what I have to use. I can prolly do it

I can speak more from the construction side than the combat side, since that's what I've done (although, realistically, they could give me a company of either and I could get the job done).

On the construction side, as an officer, you'll be more or less a project manager ensuring training is accomplished and mission is completed. You won't be an equipment operator (although you should get some stick time if your unit likes you). On the combat side, at least as a LT in the current fight, you'll most likely be running route clearance convoys.

Alright fellas I'm meeting with my recruiter Dec 17th, and he's scheduling me for MEPs in the days following. Needless to say, I am confident about passing all the requirements at MEPs, but yet I've done my research. I shouldn't have done research, because the internet is like WebMD about MEPs pretty much saying they are out to disqualify you at any chance they get. Here are things that I'm concerned about

1) I've had 2 moles removed on my back (1 at 10 years old, one at 18) Both scars are highly visible
2) At 14 years old, I have scope knee surgery. 20 min procedure, playing varsity baseball 3 weeks later. 2 pin hole scars covered by leg hair, no effects on me today.
3) Fractured my wrist at 19 years old. Wore a cast for 10 weeks, healed straight, normally, does not impact me in the slightest today.

I've begun training to get ready for basic, I'm about 3-4 months into a 5 day a week gym routine running and lifting heavily, let me be clear that I am not impacted by anything listed above. I have told my recruiter about the surgery and the wrist, and he suggested documenting them. I've heard from many people in the military that the more I tell them, the less chance I have of being accepted, especially in a timely manner. The scars on my back are the only thing that is a dead give-away that I have something done, other than that, I'm clean as it gets. What do you guys think about telling the MEPs people about some of these things? I'm just afraid they'll either take a year to get a waiver.

Originally Posted by bostonsc4

Alright fellas I'm meeting with my recruiter Dec 17th, and he's scheduling me for MEPs in the days following. Needless to say, I am confident about passing all the requirements at MEPs, but yet I've done my research. I shouldn't have done research, because the internet is like WebMD about MEPs pretty much saying they are out to disqualify you at any chance they get. Here are things that I'm concerned about***********:

1) I've had 2 moles removed on my back (1 at 10 years old, one at 18) Both scars are highly visible
2) At 14 years old, I have scope knee surgery. 20 min procedure, playing varsity baseball 3 weeks later. 2 pin hole scars covered by leg hair, no effects on me today.
3) Fractured my wrist at 19 years old. Wore a cast for 10 weeks, healed straight, normally, does not impact me in the slightest today.

I've begun training to get ready for basic, I'm about 3-4 months into a 5 day a week gym routine running and lifting heavily, let me be clear that I am not impacted by anything listed above. I have told my recruiter about the surgery and the wrist, and he suggested documenting them. I've heard from many people in the military that the more I tell them, the less chance I have of being accepted, especially in a timely manner. The scars on my back are the only thing that is a dead give-away that I have something done, other than that, I'm clean as it gets. What do you guys think about telling the MEPs people about some of these things? I'm just afraid they'll either take a year to get a waiver.

Don't sweat it man, I have a pretty extensive medical history and they still let me in, though the economic climate is a bit different these days. Good Luck it's painless.

You should be fine at MEPS, but yes, they are looking for reasons to DQ people.

A heavy lifting regimen is great, but focus on the basics: push-ups, sit-ups, pull-ups, running. PT tests are more about endurance than how much you can lift.

Also, focus on technique, not just raw number. 100 bad push-ups nets you a zero score for that event.

Originally Posted by Clean_3

Sorry to thread jack but I didn't want to start a whole new thread. I'm thinking of joining the Army with a BA. Recruiter thought it would be a better idea to join as enlisted instead of going straight to an officer. He suggested learning how everything works first and then trying to go for OCS. Can anyone give me some input on this? Suggestions? 26 yrs old and married

I dunno man, I can understand going into the Coast Guard, Navy or Airforce with a BA and being enlisted. Enlisting in the Army or Marines with a degree seems like a waste.

Originally Posted by Silver_Surfer

I dunno man, I can understand going into the Coast Guard, Navy or Airforce with a BA and being enlisted. Enlisting in the Army or Marines with a degree seems like a waste.

Why's that?

Originally Posted by NOVAbimmer

Why's that?

Just the majority of the types of jobs that are available opposed to the infantry type of work in the army/marines.

Originally Posted by Silver_Surfer

Just the majority of the types of jobs that are available opposed to the infantry type of work in the army/marines.

There's a lot more than infantry available in the Army and Marine Corps.

In fact, Infantry is only one out of twenty or so basic branches in the Army.

Got a few enlisted in my class here at navscoleod that have BAs.
It's seemingly becoming normal.
Some just want to climb the enlisted route 1st and the rest were just uninformed.

Originally Posted by bostonsc4

Alright fellas I'm meeting with my recruiter Dec 17th, and he's scheduling me for MEPs in the days following. Needless to say, I am confident about passing all the requirements at MEPs, but yet I've done my research. I shouldn't have done research, because the internet is like WebMD about MEPs pretty much saying they are out to disqualify you at any chance they get. Here are things that I'm concerned about

1) I've had 2 moles removed on my back (1 at 10 years old, one at 18) Both scars are highly visible
2) At 14 years old, I have scope knee surgery. 20 min procedure, playing varsity baseball 3 weeks later. 2 pin hole scars covered by leg hair, no effects on me today.
3) Fractured my wrist at 19 years old. Wore a cast for 10 weeks, healed straight, normally, does not impact me in the slightest today.

I've begun training to get ready for basic, I'm about 3-4 months into a 5 day a week gym routine running and lifting heavily, let me be clear that I am not impacted by anything listed above. I have told my recruiter about the surgery and the wrist, and he suggested documenting them. I've heard from many people in the military that the more I tell them, the less chance I have of being accepted, especially in a timely manner. The scars on my back are the only thing that is a dead give-away that I have something done, other than that, I'm clean as it gets. What do you guys think about telling the MEPs people about some of these things? I'm just afraid they'll either take a year to get a waiver.

The MEPS doctor is there to disqualify you, and if you are not dq, then you are qualified.

He is not your family doctor. Don't go in there with the sniffles and tell him you think you have a fever or the flu, he will dq you and send you home. He is not your confessor, don't tell him anything he does not ask you specifically. He is not your friend. If you have ever seen a psych or been on medication,..........it's not a big deal if you are not on them now. If you tell him you have ever been to counseling even if it was a result of divorce of your parents he will send you to see a psych for consultation, just to make sure. If you don't tell him he will never know, personal conversations with professionals don't leave scars on the body.

You don't have any allergies. Period.

1.The moles are no problem
2. Red Flag here. He is going to know about the scope because it left a scar. Explain the circumstances and assure him it was only exploratory / preventative. Assure him you have no pins, plates or screws in your body. He will send you out to see a specialist about this. You will leave the MEPS to get this xray'd...most likely.
3. Fractured wrist ....no problem. Make sure he knows it was a fracture not a break and you have no pins, plates or screws in your wrist or arm. Make sure the doc knows you have a full range of movement in your arms, wrist and knees.


Wear clean underwear and clean socks. This is how you will spend much of your physical. Wash your a hole. He's going to be looking up there.

Drink water every chance you get when you arrive at the MEPS. You have to take a piss test. You need to be ready. Don't be having sex or playing with yourself the night before. It leaves protein in the sample and messes it up. You'll have to do another one,

Don't admit to taking any prescription drugs that might throw up a red flag, Like lithium, adderall, prozac, methadone etc......... keep it limited to aspirin, tylenol, vitamins. Maybe tetryacycline for acne......etc... keep it simple.

If you wear glasses bring a current prescription.

When you get to the part about law violations and have to be interviewed, don't be making up stuff. If you got a speeding ticket and paid it off, tell him. But don't say I got a ticket and I THINK I paid it off....that would be another red flag.

Don't tell him you have asthma because your aunt says you do.......if you don't have an inhaler, you don't have asthma.

Don't listen to you Ipod or go to any clubs 3 days prior to the MEPS. It takes about 3 days for your ears to recover from loud music. You have to take a hearing test and push a button every time you hear a beep. Don't push it if you don't hear anything. This is the worst part of the physical as far as I am concerned......

You have to take a vision test. If you can't see I can't help you. You have to do a color blind test and look at a bunch of numbers behind a bunch of colored dots. Take your time to read the numbers.


Have any more questions ............go here.......

http://armypubs.army.mil/epubs/pdf/r40_501.pdf

Originally Posted by Silver_Surfer

I dunno man, I can understand going into the Coast Guard, Navy or Airforce with a BA and being enlisted. Enlisting in the Army or Marines with a degree seems like a waste.

Originally Posted by snikwad

Got a few enlisted in my class here at navscoleod that have BAs.
It's seemingly becoming normal.
Some just want to climb the enlisted route 1st and the rest were just uninformed.

The Army will pay back 65k in student loans if you go enlisted. They are paid back over 3 years at the end of each anniversary year. You loans are deferred for a year for 3 years. So at the end of year 1, 1/3 is paid off. etc......

The Army will also give up to 40k cash for an enlistment bonus. Paid over 3 years.

So, depending on your circumstance you can benefit a great deal going enlisted, getting your loan paid off and then after you spend 2,3 years in the Army, if you like the lifestyle, put in a packet for OCS, your loans are paid off, you are debt free in 3 years as opposed to 10 or 20 and you are an officer. Taxes are paid on cash bonuses, not on loan repayments.

Officers do not receive a cash bonus or student loan repayments.

Oh yeah, practice the duck walk ( forward and backwards about 3 feet ) by grabbing your ankles and again by putting your arms on your knees, deep knee bends, rotate your arms, wrists and shoulders prior to going just to know what you will be doing.

Also, practice doing a deep knee bend and then get up by rolling back on your heels and then front towards your toes and stand up straight.
I hope I explained that correctly. You got the idea. Everyone laughs when this is done and it is kinda funny. But if you can't do it, you are dq,

physical fitness standards

http://www.scribd.com/doc/37113152/D...tness-Training

Originally Posted by Raymond42262

The MEPS doctor is there to disqualify you, and if you are not dq, then you are qualified.

He is not your family doctor. Don't go in there with the sniffles and tell him you think you have a fever or the flu, he will dq you and send you home. He is not your confessor, don't tell him anything he does not ask you specifically. He is not your friend. If you have ever seen a psych or been on medication,..........it's not a big deal if you are not on them now. If you tell him you have ever been to counseling even if it was a result of divorce of your parents he will send you to see a psych for consultation, just to make sure. If you don't tell him he will never know, personal conversations with professionals don't leave scars on the body.

You don't have any allergies. Period.

1.The moles are no problem
2. Red Flag here. He is going to know about the scope because it left a scar. Explain the circumstances and assure him it was only exploratory / preventative. Assure him you have no pins, plates or screws in your body. He will send you out to see a specialist about this. You will leave the MEPS to get this xray'd...most likely.
3. Fractured wrist ....no problem. Make sure he knows it was a fracture not a break and you have no pins, plates or screws in your wrist or arm. Make sure the doc knows you have a full range of movement in your arms, wrist and knees.


Wear clean underwear and clean socks. This is how you will spend much of your physical. Wash your a hole. He's going to be looking up there.

Drink water every chance you get when you arrive at the MEPS. You have to take a piss test. You need to be ready. Don't be having sex or playing with yourself the night before. It leaves protein in the sample and messes it up. You'll have to do another one,

Don't admit to taking any prescription drugs that might throw up a red flag, Like lithium, adderall, prozac, methadone etc......... keep it limited to aspirin, tylenol, vitamins. Maybe tetryacycline for acne......etc... keep it simple.

If you wear glasses bring a current prescription.

When you get to the part about law violations and have to be interviewed, don't be making up stuff. If you got a speeding ticket and paid it off, tell him. But don't say I got a ticket and I THINK I paid it off....that would be another red flag.

Don't tell him you have asthma because your aunt says you do.......if you don't have an inhaler, you don't have asthma.

Don't listen to you Ipod or go to any clubs 3 days prior to the MEPS. It takes about 3 days for your ears to recover from loud music. You have to take a hearing test and push a button every time you hear a beep. Don't push it if you don't hear anything. This is the worst part of the physical as far as I am concerned......

You have to take a vision test. If you can't see I can't help you. You have to do a color blind test and look at a bunch of numbers behind a bunch of colored dots. Take your time to read the numbers.


Have any more questions ............go here.......

http://armypubs.army.mil/epubs/pdf/r40_501.pdf






The Army will pay back 65k in student loans if you go enlisted. They are paid back over 3 years at the end of each anniversary year. You loans are deferred for a year for 3 years. So at the end of year 1, 1/3 is paid off. etc......

The Army will also give up to 40k cash for an enlistment bonus. Paid over 3 years.

So, depending on your circumstance you can benefit a great deal going enlisted, getting your loan paid off and then after you spend 2,3 years in the Army, if you like the lifestyle, put in a packet for OCS, your loans are paid off, you are debt free in 3 years as opposed to 10 or 20 and you are an officer. Taxes are paid on cash bonuses, not on loan repayments.

Officers do not receive a cash bonus or student loan repayments.

Ahhh. Nice. I knew they didn't get any enlistment bonuses but didn't know about the loan payoff.
That's not a bad deal. They basically give u E4 and pay off your loans.
Too bad most of them seem to pick up E5 and not really have a clue how stuff works.
Heard from some of the army dogs that they're about to either phase that out or reduce it significantly.
But you know how idle chatter is. Got to take it with a grain of salt.

Originally Posted by Raymond42262

The MEPS doctor is there to disqualify you, and if you are not dq, then you are qualified.

He is not your family doctor. Don't go in there with the sniffles and tell him you think you have a fever or the flu, he will dq you and send you home. He is not your confessor, don't tell him anything he does not ask you specifically. He is not your friend. If you have ever seen a psych or been on medication,..........it's not a big deal if you are not on them now. If you tell him you have ever been to counseling even if it was a result of divorce of your parents he will send you to see a psych for consultation, just to make sure. If you don't tell him he will never know, personal conversations with professionals don't leave scars on the body.

You don't have any allergies. Period.

1.The moles are no problem
2. Red Flag here. He is going to know about the scope because it left a scar. Explain the circumstances and assure him it was only exploratory / preventative. Assure him you have no pins, plates or screws in your body. He will send you out to see a specialist about this. You will leave the MEPS to get this xray'd...most likely.
3. Fractured wrist ....no problem. Make sure he knows it was a fracture not a break and you have no pins, plates or screws in your wrist or arm. Make sure the doc knows you have a full range of movement in your arms, wrist and knees.


Wear clean underwear and clean socks. This is how you will spend much of your physical. Wash your a hole. He's going to be looking up there.

Drink water every chance you get when you arrive at the MEPS. You have to take a piss test. You need to be ready. Don't be having sex or playing with yourself the night before. It leaves protein in the sample and messes it up. You'll have to do another one,

Don't admit to taking any prescription drugs that might throw up a red flag, Like lithium, adderall, prozac, methadone etc......... keep it limited to aspirin, tylenol, vitamins. Maybe tetryacycline for acne......etc... keep it simple.

If you wear glasses bring a current prescription.

When you get to the part about law violations and have to be interviewed, don't be making up stuff. If you got a speeding ticket and paid it off, tell him. But don't say I got a ticket and I THINK I paid it off....that would be another red flag.

Don't tell him you have asthma because your aunt says you do.......if you don't have an inhaler, you don't have asthma.

Don't listen to you Ipod or go to any clubs 3 days prior to the MEPS. It takes about 3 days for your ears to recover from loud music. You have to take a hearing test and push a button every time you hear a beep. Don't push it if you don't hear anything. This is the worst part of the physical as far as I am concerned......

You have to take a vision test. If you can't see I can't help you. You have to do a color blind test and look at a bunch of numbers behind a bunch of colored dots. Take your time to read the numbers.


Have any more questions ............go here.......

http://armypubs.army.mil/epubs/pdf/r40_501.pdf






The Army will pay back 65k in student loans if you go enlisted. They are paid back over 3 years at the end of each anniversary year. You loans are deferred for a year for 3 years. So at the end of year 1, 1/3 is paid off. etc......

The Army will also give up to 40k cash for an enlistment bonus. Paid over 3 years.

So, depending on your circumstance you can benefit a great deal going enlisted, getting your loan paid off and then after you spend 2,3 years in the Army, if you like the lifestyle, put in a packet for OCS, your loans are paid off, you are debt free in 3 years as opposed to 10 or 20 and you are an officer. Taxes are paid on cash bonuses, not on loan repayments.

Officers do not receive a cash bonus or student loan repayments.

A very informative, and comforting post to read considering all of the "you don't have...." about me is true as it is.

1) The moles, I'll have the records for those, then simply point them out and tell him what the scars are. Hopefully that will be seamless.
2) Knee surgery, I'm also not worried as long as I have my records to show. Maybe if he sees how unimpactful this preventative procedure was he may not need a specialist, but regardless, as long as I get through I don't mind seeing one.
3) Fractured wrist, same here, I just looked up the degrees your link told me I should have, and both wrists perform equally.

I get a little sneezy and watery eyed from pollen in the spring, but they don't need to know that. Never had asthma, never diagnosed with anything in my life. I guess what just makes me nervous is that this is my only option post grad, and all I want to do is be in the military. Had a passion for it since I've been a little kid. I know the job I want to do in the AF, and would like to attempt to be an officer after my first enlistment. I've got a plan, just want to get through this difficult first step. I'll keep everyone updated.