thinking about joining the navy reserve

Matt E · 09-25-2007, 12:43 AM

Hey guys im kind of in a bind...After high school I went to art school for 2yrs and absolutely hated it... i ended up droping out... I just recently missed registration for Community college... SO now im working 8-5 pushing paper @ a law firm barley making ends meet... Im 20yrs and i kind of don't have a plan for my future... do you think the navy reserve would be a good idea? My dream is to race motorcycles but i need money to start that... so in the mean time i was thinking about welding... Should i join and learn it in the navy, or should I just go to community college, or do both? bottom line I need to start my future and i need to make extra money... Oh and can you give me a break down of how the recruiting process well go and what to look out for... Thanks guys i feel so lost and less than because my life is so lame right now...

coronadozx · 09-25-2007, 01:06 AM

the navy reserves is probably the best secret going.

you get unlimited commissary benefits and exchange benefits. in addition to that, you work a weekend a month and two weeks a year. if you can get into the job field you want, i say do it. i'm not sure what educational benefits you get while on active reserves, but you do get something.

there is a new kind of reserve program. you sign up for active duty for 2 years, then you can request to stay active duty or get out after that two years is up. that is a great way to get exposed to the navy w/out obligating a 4, 5, or 6 year period of your life. your basic training and A school will take up about 6 months of that, so you really only have 1 1/2 years in.

Matt E · 09-25-2007, 01:22 AM

is that a military school or any school? and how long is basic? Sry about all the ?... The navy reserve web site does not explain a whole lot...

coronadozx · 09-25-2007, 01:29 AM

don't worry about the number of questions man, ask away, it's better to get informed as much as possible then make your decision.

it is military school. they send you to school based on what your job is going to be. each school is different in lengths, some schools are 3-4 weeks, other schools can be 16 weeks or more in length, it all depends on what job you sign up for. i believe the navy's job for welders is known as HULL TECHNICIAN (HT). your best bet would be to sign up for an account on this website and ask your questions there, b/c chances are you'll actually get an HT to answer your questions. Benefiting the US Army, US Navy, US Air Force, Marine Corps, Coast Guard - Military.com

basic training is 8 weeks, but you'll probably be there 9 maybe 10 weeks (processing days, and just in case you are put on hold or something).

Matt E · 09-25-2007, 01:53 AM

and the pay? as an e1, working one weekend = the amount they list, and my 2 weeks a year = 4 weekends... Can I work more then one weekend a month?

GConn · 09-25-2007, 02:04 AM

If my opinion matters anyhow, stay away from the army. Find another dream...Just my opinion

Matt E · 09-25-2007, 02:10 AM

can you be a little more specific on your opinion...im totally open, but i need some sort of reason or explaintion... not much of opinion without reason...

GConn · 09-25-2007, 02:32 AM

Ok. You live in a country that is in a war with other countries every few years. I from the other hand live in a country that suffered a "small" scale war 30 years back, and still the scars are open. People get nasty experiences in war, even if they don't fight in the first line. And you will not know if you are up to it untill it happens. Most people aren't up to it.
War sounds romantic but its not. You WILL hate shooting someone nomatter who it is. You WILL hate a friend of your getting killed. You WILL hate everything eventually when you find out that those events served no reason at all.
All I am trying to say, it's that when the shit hits the fan it gets unbelievably nasty. These experiences will change a person beyond recognition

I know there will be people saying things like : " I LOVED KILLING LITTLE OSAMAS" but we all know that's crap. After war people tend to recognise what interests they've served...

Is it worth it?Only you can decide

Matt E · 09-25-2007, 02:40 AM

oh i totally get what you are saying... but their seems to be a miss communication... my dream is to race motorcycles... I dont plan on joing the army, i plan on joining the navy reserve as a welder (HT)... My intentions are not to kill, just to learn a skill and make some extra money

I know what you are talking about tho kinda... Straight from high school i thought i would join the marines just to kill... but talk to some guys that were already enlisted and they gave me a taste of wat they have seen and done...

GConn · 09-25-2007, 02:56 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Matt E

... but their seems to be a miss communication...

Oh...

ok. Really sorry then....

Matt E · 09-25-2007, 03:12 AM

lol aww no worries... It was a good reason/opinion...do you have any other good advice on the military or life for that matter... Im just lost in my life, no real direction...

Rascus · 09-25-2007, 03:14 AM

Just make sure that if and when you sign the contract for the reserves that is says the job you want! Don't let him try to BS you into some other job, or go do OJT.

Pay for E1 active duty i believe is around 1400 a month, that's base pay. If you have college you can come in as an E-2 or E-3 depending on how much you have.

Honestly, if I were you. I'd do the 3yrs Active duty, get on a ship, go see the world for a bit, come back then go do your thing.

However, if you think the Navy or the military is your money ticket to get into motorcycle racing you're way off.

GConn · 09-25-2007, 03:34 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Matt E

do you have any other good advice on the military or life for that matter... Im just lost in my life, no real direction...

Dude...I am a BORING, EUROPEAN ACCOUNTANT. Do you still want my opinion on life???

Seriously, if you can afford it, go to college. What to study? You are the only one who knows...Not very helpful I know, but noone will really decide for you.

For me? I seek a career in finance. If it suits you, the money is really good (esp. in the US) but you become a "slave" for money. The hours are crazy

Matt E · 09-25-2007, 03:49 AM

I just want to thank all of you so far...Rascus thanks for the tips... Ill make sure they arent pulling my chain... Im not really thinking that the military is going to be my ticket... Im thinking of it as a way to learn skills, skills to finance my cost of living n to help me start racing ie.. pay for tires trackdays ect... (from hobbiest, to privateer, and if it all works out to decent racer) I have reasons why i dont fully enlist, but i just might after my apt lease is up...

Matt E · 09-25-2007, 04:00 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GConn

Dude...I am a BORING, EUROPEAN ACCOUNTANT. Do you still want my opinion on life???

Seriously, if you can afford it, go to college. What to study? You are the only one who knows...Not very helpful I know, but noone will really decide for you.

For me? I seek a career in finance. If it suits you, the money is really good (esp. in the US) but you become a "slave" for money. The hours are crazy

hey man let me here your opinion... i need some light... As far as college i dont have all the money to pay for it... Shit i am still paying for the art school i dropped out of... Im just trying to create oppurtunity's and make some extra money... its wat makes the world go round...lol... I commend you on the crazy office hours( as for myself working at a law firm 8-5 drive me nuts) so crazy accountant hours dont think will work