Seventeen year old girl considering joining the military asking for advice?

she writes i'm 17 and been in rotc for 4 years and i love it but i listen to stories an some are way different then rotc yet soon it will be time to leave the family house is joining the military going to give me a live of security safty income selfworth potential to develop personally?Seventeen year old girl considering joining the military asking for advice?
Keep asking questions and make sure you know what you want, from life and from the military. Completing JROTC is a big accomplishment.





I am biased, but I would suggest looking into the USAF. I was a brat, NCO, and an officer...and all were positive experiences.





It won't always be nice and clean and shiny...and you will experience many new things, but you will learn, earn, and grow.





The USAF is also a great place to start or complete college. I can say that from personal experience.





This isn't to denigrate the other services...please look into them too...but rather to share from personal experience. If it wasn't for the USAF, I would never have attended college...or gone on for my PhD and a commission as an O-3 Psychologist.





Good luck....and ';Aim High.'; (I've always hated that USAF slogan) LOL





EDIT: See, you already have TWO Captains referring you. LOLSeventeen year old girl considering joining the military asking for advice?
Congratulations on completing 4 years of ROTC! You ask a thoughtful question that demonstrates the kind of leadership potential needed no matter which field you enter. I can only give you advice based on my own 19+ years of (noncombat) military experience. I entered the military right out of high school, did active duty for eight years and have been in the Reserves for eleven. I feel the military definitely gave me the opportunity to earn a steady income, develop myself both personally and professionally, to travel the world, and to pay for college (twice--both undergrad and grad). That's not to say I haven't had bad days, but you would have those in any job. You might hear alot of negative stories, but listen closely and see if the military is really to blame or if the people complaining created their own problems and would have nothing positive to say no matter where they worked. I was fortunate to be able to avoid the naysayers and instead hang out with great friends and mentors who helped me to make good choices in life. I found my job in communications to be challenging and interesting, and during my offtime, I had alot of fun and adventures (i.e. surfing, hanggliding, skydiving, kayaking, rockclimbing, etc). As for security and safety, those are relative terms that cannot be guaranteed by the military. While I have not been deployed to a combat zone (yet), I know that's no guarantee of my safety, as accidents and violence can happen right here at home. In short, the military, like anything in life, is what YOU make of it. Best of luck to you, whatever you decide!
Go Air Force, the biggest problem college students have today is no experience. The Air Force will train you and also give you free college while you are in, my daughter has already received her Associates 100% free and she is currently stationed over in South Korea, she has already seen Qua tar, S. Africa, Washington D.C. and when her duty is done in S. Korea she will be going to Germany. The Air Force will give you work experience you need when you get out and right now it has the best job security than a lot of civilian businesses. If you liked ROTC then you will enjoy the Air Force, and I know that your parents will be proud, I know that I am of my Daughter she followed my foot steps, I was in the Army for a little more than 10 years. Good Luck with whatever you decide.
The military is a great opportunity! However, it is not for everyone. High school is not like the work world in exactly the same way. It becomes a job. Many colleges have ROTC programs. This may smooth the transition between high school and real world and answer your question. You can join at anytime; but do not have the right to quit if it is not for you.
look into the air force...u will have the best lifestyle...u will be safest..best food...more family oriented...and af has the shortest deployments and bases...you will live for free, eat free, free medical and dental insurance..tax free shoppin at grocery stores and other stores on base...
If you really want to develop personally join the Marines. Boot camp is not that bad. Don't believe the ';stories.'; Set your goals high and go for it. It is really a good life and a good time.
develop the will to kill.
Seriously look into the National Guard:





National Guard trains generally one weekend a month, and two weeks a year. Your first step is to go to a Nat. Guard Recruiter and explore your options. Ask him/her to put you into contact with various units so that you can perhaps make a visit to them so you can talk to people from those units and see if what they do is in your interest. Then you will have to decide on an MOS (Military Occupational Specialty). This is Military Police, Quartermaster, etc. Then you will got to MEPS and get your physical done and all of your paperwork finalized and then within one year, you will go to basic training (you usually get to pick the date you go). Basic training is about 10 weeks and your AIT (Advanced Individual Training will vary depending on the job you are being trained for). You can do what is called ';Split Option'; where you go to basic, come home and go to school or whatever and then go to your AIT later withing 1 year of completing basic.





After Basic Training and AIT you report to your unit.Your weekend is called ';drill'; where you show up Saturday and do Physical Training for about an hour and then general mission training the rest of the day until 4 or 5. Sunday is usually the same. Your 2 weeks is called AT (Annual Training) where you head out to an Army post or someplace and conduct intensive readiness training. You have to qualify on your weapon once a year (maybe more depending on your command), and you have to pass a Physical Training (PT) Test twice a year. Look up ';Army APFT Satndards'; in yahoo and you should find a chart to tell you what you need to do.





The Benefits: You will more than likely get a bonus of up to $20,000. You get 100% tuition Assistance for in-state schools and if you already have a scholarship, they will match it and cut you a check that goes into your pocket. Also, you are eligible for the GI Bill and Kicker which gives you up to $509.00 a month while you attend school in addition to tuition assistance. You get paid for basic training (between 2,000 and 3,000 depending on your rank). You also get paid for drills and AT. You get $400,000 life insurance for $29/month if you want it and it covers you wheather you are on or off duty.





The best benefit is knowing that you are serving your community, State, and Country and that you are in a position that less that 1% of all Americans are willing to commit to. It is the American Soldier NOT the Constitution who gives the American People their freedom. As a National Guard Soldier, you are a guardian of freedom and the American Way of Life. You are a servant to the people of this great Nation and as such YOU have an active role in securing the blessings of liberty for not only your family, your children and their children, but to the children of strangers who are not willing or physically able to sacrafice what you are willing to give.