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+--- Thread: Career talkin' time! (/showthread.php?tid=28604)
Career talkin' time! - Link - 2010-08-03
So... I'm 20 now and I'm a stay-at-home loser. I've never been to college, I've never had the desire to drive or even get my license, and I've never had a real, paid job.
My brother came home from Afghanistan a couple of weeks ago and he came up to Virginia Beach for a vacation and to see me for my birthday. A couple of nights ago, he, my dad and I went to Red Robin for Dinner and he told us all about what he went through in Afghanistan and how the military sucks and stuff (lol).
Anyway, to the point, he told me that if I were to join the military as a linguist, I cannot join as an enlistant and become a Japanese linguist. If I only enlist, I'd have to do Chinese, Korean, Russian or some other language. The only way to join and become a Japanese linguist is to go in as an officer, which I find completely f'ucking retarded.
Now, officer is the job my brother really wanted and still wants to become, but due to having a wife and a child, he couldn't. He said to become an officer, you have to have at least a high school diploma or GED and be single. Well, I qualify as both. lol He also said that if he had never gotten married and he were in my shoes, he would drop everything he's doing and join as an officer. But he then told me that it's unbelievably difficult. He said that a friend of his that ended up in the same area as he did in Afghanistan tried to go in as a Japanese linguist, but was turned down because he was only an enlistant and not an officer, so he chose Russian. However, he failed ONE test and was demoted to the lowest ranking job in the Air Force, which happens to be the same job my brother has.
That sounds... iffy. I don't know if I want to try and try and try just to be shoved in the garbage because I made a mistake or something.
My brother said that if I were to join as an officer, I would have to go to a military college-like basic training school for 2 years (I think that's what he said...) in Colorado (which is a place I've never been to nor do I have any family anywhere NEAR there). It would be the first time I have ever been away from my family or home for an extended period of time. However, if I were to be successful, once I get out of basic training, I could choose ANYWHERE in the world that I want to go. So... instant free trip to Japan.
I don't know if I should do that though. I'm seriously considering it, but that would be a huge, life-changing effect. I'm a fragile guy emotionally, in a way, as I'm sure most of you here at SP have noticed. I'm not sure how well I would do in military stuff. Lmao Not only that, but I'm not exactly physically fit, so the daily PTs and stuff that they would put me through would be extreme hell for a while. Not to mention, if I join, I probably wouldn't see any of you guys ever again after I'm called in to go to boot camp and basic training.
*sigh* Life sucks. What do you guys think? Should I do this? Even if I don't do it right away, is it something I should do eventually? =/
Career talkin' time! - Kurtle - 2010-08-03
A friend of mine is actually at the USAFA right now. He enlisted and is in the program to become an officer, if I remember correctly. He was NOT a man fit for the military two years ago. However, last year, his senior year in high school, he joined the cross country team and worked out with his recruiting officer in order to prep for the test, and to continue getting ready for basic. He is an incredibly intelligent kid who is socially awkward. He is doing just great, he finished basic this past Saturday, and is going to have a career while most people are just starting college. I will tell you this, PREPARE, physically and mentally. Learn to remove your emotions and personal affinities from your body and just let your body do the work. If you get worked up over emotions and let frustration set in, you won't get far. I say take a year, get in to great shape, maybe find a job to help with some experience working under someone, work with a recruiter, and have a relationship with he/she where you can decide what is the best process to prepare you for enlisting as an officer and getting ready for basic.
Career talkin' time! - Link - 2010-08-03
Air Force is the branch I'm aiming to join as well, which is the same branch my brother is in.
I'm definitely in dire need to get my physical fitness up to par before I join, if I decide to. However, my brother said that compared to 99% of the people who made it through boot camp and basic training with him, I'm a miracle genius, and I KNOW I'm quite the opposite of that in the real world. XD
Mentally, I think the only way it'll really get in the way is if I'm denied something I really want, I might have a breakdown. :| I'm not really one for crying for small things, but I can get angered easy. If people piss me off, I'm not one to lay down and take a beating. That's all I really fear mentally.
One of my friends already advised me not to join at all. lol
Career talkin' time! - Kurtle - 2010-08-04
The military isn't a bad choice. It's a guaranteed job with good income. Even if you don't necessarily get what you want, you can still get free college out of the situation. Training as a linguist in the Air Force can get you so, so, so far in life.
Career talkin' time! - Derosis - 2010-08-04
I agree, My entire family has been in the Military sense the beginning of... America I think? The Air Force is a great idea! Especially for a Linguist. My family made great ties to friends and politicial leaders that way too. Justin, I would advise doing exactly what was said above. Talk to an advisor, get a part time job (Or a full job), work out and go to the Collage in Colorado. My family has had great things done to them from entering. I'm even going in myself as an Officer when I get older too.
But, you do need to think this out before you do it.
Career talkin' time! - Swerve - 2010-08-04
Be all you can be.