Re: Armed Forces?
 

Wow I had not heard about that...I knew they were expensive but I had not heard anything about the F-22s being cancelled. I hope not. They may be really expensive, but there is no other fighter equal to it. I thought it was funny when I was watching some show about them and it said that the F-22s are more stealthy than the stealth fighters (f-117s right? cant remember), but then the stealth fighters are much older. To matt: yeah i know about the part on flying...but I think they try to put you where you want to fly, be it fighters, cargo, or choppers. All depends on what the AF, Navy, or whomever it may be needs. Still, there is a chance there and I certainly would not pass it up if I got it. Even if I just became a cargo pilot, thatd be cool too...down here we have Keesler AFB, and its the home of the Hurricane Hunters, so that would be another cool flight opportunity. And that sucks about the medical disqualification, sorry about that...

Re: Armed Forces?
 

Well its done, I talked it over, and decided it was right for me.

I am now an enlisted member of the United States Navy entering full time active duty October 31st 2005.

-Aaron

some thoughts
 

Answering some quick questions...

Adrienne L. Stanish is at the AFA right now. She was a 3 year member on team 234 Cyber Blue and one of my best friends through high school. If you have questions I can try to get you in contact with her.

Flying---
It's interesting how you get different slots. First, you have to PQ (pilot qualify). For AFROTC, this is an AMAZINGLY competitive process. It is based on a few things, including GPA, Commander's Ranking, AFOQT score, flying time, etc. I know that in Marine and Navy you have a little better chance of getting in but it is still competitive. Also, you DO NOT have to be an Aero Engr. (nor do you have to be on scholarship) to fly. It is not major specific by any standards. Normally, you find out if you got a pilot or navigator slot second semester of your junior year. Once you go to flight school, you have to be qualified to fly different planes. Again, EXTREMELY COMPETITIVE!

Scholarship---
There are a lot of scholarships available for all ROTC programs, however, not everyone doing ROTC is on scholarship. Actually, more than 60% i think aren't on scholarship. I'm pretty sure the scholarship phase for the 05-06 school year is over and has been for a while. Normally you have to do the first part before december of your senior year.

In General---
From spending a year in AFROTC at Purdue University (The Greatest Detachment in the USA), let me tell you that it is no cake-walk. It could be the hardest thing I've ever done. I will not be continuing in AFROTC, but am very thankful for the opportunities that it has given me. For me the reasons are personal. However, I thank God every day that there are those who will make the decision to serve and fight. My thoughts and prayers are with you all every day.

The military is a great way to start out your career, especially in a technical career. It will immediately put you in a leadership role and force you to prove yourself. Former military persons are in high demand in the commercial sector.

If you have any more questions, feel free to contact me at ccfultz@purdue.edu and I'll do all I can to answer questions or get you in contact with those who can help you out.

Thank you and God Bless America.

Re: some thoughts
 

I had joined the Air Force DEP in December and I just got my job now. I am slated to leave 30 August as an Integrated avionics technician.

Re: Armed Forces?
 

For a long time, I was planning on going to the Coast Guard Academy, and becoming a pilot. On top of going to a top rate engineering school, I would graduate an officer with lots of options for further training and a careerer doing something I would love.

It appealed to me for many reasons The chief being that I like the idea of service but not so much the shooting or being shot at. The Coast Guard struck me as being a way to serve my country while avoiding the very real ethical dilemmas I had with being a part of the other armed forces. It was comforting to me knowing that I would never be called overseas to take part in a war I couldn't support. My job would be to protect the American coast and waterways, and those who used it. Thats a job description I knew I wouldn't ever regret.

By the end of high school, it was obvious that I wouldn't be able to qualify for flight school due to medical reasons. While the academy was still a viable option, being a sailor simply didn't light the same fire in me. I opted instead to go to a normal 4 year tech school.

The Coast Guard is a fantastic service with a huge list of benefits no other branch can offer. If you love the sea and the idea of service with out long deployments, consider it.

-Andy A.

Re: Armed Forces?
 

I have enrolled in NROTC at U of A with the intention of recieving a commission as a 2nd Lt. in the USMC. I chose the Marines because I feel they represent the best of what America has to offer. They guard the President and our embassies overseas. They also have the most career offerings of any of the four branches. You can do anything from drive a tank to fly an F/A-18 to guard a consulate in the Marines. No other branch can offer you that type of diversity. Thats just my little spiel....

Two of our former members are currently enrolled in AFROTC and they can't speak more highly of the program. I believe that each branch has something to offer for everybody, you just need to find whats right for you.

Re: Armed Forces?
 

The Marines don't have Doctors or Nurses, they have to borrow from the Navy for those and some other specialties.

Wetzel

Re: Armed Forces?
 

I also was looking at the Coast Guard Academy while in high school. I joined the Coast Guard Auxiliary, civilian volunteers who assist the USCG in many missions, most visible being Public Education. This gave me many valuable contacts in the active duty USCG.

I went so far as to have been accepted and visited the Academy for 2 weeks. I had wanted to become a helocopter pilot but found that I was medically disqualified for aviation jobs. With that dream gone the CG just didn't seem to be the life I wanted for a future family, 3 month deployments on ships and frequent moves (about every 4 years) just wasn't what I wanted. So I declined the academy and instead went to Kettering University (at the time it was GMI) for electrical engineering.

Now, 9 years after high school, I have 4 years of employment as an electrical engineer and am still very active the the auxiliary. So much so that, after a few lives saved and many more people assisted in the past 10 years I have volunteered, I have decided to go into the CG reserves.

The Coast Guard really is great, what other military service helps people directly by saving lives. The other services train constantly for war, but have to wait for a conflict to put their training to use. The Coast Guard trains just as much as other services but that training is put to use daily to protect Americans and save lives at home. Don't get me wrong, the other services are definately needed and I respect all the men and women in those branches and appreciate what they do for us. But for me the direct involvement is most important.

As a small correction to Andy's post I would like to add that the Coast Guard does deploy overseas to assist with wartime efforts. Even now there are USCG men and women in the Persian Gulf area. One was even killed about a year ago in the Persian Gulf, the first to be killed in a war zone since WWII. The Coast Gaurd is one of the armed services, they do shoot and get shot at, even here in the US.

I'll jump off the soap box now.

Dave

Re: Armed Forces?
 

Congratulations!


You too!


-Joel

Re: Armed Forces?
 

my dad served 29 years in the Marines ending his career as a Master Gunnery
Sergeant. MY uncle served in the MArine Corps for 33 years ending his career as a Lieutenant Colonel. Both my grandfathers served inthe Korean Army for a number of years. One ended his career as a General, and the other as Colonel.

As you can see, my fmaily ahs a loong history of military background. so naturally, 3 of my cousins just entered the Marine Corps and is going through basic training as Private Firt Class. And now im the next to hit 18, and the pressure on me is not MIT, CAL TECH, GT, HARVERED, but some military college so i can be a officer. my parents are very supportive of my decision, but i think im going to stay away from the armed forces field of work for now. But if u do go, HOORAA :D

Re: Armed Forces?
 

Congrats! I was going to NROTC when I went to college. I actually got accepted and was all ready to do it when the medically disqualified me at the last minute. There are some times I wish I could've had the chance to be in the Navy, but maybe it wasn't meant to be. I wish you all the best.

Re: Armed Forces?
 

i have a couple of friends who are going to the army ...
basically, here what they do is you go through officer training (ie take a year out before uni) then you go to uni, they pay you through uni. then you hav eto do 4 years service abroad to cancell out the money

Re: Armed Forces?
 

The military has always been something I wanted to do and now I will finally be able to do it. I have been appointed to the class of 2009 at the United States Military Academy (West Point). The military seems just the right route that I want to see my life go through. Plus, the degree is going to look so good when I am looking for a job as a mechanical engineer.

Re: Armed Forces?
 

thats what id like to do. ive always been interested with mechanical engineering.