All you Active, Reserve or Recently Out GI's and everyone else

[sinister_storm]

So many great things yet so many bad things could be said about the military.The camaraderie,excitement,adventure,visiting new places,seeing things you never thought you would ever see.Those were the good things.
The bad things:Lack of control of your life,constant orders to follow,the pay.
I dont regret my decision to join,it helped shape me into a better person,but now that im out I would never go back.

 

[ryker77]

For all who think the pay is bad Its because you don't really understand the total pay.
Total pay is not just that small base pay. It includes the tax break, BAH-housing, food, free medical, 30 days leave each year, clothing allowance, free gym, 1-2 hour lunch breaks, goining to work but really at the gym, discouont on auto hobby shop, wood shop, MWR gear rentals, medical leave, baby leave and house hunting.

With all the leave,weekends and four day weekends I haven't been at work as much as a civilian.

The pay sucks when you figure in how much a civilian would want to at any moment be told to pack his bags for the next 6 months you'll be gone. Or every three years you and your family get to pack everthing up and move.

I myself don't mind it cause thiers no way I could get paid the same dollar amount to do what little work I do and the pride that comes with the uniform.

So what sucks: Being deployed for useless reason like the pres got caught getting a BJ so he says send in the troops and keep the media occupied.

 

[Giarc]

The pay sucks!

But we get to blow shit up!!!!!!!

 

[ROIDJUNKIE]

1-2 hour lunchs'' going to the gym ''what fucking MOS do you have ryker 77 ? I work 12 hours a day 5 days a week and on call 1 day!!!!!''I don't understand the total pay'' 7 months over sea tours every other year FUCK YOU !!!!!!!'' LEG mother fucker'' !!!!!

 

[sinister_storm]

Sounds like I had the wrong MOS..1-2 hr lunch breaks??

 

[Galen]

Best things: Going to the zoo on your dollar, getting paid to do something I would have done for free, serving with some of the most dedicated people I'll ever know

Worst things: Being deployed two weeks after I was married, being deployed when my son was born, my wife getting a new man who was around more, knowing some of my hardest working troops and their families were on food stamps and not being able to do anything about it

Hardest thing: Calling it quits after my 7 years was up and not making it a career

 

[MattTheSkywalker]

Best:

Great guys to work with. Awesome experiences: parachuting, flying in high tech aircraft, etc.

The unmatched feeling of setting up on an objective, and the adrenaline surge that happens when the Claymores are detonated and then the machine guns unleash hell on the enemy.....even if it was raining and 35 degrees, it was all forgotten when we kicked off an attack.

Opportunites to live all over the US and meet interesting people, broaden my horizons etc.

Worst: worked for an asshole commander for a while. Lot of administrative paperwork (I was an officer), and bullshit regulations.

All in all I loved it.