who joined the army as a teenager? regret? or worthwhile?

[Elite_Fry]

I turned 19 a few days ago and the day before i found out i was accepted into the Australian Army as an Electronic Warfare Operator where i start Boot Camp January 14. But just last couple days ive become to have second thoughts because I am so young and would i be waisting some of the best years of my life away from joining the Army?

My job is a minimal 6 years which would be all id be signing up for. So when i finish i will be 25 years old. Later i want to get into the police force and then try to get into a special police force.

Did anyone else here join up when they were a teenager? and did you regret signing up at such a young age? or was it all worth it.

 

[Baby Gorilla]

Not an expert....

I'm not sure what service life is down under, but in the USA, it's either rewarding or a loss. Depends a lot of what you make of it, the job you got, and where you get stationed.

If you're going in for a skill that will make you marketable when you get out, it will be worth it if you work hard. In any case, you will be making a sacrifice.

Assuming law enforcement is the same world-over, military service is almost a necessity to get into it nowadays. Just so much preference given to prior military service guys that you need it more than not.

 

[BronzedGoddess]

I left for basic at 17. I don't regret it, but I do regret not taking college courses at night and not saving my money. If you are in a good unit hopefully you will be able to go to school at night. Do that and save your money.

 

[teresand77]

i am in the air force...i also left for basic two days before my 18th birthday. i don't really regret it because i've met a lot of good people and seen a lot of cool places but there are times i wonder what it would have been like to have a normal college life! the military does open a lot of doors for you though, just like someone said, and it IS a stable career. just make sure you're sure before you sign up because there's no getting out after you start (at least in the U.S.)!!

teresa

 

[theoak01]

I did almost a year in teh forces here and it was good when I did the training during the day and on weekends ,but I hated it when I went away in the summer,thats why I came back

It was numerous things I didnt like,but I figured out Im not into the do as I say not as I do environment

Im all for leading by example and alot of people in the military are scumbags and I couldnt follow them

 

[manny78]

Go to college, get a degree, knowledge then you might think about it.

 

[theoak01]

Go to college, get a degree, knowledge then you might think about it.

I couldnt agree more,I was going to throw college away for Reg force Infantry at one point in time

Thanks God I woke up and realized I have a fucking brain that works

 

[guards]

Go to college, get a degree, knowledge then you might think about it.

Or you could kill two birds with one stone and have the army pay for school


Worked for me

 

[manny78]

Or you could kill two birds with one stone and have the army pay for school


Worked for me

Yes that could be an option. Being sent to Kingston for example isn't that bad. But just joining without any degree is stupid.