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Tim, when I went through nuke school the failure rate for the program was over 50%, so lots of nuke waste went out to the fleet as something else. When I got out 6 years ago as in instructor in the pipeline the passing rate through the works was over 80%. Took a lot of work to flush even the dumbest kid out anymore. They say the standards are the same, though.....
On the other hand, all the cute girls when I was in were corpsmen, which would make that bio-med field a lot more interesting.
I've considered JAG, especially after a bad day. Never looked into it further than that but often regret not entering the military when I was younger and in great shape with strong aptitudes. I also spoke french and german, now just crappy german.
Go for it.
As I approach the big 5-0, I see vast opportunities all around available to vets which are not available to the rest of the world. Some stuff you don't think of. Front of the line for jobs in the private sector, healthcare, ability to return to military contractor at a whim, VA loans, free tax preparation, etc. etc.
To be honest, as a taxpayer some of it seems excessive (though I certainly mean no disrespect to those who have served). It doesn't make logical sense.
But I do wish I had served. I was 2 years to old for consideration when I finally realized I should apply, and that I would have made a good military man.
My cousin joined the Navy at 36. At the time, all other branches were cutting off at 35. I guess that's changed now. He's re-upped once already and plans to do so again.
While he said that there was an initial physical disparity between himself and the other guys (though he got very fit, very quickly), he felt that he had a huge advantage in mental toughness and ability to reason. He advanced very quickly.
Don't forget about the Coast Guard! All the same perks and benefits and they only take volunteers oversees. The jobs more directly transfer over to civilian life as well. If you go Navy you will be at sea those 4 years.
Chair Force is another good option. Don't forget about the National Guard either.
Also, the Post-9/11 GI Bill change was HUGE. Get yourself really educated on it.
Javelin wrote:Don't forget about the Coast Guard! All the same perks and benefits and they only take volunteers oversees. The jobs more directly transfer over to civilian life as well. If you go Navy you will be at sea those 4 years.
Chair Force is another good option. Don't forget about the National Guard either.
Also, the Post-9/11 GI Bill change was HUGE. Get yourself really educated on it.
I'm too old to enlist as anything but Army and Navy. 
A friend of mine enlisted in the army after teaching High School for a number of years. He was in his mid thirties, IIRC. As far as I know, he's loving it.
oldopelguy wrote:Remember too that any military commitment is for 8 years, and includes inactive reserve time after your initial term 'til the end of that 8 years.
when did "they" change the commitment ...?? when I was there it was 6 yrs, in my case 4 active, 2 inactive... the draftees went 2,2,&2 (IIRC)
wbjones wrote:oldopelguy wrote:... military commitment is for 8 years,...
when did "they" change the commitment ...?? when I was there it was 6 yrs, in my case 4 active, 2 inactive... the draftees went 2,2,&2 (IIRC)
It's been that way for a while. Certainly longer than the late eighties, early nineties when I entered (Army, huah). I hate to point out that you're dating yourself though with the reference to draftees...
Is the reason specifically you want the army or navy?
I was in the army, and if I had it to do again I'd go air force, they do less and get paid the same amount, better quarters, nicer base facilities as well..
wbjones wrote:oldopelguy wrote:Remember too that any military commitment is for 8 years, and includes inactive reserve time after your initial term 'til the end of that 8 years.
when did "they" change the commitment ...?? when I was there it was 6 yrs, in my case 4 active, 2 inactive... the draftees went 2,2,&2 (IIRC)
It's standard boilerplate, but not an absolute. There still are 6 year full contracts, like yours. As well 12 year contracts. Friends son just went in under a 12 year contract. They are not, and never have been, all 8 year contracts.
There are also the no-time specified contracts for some. I used one of those once myself. You stay in until you're sick of it and then you just quit and walk away.
digdug18 wrote:Is the reason specifically you want the army or navy?
I was in the army, and if I had it to do again I'd go air force, they do less and get paid the same amount, better quarters, nicer base facilities as well..
I'm too old for every other branch.
I have a classmate that was a nuke guy on a carrier. He said school was pretty tough, very fast pace since they are paying you to learn. I know a family friend(engineer) in the nuke industry and they are always looking for guys with experience, meaning former Navy nuke guys.
foxtrapper wrote:wow... things have changed SO much it's making my head spinwbjones wrote:oldopelguy wrote:Remember too that any military commitment is for 8 years, and includes inactive reserve time after your initial term 'til the end of that 8 years.
when did "they" change the commitment ...?? when I was there it was 6 yrs, in my case 4 active, 2 inactive... the draftees went 2,2,&2 (IIRC)
It's standard boilerplate, but not an absolute. There still are 6 year full contracts, like yours. As well 12 year contracts. Friends son just went in under a 12 year contract. They are not, and never have been, all 8 year contracts.
There are also the no-time specified contracts for some. I used one of those once myself. You stay in until you're sick of it and then you just quit and walk away.
...to further "date myself" ... back in the sixties the only option was 6 yrs... there might have been some tweaks to that "absolute" with regard to the National Guard... not sure... but the vast majority was in for 6 yrs in one way or another 
Please, do yourself a favor...at your age your best choice is the Navy. In the Army you will always be expected to be an infantryman first and your MOS second. There is a night and day difference between the Navy and Army. The Army is almost prehistoric compared to the Navy. The Navy lets you do your chosen profession....and that is it. In the Army you have to always be proficient in your Warrior Tasks, your chosen profession is secondary. Also deployments are typically shorter in the Navy. A six month cruise (which usually gets extended a month or two) verses 12 month deployment in the Army. Yes, if you join you had better expect to deploy...that goes for any service. I am a Navy veteran, currently preparing to retire from the Army (31 years total). I think I have a better than ordinary grasp of this topic.
Javelin wrote:Don't forget about the Coast Guard!
If I had to do it again that's what I would do, it offers more that is applicable to my life now.
Army - Navy? Sailors don't get shot at up close & personal, they sit miles off shore and lob them in. I did Submarine service; more money, more intelligent crowd, better food, less militaristic BS.
Dan
Tim Baxter wrote:Beware the promises. Especially Nuke school. Seemed like every deck-scrubber I knew had been promised nuclear program and didn't make it for one reason or another.
I was a Nuke but dropped out, no loss of face in cooking.
Like others have said, get a school guarenteed! Going on board with no designation (job series) you end up chipping paint and staring at stars at night.
With your IT background you could do well but they should recognize you're no dummy and slide over to sonar, missle tech etc.
Get it in writing.
Dan
Thanks yall.
