d4rkph03n1x
Member
+131|7171

So i'm getting kicked out of home, and I couldn't be fucked saving for a car and all that shit, so long story short, I'm joining the army. I haven't researched it fully, but all I want to know is I would like to train to become a sniper or infantry. Anything I should know about? Should I just go to the army or try and man up as a civilian?

Any feedback or help that you could give me would be much appreciated.

defence jobs url
usmarine2
Banned
+233|6212|Dublin, Ohio
infantry is the shit
ZombieVampire!
The Gecko
+69|6249
I'll grant this is coming from someone who isn't in the army, but "got kicked out of home" seems like a pretty stupid reason for joining.
CaptainSpaulding71
Member
+119|6779|CA, USA
get your head straight before making life changing decisions like this.  square away your personal life first - no need to add more stress to that situation by being in a completely new and challenging environment where people want to kill you. 

the armed forces is not something that you can just go off and join impulsively.  first you have to talk to a recruiter, take ASVAB test, secure any waivers for felonies, bad knees, etc, research your MOS, and get everything in your contract.  then once you do that (which is several weeks time perhaps), you may head off to MEPS for a while while they process you.  Then, you can ship out to basic.  after 9 - 12 wks of basic, you ship out to AIT for specialized training in your MOS and this can range from few weeks to over a year.  what i'm saying is that this stuff takes time.

i fully support people joining the military - do it for the right reasons though.  your buddies beside you count on having your head in the game.

edit:  sorry - my mistake - thought you were in the US.  even so i stand by my comments - it's just the details might be different in Oz

Last edited by CaptainSpaulding71 (2008-06-28 22:28:58)

usmarine2
Banned
+233|6212|Dublin, Ohio
If infantry, be prepared for fun.  I wouldn't trade it for the world.  But that's me.
HurricaИe
Banned
+877|6383|Washington DC
Sniping is tough shit. You get to crawl around on the ground all day, then sit still for hours and hours (a few days even) watching a target for the prime opportunity. You get to eat small rations of food, and you get to piss in a bag and good luck shitting... then you get authorization from command to take out your target.

I mean, I've never been a sniper but that's what I've read on various military forums. It's a tough job being a sniper.
csmag
Member
+92|6869|Canada

HurricaИe wrote:

Sniping is tough shit. You get to crawl around on the ground all day, then sit still for hours and hours (a few days even) watching a target for the prime opportunity. You get to eat small rations of food, and you get to piss in a bag and good luck shitting... then you get authorization from command to take out your target.

I mean, I've never been a sniper but that's what I've read on various military forums. It's a tough job being a sniper.
You mean it's not bunny hopping and claymores?

Usmarine, is that you in the video you posted?
usmarine2
Banned
+233|6212|Dublin, Ohio

csmag wrote:

Usmarine, is that you in the video you posted?
no.  we did not have video people with us, but that is pretty much how it goes in the day to day life of a grunt.
csmag
Member
+92|6869|Canada

usmarine2 wrote:

csmag wrote:

Usmarine, is that you in the video you posted?
no.  we did not have video people with us, but that is pretty much how it goes in the day to day life of a grunt.
Cool, I don't think I have the balls to do that but I have some serious respect for you and your fellow soldiers.
ZombieVampire!
The Gecko
+69|6249

CaptainSpaulding71 wrote:

edit:  sorry - my mistake - thought you were in the US.  even so i stand by my comments - it's just the details might be different in Oz
You still have to go through severl interviews/evaluations, and ~6 months training (or more).
Dilbert_X
The X stands for
+1,822|6528|eXtreme to the maX
So i'm getting kicked out of home, and I couldn't be fucked saving for a car and all that shit, so long story short, I'm joining the army.
Hmm seems well thought out, but I remember your issues so I'll try to be helpful.
My pick would be
- A role where you get as much armor between you and the other guy as possible - Tank
- A role where you're generally as far from the enemy as possible - I'd pick artillery
- Something which equips you for a well paid job after the Army =/= sniper or infantry unless you want to be a contractor afterwards and face even more bullets - assuming there is a war on and anyone needs contractors.

The Navy is desperate for submariners - if you have no mortgage to pay for your whole salary would be free cash. Aus has a reasonable naval industry to go into afterwards.

Are you smart enough for the Air Force or Signals? Both super cushy from what I've heard.

What are your skills and interests? (Apart from bunnyhopping and planting claymores - which are both much harder IRL)

Before the 'STFU Dilbert' comments start, I did join the TAVR Royal Engineers when I was younger and foolisher.
After 6 months turning up unpaid the CO STILL couldn't get hold of a Doctor to give us a medical so the 30 of us waiting could A) Get paid and B) actually do training and go on exercise instead of just sit in the base watching the clock so I thought 'screw this' and quit.
Couldn't find an Army Doctor in Aldershot FFS. Stupid prick was so busy screwing the wives of the officers on deployment he didn't have time to do his job.
That and the instructor giving us an intro to the L85 - 'Its a piece of shit and it doesn't work - but we don't have a choice. Re-assemble it wrong and its single shot until the armourer can fit a new barrel'

Last edited by Dilbert_X (2008-06-28 23:48:41)

Fuck Israel
ZombieVampire!
The Gecko
+69|6249
Except that alot of positions in the Australian army don't give you enough qualifications for a civilian job these days - a response to lots of people leaving for civilian jobs.
Ender2309
has joined the GOP
+470|6993|USA

usmarine2 wrote:

If infantry, be prepared for fun.  I wouldn't trade it for the world.  But that's me.
you find that fun?
Roger Lesboules
Ah ben tabarnak!
+316|6999|Abitibi-Temiscamingue. Québec!

Ender2309 wrote:

usmarine2 wrote:

If infantry, be prepared for fun.  I wouldn't trade it for the world.  But that's me.
you find that fun?
Some people get fun from wierd thing, I guess that Marine enjoy his job sorta...and if he can have "fun" while doing it...

Am i right Marine or?
Dilbert_X
The X stands for
+1,822|6528|eXtreme to the maX
pt that alot of positions in the Australian army don't give you enough qualifications for a civilian job these days - a response to lots of people leaving for civilian jobs.
But most people do what, ~4 years, 10 max?
Its essential to prepare yourself for the next step.
Fuck Israel
ZombieVampire!
The Gecko
+69|6249
Which will likely mean some form of further train.  I imagine acquired skills can expedite a traineeship or similar, though.
BN
smells like wee wee
+159|7189
Whats the min for an enlisted man? 3 years i think.

I checked it out myself but decided against it. I would be 32 by the time i get onto it.
usmarine2
Banned
+233|6212|Dublin, Ohio

Ender2309 wrote:

usmarine2 wrote:

If infantry, be prepared for fun.  I wouldn't trade it for the world.  But that's me.
you find that fun?
Yes.  More fun then sitting at a desk answering phones and banging out e-mails..

Last edited by usmarine2 (2008-06-29 07:57:45)

FEOS
Bellicose Yankee Air Pirate
+1,182|6833|'Murka

The benefits of military service aren't just the training you receive. For most (certainly not all), a work ethic, determination, and mission focus are ingrained in those who serve. That, and it matures and individual (again, most of the time). Many employers desire those intangibles.
“Everybody is a genius. But if you judge a fish by its ability to climb a tree, it will live its whole life believing that it is stupid.”
― Albert Einstein

Doing the popular thing is not always right. Doing the right thing is not always popular
ZombieVampire!
The Gecko
+69|6249
It encourages you not to think about your enemy, and to follow orders as given.  Improves in the eyes of employes, perhaps.  But it only matures if you're immature to start with, and even then it only does so insofar as what is externally observed in general interaction.
naightknifar
Served and Out
+642|6983|Southampton, UK

I start basic in September...

I recommend you use what you have and gain even more.
If you have 'quals - use them to get a good job. Get a high paying trade on civvi street and use it to your advantage fully.

Infantry is for the ones who either want life in the army, expect to get killed, or just aren't bright enough for anything else. No offence intended

Don't even begin to think, oh sniping is on that movie I saw, It looked great.. I'll do that.
If you really think you are going towards the career of the Forces, then choose something you can gain from and not what you have seen and aspired to from watching Black Hawk Down, or Saving Ryans Privates.

Last edited by naightknifar (2008-06-29 09:28:15)

HurricaИe
Banned
+877|6383|Washington DC

naightknifar wrote:

I start basic in September...

I recommend you use what you have and gain even more.
If you have 'quals - use them to get a good job. Get a high paying trade on civvi street and use it to your advantage fully.

Infantry is for the ones who either want life in the army, expect to get killed, or just aren't bright enough for anything else. No offence intended

Don't even begin to think, oh sniping is on that movie I saw, It looked great.. I'll do that.
If you really think you are going towards the career of the Forces, then choose something you can gain from and not what you have seen and aspired to from watching Black Hawk Down, or Saving Ryans Privates.
What MOS (job) are you getting in the Army?
ZombieVampire!
The Gecko
+69|6249
What does MOS stand for?
naightknifar
Served and Out
+642|6983|Southampton, UK

HurricaИe wrote:

naightknifar wrote:

I start basic in September...

I recommend you use what you have and gain even more.
If you have 'quals - use them to get a good job. Get a high paying trade on civvi street and use it to your advantage fully.

Infantry is for the ones who either want life in the army, expect to get killed, or just aren't bright enough for anything else. No offence intended

Don't even begin to think, oh sniping is on that movie I saw, It looked great.. I'll do that.
If you really think you are going towards the career of the Forces, then choose something you can gain from and not what you have seen and aspired to from watching Black Hawk Down, or Saving Ryans Privates.
What MOS (job) are you getting in the Army?
Royal Artillery, Special Observer. Aspiring to pass P company and join 7 Para RHA Artillery Attacthment.

If you are going to contradict my job choice with what I said, I had Aircraft Technician with the Air corps as 1st preference - but decided against it as I couldn't be motivated with 3 years trade training plus basic, with a minimum of 7 years just to come out with a job of what I don't really want to do. Sure the money would be beneficial - but I wouldn't enjoy it.

Last edited by naightknifar (2008-06-29 09:32:51)

icecold2510
Member
+31|6715

ZombieVampire! wrote:

What does MOS stand for?
Military Occupational Specialty

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