Military life with a family

[Exodus_2pt0]

Hello all,

I'm 27 and have consistently wandered towards the thought of joining the military since I was around 19. I always stray from the idea from one reason or another.

That said, I have recently decided on a long term career that is light years away from my current profession. This career path requires me to obtain a Masters degree to fully satisfy. Now, I am married, with a child on the way. There's no way in hell I could afford to go to school AND provide for my family with what I have been doing for the past 10 years.

I have talked it over with my Wife, and she supports me in whichever path I choose. I am currently ASE certified and will get my Master certification back as soon as I take 3 recertification tests. I am considering signing up for 91B (light wheeled mechanic) as I already have extensive knowledge in that field. I kind of look at it as a way for my current profession to pave the way to what I would like to do for the rest of my life.

Just looking for advice from those in the service with a family. I know it will not be the easiest path, but I have a strong itch for the military, and I fear that If I don't try it out I may regret it later in life. I am unsure about all of it, but I feel it's time to actually look into it and see where It may take me.

[mikeedler]

DO NOT go into the military as a mechanic!!!!!!!!!!

I cannot express it enough, it is a stupid job with ZERO to learn from-- all military vehicles are like working on crap from the 50s.

Go into an area where you can actually use it when you do get out and you an learn something new..... like communications or anything that seems to interest you. ( my brother went into the Army and did some crap as a retrans com. specialist, now does really well working for the largest cell phone company out there) I in turn went in and became a tracked vehicle crew member- man was I dumb... it got me NOWHERE when I left the military. He actually took my advice from what I learned out of my stupid situation.

Join the Army and trave as much as possible- come to Europe and see some new cool stuff.

[RondoAcapriccio]

1. Go Air Force lol.

2. You have until you are 31 IIRC to join.

3. Agree with above post I have not heard many great things from going in that direction.

4. As for going with a family.. well it can cause a lot of stress. There are a lot of nasty couples, always having problems, wives cheating and such, but that mainly happens to the kids who get married @ 19 right out of BMT IMO. Although since you are older, and I presume been with your SO for quite some time hopefully you will not have any of those problems.

5. On Base housing is decent, or you can go off base(but that's after E-4 I think, not entirely sure on dependant status).

6. Will your wife be working, does she have a skill to that can land her a job ? Or will she be a stay at home mom etc. Is she comfortable moving every 4-6 years, would she be alright if you got stuck in a shet location for 10 lol.


GL

[E30_Pare]

Doesnt sound very appealing. My mom was in the military before I was born in the early 80s. My pops drove the huge forklifts & loaded vehicles on base. They pretty much went all over Europe, before they stopped in Germany & picked up my e30 LOL. My pops always had military dreams too, but really I think he just likes guns.

[M-technik-3]

One thought on Career Military right now is it's most likely not gonna happen. Plan to see a big draw down much like the early days of Graham-Rudmann bill. Bases are going to close, Total Force of the 4 services will shrink. And so forth. My unit has no vacancies and nor do we for see any coming soon.

So you want to join....lets play the E vs O structure, do you have a degree? Have you taken an ASVAB/AFOQT test yet? Determines aptitude. Are you looking for stationary or a moving lifestyle? Moving is about done. USAF has cancelled almost all permant change of station moves for the next 6-8 months to save money.

I agree with Mike, joining the service to work on heavy equipment is not worth it. Ask Yan he worked in the Vehicle Ops world.

I have changed jobs in the USAF 3 times and have been at this one for the better part of 16 years. I like what I do but it's hard on family life. Killed one Marriage, not getting hitched again.

[rzerob]

I agree with the above. I originally joined as a 63W wheel vehicle mechanic about 13yrs ago. Me personally I didn't get much from it. It wasn't like working for a shop or anything and not a lot really crosses over to POV's. I would look into something you think would be really interesting or fun and enjoy some of the cool experiences that many people nver get a chance to. I reclassed as soon as I could and went airborne infantry. It wasn't the greatest either but I liked a whole lot more than as a military mechanic. I also have a cousin who did something similar in the Marines and he did fairly well while he was in. Married had to kids while he was in. And he can't work on cars to save his life. I think the training you get in the military is only useful for you while in the military. Just my opinion. If I had to do it again I would look into something cool like helicopter pilot. And you get paid fairly well in the civilian world as a helicopter pilot as well. At east as far as I have seen. Good luck with your decision. I am pro military, I recommend it to most everybody.

[Exodus_2pt0]

Answers in bold.

One thought on Career Military right now is it's most likely not gonna happen. Plan to see a big draw down much like the early days of Graham-Rudmann bill. Bases are going to close, Total Force of the 4 services will shrink. And so forth. My unit has no vacancies and nor do we for see any coming soon.

Thus the 91B. I figure going with something I already have extensive experience in will up my chances of getting in. If i'm wrong, please correct me.


So you want to join....lets play the E vs O structure, do you have a degree? Have you taken an ASVAB/AFOQT test yet? Determines aptitude. Are you looking for stationary or a moving lifestyle? Moving is about done. USAF has cancelled almost all permant change of station moves for the next 6-8 months to save money.

No degree, which was one of the things that had me considering joining. I am a established technician looking for a career change. I know the military can help me to get a degree.

Have not taken ASVAB. I haven't even spoken to a recruiter yet. I want to be sure I want to do this before I waste anyone's time.

Stationary or moving, I don't care. My wife and I have moved 4 times in the past six years as civilians, so we know the drill.



I agree with Mike, joining the service to work on heavy equipment is not worth it. Ask Yan he worked in the Vehicle Ops world.

As above, I'm considering 91B to allow my current career help me advance to my goal. I would like to be a substance abuse counselor as an end goal. However considering there's nothing the military can offer towards that (that i've seen), I figure I could deal with turning wrenches while serving and taking college classes during/after.

I have changed jobs in the USAF 3 times and have been at this one for the better part of 16 years. I like what I do but it's hard on family life. Killed one Marriage, not getting hitched again.

A solid point. But I have faith in our Marriage, I could be wrong though, but I don't want to let fear keep me from following a path of interest.

I have considered other career choices, but as stated, the Military isn't exactly desperate these days. I figure if I walk in there already knowing a skill like the back of my hand, they are more likely to find a position for me.

[dreamchasin]

A buddy of mine is a 91B light wheeled mechanic, he is now desperate for a job.

[Exodus_2pt0]

As in got out and civilian job?

[dreamchasin]

he's still in. he's on leave and everyone he knows from his crew is still on leave, no one has gotten any orders. he is stuck scrounging for money.

[Kevinl]

I'm not sure what your wanting to go for school for but being in the automotive field can be a very good career.

I sometimes wish I stuck with it.

My uncle worked for the same shop for probably 25 years and made a very respectable living. A year and half ago he opened his own shop I brought my Suburban in last Saturday and his business is booming I think he has 10 bays and they were all full on a Saturday and his parking lot is full with other cars waiting to be worked on.

And with you expecting a little one let me tell you I couldn't imagine being away from mine for months at a time.

Having a kid changes everything and even though me & you are both a little older sometimes it takes having a kid to finally truly grow up. Just do whats best for your family whatever that may be

[M-technik-3]

How about the reserves? Gets your foot in for a bit enough for GI Bill money after you finish your upgrade training.

[SkiFree]

This is coming from someone who's working fulltime while doing school and a second one on the way.....

For the short term consider a field that plays on your strengths (automotive/critical thinking) and yet is still different. Something like welding certifications or 3d design. Sometimes these credits can even count as general ed courses through whatever school you're attending.

[mrsleeve]

I am not military, but my line of work has a similar life style, if you have a family and S.O. with a strong reason not to go with you, like a soild job or family ties.

I am gone 200-300 nights a year in hotels, shitty Appt's and the like. Hell Oct-2011 through Nov-2012 I spend 8 nights at my house for that Christmas. Saw the wife for about 3 more weeks in April of 12 and that was it. It sucks but it pays the bills, I am 33 and should be able to slow down some in about 5 years maybe 3 and retired by 55, hopefully 50.


You dont have to sign your life away to have that kind of life style and make enough money provide for your family and pay for the rest of your education, if your willing to sacrifice the time and willing to travel for a while. Unless of course its specifically the military your after....... Shoot me a PM if you want more detail on how shitty my life is......

[FLYNAVY]

Money will ALWAYS be better in the civilian sector. I should repeat that. Money will ALWAYS be better as a civilian. I don't care what specialty/trade/job/etc you do, the military will never compensate you as well as you will be compensated on the outside. The military is obviously a stepping stone for many into those sorts of jobs, but don't do it for the money, or to help your struggling family out (not saying yours is), or whatever other financial reason. If you join, you have to have a desire to serve, and to sacrifice some of that pay and a lot of your time a freedom to do a job in a way that you cannot anywhere else. There are a lot of bonuses out there, and "benefits" that all are not to be scoffed at. But they will not make your quality of life better if you don't want to be there, and they are nowhere near what you can get other places. So the difference is that you need to want to be there, and you need to be excited about your job. If I got paid by the hour (at a rate appropriate to my education, work experience, responsibility level), in the civilian world I would probably be making well north of 6 figures. As it is, my salary, not including any future bonuses or whatever, is just slightly south of 90k. If I were doing my job on the outside, again at my experience level, I'd be making 100k minimum, if not twice that within a few years. The difference is that I get to fly single seat fighters, lead 50 Sailors, and be entrusted with more responsibility than probably just about any 30 year old in most any other profession (maybe save a couple, military and civilian alike). That is what keeps me motivated during 16-18 hour days at work, back to back to back, and while away from home for long periods of time.