What Branch Of The Military Is Best And Why?

I was wondering if there's some folks out there that have family or friends in the military. I've always heard the Marines don't get paid much but are tough, Army gets a fair amount of pay. I don't know anything about the Airforce or the Navy just wondering if you know any service man what do they think? What we are looking to in the future is war. I'd appreciate your tips and pointers. It's for a family member.

Thanks & Slainte & Keep It Tribal

::giggle:: Good lord Rindy, are you TRYING to start a fight here?

The pay is the same for all branches of the military. It's set by the government based on your rank. So, pay has nothing to do with it.

I was in the Navy myself, and it wasn't too bad. It's a good branch to be in if you want to be stationed 100 miles off shore of the nearest fighting. They are usually involved in high tech fields and can get fairly good jobs in the civilian world once they get out.

Air Force has a really good quality of life, and they usually are involved in really high tech jobs as well. On a joint base, they usually have the nicest barracks and chow halls.

The Army gets to do a lot of grunt work (stereotypically) and usually gets stuck with some crappy deployments lately.

The Marines...well they're just a different breed of people. They aren't a service branch...they are a way of life. Once a marine, always a marine!

Now...please, nobody shoot me for my opinion!

Irishstepper;

Things have really changed in the US. Military pay wise . In 1970 as a married sergant with one child my take home was $383.00 per month 3 years later when I left it was $768.00 per month. In 1972- 73 a corporal in the Cdn, Army was making double what I was. Once in V.N. I slept over in an Air Force Barracks in Da Nang, thought I had moved into a Hotel. They actually had real beds with box springs and mattresses and hot and cold running water. Didn't want to leave and go back to my Bunker south of the Zee.


Camac.

When I first read Rindy's post I thought the same as Sekhmet. People are very proud of their military branches.

I have to agree with Irish Stepper. My best friend had both a son and daughter in the Navy. I have a nephew currently in the Air Force and a brother in law used to be. A friend at work had two sons in the army. My brother was a Marine in the Vietnam War. Irish Stepper called every branch right.

One that was not mentioned is the Coast Guard. They should not be overlooked.

Flora

How to Tell the Difference Between the Branches of the US Armed Forces!

If you give the command "SECURE THE BUILDING", here is what the different services would do:

The NAVY would turn out the lights and lock the doors.

The ARMY would surround the building with defensive fortifications, tanks and concertina wire.

The MARINE CORPS would assault the building, using overlapping fields of fire from all appropriate points on the perimeter.

The AIR FORCE would take out a three-year lease with an option to buy the building.

I was Navy for many years and I too agree the Irish Stepper pretty much nailed it. Of all the branches I would have to recommend either the Navy or Air Force. I may be a tad biased though i am trying to be objective. Those are the two branches that will almost guarantee some good training, some good travel to places that are not at each others throats and a much much better quality of life. The Coast Guard is a very demanding branch, believe it or not they have the hardest boot camp of all the services and they have bases literally all over the place from backwoods lakes to major ports.
Something that was important to me and made my life abit easier in the Navy was my ability to negotiate my next set of orders. The Navy is (i think) the only branch that you can talk directly with the person who will assign you somewhere (your "Detailer") and try to go where you want, if it is available and you meet the needed criteria (needs of the Navy). That is how I spent 15 years in San Diego

The Marines (OORAH!!) are truly different. I had a bunch of stuff written here but removed it as some may take it wrong. Suffice it to say it takes a certain kind of person to really take to being a Marine. However, Marines do have my respect for sheer guts if nothing else.

The Army has always been seen as the "clean-up crew. They have the lowest standards for admittance. However, that dis not to say that al those who choose the Army are not of High Standard, many have a family history of proud service in the Army, others think that driving a tank would kick ass! But most of the Army is grunt work and it sucks and those that actually get all the technical training are a very small percentage.

I think every able bodied person should do at least one tour (four years) in any branch. It changes you and (for most) gives you a sense of yourself, a sense of pride and self-confidence , and a broader view than those who have never gone anywhere or never had a chance to challenge themselves....not to mention the Tuition assistance, GI Bill, job training, etc.......
I also believe there are jobs in the Military that can be filled by non-able bodied persons as well.


Check out;
http://usmilitary.about.com/cs/generalinfo...military101.htm



Peace

Jay

Thank you for all your responses. lol Sekhmet. I am sorry, not meaning to cause fights just trying to figure out the difference between the branches, pay, personal experiences and whats in store for the young people signning up. Just now hearing about sign on bonus's.

Thank you very much Irish Stepper this helps alot. Is it the same with the benefits Do they go by rank as well?

Camac, sounds like you had a experience makes me enjoy the comforts of home.

flora I hope your nephew is kept safe. Keep us posted.

Jay thanks for the link looks very informative. I had to laugh at your differences! Thank you for all of this information. I think your last paragraph is very well written.

The Coast Guard looks like one tough branch. Does anyone out there know any Navy Seals, Delta Force, or been in the special forces?

Would you say the special forces are worth the extra effort?

I have to say,to all the people who are in the military are my heroes!

Thank you to all of you in all branches.


Slainte

Hey Rindy...

I work with a guy who was special forces in the Army, and I knew a couple of Seals from my Navy days. Generally, those are areas that you can pursue if you're interested in being in the VERY front line and like to ummm...live life to the fullest. Especially right now!

As far as benefits, they are all the same across the board. Uncle Sam takes care of your medical and dental needs and gives you 30 days of paid leave per year. If you're married, your spouse and kids fall under Tricare. Under that system, you can either use the on-base medical facilities (for free) or use civilian doctors with an 80% / 20% split. Government picks up 80% of the bill and you pick up the other 20%. Inpatient care is 100% covered. I'm not sure how they handle dental care for dependents right now. It used to not be covered, but I think they have changed that recently and are allowing dependents to use base dental now.

2 of my dive buddies were SEALs. They were very, very into self control, except when it was time to party.. They really lived the motto work hard, play hard.

Once again Irish Stepper "called the ball". One thing to mention about ranks is that the Navy has probably the fastest rank system. Depending on the job you choose, you could make E-7 in under 10 years, something no other branch would let you do except in some very extenuating circumstances.

But truly, no matter what branch anyone chooses, what rate (job) they choose or whether they are stationed in paradise or hell. Your military career is what you make of it. Some are successful, sometimes ones you would never believe could handle it, others who seem to have their pooh together just fail at it, there is a bit of psychology involved. The best advice I could give someone going to boot camp is that it is, above everything else, a mind game! I could wax philosophically for hours on my time in service. I would like to compare notes with Irish Stepper on places we have been.

As much as the military does, in many ways, take care of its people, I knew many young families who used food stamps and WIC because a junior enlisted pay is very low. There are monetary compensations available for some things but if your stationed in someplace with a high cost of living (COL), making ends meet is very hard, as apposed to someplace that has a much lower COL. The pay goes up significantly after you achieve E-4 (at least in the Navy) and there are also extra pay catagories such as Submarine Pay, Dive Pay, Jump Pay, Hazardous Duty Pay, Flight Deck Pay, and others that give a nice boost to the paycheck.

If you have anymore specific questions I will try and throw in my 1.55764 cents


Slàinte

Jay

I was in the Air Force from 1963 1970, as a (Vietnamese) airborne voice intercept operater flying in the back of a variety of aircraft monitoring, analyzing, and reprting on North Vietnamese fighter voice communications.
I think Highstepper pretty much nailed the differences in the various branches.
Believe it or not, from 67 to 69 I was literally commuting to the war zone from Okinawa--3 hour flight to orbit area, 12 hours on orbit over the Gulf of Tonkin or Laos, then 3 hours back home. Something fairly unique to aircrews.
While enlisted aircrew slots can be hard to get, anyone who does get one receives extra training, pay,and adventure.

Our son-in-law is in the Air Force, and he & our daughter are stationed at Ft. McConnell in Wichita, Kansas. This is a classic case of the military being the best thing that ever happened to the boy - he matured, became responsible, and now has confidence that we always hoped he'd find. He enjoys his new career, has been trained to work on aircraft and is actually enjoying the work. He and Lauren are very happy in the Air Force, so I'll have to put in a good word for the AF!

But both of my aunties were military wives, and the stories I heard about their lives made me very leery of my own kid becoming one... lots of relocating, overseas sometimes, and harsh lives on base. This was back in the 70's and 80's tho so I hope the lifestyle has changed... also, your lifestyle is always a choice, you know, and you make of it what you will. Unfortunately my uncles developed a fondness for alcohol so I suspect that contributed more to the rough life than the actual military world did.

I'm impressed with the Air Force so far. Financially my kids seem to be doing fine; base housing has worked out to be a good situation for them. Daughter works at a Wichita horse barn/riding academy teaching riding lessons & training horses, and with her income helping a little bit they are okay.

There are branches of the service other than the NAVY?

"Non sibi sed patriae!"

Tomorrow, Monday October 13th, 2008 is the Navy's 233rd Birthday!!!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY NAVY!!!

Attached Image. (Click thumbnail to expand)

Happy Birthday NAVY!

Thanks for posting this MacEoghainn


Thanks Mailagnas maqqas Dunaidonas for your post as well and thank you for serving the country.

All of you have been so very helpful to me thank you again.

Slainte

Hi just to update you my family member was sworn in as a Marine yesterday. Lordy, I will be saying lots of prayers. Thanks to all of you for all of your helpful information.

Slainte

All honor to your new Marine...OORAH!! It is a hard road he (or she) has chosen but there are also rewards that come from it. You will notice many changes, most of them good, when next you see them. Please make sure you and the others in your family write encouraging letters OFTEN while they are in Boot Camp. The written word is very powerful when you're away from home and unsure if you made the right choice. Cookies and such are (or were) very welcome as well. I shared with my buddies and they ended up writing my mom to thank her, something she cherished. If there are problems at home that he does not really need to know about until later, then don't pass it on until they are done with Boot Camp. Keep them informed but only good stuff if possible, it is hard enough without worrying about things at home as well. Make sure they know, before they go, or soon after, that they will never be asked to do something they can't do, they will find that the limits they would impose on themselves are simply that.....self-imposed. IT IS ALL A MIND GAME! Your body can do it, it is believing it that is the hard part......


ok, better get off the box before I fall....


Peace to you and the family of the new Marine...Semper Fi!!




Jay