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Celtic Radio Community > General Discussion > What Branch Of The Military Is Best And Why?


Posted by: Rindy 09-Oct-2008, 10:26 PM
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. sad.gif

Thanks & Slainte & Keep It Tribal

Posted by: Sekhmet 10-Oct-2008, 12:17 AM
::giggle:: Good lord Rindy, are you TRYING to start a fight here?

Posted by: Irish Stepper 10-Oct-2008, 01:30 AM
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. wink.gif 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. rolleyes.gif Once a marine, always a marine! biggrin.gif

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

Posted by: Camac 10-Oct-2008, 07:33 AM
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.

Posted by: flora 10-Oct-2008, 09:27 AM
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

Posted by: JayHenson 10-Oct-2008, 02:21 PM
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 cool.gif

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/a/military101.htm



Peace

Jay smile.gif

Posted by: Rindy 10-Oct-2008, 03:43 PM
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. thumbs_up.gif


Slainte

Posted by: Irish Stepper 11-Oct-2008, 01:41 AM
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. cool.gif 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. doctor.gif 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. tooth.gif

Posted by: JayHenson 11-Oct-2008, 03:28 PM
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


Slāinte

Jay

Posted by: Mailagnas maqqas Dunaidonas 12-Oct-2008, 01:37 PM
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.

Posted by: Siobhan Blues 12-Oct-2008, 01:54 PM
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.

Posted by: MacEoghainn 12-Oct-2008, 03:28 PM
There are branches of the service other than the NAVY?

"Non sibi sed patriae!"
<bgsound src="http://www.ajsmidi.com/patriotic/midi/marine.mid">
Tomorrow, Monday October 13th, 2008 is the Navy's 233rd Birthday!!!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY NAVY!!!

Posted by: Rindy 13-Oct-2008, 10:07 PM
Happy Birthday NAVY! thumbs_up.gif cheers.gif happybday.gif

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

Posted by: Rindy 25-Nov-2008, 12:06 PM
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

Posted by: JayHenson 25-Nov-2008, 02:30 PM
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

Posted by: Rindy 25-Nov-2008, 08:27 PM
Thank you Jay. I love reading about all of this keep going if you want. Are you sure they can have cookies? lol..I have a lot to learn here. Sorry for my ignorance.

Thanks for filling me in on things everyone!


Slainte

Posted by: piobmhorpiper 26-Jan-2009, 06:43 AM
Rindy congratulations to you and your family. I salute the new Marine and wish this person well in this new career. I now little of the armed services in the US other than what you see in the movies. Here's a little history of some of my family's involvement with the military.
My Grandfather and Great Uncles fought in WWI and WWII. In WWI he was with The Grey Regiment Infantry Battalion and spent most of the war dodging mortars and snipers on a motorcycle to deliver intelligence from the front line to the command post. He got blown off his bike with a mortar shell when The Canadians battled for Vimy Ridge.
WWII saw him fighting with The Toronto Scottish Regiment, Captain of a machine gun unit. He was sent home after six months when shrapnel from his injury from the previous war started to move around his body. He and all of my uncles survived the ordeal of war and very seldom ever talked of it.
My father at the time was too young to enlist but served with The 48th Highlanders Reserve unit at Camp Borden during WWII. I spent some time through 1981-1986 with The Haistings And Prince Edward Regiment Reserve Pipband. This is probably the most storied regiment in Canada and holds The most battle honours awarded to a Canadian Regiment.
Commonly called ``The Plow Jockeys`` by the rest of the Canadian and British Regiments During WWI & WWII because they all came from rural farming communities in Southern Ontario. they were renowned for their ferocity and determination in battle and became known as ``THE REGIMENT``. You can check out their web site here if anyone is interested in learning more. http://www.theregiment.ca/

Posted by: Camac 26-Jan-2009, 08:31 AM
piobmhorpiper;

The "Hasty P's" are a most Honoured and renowned Regiment. My step-dad served in the 48th reserves from 49 to 52. Can still picture him going to the armoury in his kilt. He also had the same problem as your grandfather in that he recieved sharpnel wounds to the head in 41 and after the war sometimes they would move around and he'd pass out. Took them to his grave.

"ALL HONOUR TO THE FALLEN"
Camac.

Posted by: oldraven 26-Jan-2009, 11:01 AM
No matter the branch, the best job in the military is the job of a Peace Keeper. Not looking for a fight, but looking to end one.

Posted by: Camac 26-Jan-2009, 11:46 AM
oldraven;
Your right the best is "PEACE KEEPING' but of late we seem to have given up that job to be 'PEACE MAKERS"


Camac.

Posted by: Sėmeag 26-Feb-2009, 02:10 PM
I don't know about the services in the United States, but my family are all Air Force, having serve, and continuing to serve in Australia.

I have only one uncle in the Army, and he married into the family. To my mind, Air Force is the armed service of choice. I had intended to join when I left school, but the fates had other ideas. wink.gif

Posted by: Camac 26-Feb-2009, 03:18 PM
Simeag;

I have always preferred the Army and for the following; being in the Navy or Marines and could possibly entail death by drowning and I don't much relish the thought of being fish food. In the Air Force it could entail being shot out of the sky thus becoming a spat on the ground indistiguishable from all the other bird dropings. In the Army if I got shot, blown up, run over by a tank at least I didn't have far to drop being as it were rooted to Terra Firma. Yeah the Armys' the best. More places to hide.



Camac.

Posted by: Madadh 27-Feb-2009, 05:13 AM
I am from a long line of service to the Army. Why I even have a great-great-great uncle who deserted from the British Army to fight for the Union in the Civil war....God bless the Irish.


I have a Son who was and Infantryman (in Iraq) and a Daughter who was a Marine.


But I tried to get both of them to join the air force. I only have one reason for that.........It is the only branch of the service that makes its officers go and fight.

Posted by: Dogshirt 27-Feb-2009, 07:00 AM
QUOTE
Simeag;

I have always preferred the Army and for the following; being in the Navy or Marines and could possibly entail death by drowning and I don't much relish the thought of being fish food. In the Air Force it could entail being shot out of the sky thus becoming a spat on the ground indistiguishable from all the other bird dropings. In the Army if I got shot, blown up, run over by a tank at least I didn't have far to drop being as it were rooted to Terra Firma. Yeah the Armys' the best. More places to hide.



Camac.


I have always felt the same way. I can't fly, and while I can swim I've never cared for it. So the only logical choice was the Army. Keep my feet planted firmly on the ground!


beer_mug.gif

Posted by: MacEoghainn 27-Feb-2009, 12:08 PM
I was sure we had decided the Navy was the best branch of the service (in any country)!!!

note.gif note.gif Anchors Aweigh my boys, Anchors Aweigh!!! note.gif note.gif

Posted by: Camac 27-Feb-2009, 02:36 PM
MacEoghainn;

I will give you that point but only if you are talking about the Mother of all Navies and the children sprung from her THE ROYAL NAVY, ROYAL CANADIAN NAVY ROYAL AUSTRALIAN NAVY ETC. ETC. ETC. angel_not.gif


Camac

Posted by: MacEoghainn 27-Feb-2009, 04:47 PM
QUOTE (Camac @ 27-Feb-2009, 03:36 PM)
MacEoghainn;

I will give you that point but only if you are talking about the Mother of all Navies and the children sprung from her THE ROYAL NAVY, ROYAL CANADIAN NAVY ROYAL AUSTRALIAN NAVY ETC. ETC. ETC. angel_not.gif


Camac

"I have not yet begun to fight" John Paul Jones

Do you mean the Navy this guy kept embarrassing? unsure.gif

Seriously, We Yank "Squids"always appreciated our Limey, Aussie, Kiwi, and Canadian brothers in arms!!! thumbs_up.gif

Posted by: Camac 28-Feb-2009, 11:06 AM
MacEoghainn;

In 1945 Canada had the 3rd largest Navy in the the world with 471 Combat Vessels. To-day 64 years later we are ranked 15th with 34 Combat Vessels. Mexico is 14th with 93 Combat Vessels. Bloody disgusting isn't it and we have the longest coast line in the world bordering on 3 Oceans.

Camac.

Posted by: englishmix 28-Feb-2009, 11:13 PM
Hey, what about the Coast Guard?

Been reading the interesting posts, but missing out on the Coast Guard. Anyone got input on 'em?

Posted by: Camac 01-Mar-2009, 07:50 AM
englishmix;

I didn't mention them because the Canadian Coast Guard is a civilian organization.



Camac.

Posted by: Donajhi 03-Mar-2009, 02:38 PM
If one branch was omitted would the rest miss them or be able to fill the hole??
Just asking.

My family has been in all branches for more years than I can remember.
My son just finished 6 years on board the USS KISKA . Yes he was
injured and yes he will always limp, but he as I am proud he served. Royal02.gif




usaflag.gif tomcat.gif tank.gif

Posted by: capttrk1 04-Mar-2009, 02:10 PM
COAST GUARD
WHEN THE SAR HORN GOES OFF THE MOTTO IS YOU HAVE TO OUT BUT YOU DON'T HAVE TO COME BACK

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