Should I join the armed forces?

I am a mid level web developer that%26#039;s been out of work for a year. Before that, my company basically went broke but not bankrupt and I lost my job. No one has taken a chance on me since, and there are few training opportunities for me. I have no one in my life to help support me...

I%26#039;ve been wanting a change of career/LIFE as a result of the frustrations. I want something that will demand me on a local level- something that makes me feel good like protection services- police, firefighter, paramedic.

The army offers a sign on bonus that would eliminate my credit card debt from being out of work. Plus it will re-train me as a firefighter. I%26#039;ve been unable to get volunteer firefighting work, i dont%26#039; see there%26#039;s another way to get the training except for more debt from going to a fire academy.

The only thing that makes me hesitate is that I dont%26#039; agree with our government%26#039;s current use of the military.

Should I join the armed forces?emergency loan

Do it, don%26#039;t listen to all the people who just mention the bad things they think happen in the forces most of them have little or no real knowledge what really goes on and trust what they read in the press, forming opinions without experiencing anything first hand.I spent 9 years in the Army, where i learnt a trade and was paid good money, I travelled around the world and got to try my hand at a multitude of different pursuits such as parachuting and diving that I%26#039;d never have been able to in civvy street. Don%26#039;t get me wrong, it is a harsh tough enviroment and you could see and be involved in some upsetting situations but the friends you%26#039;d have around you are second to none and help you get through the toughest of times. Not everyone in the forces agrees with government policies on where they%26#039;re sent to and the reasons behind them, but it is part of the job and you just have to try and make a difference wherever you go, its very easy for people to disagree with a decision to send troops into a foreign country when things don%26#039;t go to plan but what if we did nothing, I%26#039;m sure alot of those same people think we should have gone into rwanda or zimbabwe, sometimes you just can%26#039;t win. Ultimately it is your decision and yours alone on what you think you should do but I have only one regret on my time in the Army and that was leaving, plus nothing can beat the pride you feel when you march out onto the parade square in front of your family when you%26#039;ve finished training.

Should I join the armed forces? loanwell done hope it goes well for you Report It

|||Not while Bush is in Office!|||No No No No. Stay safe and enjoy your life and family!!!!|||if you want to you should do it if thats what you enjoy doing.|||I don%26#039;t believe in getting another person%26#039;s judgement for them. But your thinking is in the right direction. Keep thinking. Nobody ever served his country by becoming a casualty or serving a dubious policy.|||go for it. if u want to add on to the 3000 +|||I say yes. I was going into the Army, and was proud. BUT ended up being pregnant and discharged.

Fight for our freedom and be a hero, I will appreciate it, And these losers can say all they want, at least there are still people who are glad there even is armed forces, so that we can live free... dont listen to these jerks. I wish they went one day without the military around and see what kind of world they would be in, I would like to hear them talk then. OH WAIT they wouldn%26#039;t be talking, cause we would be killed already.|||if you do not agree with the current military action, i think you should explore other lines of employment. you become a tool for war when you join, and that is all you will be. if the war in iraq ended today, there is a very high chance you will go to war somewhere else. if you do not agree with this war, or war in general, i would incur the debt.|||The military is a poor choice for a job.

The military is only properly entered when you want to do it for adventure, or duty to your country.

You%26#039;ll get paid a low wage, work a lot of hours, and be subject to conditions no one in the civilian world has to (deployment, military law, being sent to war by morons).

I strongly advise you against joining the military for financial reasons. You could retrain yourself for another career, or even work double shifts at WalMart, and come out ahead financially.|||If you%26#039;re a conscientious objector, don%26#039;t join the military. If you have a problem about which war you are willing to fight, it ain%26#039;t for you.|||i%26#039;m speaking as a member of HM forces, if you are in a relationship and want a career join the RAF, if you%26#039;re single and want a career join the Navy, however if you want action and the real adrenalin rush of getting shot at then join the Army|||There are definitely good and bad points to the military. The benefits are great, you get on-the-job training, and the sign on bonuses can be fantastic. Keep in mind, though, that there%26#039;s always a possibility you will be deployed. And the army deploys for longer than any of the other branches. On the flip side, you get paid significantly more when you%26#039;re deployed.

One thing to remember is that as a firefighter, you wouldn%26#039;t be doing the killing if you were sent to Iraq - you would be saving lives. Given your current situation, I think it would be a good idea to enlist.|||Not a good place to be at the moment, keep lookin a bit longer first and see what else comes up.|||A firefighting career yes.

Join the Armed Forces - NO NO NO NO NO

Especially if you value your life do not join the Armed Forces.

Why not re-train as a paramedic or ask the police careers advisor what you might need to do to get work in the police force.|||http://www.mi6.gov.uk/output/page4.html

http://www.hmprisonservice.gov.uk/carres...

Check those out for rewarding career with clear conscience.|||To join the military, it should be because you want to sever this wonderful country of ours. If your looking to join for an economic reason think again, your pay won%26#039;t be so good so it should be because it%26#039;s something you really want to do... theres no going back once you sign that contract. Politics should not be the reason why you don%26#039;t join. Or it would be like saying, i want to server my country but i dont want to go to war...If these aren%26#039;t your thoughts maybe you should think about look for a different occupation...

Keep looking you%26#039;ll find something...

Good Luck!!!

Support Our Brave Troops!!!|||do what u want to do, why not go to a job centre t|||The military offers a lot of valuable training and benefits. It also carries one main risk, and it%26#039;s a doozy - you can die in this job. There are also a lot of less desirable aspects - lack of privacy, being forced to go to places you%26#039;d rather not go and stay there when you%26#039;d rather leave, etc. Your life is not your own.

However, as you point out, that life could be debt-free and you could receive training that would be costly elsewhere.

If the benefits offered outweigh the risk in your eyes, then this is the right path for you. if you can%26#039;t live with the risks, then give up this idea and look for other ways to achieve the goals you have set for yourself.

Either way, please take care and stay safe.|||In the current world climate, where everyone thinks America is the epitome of evil, I would have to say don%26#039;t do it. A few thousand bucks of credit card debt is NOT worth getting blown to pieces over.|||My advice would be no.. it doesnt sound like you are very happy right now, and i dont see how putting yourself into a war would make you any more happy. could plunge you into severe depression when you return. I live in San Fransisco, California, home to probably 35% of the Vietnam veterans, and i see firsthand the affects of war on people. Besides, if you sign that contract you will just be another slave to Corporate america, or should i say the bush administration.|||i really thinks it would be a good idea for your situation.. even though you might have doubts, maybe its the best choice... really. i think even though you disagree with current government use of military it will be a great way to get back in employment GET you started again. good luck :]|||go in and test to see where you would be placed. If you would be placed as an officer then I would say yes I agree with your reasonings, If not I would worry about you and always wonder about that guy (you) that I reads post and how you are doing on the front lines.. we dont need any more grunts in iraq. This current war is meaningless and needs to be done with.

Have you considered going back to school?

Going to a fire academy would be a very minor investment into yourself if thats something you see yourself enjoying for the rest of your life. Dont let money be your only driving factor. If it makes you happy than truly more debt for a little longer isnt that big of a deal.

I would be extremly leary of joining the armed forces right now. plus when your done.. your not just done.. you might have PTSD, and any number of exposures to toxic warfare.

hope that helps|||No. I am prior service. Government has the most contempt for the military. If you do it do it because you believe in the Constitutiion which you will probably be asked to disobey. Try some other occupation.|||Honestly, if your%26#039;e not 100% with the program the army might not be for you. If you have negative thoughts or feelings about what you might have to do, don%26#039;t get your self in a situation that will hurt you. I was in the active army for 4 years and was ready to get out by the time my enlistment was up, this coming from a guy that grew up dreaming of being in a war, too much John Wayne and Audie Murphy, I think.|||Firstly the armys not a job its a life take it from me 7yrs 2 para

ask yourself this are you a person? or do you want to be a wheel in a cog? if you decide that your the later then by all means join the army but please dont join simply because its a job you could end up with a career by doing a trade when your in but remember you could also end up dead either way do the math good luck|||do you like the idea of sliting peoples throats, blowing legs off and hearing them scream in pain and terror begging for their mum as you burn them alive or they do that to you.

Simply as you are told to.

Even say if they are children as some are made to be child soldiers.

Deliberately hurting , maining and killing others.

Maybe simply so oil comapnies can get rich helping to supress innocent people.?

Also have you looked into how those comming back injured or say their spouce s are deported or left on their own after or the bullying in barracks etc.|||I have never served myself. But, grew up in the Air Force. And most of my married life was married to the Military. I support our troops all the way. And, admire men and women who do choose to serve. Military life is good training all the way around for any one. It teaches self discipline, honor, loyalty, and respect. Once you have served your time in the Military, if you choose not to make it your life time career, it will look good on your resume for the rest of your life. Whether you agree with our Government or not, our Leaders so far has kept us out of harms way. We are still a united country and still have the same privileges and freedom we grew up with. You may not agree with all your superiors, in Government or not Government related, the point is, you will always have some one over you telling you what THEY expect from you. Just do your job as you are told put forth your best. The Military can train you for this very well. And, most employers realize this. So I say go for it! Good luck on your decision. I wish you the best in what ever you decide. It%26#039;s a tough cold cruel world out there when you are on your own and jobless with no hope. My prayers are with you.|||go for it!|||I think you will be hard pressed to find any soldier that does agree with the government! I think you need to think very carefully about joining up - you can%26#039;t just walk out if you don%26#039;t like it. Also, it is more than just a job - it is a way of life. Think long and hard before you make such a big desision. Good Luck.|||Loser ..run run run for the death ..|||Sure. We all gotta die sometime.