Maturity...

[urflyingme?!]

This is a question to you guys already in the Mil.

I'm 19 and about to graduate from an airline training program with my AA. I have done fairly well in the program, but of course there have been a few "speedbumps' here and there. I will graduate with a 3.5 or so GPA(2 semesters with 4.0).

The thing I'm curious about is the level of proffessionalism(that has to be wrong) / military culture needed to survive in a unit like the guard. I have no Military training or exposure. I'm just concerned i guess about how guys from the street have faired in OCS etc. If one can survive at an airline, can one survive in the Armed forces?
Thx guys,
Keep up the good work!

 

[Sarka]

The military is not for everyone, but can be just what the doctor ordered (so to speak) for others. I personally lacked direction when I graduated from High School and my parents and I could not afford college (I had two brothers already racking up the student loans). I had never considered the military as a career prior to graduating. But, I found myself in a dead-end job with college out of reach. I turned to the military, envisioning a four-year stint to put money away for college, and it has been extremely rewarding for me. I spent 14 years on active duty (USMC) and am now in the Guard with over 20 years service.

The unit I am currently with is a schoolhouse that trains National Guard OCS candidates. It is physically and mentally tough training, but many are able to graduate. Many (myself included) had little or no prior military exposure before joining the military. I think it boils down to individual discipline and desire. This is not meant as a slight in any manner, but if you are unsure of yourself, the Guard may be the best choice for you. IMHO, there is not quite as much of a "culture-shock" as there may be if you were to choose to go active duty. The training in the Guard is just as hard and demanding as active duty, but the overall atmosphere is a little more relaxed for the most part.

My 2 cents. Good luck with your decision.

 

[skyward80]

I think a lot of people see the military as it is depicted in Hollywood movies. A lot of hardasses yelling at each other all the time, people squaring corners everyday of their lives, rolling your socks, "grounding" your fork and spoon when not in use, etc. While I have experienced some of that coming out of the starting blocks in training, it certainly isn't what my everyday life is like.

People you work with in the military are quality people who are very focused on mission accomplishment. This is something I enjoy. Some people don't. I like striving for excellence and expect the same out of my coworkers. For some people, "good enough" is really good enough.

As far as formality goes, the Guard and Reserves are considerably less formal than the Active Duty. (Most of the people in my unit are on a first name basis.) I was raised calling people 'Sir' and 'Ma'am'. So, the military way of doing things was not that much different. I would say that the only changes I've had to make is standing up when spoken to by somebody senior in rank and/or position (that comes in to play in AETC) and starting my sentences with 'Sir' or 'Ma'am' (that's more of an OTS thing).

I won't say the military is laid back, but it's not like it looks in the movies. Of course, every branch of the service is different. I can only speak from my training experience in the USAF.

 

[qmaster3]

This is a question to you guys already in the Mil.

I'm 19 and about to graduate from an airline training program with my AA. I have done fairly well in the program, but of course there have been a few "speedbumps' here and there. I will graduate with a 3.5 or so GPA(2 semesters with 4.0).

The thing I'm curious about is the level of proffessionalism(that has to be wrong) / military culture needed to survive in a unit like the guard. I have no Military training or exposure. I'm just concerned i guess about how guys from the street have faired in OCS etc. If one can survive at an airline, can one survive in the Armed forces?
Thx guys,
Keep up the good work!

I don't think you will have a problem with the professionalism part. It's just like anything else you have to step up to the plate. If you can keep your mouth shut, and just go with the flow there will be NO PROBLEMO for you.



Reserves/Coast Guard is less formal than the big four. Sarka's right it's not like the movies; you're not walking around like there's a cob in your ass.

 

[Hugh Jorgan]

I you're not walking around like there's a cob in your ass.

Then what's up with the Air Force pukes?

 

[urflyingme?!]

While we are on the topic, what is a good way to get a small "taste" of military life?

 

[F16fixer]

Wait for her husband to go TDY

 

[qmaster3]

Call me for 2.99/MIN I will yell at you over the phone, and make you feel like a used whore.

Hugh, in regards to the AF. My guess would be they suffer from blue ball symptoms; this would cause a cob in the ass walking condition. Not hitting all those fun ports can do that to ya!

 

[F16fixer]

here we go again. This is where the poor kids make fun of the rich kids for having toys they don't. Don't be mad at the world because you didn't join the Air Force.

 

[Hugh Jorgan]

While we are on the topic, what is a good way to get a small "taste" of military life?

Excuse me while I whip this out.

 

[urflyingme?!]

eww.

"One move and the sheriff gets it!"
"He's just crazy enugh to do it!"

 

[hindsight2020]

the irony of denial.....

here we go again. This is where the poor kids make fun of the rich kids for having toys they don't. Don't be mad at the world because you didn't join the Air Force.

you must be kidding right?.......

The ironic thing regarding your TDY comment is that that is EXACTLY what goes on, and then some.... there is a lot of stuff particular to the military "life" that they leave out in the brochures. Alcoholism, army brat syndrome that makes the suburban kids that listen to Good Charlotte sound like whinners, inability to decompress which is directly tied to domestic abuse, then there is the deployment (airline pilots have a taste for this too), Jesus books have been filled with case-studies of this sh3t.

Listen, the posts have been pretty dead on about the professional side of things and I would have probably not brought up the issues regarding what happens after people clock out if it wasn't for your idiotic assertion.

Haha, don't be mad at the world cause you're "scrapping bottom" being an F16fixer when all you wanna be is an F16FLYER.

Flyingme, that's another example of what qmaster meant by keeping quiet and you'll do ok in the military: tell others that they are the haters while they're bent over making due with the things that they DID NOT sign up for when they signed the dotted line....

the irony of denial......

 

[F16fixer]

O.K. Mr.Knowitall

I'm sorry for putting up a couple of funny comments just like everyone else was doing. You sound like you have every thing figured out at the age of 19! (just guessing, but I'm probably close)

I'm also sorry that you feel the need to degrade people for serving in the military working as mechanics to earn money for college like I did. I served my four years, got out as planned and finished at ERAU. I now teach to build time and scrape the bottom. If you have ever served in the military, you would know that there are military jokes being thrown around all the time between branches. I apologize for putting a spin on the truth about the TDY comments but that's how it is. I'm not going to blow sunshine up this kids A $$ and tell him that there isn't a whole different side to the military that most people don't know about unless they join. I enjoyed my time in the Air Force and wouldn't go back and change for anything.

And yes I have thought about flying fighters and how cool it would be, just like every other pilot in this world! I have a flight under my belt already. If you would like to compare AFOQT scores sometime to put your money where your mouth is I would be glad to.

One final note,
Yes I do feel bad for the guard guys across the pond, but that IS WHAT THEY SIGNED UP FOR. To serve their country! The 2 weeks a year and one weekend a month has been milked out after 30 years! It's time to work.

And that's the rest of the story

 

[hindsight2020]

AFOQT scores?... *chuckles* You're still holding on to that? We might as well armwrestle for it, I don't have enough fingers to count the number of "99" cases I knew between college, Guard dudes and ROTC that couldn't keep a grade and didn't finish school.

As far as the telling of the truth regarding the "other life", you didn't, I DID. You just spun it.... noted, we're even.

About the scraping bottom comment, I do apologize about it. I ran the risk of assuming your circumstances. I was implying that you were one of those people who enlists in the Guard to up their chances at the UPT board and get themselves in trouble after not being selected year after year and then get deployed and messes their schooling. Once again, I apologize about the implication.

My point was to de-cypher for the people out there the denial that blankets the active, which is self-serving, and considering you uncovered your situation I'll take it at face value and respect it, however we may not agree on certain aspects of "crossing into the Blue".

P.S. We're about the same age (if your profile is right)

 

[sardaddy]

To address the original question, surviving the airlines does not assure you that you can survive the military. It doesn't mean you can't either.

From the tone of your post it sounds like you would fare just as well as anyone. Civilians do well in OCS. That is who it is for after all. Yes, enlisted personnel becoming officers go through that as well but it is geared for recent civilians right out of college.

You do have to want it though or it will not be as enjoyable as it should be. As far as professionals go. You will never work in an organization that is full of more focused individuals than the US military.

Good luck.

 

[sardaddy]

hindsight2020,

You did not tell the truth any more than f16fixer did by making some funny off the cuff comments.

The only difference was that f16fixer was making a joke that anyone in the military laughed at and moved on. You took some stuff that rarely happens and make it sound like it happens all the time.

I go TDY or TAD on a regular basis and neither me nor anyone I have been with has cheated on their wives and their wives haven't cheated on them.

Not everyone is an alcoholic. Those rare few that are get the treatment they need.

Army Brat syndrome - give me a break. Most "Army brats" are the most well adjusted, well behaved, worldly kids I have ever met.

"inability to decompress which is directly tied to domestic abuse,"

There is no more domestic violence in the military than there is in the civilian sector.

"then there is the deployment"

Yeah well you have seen what happens when we bring the wars to our shores. I'd rather deploy any day. We know we will do that when we sign the dotted lines. And no, airline pilots do not get a taste of that.

 

[hindsight2020]

hindsight2020,

You did not tell the truth any more than f16fixer did by making some funny off the cuff comments.

The only difference was that f16fixer was making a joke that anyone in the military laughed at and moved on. You took some stuff that rarely happens and make it sound like it happens all the time.

I go TDY or TAD on a regular basis and neither me nor anyone I have been with has cheated on their wives and their wives haven't cheated on them.

Not everyone is an alcoholic. Those rare few that are get the treatment they need.

Army Brat syndrome - give me a break. Most "Army brats" are the most well adjusted, well behaved, worldly kids I have ever met.

"inability to decompress which is directly tied to domestic abuse,"

There is no more domestic violence in the military than there is in the civilian sector.

"then there is the deployment"

Yeah well you have seen what happens when we bring the wars to our shores. I'd rather deploy any day. We know we will do that when we sign the dotted lines. And no, airline pilots do not get a taste of that.

Well there ya go, I rest my case......

(take notes boys and girls....)

 

[Weasel Keeper]

As kind of said before, the basic training or OCS is meant for civilians to mold them into a military state of mind. They'll make sure before you leave that you're a team player and a professional military member. You'll learn the exact same thing if you go Guard or Reserves that you'd learn going active duty.

The only thing I can think of that might give you a taste for a military lifestyle would be to go CAP or ROTC. Nothing else I can think of even comes close.

I spent 4 years AD and 4 years in the IN ANG and grew in maturity a great deal from the day I got off the plane in San Antonio to go to Basic Training. The instructors yell a lot but it's just to force you (and all) to understand quickly what needs to be learned in a short time.

The time I spent in the IN Air Guard was still hard work at times, but we had a lot more fun at the end of the duty days. Our aircraft still had sortie goals to meet but at the end of the day (usually Sundays) we'd have a big cookout and drink a few beers to unwind. The same went for our two week "summer camps". We'd be professional Air Force guys during the day every day, but we had plenty of squadron parties and cookouts after hours. It was much more laid back than AD AF...although we had plenty of fun times in AD too.

Good luck if you decide to go.

 

[F16fixer]

Listen urflyingme,
If I was to do it over again, the only thing I would do different would have been to go college first, then join the military. I had an awesome time being enlisted and you will have a good group of guys that become family almost. IF YOU WANT to fly though, which is what I'm assuming, you need to get your degree first. I don't think your goal was to spend all that money at a training acadamy, and then go work as a cop in the service. Yes there is a few ways to join with out having your 4 year degree. Most of them involve the Army dealing with helicopters. I'm sure you could talk to Sardaddy by the looks of his resume if your interested in that. I went to school with a lot of guys who fly for the MN ANG and they love it.

 

[urflyingme?!]

I'm definately going the 4 yr degree route. I have just heard tha some guys get in with an AA (I'm thinking enlisted guys here probably)