ZCarMan

ZENTROPY, first off I commend you for considering to serve your country. As a retired enlisted sailor I too joined in order to get out of what I thought was a dead end and to also serve my country. Yes I was a bit patriotic as well as my Father had served a career in the USAF as well learning how to turn wrenches keeping F-86s, F84s, F100s, F-101s and finally RF-101 Voodoos in the air. All I can say is that you should read each post carefully to see the good and the bad and then go find some people you can actually talk with about their experiences. If you want to make money, the military isn't exactly the place to do it, although the military is paying some great money for people during wartime to keep the skills needed to take the fight to the enemy. Its the skils that you learn and are taught that will pay off after your tour in the military. Whatever your decision I applaud your thinking of serving your country during a time of war. My Son is a Marine (Infanty), joined right out of high school in 2003 and found himself in Al Anbar, Ramadi specifically just as the surge was beginning, helping to rid the area of AQ in Iraq and other insurgents. He says he would not have traded the experience for anything. You too will have life changing experiences that will impact your future and how you see the world for the rest of your life. Yes, being in the military means putting your life on the line, but you do that just driving to work every day. Serving your country is an honorable profession whatever you choose. I wish you all the best! Hooah!

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Jon