Should I join the army?

[Pekka]

Oh, and if you get to be a leader of some sort, my best advice to you is: Show example. You are not there to make friends but you should know when you need to be a bad ass, and when you need to give a little slack. Demand a lot, but be sure you can do all the stuff you're demanding with excellent rates. If the guys don't get it, or they are just being lazy, don't just yell at them. Show them how to do it, and be a bad ass, do it like no one else can, and then demand they do it the same and whip them all the way. That way they don't lose respect for you, because they just saw YOU doing it, so you can demand them to do it too. Don't quit, don't lose your temper, don't lose your cool, and if they start Fng around, show them the gates of hell!
Reward guys giving their all, even if they didn't do so good. If they gave their best shot, be pleased. If someone is slacking, doing good but still could do better, make sure they know you're not happy about it and that he will be hearing about it later on.
Know your men, what they like, hobbies etc.. Don't distance yourself too much, they need to trust you too. It goes both ways. Work like clock, never late, EVER.
If you make a major F up and the guys suffer because of it, you can always punish yourself in front of the men. They'll appreciate it, and don't lose respect for you. If you're bad ass enough that is. Just don't be a clown.

Ok I'm getting carried away.. sorry .

[Cruddy]

Re: Re: Re: Should I join the army?

Originally posted by Zero


I totally agree wit you about the commitment part. I lack maturity.

They party hard in the services too. Work hard, play hard.

Originally posted by Zero

I still dont like the whole conformity aspect but if I were to enter the real world I guess its rather a good idea to take a good whiff of that bullsh*t before I eat it from my employers.

An alternative approach - having a service record behind you might give you the balls to stand up to an employer who's just out to break you.

I've had employers who wanted me for my views - and those who just wanted my skills to do the job.

The former are much to be preferred - but sometimes you have to put up with the second type until a window of opportunity opens.

On the rare occasions when I've run up against bullying employers, I've walked away.

[Zero]

Ok guys thanks. Here's what I learned from the thread:

-Dont forget that there is 3 other branches available for service
-I can get loaned up, graduate, and get it repaid when I serve.
-Chicks off the shore is very pricey (thanks sloww )
-Air jocks will remain air jocks and rarely gets promoted
-Conformity might not be a bad thing... I guess
-Service record will be ++ on ur resume.

Im gonna study for my chem exam now... I just hate having an exam every week during summer session... :T

Anyways, feel free to continue on about bashing each other (all you Naval wussies, airjocks, marine meatheads and army grunts )

[Pekka]

Oh, and no one likes moody guys. If you're having a bad day leading, don't let it show too much. Have a great motto and let the guys hear it all the time. They'll learn to either hate it or love it. Depends what day it is .

My mottos were 'Keep it simple' and 'Back to basics' which meant there has been too much fooling around and people are forgetting what's most important and results are bad. Pretty much physical motivation. There's no memory like muscle memory! But just remember that when it happens, you have also failed as a leader. You're not God, you're the leader and it's your responsibility everything works, and if one man fails, you fail too. That means you have to look at the mirror too. Did you explain it clear enough? Did you emphasize different stages enough? Did you train enough?
Observe, observe, observe. There's always lazy bums who stops working when you turn your back. It lowers the moral of the group. Make sure no one is slacking, and remember to 'reward' those slackers with extra guard duty, or when something stupid needs to be done. They're the man for the job!

Make sure you have authority, and you don't have to prove it to yourself or feel good about it. You'll get it if you're good leader. You don't get it by yelling. You get it by example and demand. Make sure you know what's going on with the guys at all times. Don't get in the middle of things, but still you have to know what happens. This is tougher, but that's why you need to get to know them, so you can read the signs and make decisions based on that.

You have to commit yourself 110%. If you're not sure, don't let it show. If they see you as a leader who's always not sure about things, they don't trust you.
Make sure, that every guy knows they can trust you in personal level too. Don't brake their trust EVER. Risk little personal injury for it. Be fair. Don't pick on the same guys all the time. You know that you have it, when you can be friends with them at all times, but they still obey your every command with no questions asked. THat's the sign you want to get. That means they like you as their leader, respect you and everything is peachy. Don't be afraid to punish them though, that's a sign of weakenss and they will try to capitalize on it every time. Arrange something extra special to them when they have done something spectaculary well and you have gotten thanked from your superiors. Make effort to it. They'll appreciate it and respect you.

If they make jokes about you, and you accidentally hear them, don't get angry. Let them have their fun. It doesn't mean they don't respect you. It means they have found common language and are getting along well. And that's important. Don't be a leader that they don't know what to expect from you. Have a work procedure and follow it at all times. For example if you are late even 30 seconds, then how can you expect your men to be on time, or better yet, demand it? Show example in everything. Remember that you are not God, you are below your superior and responsible to him what's going on. When they fail, YOU fail. Make sure no one fails. Check, check and check. Check everything 10 times. Then come back and check 10 times again. What can fail, will fail. So make sure you have all corners covered, and then cover the extra corner. Think what can go wrong, and cover it. Then check it 10 times. Make sure you can back up everyone elses mistakes too.

Make sure you are ready to cover everyone elses mistakes too. If something is failing and you don't know what it is, check your own base as long as it takes even if the failure is in someone elses base. Always expect the mistake being you. Check, check and cover. Times 1000.
You're not that special. If you got all these things in you, then you're a good leader. You're still not special, you can spice it up a little with your personality, but not too much. You need to work extra to be especially good, but if you fail at any of these points, you are not a good leader, and have not deserved your spot. Make sure you deserve your spot. You're not special. You can be replaced. Be the best, and remember that you can always learn more, even from your men.

[Vince278]

Should have joined before you went to college. The Army would have given you loads of college cash for a two year enlistment. The Air Force is better all round.

[Jaguar]

Originally posted by Boris Godunov
While I personally would rather have hammered railroad spikes under my toenails than join the army, that's just me. Only you know for sure if you are army material.

I'm sure that the army was just dying to have you, Boris.



I voted yes.

[Nubclear]

I voted no.

Isn't it the lower ranks that become cannon fodder? Syria and Iran are next oun our list, so this isn't the best time to join any military branch.

And, of course, there is the brainwashing that goes on

[Vince278]

Originally posted by Tassadar5000
I voted no.
Isn't it the lower ranks that become cannon fodder? Syria and Iran are next oun our list, so this isn't the best time to join any military branch.
And, of course, there is the brainwashing that goes on

1. Those in charge are fast becoming the cannonfodder.
2. North Korea is next (you didn't hear that from me ). Syria will eventually cave to diplomatic pressure and Iran's own people will eventually free themselves. The DPRK is the only country that honestly believes its own propaganda.

[MichaeltheGreat]

Re: Re: Should I join the army?

Originally posted by Cruddy
And if you think I'M being harsh - I doubt you're ready for the Army.

Perhaps I could elaborate on that point....

Although I have been avoiding this thread, because the attitude just makes me want to put those size 11 EEE jump boots back on so I can clear a certain girlie's sinuses by putting one of those jump boots straight up his ass.

[Vince278]

Re: Re: Re: Should I join the army?

Originally posted by MichaeltheGreat
Although I have been avoiding this thread, because the attitude just makes me want to put those size 11 EEE jump boots back on so I can clear a certain girlie's sinuses by putting one of those jump boots straight up his ass.

[Az]

We have it backwards here. I go to college first, don't have to pay for it, but then join the army for 6 years, with 3 of them being on a conscript paycheck (i.e.=~80 dollars/ month). I will pass most of the service as an officer, though.

All in all, I think you should finish school, then join, if you're interested. But I guess I can't really relate since I don't face the financial burden.

[Nubclear]

Originally posted by Vince278
2. North Korea is next (you didn't hear that from me ). Syria will eventually cave to diplomatic pressure and Iran's own people will eventually free themselves. The DPRK is the only country that honestly believes its own propaganda.

Meaning....Join the army now and recieve both a free trip to Korea and glow-in-the-dark uniforms

[WRangler Rhymer]

If you know you can't pay the debt, then join so you dont have to worry about a life time of money, once you get out hey you will feel good about that. One word of warning about joining the Navy , Air Force is that if you are a pilot prepare to get physical maul, but after you will be in good shape.(Most like stay that way for the remander of you life, you may not be fat again) If you join the Navy hope to see you there. LOL

[WRangler Rhymer]

One more thing if you join the Navy you can be one of the color Guard and wave the fighter jets and AWACS on and of the nuclear power carriers.

[Vince278]

Originally posted by Tassadar5000
Meaning....Join the army now and recieve both a free trip to Korea and glow-in-the-dark uniforms

Meaning....Join now to help prevent any glowing-in-the-dark from occurring in Korea (or Alaska and California for that matter).