This isn't meant to find out whats the best, I'm just curious to hear your thoughts on this.
Options Multiple Choice, & in case your curious, yes i am thinking about shipping my lazy self off to the military
_That will be for a later discussion however_

I want to hear why you would join a certain branch, although rhetorical, let me hear what you think some of the benefits are and even disadvantages

Edit : Maybe i should start off with what i think: (Listing good and bad, im not trying to offend any branch feel free to sway me)

Marines: Their strong, and full of pride. However career wise it'll take longer to get there then other branches..
Army: Money to sign up, not as much work as Marines. Its really all about the money here besides the Degrees/MOS
Navy: Travel, Money, And benifits, its great but your stuck on a boat for how long in small spaces for how long?
Air force: Great MOS, Often called the laziest branch: Alot of MOS/Career options plus benifits/Money.
Other: Not full time? great benifits

The navy because nothing beats the sea and its safer there than on the land with the marines also I want to learn how to fly a jet that would be pretty cool I'm thinking.

Air force or Military Police.

Thought about the marines before i decided to go to college, but new it really wouldnt be for me. If i had to now, which i dont and wont it would be airforce. Guaranteed officer school you know since the schooling i have went through.

Air Force is most popular I see.

I'm guessing it's because it's considered an "easy" branch in which to serve, and a good way to get a college education. I picked it for other reasons:

1) Dad was in the Air Force, and
2) I'm an airplane nut.

Too old by now though, and I generally don't do well in group situations where you're expected to behave just like everyone else. Plus, bad eyes, so probably no flying.

Gestapo wasn't an option, so I went with other.

Schooling doesn't guarantee officer these days.

I voted Navy, well, because I am in the Navy. If i had another shot at things and money for school hadn't been an issue i probably wouldn't join any branch.

While i realize that, i was approached by someone this summer who is airforce and had it offered to me, thats the only way i know.

I wasn't allowed to join the Swedish Military Service because I had some strange problem with my left ear that they didn't like.

But if I was allowed to join I would have liked to join the Navy. Why? Because...

Where can you find pleasure
Search the world for treasure
Learn science technology
Where can you begin to make your dreams all come true
On the land or on the sea
Where can you learn to fly
Play in sports and skin dive
Study oceanography
Sign of for the big band
Or sit in the grandstand
When your team and others meet

In the navy
Yes, you can sail the seven seas
In the navy
Yes, you can put your mind at ease
In the navy
Come on now, people, make a stand
In the navy, in the navy
Can't you see we need a hand
In the navy
Come on, protect the motherland
In the navy
Come on and join your fellow man
In the navy
Come on people, and make a stand
In the navy, in the navy, in the navy (in the navy)

They want you, they want you
They want you as a new recruit

If you like adventure
Don't you wait to enter
The recruiting office fast
Don't you hesitate
There is no need to wait
They're signing up new seamen fast
Maybe you are too young
To join up today
Bout don't you worry 'bout a thing
For I'm sure there will be
Always a good navy
Protecting the land and sea

In the navy
Yes, you can sail the seven seas
In the navy
Yes, you can put your mind at ease
In the navy
Come on now, people, make a stand
In the navy, in the navy
Can't you see we need a hand
In the navy
Come on, protect the motherland
In the navy
Come on and join your fellow man
In the navy
Come on people, and make a stand
In the navy, in the navy, in the navy (in the navy)

They want you, they want you
They want you as a new recruit.


Now here's the real question... Does posting the lyrics from Village People's song "In the Navy" make me gay?

I think we just got pwn'd

Good job buddy.

Nope. Not unless... well, I'm not going to get into that for fear of censorship.

<Phil Ken Sebben>
Ha Ha! Double Entendre
</Phil Ken Sebben>

well, the Village People stopped being a gay band some time ago and now they're a children's band... so I guess you're not gay, but instead just a pedophile.

I voted Army, but it wouldn't be the US Army, instead the Mexican army. They have decent pay, 100% free college education after you complete your term, and at least with them I'd know that I'm fighting for the right thing (ie: getting rid of all the druglords and keeping Chiapas under control).

Air Force... well because I did.

I tried to join the army...

I decided to Talk to a Air force recruiter sometime by the end of next week.
Not sure what I'll ask but I'm already set up to talk to a Marine recruiter next week.

You sad, sad man.
They'll never leave you alone now.
Once you let them know you're even remotely interested, they hound you.

Army, for sure. They give you the widest variety, and, as others have mentioned, bigger signing bonuses. I could go on quite a bit, but I'm biased, since both parents were in The Army.

The Marines is nice, if for that warrior spirit, but, it's REALLY hard to filter out of the Marines. Nothing in civie life will ever compare after The Marines. Also, I've heard that being a Marine tends to do funny things to your head. I suppose it's part of that warrior lifestyle... but, the military doesn't last for ever, and that's one of the major drawbacks of The Marines... they train you like it is.

I'm not really fond of The Navy, simply because, unless you're an officer, you have this tendency to become a fully replaceable component, rather than a person. I haven't heard this sentiment from anyone actually in The Navy, but it's pretty unanimous from anyone in the other services.

As for The Air Force... well, they're the rock-stars of the Armed Forces. Not a lot of people get to do it, and not as many people would like it as much as they think they would. Personally, I think I'd enjoy it, but, like rock-stars, I know my chances are pretty slim, thanks to lazy high school days. And I wouldn't really like being just a mechanic.

Problem is, they pay in churros.


Actually, come to think of it, I'd totally do that.

Being english im not allowed to join your forces, however, if i were to join any, id go for the airforces.

If they are anything like the RAF they are paid so much that if it hurts to speak because you have a sore throat one day you can PAY someone to write notes and pay ANOTHER guy to read them out FOR you.

i'm just speaking for the u.s. military.
out of all the branches, the Navy has the most pilots. while in the navy TA is 100%. with the post 9/11 gi bill you get 36 months of school paid for plus BAH (basic allowence, housing) for an e-5 (it's a paygrade/rank). the navy actually has the same number of jobs as any of the other branches (some things just fall under an 'umbrella'). and if special forces is what you're into, SO (seals) SWCC (i forget the actuall acronym but it's riverine boat crews) Divers and EOD (explosive ordinance disposal) are some of the most respected in the community(SAS and GSG-9 have us beat).

</recruit mode>

it seems nobody has mentioned the Coast Guard which is a branch of the U.S. armed forces. it just falls under the department of the interior where as all the others fall under the DoD.

/shrug if i were to join a force, it would be english RAF then work my way into the SAS.

Ahh teh SAS, policing the world since 1959.

SEE! thats what i want to hear!
I'm going to try and make my way over to the AF recruiter's though..
I'd try Navy but their buildin was "bought out" by the Army...
(Its Arizona and not many ppl like water i guess)
Come to think of it.. Being out at see and in a small bunk-bed like room.. idk mhm. im to tall for that stuff !

Does MI6 count as a military branch? From what I've seen of them in Bond films it should be.

Haha, I just burned the British espionage agency. But seriously guys, it's hard to find the sercret documents when the entire complex is essentially a war zone.

Do you have to be English to join the RAF?

or they just ignore you. i almost shipped to basic for the army but had a temporary medical discharge. and my recruiter retired on the day i was "supposed" to ship. so i guess i just got forgotten. its worked out for me though

i dont want to join anymore

I've seen alot of weird things happen.. My friend is/was in boot camp and i guess "fractured" his leg
So hes getting medically discharged, and released soon...
odd thing is he wants to re-enlist when he gets better ? (although im not sure if they will let him do that)

Now i believe is something happens to you, that allows you to leave the military before your actually shipped off... then i call it more then luck but fate.

(Anywho- time for me to do some reasearch.. maybe see what i can do to enlist as a Officer)

MI stands for Military Intelligence. i know that MI5 worked pretty closely with the OSS (predecessor to the CIA in the united states during the second world war). beyond that i don't know much or have forgotten what i did know. maybe someone else can shed some more light on the subject.