national guard info

[DHolmes]

DHolmes,

A good friend of mine was an Army recruiter for 22+ years and was one of the 52 hostages at the Iran embassy in 1979. His eldest son became Airborne Rangers Special ops INSTRUCTOR. His younger son enlisted & worked in supplies. For years after 100% medical disability, he helped over 1000 troubled people change their lives around, by entering the various armed forces. He is very spected in this regard. Both of his sons have seen Asian front, eldest in Afganistan & iraq and they younger 2 tours in Iraq before he turned 26!

The best advice he can give someone in your position (This is not my advice I might add) is stay away from the armed forces right now for one simple reason.. they (Armed forces & National Guard) are not taking care of their own... meaning if you get injured... blammo your kicked out. Mental illness due to shell shock, battle fatigue... blammo your kicked out and left to deal with these problems yourself, if your can. Many of the recruits came back and told all this same story to him, which I'm passing on to you. These days he is helping them get into college and get a career via this route. He now volunteers as a translator as well. The national guard will not take care of you once something bad happens...no matter what gimmick or wording they give you!

and as always never trust the words of a recruiter unless it is all on a legal-binding document verbatim (his advice as well )

Think of your options, carefully, .... I went the college route paid my own way through, this might not be your best route, there might be good industry jobs in your area (power company, machining, assembly, etc. all in line with what I make)

Thanks alot,to be honest im depressed, confused,and stressed about my job life and future,I wish I went to college when I was 18 and when I had my parents support,but I moved out and had many bills at a young age, and had to workfull time,I tryed going to college parttime but found it impossible working 45 hours a week, and very $$$ since i make to much to get finacial aid,So i see a trade like truckdriving the only way for me to make decent $$$$,I wanted to become a nurse,But while I live on my own and have to pay bills I feel Ill never have the time and money to do that, Ive been very upset lately about this,If I would have stayed home and went to college I would have been a registered nurse by know,could of would of should of

[Rhode Island Red]

Thanks alot,to be honest im depressed, confused,and stressed about my job life and future,I wish I went to college when I was 18 and when I had my parents support,but I moved out and had many bills at a young age, and had to workfull time,I tryed going to college parttime but found it impossible working 45 hours a week, and very $$$ since i make to much to get finacial aid,So i see a trade like truckdriving the only way for me to make decent $$$$,I wanted to become a nurse,But while I live on my own and have to pay bills I feel Ill never have the time and money to do that, Ive been very upset lately about this,If I would have stayed home and went to college I would have been a registered nurse by know,could of would of should of

I see... the NG, is one path you see (path of least resistance) (and they'd scoop you up with ease, like a cunning spider)

From my understanding, the source of your problem, is that your not happy with what you are currently doing because it is not the future you did not plan on nor want the future of the path your currently on. Ok, let's say you land a decent paying trucking job. You will be happy for a while (few years at least) will be able to by new gadgets and stuff, cars , and maybe even a house or condo in time, but I ask, what next? what about your future? Are you willing to exchange one dream for a comfortable lifestyle? In 10 years of trucking, do you plan on doing it forever until you retire?

I'd say you've come to the point where you have to think about your future and what your willing to accept in it/be happy with? It seems your mind/subconscious is set on becoming an RN and it is really eating at you and isn't agreeing with much anything else (we'll maybe you'd be happy if your paid enough if you land a trucking job ). It is still possible for you to become an RN ! What it really matters is are you willing to do what it takes to become an RN? Are you willing to take a more serious involvement in your future vs just working day in and day out till your old enough to retire? Your at the crossroads where you realize a more mature approach is needed (Believe me it is not easy!). You know what will make you truly happy so it's time to face it versus hiding/escaping what you must to to obtain it

(path of most resistance/difficulty etc. ) One way you can become an RN, is go to the local university/college that instructs in it and talk to a councilor. Tell him/her your seriously interested in becoming one and be honest and explain your financial/tuition/able to have roof over head $ problem. As with many students they've heard this countless times. Try and meet some student RN's and see what their problems are. THEN go see the financial aid councilor. Then go talk to your parents and family members This will not be easy and you'll need some moral support (they might even throw some $ towards tuition) !!!!! . Pretty much it will come down to what are you willing to sacrifice now, to obtain the future. You might have to go into student housing, live with relatives, or a bunch of students to make ends meet, and work (change jobs) to accommodate the class times (I worked in restaurants ) . Hell you might have to sell all kinds of stuff to avoid storage costs. In short you'd have to be happy with a lesser lifestyle if you want to be an RN. And if you fail, you can say you did not give up.

OR

Another path is for you to become a Trucker, as you said or try some other career to see if it helps you be happy.

Or

Stay with what your doing and be content with it, give up on dreams of other careers and be happy with it

Or
(path of least resistance)
Join the NG! then your future is predetermined for you!

Like I said, pretty much it will come down to what are you willing to sacrifice now, to obtain the future - this will determine what you'll do.

(Life sure feels like those 'you decide what happens books' sometimes )


My advice is "Do whatever it takes, whatever it takes, to make yourself happy" once you decide to be happy in your future, obstacles will not be large at all (more like speed bumps aka sleeping policemen). I'm taking my own advice and picking up writing a Novel as it's been my goal to write it since '98 (which means lost of time spent on research and etc.) and iti won't be easy!

[zebragirl83]

Yeah, my father in law lives in kentucky and im trying to get in the fire dept down there and with the schedual 24 on 48 off i can run his truck on my days off. Just love bein on the road!

Don't run yourself too ragged... especially if you have a significant other... TRUST ME... Getting off a 6:30 or 7 in the morning after a 24-hour shift and knowing that you have to be at another job at 8 or 9 is not fun!

[thomas]

Dont let anything or anybody steal your dream! Focus on what you really want and will be happy with and just do ti. thats all it takes. just do it.

[Nightrage]

I don't know how it works where you are, but around here, the police force, fire department, port authority, corrections officer, court officer and so on, is the way to go. Make good money, full benefits, pension after 20 years, overtime, plus you get plenty of sick, vacation and personal time. I'm stressing to find a full time job myself. Working at Enterprise making $9 an hour is a kick below the belt. I'm 21. It's embarrassing. I applied to the MTA (Metropolitan Transportation Authority), but haven't heard back from them yet. I have a job offer to work with my friend's father for a VERY generous salary, but I need to see where I stand with civil service jobs first. If I can become a cop and make $92K a year after 5 years with all of those benefits, I'd much rather do that than make however much working for a tire company. You really need to weigh out pros and cons. Look into Frito- Lay. They start people off here in NY at $16 an hour to load trucks with potato chips and what not. What about working a blue collar job? Plumbers, roofers and electricians make good money. It's hard to find someone to do an apprenticeship with if you want to do certain jobs, but it pays off in the end if you can find someone. Find a job with a good union and you have a good chance of being set for life. Good luck.

[Joshu]

If I can become a cop and make $92K a year after 5 years

What kind of place on earth pays that much for a cop?

Whatever you do, don't do it for the money. I love to teach so I am becoming a teacher. They start with 30K a year with a 4 year bachelors degree and your certification. Not to mention jobs here are scarce. Start someplace and work your way up.

My plan, get a job as a teacher, then the school pays for my master's and eventually my PhD. I now want to be a school psychologist as well in addition to being a teacher.

ANYWAY
Do want you want to do with your heart, not your wallet. Money comes and goes but the heart never does.

Just out of curiosity, why didn't you go to college after high school?

[FroSSty]

It sounds like there a few of us that are at the same turning point in our lives. It seems we are finally ready to accept the fact that we need to get going on a carrer path that we can see ourselves in until retirrement. I, too, wish I would have gone to college right after high school. Now a few years later I am wondering why I didn't and am ready to do whatever it takes to get to that point. I am also highly considering enlisting into the military. The best thing to do is weigh the pros and cons. Make a list for all of the paths in front of you and choose the one that works for you.

[Nightrage]

What kind of place on earth pays that much for a cop?

Suffolk County here on Long Island. I believe they're the highest paid police force in the country. Hence why 30,000 people took the test to join the force.

http://www.co.suffolk.ny.us/police/recruitment.htm

I know that it's important to do what you love, but it doesn't really work like that on Long Island, where property taxes can be $11,000+ per year and it's not uncommon for your average house to be $400,000 or more. Plenty of them are a hell of a lot more and you don't even get all that much for your money. I think my house was around that much and it's a run of the mill 2 story house with a basement. Needed a lot of work too. If the total income from everyone in the house doesn't meet or exceed $100,000 per year, you'll probably be living in an apartment and apartments in decent, not good, but decent areas often run over $1,000 per month for rent. So you'd probably be living in an undesirable area with less than that. That's more or less why money is such a huge priority here. My good friend works 65 hour weeks, sometimes over 70 hours a week as an exterminator to get the bills paid.

[Gary94Formula]

Wow.. $11K in taxes on a $400K house isn't bad.. I know here in upstate NY, taxes are $12-$13K on a $400k house.. I know you get much more house here for that money, but over $1k a month just to live in the house is just crazy...

Do something your going to enjoy and if your good at it the rewards should come. Good Luck

[BrdWAtti2d]

There is nothing wrong with going in the National Guard. Yea there's a really good chance you'll get shipped out, but maybe not. My son's been in the Marines for over a year now and he's been safe and sound in the New Orleans since finishing basic. Ok it's New Orleans, maybe not so safe and sound, but you get the idea. Although, can you imagine a gang of Marines on Burbon Street? Their antics have been very noteworthy.

Sorry this is probably not what you want to hear, but if your girlfriend doesn't support your efforts to better yourself then it's probably time to find a new girlfriend. My son when through the same thing and she is no longer his girlfriend. She put him through hell when he enlisted. I can promise if you asked him about the whole incident he would tell you that he's much better off free of her.

Good luck with whatever you decide, military service NEVER looks bad on a resume I can promise.

[MDMike]

DHolmes,
The best advice he can give someone in your position (This is not my advice I might add) is stay away from the armed forces right now for one simple reason.. they (Armed forces & National Guard) are not taking care of their own... meaning if you get injured... blammo your kicked out. Mental illness due to shell shock, battle fatigue... blammo your kicked out and left to deal with these problems yourself, if your can. Many of the recruits came back and told all this same story to him, which I'm passing on to you. ... The national guard will not take care of you once something bad happens...no matter what gimmick or wording they give you!
and as always never trust the words of a recruiter unless it is all on a legal-binding document verbatim (his advice as well )
Think of your options, carefully, .... I went the college route paid my own way through, this might not be your best route, there might be good industry jobs in your area (power company, machining, assembly, etc. all in line with what I make)

I am a retired Navy Reservist and TN ANG, and I joined in '77 for college money.
The above advice is great. Unless you wanna serve, and/or grow up, stay out.

[thomas]

What kind of place on earth pays that much for a cop?

Whatever you do, don't do it for the money. I love to teach so I am becoming a teacher. They start with 30K a year with a 4 year bachelors degree and your certification. Not to mention jobs here are scarce. Start someplace and work your way up.

My plan, get a job as a teacher, then the school pays for my master's and eventually my PhD. I now want to be a school psychologist as well in addition to being a teacher.

ANYWAY
Do want you want to do with your heart, not your wallet. Money comes and goes but the heart never does.

Just out of curiosity, why didn't you go to college after high school?

Yeah, Fire , police and any other service were you sacrifice your own life is always under paid! Most fire dept start out at 10 - 15 an hr! Balt. fire dept starts out at 30k!!! wow. Thats what people think your life is worth. Sucks But hey, its were my heart is and what im meant to do.

[RangerBob]

I am a retired Navy Reservist and TN ANG, and I joined in '77 for college money.
The above advice is great. Unless you wanna serve, and/or grow up, stay out.

Hahaha

Most excellent!

[DHolmes]

Okay ,As you guys now I train doing MMA at the pit ,A recruter that I trained with offered me this,30g's if I join and 45'gs a year driving trucks for the army,

[RangerBob]

Get it in writing. Don't ever trust a recruiter!