The first thing to think about is this: The grass is always greener on the other side of the fence. And we all know that once you are on the other side of the fence you are filled with regret. You are right. Young people expect more than what reality allows. Here is the advice of an old salty jarhead with 23yrs service in the Corps. 8 in Infantry and 15 in the Air Wing and 11mo. in the Army. (I can explain that later): A military job IS a job with some great benefits and some awful experiences. Most important is that there WILL BE DISCIPLINE. This will not be a job where you make the choices. There will be standard operating proceedures and you should follow them.. or risk disciplinary actions that could affect your career wether long or short. You need to leave childhood behind you. I joined the service at 17 and all I wanted to do was get drunk and because of immaturity - acted the fool. By 19 I was in the hospital with bleeding ulcers from drinking straight whiskey by the boat load. Don't do this. Its okay to have a drink now and then but never drink to the point that you lose your ability to control yourself or the surroundings you are in. Never put yourself in a position that you have lost control of your faculties. This isn't the MASH 4077th where you can drink martinis all day and smoke and joke. Education is your best friend. Learn. Get schooling either before or during your time in. Excel at everything you do. Its okay to ask for help if you are struggling at something, just keep working at it until you succeed at it. Know the job you are entering at and understand what it entails. Also know there will be additional duties that you will have aside from the regular job. You might be placed on a working party. You may have to do barracks (fire) watch. You may have to do guard duty. We are not paid by the hour... but expect LONG days (or nights). Expect to be cleaning anything and everything for the first one or two enlistments. Personally- If I were to enter the military as a new recruit I would be wanting to do at least 20 years. Jobs and military life get exponentially better over time. As your rank progresses the pay get better and your leadership traits develope and that gives you confidence. You will meet other leaders and learn from them and your relationships with the officers will develope and who knows.. one day you will be the senior enlisted working for a commander that you knew when he was a Lt. Volunteer for everything. It shows you are willing and capable. Don't half ass any assignment. Give it 100%. It will be noticed and will help you build your career. Do not get sucked into the "anti" crowd. You know.. the complainers of everything crowd. Don't get sucked into the "I'm doing 4 and getting out...because you know..this sucks" crowd. The military can be a fun bunch to be with. Even in the worst times we still found ways to have fun. There will be good people and good leaders and there will be bad people and bad leaders. Treat every one of them will respect no matter how you feel. Just like water off a ducks back, let the crap roll off. In a year or two everything changes - sometimes even less than that. People are changing duty stations all the time. Just wait bad times out because the next guy coming in might turn out to be the greatest leader and mentor you will ever have. The Infantry life was brutal. It is hard on the body, hard on family if you are married, and you can fully expect to have a beef with someone in the unit. Expect to have a fight or two, or three, or four. Expect to be doing the most ridiculous crap you can imagine. Expect to clean the barracks in extreme detail and then have it inspected by white glove every single week if you are not on deployment. But at the same time... its going to be rewarding and fun if you like warfare and shooting. You had better damn well pay attention to your squad leaders and Plt. Sgts. Get used to hurrying up.. and then waiting... and waiting. Bottom line - Stay sober (drink social but not to excess). Don't do the minimums, do the maximums. Get further education, if you end up not liking the job then you have the ability to change and get a job that you do have a genuine interest in. ( I went from grunt to ATC Radar Maint. because I developed my math and science skills through education and discovered that my true calling was in electronics and that decision served me VERY WELL after retiring from service.) Last point - You are going to take ass chewings at all points throughout your military career. Don't take it personal. Take it as an educational tool and fix your problem and thank your ass chewer after you made your corrections. Civilian life SUCKS compared to military life. After you have experienced a military career you can see through the BS. Civilians are lost in the sauce, grabasstic pieces of _____. They cannot take critique and get super offended easily. Do a full 20, get education so you can skip a lot of the "new hire" garbage and start your second career above the new guy line.
Well said, a lot of it echoed what I said in the video. The part that hit me the most was about the alcoholism, that's really unfortunate but you fixed it fast. My parents drank and had problems with it, and I was always determined to avoid the same fate. Still, it feels impossible to avoid alcohol in the Navy (drink to the foam). Good to hear you're successful beyond the military, best of luck!
Good points. Great video. Keep up the great job 👏 I had a realistic view of the military the first time I joined in 1983, but I was lied to by my recruiter and ended up not getting the rate he guaranteed me, Draftsman Illustrator. It was fine though because the Personnel chief on the ship I showed up on undesignated, believed my story and got me a job as a Yeoman. That was life changing because that’s when the Navy ships first got computers, and the whole world shifted. Next came the internet. Working as a Navy Yeoman changed my life, making me not only able to become an executive secretary in top civilian jobs after I got out, but made me highly computer literate, for life. I was surprised when I rejoined the Navy (14 years after I got out) in 1999 to find out that things were much different, better really, less stressful, kinder, etc. I’d say the most important thing for anyone joining the military nowadays is to take MEPS very seriously and sign up for a job they’d be very happy doing for the rest of their life. Even if one is only planning to do one term, it’s like going to college, so taking a job with absolutely no interest in it is like getting a totally useless college degree. The second time I joined the Navy, MEPS would only let me choose between 8 ratings despite having very high test scores. Foolishly, I signed up for one, the hardest one, despite having absolutely zero interest. Long story short, I dropped out of my A school and ended back up on a ship at 37yo without any rating 😂. No worries though, I knew with my previous military experience as a Yeoman and extensive civilian experience as an executive secretary, I would most certainly get a job as a Yeoman again, and I was right. I was immediately assigned to being the Deck Department Yeoman when I arrived onboard. It was fun, another great adventure to add to a very long list. 🫡
I have zero regrets for joining the military I got the discipline and life direction I needed at that time and I have had nothing but benefits. My biggest regret is that I could have stayed longer
Hey prior service and current reservist here... Thanks for making these videos for the new people that may want to join. You are good at explaining things. I wish had someone like you and TH-cam videos 15 years ago ! Keep making videos...I know they are a big headache to make.. Oh yes you are right about civilian job vs military job.. I'm in the reserves and going to reserves is a nice escape from my regular job... I too worked manual labor , food and janitor jobs
Hey thanks for the comment! While filming this I started going off on a tangent about the civilian world vs. the military world job wise and cut it all out of the video. It'll be a video in itself probably. Yeah I needed these videos myself before I joined, so I figured if I wanted them thousands of other people wanted them and it definitely looks that way. Thanks for the kind words!
There's little to no reason to be career military. The pension was replaced with what is essentially a 401k. Yeah you don't have to worry about health insurance but you are restricted to the VA and they suck. Do your four years, pocket the GI Bill and VA Loan, save/invest as much as you can and GTFO.
Well, one reason is stability. Some people like the predictability of having one job for 20-30 years and not trying to play the games of changing jobs constantly and the civilian rat race. Maybe that's not you and that's okay. Also there are multiple retirement packages still, including the pension.
@@HaedenBeck The military is anything but stable. If you are at a toxic unit, you are stuck with them. With a civilian job younqre free to quit whenever. I have too much of a mercenary mindset to be in the military. Money talks, bullshit walks.
@@jackcarraway4707 I was in a unit I wasn't enjoying, and my friends were in a different unit, so I requested a swap with someone and it was approved. Life instantly improved. Mercenaries were one of the reasons the Romans fell, they had more and more soldiers for hire instead of a proper and professional standing army. If money is the only motivation, they won't fight like soldiers who believe they're gifts from God to spread democracy and all that.
@@HaedenBeckNgl wouldn't you still have to join the civilian rat race? The retirement is good but not enough to retire and have extra cash to travel and be financially free🤷🏾♂️ that's just my opinion tho but I get what you're saying though fasho
I believe. . We work hard in civilian life. When I get off from my security job. I’m headed to my part time job at food store until 10pm. I be working for 7am to 10Pm lol It’s hard 😅😅 and yes your doing well in the military 👍🏾
20 years you get two paychecks and benefits like self discipline a lifelong personal trainer I can here my drill instructor yelling at me to do better I know I can do better also medical coverage and respect and knowing I can do anything through hard work You can always go back to construction afterwards adn get a great pension respect
What a smart ambitious young man you are very mature. I hope you are able to stay in the military as long as you want to and get a nice pensiopn after a long career. The Navy probably will let you I hope so. I would suggest making sure you get some kind of life insurance I regret that is one of the perks i should have I was extremely foolish young man but at least I joined that was smartest move ever
th-cam.com/video/-MQj2NMSJaI/w-d-xo.html - How the military gets paid
discord.com/invite/6xUtW45k5 - Continue the conversation on discord!
Pick your rate, pick your fate
So true
The first thing to think about is this: The grass is always greener on the other side of the fence.
And we all know that once you are on the other side of the fence you are filled with regret.
You are right. Young people expect more than what reality allows.
Here is the advice of an old salty jarhead with 23yrs service in the Corps. 8 in Infantry and 15 in the Air Wing and 11mo. in the Army. (I can explain that later):
A military job IS a job with some great benefits and some awful experiences. Most important is that there WILL BE DISCIPLINE. This will not be a job where you make the choices.
There will be standard operating proceedures and you should follow them.. or risk disciplinary actions that could affect your career wether long or short.
You need to leave childhood behind you. I joined the service at 17 and all I wanted to do was get drunk and because of immaturity - acted the fool. By 19 I was in the hospital with bleeding ulcers from drinking straight whiskey by the boat load. Don't do this. Its okay to have a drink now and then but never drink to the point that you lose your ability to control yourself or the surroundings you are in. Never put yourself in a position that you have lost control of your faculties.
This isn't the MASH 4077th where you can drink martinis all day and smoke and joke.
Education is your best friend. Learn. Get schooling either before or during your time in. Excel at everything you do. Its okay to ask for help if you are struggling at something, just keep working at it until you succeed at it.
Know the job you are entering at and understand what it entails. Also know there will be additional duties that you will have aside from the regular job. You might be placed on a working party. You may have to do barracks (fire) watch. You may have to do guard duty.
We are not paid by the hour... but expect LONG days (or nights). Expect to be cleaning anything and everything for the first one or two enlistments.
Personally- If I were to enter the military as a new recruit I would be wanting to do at least 20 years. Jobs and military life get exponentially better over time. As your rank progresses the pay get better and your leadership traits develope and that gives you confidence. You will meet other leaders and learn from them and your relationships with the officers will develope and who knows.. one day you will be the senior enlisted working for a commander that you knew when he was a Lt.
Volunteer for everything. It shows you are willing and capable. Don't half ass any assignment. Give it 100%. It will be noticed and will help you build your career.
Do not get sucked into the "anti" crowd. You know.. the complainers of everything crowd. Don't get sucked into the "I'm doing 4 and getting out...because you know..this sucks" crowd.
The military can be a fun bunch to be with. Even in the worst times we still found ways to have fun. There will be good people and good leaders and there will be bad people and bad leaders. Treat every one of them will respect no matter how you feel. Just like water off a ducks back, let the crap roll off. In a year or two everything changes - sometimes even less than that. People are changing duty stations all the time. Just wait bad times out because the next guy coming in might turn out to be the greatest leader and mentor you will ever have.
The Infantry life was brutal. It is hard on the body, hard on family if you are married, and you can fully expect to have a beef with someone in the unit. Expect to have a fight or two, or three, or four. Expect to be doing the most ridiculous crap you can imagine. Expect to clean the barracks in extreme detail and then have it inspected by white glove every single week if you are not on deployment. But at the same time... its going to be rewarding and fun if you like warfare and shooting. You had better damn well pay attention to your squad leaders and Plt. Sgts.
Get used to hurrying up.. and then waiting... and waiting.
Bottom line - Stay sober (drink social but not to excess). Don't do the minimums, do the maximums. Get further education, if you end up not liking the job then you have the ability to change and get a job that you do have a genuine interest in. ( I went from grunt to ATC Radar Maint. because I developed my math and science skills through education and discovered that my true calling was in electronics and that decision served me VERY WELL after retiring from service.)
Last point - You are going to take ass chewings at all points throughout your military career. Don't take it personal. Take it as an educational tool and fix your problem and thank your ass chewer after you made your corrections.
Civilian life SUCKS compared to military life. After you have experienced a military career you can see through the BS. Civilians are lost in the sauce, grabasstic pieces of _____. They cannot take critique and get super offended easily. Do a full 20, get education so you can skip a lot of the "new hire" garbage and start your second career above the new guy line.
Well said, a lot of it echoed what I said in the video. The part that hit me the most was about the alcoholism, that's really unfortunate but you fixed it fast. My parents drank and had problems with it, and I was always determined to avoid the same fate. Still, it feels impossible to avoid alcohol in the Navy (drink to the foam). Good to hear you're successful beyond the military, best of luck!
@@HaedenBeck As someone who is straight edge and a DJ in the club and rave scene... Military drinkers sound like nothing to me compared to that lmao.
@@sks1795 They're really something else. The military has some of the most fit and stable-lifed drinkers anywhere.
Ok boomer
ain’t readin all dat
Because you are a smart Navy veteran giving positive advice I am subscribing to you as a fellow Navy and Submarine veteran
Good points. Great video. Keep up the great job 👏
I had a realistic view of the military the first time I joined in 1983, but I was lied to by my recruiter and ended up not getting the rate he guaranteed me, Draftsman Illustrator.
It was fine though because the Personnel chief on the ship I showed up on undesignated, believed my story and got me a job as a Yeoman.
That was life changing because that’s when the Navy ships first got computers, and the whole world shifted. Next came the internet.
Working as a Navy Yeoman changed my life, making me not only able to become an executive secretary in top civilian jobs after I got out, but made me highly computer literate, for life.
I was surprised when I rejoined the Navy (14 years after I got out) in 1999 to find out that things were much different, better really, less stressful, kinder, etc.
I’d say the most important thing for anyone joining the military nowadays is to take MEPS very seriously and sign up for a job they’d be very happy doing for the rest of their life.
Even if one is only planning to do one term, it’s like going to college, so taking a job with absolutely no interest in it is like getting a totally useless college degree.
The second time I joined the Navy, MEPS would only let me choose between 8 ratings despite having very high test scores. Foolishly, I signed up for one, the hardest one, despite having absolutely zero interest.
Long story short, I dropped out of my A school and ended back up on a ship at 37yo without any rating 😂.
No worries though, I knew with my previous military experience as a Yeoman and extensive civilian experience as an executive secretary, I would most certainly get a job as a Yeoman again, and I was right.
I was immediately assigned to being the Deck Department Yeoman when I arrived onboard. It was fun, another great adventure to add to a very long list.
🫡
I have zero regrets for joining the military I got the discipline and life direction I needed at that time and I have had nothing but benefits. My biggest regret is that I could have stayed longer
Hey prior service and current reservist here... Thanks for making these videos for the new people that may want to join. You are good at explaining things. I wish had someone like you and TH-cam videos 15 years ago !
Keep making videos...I know they are a big headache to make..
Oh yes you are right about civilian job vs military job.. I'm in the reserves and going to reserves is a nice escape from my regular job...
I too worked manual labor , food and janitor jobs
Hey thanks for the comment! While filming this I started going off on a tangent about the civilian world vs. the military world job wise and cut it all out of the video. It'll be a video in itself probably.
Yeah I needed these videos myself before I joined, so I figured if I wanted them thousands of other people wanted them and it definitely looks that way.
Thanks for the kind words!
There's little to no reason to be career military. The pension was replaced with what is essentially a 401k. Yeah you don't have to worry about health insurance but you are restricted to the VA and they suck.
Do your four years, pocket the GI Bill and VA Loan, save/invest as much as you can and GTFO.
Well, one reason is stability. Some people like the predictability of having one job for 20-30 years and not trying to play the games of changing jobs constantly and the civilian rat race. Maybe that's not you and that's okay. Also there are multiple retirement packages still, including the pension.
@@HaedenBeck The military is anything but stable. If you are at a toxic unit, you are stuck with them. With a civilian job younqre free to quit whenever.
I have too much of a mercenary mindset to be in the military. Money talks, bullshit walks.
@@jackcarraway4707 I was in a unit I wasn't enjoying, and my friends were in a different unit, so I requested a swap with someone and it was approved. Life instantly improved.
Mercenaries were one of the reasons the Romans fell, they had more and more soldiers for hire instead of a proper and professional standing army. If money is the only motivation, they won't fight like soldiers who believe they're gifts from God to spread democracy and all that.
@@HaedenBeckNgl wouldn't you still have to join the civilian rat race? The retirement is good but not enough to retire and have extra cash to travel and be financially free🤷🏾♂️ that's just my opinion tho but I get what you're saying though fasho
Real asf
Thank you!
I believe. . We work hard in civilian life. When I get off from my security job. I’m headed to my part time job at food store until 10pm.
I be working for 7am to 10Pm lol It’s hard 😅😅 and yes your doing well in the military 👍🏾
I can relate to joining older. People don’t realize how much the real world sucks as far as most jobs go.
And it gets harder and harder every year as more jobs are eliminated through automation and innovation.
Thank you bro, this helped
Anytime!
I was in around 2014 and it was closer to being an inmate. You have less options than in the real world honestly.
20 years you get two paychecks and benefits like self discipline a lifelong personal trainer I can here my drill instructor yelling at me to do better I know I can do better also medical coverage and respect and knowing I can do anything through hard work You can always go back to construction afterwards adn get a great pension respect
What a smart ambitious young man you are very mature. I hope you are able to stay in the military as long as you want to and get a nice pensiopn after a long career. The Navy probably will let you I hope so. I would suggest making sure you get some kind of life insurance I regret that is one of the perks i should have I was extremely foolish young man but at least I joined that was smartest move ever
Lol thanks best of luck to ya
You say it’s a pay cut but housing and food are potentially free right so that should factor in
5:35 Not true. My old grocery job paid less to old employees than new hires.
Generally speaking the longer you work somewhere the more raises you accrue.
you not wearing one of your fancy jackets?😂😂
Lol, I mean that's one of them that I designed myself, just not a bright color