@Kayster ,
Kayster wrote:
I'm not sure, really. I spoke to a couple people about it like a year or two ago since there was an event at my school, and I'm pretty sure the age cut-off was 17, so I'd have to wait a bit. I'm not sure how to even approach something like that though.
When I joined the Army I had been working in a shoe store in a tiny town. Living with my mom. I had an impulse one day to go to the recruiting office in the next town and just see what they were selling. I didn’t actually think I was going to join, or anything. Just a twenty mile drive to the next town, and a short visit with the weird guys in uniform. Just for something to do that day. I had a couple of misdemeanors on my record, and I was older than the average person who goes in, so I didn’t even really think they’d take me.
Ends up that they convinced me to follow my impulse a little further, and a couple days later I took a trip to the induction center in Raleigh (NC) - that’s where people actually join.
As I filled out all the forms and got examined physically and answered whatever questions they had; then raised my hand and swore to “defend the constitution against all enemies, foreign and domestic” - all I was thinking was “at least I’ll be able to GO somewhere and DO something”. I was hungry for a life.
A couple weeks after that I took an airplane to Missouri and began
basic training. It was hard, and I wanted to quit after four days, but eight weeks later I was very glad that I didn’t. I will always remember the sense of pride and accomplishment I had.
After that, they trained me in a specific job.
After that, I got ‘stationed’ at my first base. After that…
I stayed for twenty years. I got a life from joining the military, Kayster.
Not saying it would do the same for you. But you seem like someone who wants her own life. It might be a good idea to just talk to a recruiter, and see what they have to offer. Keep in mind that they get paid to talk people into joining, so some of them can seem a little full of BS. Don’t be pushed into anything. Maybe talk to recruiters from more than one service. Their offices are usually all right there together. You might find that Navy, Air Force or Marines
makes more sense to you.
Nothing to lose by just listening, and then taking time to think over what you hear.
I’m here to answer any questions I can.
Rooting for you.