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07/05/2007 01:48:38 PM · #51 |
| I think a few years in the Coast Guard would be a hell of a lot of fun. Plus, when you save some poor college girls whose boat is sinking, they are likely to be VERY grateful! ;-) |
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07/05/2007 01:54:39 PM · #52 |
Originally posted by OmanOtter:
I think a few years in the Coast Guard would be a hell of a lot of fun. Plus, when you save some poor college girls whose boat is sinking, they are likely to be VERY grateful! ;-) |
LMAO... yeah i think it will be good for me and all thigns aside at this point i think the only thing that will make me not want to go is doing bad on teh asvab and having a poor selection of careers. Im taking the practice ones now and studying up on conversions (mathematic reasoning is 50% of the FSS qualifications).
ALthough im sure its can be up to light service compared to other branches it can probably also be worse at times. I think any normal danger is already around me and hell people get shot in my neighborhood all the time. I think itll get my where i need to be physically give me more experience working with people in a team/leadership environment however i do want to be support staff and not a leader for a change.
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A current curioisty though
I want to get my motorcycle license and the class is about 300 dollars or more. While Id have the money and after ebing in a year Ill have 30 days of vacation time id rather not spend any of it screwing around with the class.
1 Do you actually have to get the class M rating to ride a motorcycle I hear 20% of all riders dont and they never clearly say weather thats legal.....?
The other part is if stationed on land is there a way to get this on base instead of on leave. |
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07/05/2007 02:00:37 PM · #53 |
| The Marines are a part of the Department of the Navy and therefore are a part of the Navy.You know, they say that Sailors have a girl in every, and the Marine Coeps advertise that they are only looking for a few good men???? |
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07/05/2007 02:02:12 PM · #54 |
Originally posted by RainMotorsports:
Fire fighter... yeah about that. Drowning versus burning to death... im kidding but yeah drowning sorta sounds better! Im not sure thats exactly what id want todo anyways. God thought though.
As far as spazmo goes...
WHile there are other things in life I can do, Heres a list of what ive done so far: Data Entry, Construction, Web site Design, Programming in Object Pascal, Fast Food, Fast food Management, student mechanic, hourley parts sales.....
Not sure wtf i want todo but due to a lack of anything above basic algebra Im limited in the upper careers of the world. However this would give me the chance to jump from managing a cruddy fast food resteraunt to starting management in a normal resteraunt. However if for some dumb reason id like to go back into Fast food management id go for 3 months of prep and go into the next opening store for the franchise as the store manager.
It also sort of opens up local government career's such as the health department. Not really sure but i think I want to go in. I just want to take the ASVAB again before talking to a recruiter just to make sure the careers id want would be open to some degree. |
Your ASVAB score will determine what jobs you're qualified for. It doesn't have anything to do with experience. Unless you really, really like the work in some area you do have experience in; why restrict yourself? Remember, the military will make sure to train you so you can do your job before you start doing your job. You'll get the same training, regardless of your experience in that area. Everybody starts from the bottom.
As far as your lack of mathematics limiting your access to the "upper careers", that's not necessarily true, depending on your field. If you want to be a rocket scientist, you've got some studying to do. Other careers like marketing, sales, etc. a lack of math skills is not necessarily a handicap. Besides, you can always take a math class or two and learn what you need. |
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07/05/2007 02:04:18 PM · #55 |
Originally posted by Spazmo99:
As far as your lack of mathematics limiting your access to the "upper careers", that's not necessarily true, depending on your field. If you want to be a rocket scientist, you've got some studying to do. Other careers like marketing, sales, etc. a lack of math skills is not necessarily a handicap. Besides, you can always take a math class or two and learn what you need. |
I took drafting, marketing yada yada in high school and passed.
i also failed concepts of algebra 3 times in a row..... Im not taking Algebra, or Concepts of again.... unless I have to lol.
Message edited by author 2007-07-05 14:04:49. |
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07/05/2007 02:44:37 PM · #56 |
Gold is going to triple by Spring 2008. Invest your money in gold. The dollar is crashing!. Foreign Exchange is bigger than the stock market. The man who said dont bother is ignorant. Foreign Exchange is low risk right now. The Euro is flying and it's easy to triple money in a month. It suits you since your limited in travels and at least have a computer, it's all you need.
As far as the coast guard goes, it all depends on you. You seem like your not cut out for it. It was my cousin who told me about the steroids, but if you want to get plugged with needles that contain mercury, go for it. FOREX.com. Don't overlook this oppurtunity. It suits you. Foreign Exchange market trades over 1.5 Trillion a day. 24 hour market. This is how the bankers do it, and perhaps you can prosper. You need at least 5000$ to start, but you might be able to profit with just 1000$. Buy a Reuters platform, or the Bloomberg platform to get early news. You must watch oil at all times, it affects the dollar's value. Good luck. |
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07/05/2007 02:51:52 PM · #57 |
Originally posted by RulerZigzag:
Gold is going to triple by Spring 2008. Invest your money in gold. The dollar is crashing!. Foreign Exchange is bigger than the stock market. The man who said dont bother is ignorant. Foreign Exchange is low risk right now. The Euro is flying and it's easy to triple money in a month. It suits you since your limited in travels and at least have a computer, it's all you need.
As far as the coast guard goes, it all depends on you. You seem like your not cut out for it. It was my cousin who told me about the steroids, but if you want to get plugged with needles that contain mercury, go for it. FOREX.com. Don't overlook this oppurtunity. It suits you. Foreign Exchange market trades over 1.5 Trillion a day. 24 hour market. This is how the bankers do it, and perhaps you can prosper. You need at least 5000$ to start, but you might be able to profit with just 1000$. Buy a Reuters platform, or the Bloomberg platform to get early news. You must watch oil at all times, it affects the dollar's value. Good luck. |
Yay I can triple my 5 dollars lol..... |
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07/05/2007 03:02:09 PM · #58 |
Originally posted by RulerZigzag:
Gold is going to triple by Spring 2008. Invest your money in gold. The dollar is crashing!. Foreign Exchange is bigger than the stock market. The man who said dont bother is ignorant. Foreign Exchange is low risk right now. The Euro is flying and it's easy to triple money in a month. It suits you since your limited in travels and at least have a computer, it's all you need.
As far as the coast guard goes, it all depends on you. You seem like your not cut out for it. It was my cousin who told me about the steroids, but if you want to get plugged with needles that contain mercury, go for it. FOREX.com. Don't overlook this oppurtunity. It suits you. Foreign Exchange market trades over 1.5 Trillion a day. 24 hour market. This is how the bankers do it, and perhaps you can prosper. You need at least 5000$ to start, but you might be able to profit with just 1000$. Buy a Reuters platform, or the Bloomberg platform to get early news. You must watch oil at all times, it affects the dollar's value. Good luck. |
Nice spam. |
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07/05/2007 03:06:22 PM · #59 |
In all honesty, you come across as being very immature and not really willing to put any effort into doing anything and that is NOT the attitude any employer, much less the military, is looking for. I recommend you think long and hard before committing to something you simply cannot back out of (like joining the military) and work on your attitude a bit.
Nothing in life comes easy and when you are in a hole the first thing you have to do is stop digging. You need to WANT to change your situation and really be willing to do whatever it takes and not just what's easy.
Many immigrants come to the US with NOTHING, my family and I included, and somehow manage to make a life for themselves so you are definitely not the first person to be in such a situation. If they, who speak no English, can make it and live and eat, I don't see why a fully able 20 something couldn't.
If what you want is to go to college then you can do that and I do not believe in the "I can't afford it" excuse. If you really are that poor the government will pay for most if not all of your education. Think community college to start out.
There is no risk free job out there and you could just as well die sitting at home so the drowning vs. burning argument is a bit childish. I'm sorry if that's a bit harsh but there, that's my 2 cents.
June
Message edited by author 2007-07-05 15:07:38.
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07/05/2007 03:31:17 PM · #60 |
ya know the first part of your post has me LMFAO and still laughing. I love how you decribed yourself. At least I know you are not just an ass to us "your team" but to yourself as well :)
still laughing.....
but anyway,
Screw the coast guard. Come work with me. nevermind you suck at math LMFAO!
Message edited by author 2007-07-05 15:33:23. |
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07/05/2007 03:32:53 PM · #61 |
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Message edited by author 2007-07-05 15:33:08. |
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07/05/2007 03:42:21 PM · #62 |
Cost of living for one person is greater then cost of living for a family struggling towards a common goal.
Rent on a dump 800 a month, Utilities: Gas, Water, Electric, Telephone, Tv Internet 275 a month. Health and Life Insurance 196 a month. Food at 6 dollars a day 200 a month. If youd like to actually own a car... 11,000 dollar car under warranty because its cheaper then fixing a beater in the end except for my insurance. Car Payment 240 a month, My insurance 450 a month (LOW BALLED BTW), Gas 100 a month because it gets 30 mpg.
So just on what it takes to Sleep eat and work on your own with no help.... 2260 a month? Even the Military's bas pay is les then that.
What I live on, 400 a month in rent, 60 a month in utilities, 50 for phone, 64 a month for transit, 200 a month in food. 196 a month in Health care which btw the last 6 months has become important in surviving, Im finally out the medicine put me really far under. Other misc expenses put me to 1000 a month just for minimum living.
I work the average that a single job person does 80-90 hours a week, I make 1000-1200 a month and thats making over minimu wage.
Honestly I have no clue how a single person with no family making minimum wage survives, id liek to know. Because all the hard work int he world might show something but if your still makign minimum wage that doesnt make your quality of life better.
The sad part is a person in Oklahoma City could live off minimum wage as long as they dont own a vehicle, much lower cost of living.
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Back to familys and friends that immigrate. As a Manager at McDonalds I drove employee's home 8 of my workers lived in the same house, shared 1 car when it ran. They worked 2 jobs and there were more there that were not legal. Only one of them spoke fluent english and he was a swing manager like me.
Its easier for 2 or 3 people to make in then just 1. I have help now but withotu that help the math doesnt add up, not sure how you work it except to pick up and move out of the state.
Honeslt ywith my grandfather dying I was thinking an alternate option is to runt he family farm in North Carolina. No money in it in fact its constant debt, but hey your alive. |
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07/05/2007 03:45:56 PM · #63 |
can you do office work?
Message edited by author 2007-07-05 15:46:56. |
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07/05/2007 03:56:27 PM · #64 |
Originally posted by Chinabun:
can you do office work? |
Yes I can, Im proficient In Word Excel and Access, know my way around Powerpoint can't say that im that great at it though. I generally know my way around other suites such as Open Office which I use in linux.
I can type 54 wpm with both hands or 90 wpm with two fingers LMAO. I have minor spelling and Grammar issues but Thats what is so great about technology? I did peice work data entry in high school at 6 cents a file you can do 3500 files and make 200 in a day great work wish i oculd get back into it.
I saw a job in the paper 8 dollars to start.... I dunno Main issue is getting out of where I am unless your actually close lol. For now where i live is fine but my room mate is like 60 if he died you know where the heck am i going lol.
Message edited by author 2007-07-05 15:57:09. |
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07/05/2007 04:01:08 PM · #65 |
Originally posted by RainMotorsports:
Cost of living for one person is greater then cost of living for a family struggling towards a common goal.
Rent on a dump 800 a month, Utilities: Gas, Water, Electric, Telephone, Tv Internet 275 a month. Health and Life Insurance 196 a month. Food at 6 dollars a day 200 a month. If youd like to actually own a car... 11,000 dollar car under warranty because its cheaper then fixing a beater in the end except for my insurance. Car Payment 240 a month, My insurance 450 a month (LOW BALLED BTW), Gas 100 a month because it gets 30 mpg.
So just on what it takes to Sleep eat and work on your own with no help.... 2260 a month? Even the Military's bas pay is les then that.
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The military base pay seems low, because it's just that, the base. You need to figure on the fact that you will not need to pay for rent, utilities, food, health insurance etc.
Message edited by author 2007-07-05 16:01:42. |
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07/05/2007 04:04:20 PM · #66 |
Originally posted by Spazmo99:
Originally posted by RainMotorsports:
Cost of living for one person is greater then cost of living for a family struggling towards a common goal.
Rent on a dump 800 a month, Utilities: Gas, Water, Electric, Telephone, Tv Internet 275 a month. Health and Life Insurance 196 a month. Food at 6 dollars a day 200 a month. If youd like to actually own a car... 11,000 dollar car under warranty because its cheaper then fixing a beater in the end except for my insurance. Car Payment 240 a month, My insurance 450 a month (LOW BALLED BTW), Gas 100 a month because it gets 30 mpg.
So just on what it takes to Sleep eat and work on your own with no help.... 2260 a month? Even the Military's bas pay is les then that.
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The military base pay seems low, because it's just that, the base. You need to figure on the fact that you will not need to pay for rent, utilities, food, health insurance etc. |
Wasnt Complaining at all
The military pay seems fine to me, Thats exactly the nice side to giving up alot of the freedoms... that I only enjoy half of currently. The sad part is I might actually eventually gain back some of the freedom I dont have lol.
I have dental insurance but i sue as hell cant afford to pay my 50% of the procedures that I need. Im saving up currently to get my lower dental work done. Hey Kids brush ur teeth lol.
Yeah no problem with the pay.
Message edited by author 2007-07-05 16:05:14. |
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07/05/2007 07:41:29 PM · #67 |
As mentioned you don't have to limit yourself to what you know, you will have tons of options in the military and I'm sure coast guard...you just have to take them when they come up.
Being right out of high school (well one year out cause I was so bad in school I had to go to community college to get my last english credit so I could get my diploma) the only jobs I had worked was fast food, Dunkin Dounuts, a grocery store stockboy and well that's it. I hated school, I knew I was never going to college, actually assumed I wasn't smart enough for college. I joined the military cause my brother told me above everything else, you have a roof over your head, a bed to sleep in and food in your belly.
I took the ASVAB and they told me I qualified for 3 jobs, a gunners mate, a dental assistant, or a pecker checker hosptial corpsman (sorry Chiqui I had to do it, how ironic that I am now one anyway lol). Well this was at the time when the gun turrent had just exploded on one of the ships and killed I think 3...I told them ummm thanks but no thanks on the gunners mate. I left the room to talk to my bro about it and we decided on corpsman, I went back in and the guy told me the last corpsman billet for my time period was just taken. So I took dental assistant (tooth fairy...now we're even Chiqui lol).
I went to school right away then went to field medical school to learn how to be a corpsman for the Marines. On to okinawa for one year. When I got back from there I was given the opportunity to work in the admin department doing computer work (man I miss that Zenith 248 lol). I had no computer skills at all but I said ok anyway. I was soon in charge of all the systems in the command and was even helping to start a computer network where the Marine units could dial in and see their medical/dental readiness and set up appointments (this was 91, back in the pre-internet days). I learned and pretty much mastered Harvard Graphics, and some pre-windows word processing/spreadsheet/database software by myself. And was the resident computer go-to guy, even though I didn't even own a computer myself till about 1994.
Long story short, out of my 18 years in the military I have done maybe 2 years total working as an actual dental assistant, sitting in the chair next to the doc. I have always been doing admin work and I for one pretty much love the work. There are days when I want to just throw my hands up and scream but then I get days where I'm challenged or get to do something I really enjoy and I love it.
The dental assistant rating has been merged (hostile takeover) with the corpsman rating and while I bad mouth it, it does open up the opportunities for the dental techs to do more than just suck spit. I just wish it had happened when I was younger and could take more advantage of it. Plus within that rating alone you have so many specialities (NEC's) you can get into, some even offer reenlistment bonuses...nothing near what a nuke tech gets but still a bonus. I am actually now working at the personnel office helping with the service records...not even close to what I was trained to do. I'm a Navy dental assistant, converted to a hospital corpsman, working as a personnel specialist, on an Air Force base, in a Marine Corps uniform.
I think doing some time in the Coast Guard would be awesome, yes they do stuff that is dangerous on a different level than the other services but I still think it would be a cool thing. I can't say it enough, whatever you do remember to take advantage of EVERY little benefit they give you, I am too late in the game for many and regret everyday for not taking some of them in the past. Set a plan for where you want to be in say 5 years and work towards it.
Message edited by author 2007-07-05 21:53:06. |
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07/05/2007 10:45:56 PM · #68 |
Originally posted by dfstevenson:
The Marines are a part of the Department of the Navy and therefore are a part of the Navy.You know, they say that Sailors have a girl in every, and the Marine Coeps advertise that they are only looking for a few good men???? |
Hey knucklehead, being in the Department of the Navy is not the same thing as being in the Navy. The Department of the Navy contains two entirely separate and co-equal services -- the Marine Corps and the Navy. Each is commanded by its own Four Star (the Commandant of the Marine Corps and the Chief of Naval Operations) each of whom are independent members of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. You can no more say that the Marines are part of the Navy than you can say that the Navy is part of the Marines.
It's just like the Department of the Interior which contains more than one entity within it: Bureau of Land Management, Bureau of Indian Affairs, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, U.S. Forest Service, National Park Service, etc... You can't say that the National Park Service is a part of the Bureau of Indian Affairs just because they both happen to be in the Department of the Interior.
Message edited by author 2007-07-05 23:16:14. |
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07/05/2007 10:52:10 PM · #69 |
Originally posted by RulerZigzag:
Gold is going to triple by Spring 2008. Invest your money in gold. The dollar is crashing!. Foreign Exchange is bigger than the stock market. The man who said dont bother is ignorant. Foreign Exchange is low risk right now. The Euro is flying and it's easy to triple money in a month. It suits you since your limited in travels and at least have a computer, it's all you need.
As far as the coast guard goes, it all depends on you. You seem like your not cut out for it. It was my cousin who told me about the steroids, but if you want to get plugged with needles that contain mercury, go for it. FOREX.com. Don't overlook this oppurtunity. It suits you. Foreign Exchange market trades over 1.5 Trillion a day. 24 hour market. This is how the bankers do it, and perhaps you can prosper. You need at least 5000$ to start, but you might be able to profit with just 1000$. Buy a Reuters platform, or the Bloomberg platform to get early news. You must watch oil at all times, it affects the dollar's value. Good luck. |
ZigZag: Ok, Ziggy, show us all the money you make on that scam you're promoting. It looks like a pyramid scheme to me and I bet you're just trying to make money off this poor guy. As for the steroids, we test servicemembers for steroids and prosecute them for using, possessing or selling them. And if we really were filling everyone up with steroids, how come so many of us are skinny? My bet is that your cousin was either using steroids on his own and didn't get caught, or he just knew that you'd believe anything and had fun telling you all sorts of lies. |
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07/05/2007 10:58:03 PM · #70 |
*
Message edited by author 2007-07-06 06:49:05. |
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07/05/2007 11:05:57 PM · #71 |
That isn't a pea shoot on the front of the boat
The coast guard does a lot of exciting things over here in San Dag.
As to your situation... It is something you have to come to grips with yourself. This thread is an interesting read as there are a lot of truths here but unless the service has changed drasticly there are some misleading replies as well.
I've been there... Highschool Class clown, least likely to succeed; you name it. Got the ol' "if you don't want to follow my rules then get out" speech from the pop...so I did.
I was floating around as a teenager with no direction. I seen the ads about be all you could be and wala... 15 years in "The Suck". I was in it to show my dad and those pathetic socialites what one could really do.
It was the best thing that ever happened to me. (removed the long story from here)
I haven't seen mention here of the lifelong extended family that you join once you go into the service. I've been out since '92 and still get contacted regularly (and I'm not the keep in touch kind of guy) by former mates. Some looking for jobs through the military mentorship program others just stopping by to say hi. I know if I am down on my luck there is a "Band of Brothers" out there that would help me in a heartbeat.
Message edited by author 2007-07-05 23:06:39. |
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07/06/2007 04:43:36 AM · #72 |
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Message edited by author 2007-07-06 04:44:06.
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07/06/2007 04:45:20 AM · #73 |
Originally posted by sabphoto:
I took the ASVAB and they told me I qualified for 3 jobs, a gunners mate, a dental assistant, or a pecker checker hosptial corpsman (sorry Chiqui I had to do it, how ironic that I am now one anyway lol). Well this was at the time when the gun turrent had just exploded on one of the ships and killed I think 3...I told them ummm thanks but no thanks on the gunners mate. I left the room to talk to my bro about it and we decided on corpsman, I went back in and the guy told me the last corpsman billet for my time period was just taken. So I took dental assistant (tooth fairy...now we're even Chiqui lol).
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Hey, it's cool! I did my fair share of pecker checking. Who says the military is all doom and gloom? ;)
June
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07/06/2007 06:24:00 AM · #74 |
Here is a way you can have a little fun.... After you take the ASVAB, go talk to some recruiters from all of the branches and let them try to sell you their branch of the service. Remember that these guys(or girls) are all salesmen and you should make sure that anything they tell you can be backed up with facts, but it is a good way to see how you can get the most. It seems that you are leaning towards the Coast Guard, but never let the coast guard recruiter know that. Tell him that you are talking to recruiters from other branches. Competition makes the world go round, use it to your advantage.
Someone said to try to get into shape before you leave. That is absolutely true. Every little bit helps. Basic training can be hard but if you have the desire to do well, you can, even without prior effort but if a little bit of forethought can make it easier for you.....
Being a little immature and lost before you go in is not a bad thing either, the military has helped thousands like you become something that would have been nearly impossible to achieve otherwise. Just make sure you have the right attitude. You have to understand that there is a lot of bullshit out there but, the benefits almost always outweigh the negatives. Goodness knows I was not the same person when I joined as I am now. I am a better person. Maybe it is just because I am older....or maybe it isn't.
The base pay in the military means nothing. My base pay is about 2000 a month(I really do not know exactly) but my actual take home is about 3600 a month (Combat zone pay, housing allowance, food allowance and others) and I do not pay for shit. Well as far as living goes that is. I pay for stuff... My new Camera, my trip to china (Actually the military is paying for the trip, but I have to pay for food and stuff) my toys, etc... Food is free, medical is free, just about anything I need is free. I have been deployed for a year and I have banked almost 20,000 dollars. I have a house back home and I have spent some money on stupid stuff, or I would have even more. I know a few of the guys here have banked almost twice as much as me.
There are certainly great benefits. The downside? The loss of freedom and being away from my family. I am in a combat zone, so my free time is pretty much confined to base (Which is like a small city) and I am not allowed to drink alcohol. Sucks at times, but it certainly could be worse. I play a lot of video games and I live with a great group of guys.
Good luck with whatever you choose and keep us posted. I am interested in how this turns out. |
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07/06/2007 06:48:37 AM · #75 |
| JJWoolls is right on. You can trust everything he said. I concur with him about there being nothing wrong with being a little immature and lost. Frankly, so was I at your age. I truly believe that if you get into a career field that seems like fun and a challenge, you will absolutely love the Coast Guard. I'm sure I would have. Hell, as much as I love doing what I do and being in the Marines, I wish I could be your age again and join the Coast Guard with you. What a blast it would be! |
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