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Attention to Orders: Penny Arcade's [Military Thread] is Open!!!

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  • FuselageFuselage Oosik Jumpship LoungeRegistered User regular
    That's awesome, I forwarded that to a few folks. Hopefully they can make use of it!

    If anyone has any Air Force enlisted maintenance or Aircrew questions feel free to send me a PM or something.

    o4n72w5h9b5y.png
  • QuidQuid Definitely not a banana Registered User regular
    For any active duty banking with Navy Fed and worried about their paycheck, you can register for an interest free loan in case things start going longer than planned:

    https://www.navyfederal.org/about/government-shutdown.php?intcmp=hp|cont|1|note|govshut|govshutdown|1/20/2018|||

  • Waffles or whateverWaffles or whatever Previously known as, I shit you not, "Waffen" Registered User regular
    Army is recruiting Active Duty Officers to go CID Warrant till June again. I was going to apply until I saw one of the discriminators that I ended up having, which kinda ruined my day. Really frustrates me that even if I did get promoted this year, that the type of evaluation my first Commander gave me disqualifies me from nearly every elective program the Army could give to me for the rest of my Army Career. And on top of that, with the unmasking of Lieutenant era OERs, that it even puts me at risk at Major and beyond for promotion. Really makes me angry on a daily basis thinking about that time period how one psychopath that ended up getting himself kicked out for drug abuse has single handedly defined my career.

  • furbatfurbat Registered User regular
    edited February 2018
    If I wasn't already locked into something better, I'd be trying to go cyber. I'm sure it's pretty low speed stuff but I'd get to put my degree to use.

    I go to flight school this summer. I think the part I'm most excited about is the intense 16 month training course. I'm ready to just put everything on hold and dive into something intense and exciting.

    furbat on
  • Waffles or whateverWaffles or whatever Previously known as, I shit you not, "Waffen" Registered User regular
    edited February 2018
    furbat wrote: »
    If I wasn't already locked into something better, I'd be trying to go cyber. I'm sure it's pretty low speed stuff but I'd get to put my degree to use.

    I go to flight school this summer. I think the part I'm most excited about is the intense 16 month training course. I'm ready to just put everything on hold and dive into something intense and exciting.

    Are you Army and in the Reserves or Guard? A MILPER Message went out today for the Call to Active Duty Program for Aviation Officers only as a fyi if you meet those criteria.

    Waffles or whatever on
  • furbatfurbat Registered User regular
    edited February 2018
    furbat wrote: »
    If I wasn't already locked into something better, I'd be trying to go cyber. I'm sure it's pretty low speed stuff but I'd get to put my degree to use.

    I go to flight school this summer. I think the part I'm most excited about is the intense 16 month training course. I'm ready to just put everything on hold and dive into something intense and exciting.

    Are you Army and in the Reserves or Guard? A MILPER Message went out today for the Call to Active Duty Program for Aviation Officers only as a fyi if you meet those criteria.

    I'm ARNG. I'm not sure I want to go active. Though, I'll probably have plenty of time to change my mind down in Alabama. Thanks for the heads up.

    I keep hearing things about shortages of aviation officers. I know our state is hurting. I was the only traditional OCS candidate that branched aviation at phase 3 this summer out of 300 candidates and 12+ states. It certainly isn't because there is a shortage of candidates that want to branch Aviation. I'm guessing the slots all go to ROTC for guard.

    The website for call to active duty only lists this.
    Aviation branch 2LT, 1LT, CPT, and MAJ selected for ARSOA assignment and have successfully completed their branch’s BOLC.

    I'm not entirely sure what that means. I won't be finished with BOLC till early fiscal year 2020 anyway.

    furbat on
  • DiplominatorDiplominator Hardcore Porg Registered User regular
    How did Advancement Cycle 239 treat any of the other sailors here? I managed to pick up and I'm still pretty surprised.

  • mosssnackmosssnack Yeah right, man, Bishop should go! Good idea!Registered User regular
    Only one of my dudes picked up E5. Was hoping for more, but oh well

    XBL: mosssnack12
    bnet: moss*1454
  • DiplominatorDiplominator Hardcore Porg Registered User regular
    Hopefully they meant what they said about MAPping more people outside of the normal cycles. I know a few people who really deserve it.

  • QuidQuid Definitely not a banana Registered User regular
    My shop consists entirely of E-6 and above.

    It is exhausting.

  • mosssnackmosssnack Yeah right, man, Bishop should go! Good idea!Registered User regular
    I’ve got a division of 8, two are second classes with the rest being thirds. I needs me an LPO, stat

    XBL: mosssnack12
    bnet: moss*1454
  • QuidQuid Definitely not a banana Registered User regular
    I got a sweet taste of that when I did a TDY to a shore command of mostly submariners.

    The junior guys and the senior chief didn't want me to leave. Their only first class wanted to murder me and my chief.

    Really hope my next command has a better spread of pay grades.

  • CantidoCantido Registered User regular
    furbat wrote: »
    If I wasn't already locked into something better, I'd be trying to go cyber. I'm sure it's pretty low speed stuff but I'd get to put my degree to use.

    I go to flight school this summer. I think the part I'm most excited about is the intense 16 month training course. I'm ready to just put everything on hold and dive into something intense and exciting.

    I'm upgrading from comms to "real" cyber in July!

    3DS Friendcode 5413-1311-3767
  • furbatfurbat Registered User regular
    edited May 2018
    Good Luck! I see you can direct commission into cyber now as well.

    furbat on
  • Waffles or whateverWaffles or whatever Previously known as, I shit you not, "Waffen" Registered User regular
    Crazy how hard the Army is pushing SFABs this week. The entirety of my post was forced to go to Recruiting Briefs for it over the last two days. Even the Division Commander was summoned to attend. I did laugh though that he signed the sign in sheet and left immediately.

  • BloodycowBloodycow Registered User regular
    Well, they thought they would have people flocking to join up to that 'elite' unit.

    Instead, they are just DA selecting everyone to attend the selection course. You couldn't pay me enough money to go and have to teach a bunch of indigenous people how to walk in a file or how to flank.... nope.

    " I am a warrior, so that my son may be a merchant, so that his son may be a poet.”
    ― John Quincy Adams
  • EnigmedicEnigmedic Registered User regular
    All i can think of is the video of iraqis i think trying to do jumping jacks. I cant imagine many people will sign up for that.

  • furbatfurbat Registered User regular
    edited June 2018
    Just got back from AT. I was the acting company commander as a 2LT. At first, it was terrifying because I had no idea what I was doing. By the end of the first week I decided fuck it, I might as well have fun with it. I ended up having a blast and learning a lot. But I probably fucked up 80% of the stuff I did.

    Flight school is happening in a couple months. My body is ready.

    Top Gun 2 will come out while I'm in flight school. I should be knee deep into flying blackhawks by that point. That is going to be a pretty surreal experience.

    furbat on
  • EnigmedicEnigmedic Registered User regular
    furbat wrote: »
    Just got back from AT. I was the acting company commander as a 2LT. At first, it was terrifying because I had no idea what I was doing. By the end of the first week I decided fuck it, I might as well have fun with it. I ended up having a blast and learning a lot. But I probably fucked up 80% of the stuff I did.

    Flight school is happening in a couple months. My body is ready.

    Top Gun 2 will come out while I'm in flight school. I should be knee deep into flying blackhawks by that point. That is going to be a pretty surreal experience.

    Eh im sure you were fine. I had a 1lt as actual company commander for a long time. Best commander i ever had, she actually still cared.

  • Iceman.USAFIceman.USAF Major East CoastRegistered User regular
    furbat wrote: »
    I had no idea what I was doing. By the end of the first week I decided fuck it, I might as well have fun with it.

    Sounds like you've figured out everything there is to know about being an officer.

  • InquisitorInquisitor Registered User regular
    Hello military thread. So, I'm 30 years old and have gone between a few careers (child care, education, construction, computer repair, etc) Construction has been the most recent job I've worked, though back in May I broke my ankle and have been off home on disability pay since, and will likely be returning to work at the end of August. I've used this time to contemplate my future, careers, things like that. Also contemplate the likely rather large medical bill that will be hanging over my head due to my relatively crappy insurance.

    One thing I have been considering is the military, either as a career in and of itself or to get experience in a career to pursue down the road. For example, while I was a construction worker I was hunting around for union electrician apprenticeship jobs, but, didn't have much luck. If I worked in the military as an electrician, well, that would be a potential foot in the door.

    So I guess I have a few questions.

    1. The broken ankle. I had surgery, got metal installed that is going to stay in. Still on the mend right now so I obviously won't be applying like, tomorrow or anything, but, assuming I make a full recovery and can pass the physical tests like running the mile in time (which is something I will practice and build up to on my road to recovery) am I good? Or is this injury going to keep me out of military life.

    2. How exactly does like, applying to the military and things like rates work? For example, I've mainly been looking at the coast guard for now as my age window for applying to them will close before the other branches, and the branches seem interesting, and I live in LA so while I may get posted anywhere there's a chance of me getting posted somewhere near where I currently live, though I understand that you know, you get posted where you posted. But for example reading on their website I think the rate of OS (operations specialist) sounded interesting and also noticed that on the website there is a potential $10k bonus for signing up for one for a minimum of 4 years. How does that exactly work? Do I go in and say, hey I want to join the coast guard as an OS? What if there aren't OS openings, or I don't have what they are looking for in an OS? Do I just end up not joining the coast guard or is it like "Nope, you are in now we are going to give you whatever job we want to." Because like. Monitoring computers and directing phone calls and responding to emergency situations sounds interesting (if at times stressful and challenging to me) but I'd rather not be like, on ship boarding parties for example. My impression of the military was always that they just put you wherever they heck they wanted but I really don't know much about it. The idea that you can get a bonus for signing up for a specific job has thrown me for a bit of a loop.

    I'm also considering Airforce and Navy, and potential rates there. I do have a college degree in English so like, not the most useful degree but it is a degree so I guess that puts officer stuff on the table as well? Like, to be real. I'm a 30 year old guy, and while relatively fit for my age, I am mending from a broken ankle. My desire to be a ground pounder isn't high, but I could see myself rather enjoying a military career that is more supportive in function, be that electrician, operations, intelligence, logistics, etc. Yeah, I'm looking to be an REMF. Is that a thing you can reasonably go in hoping to become? Or if I sign those papers is there a chance I'll be rifle in hand? I really don't have much of a frame of reference for this, to be honest.

  • QuidQuid Definitely not a banana Registered User regular
    If your ankle makes a full recovery you’ll *probably* be fine. It’ll be a concern for sure but you can get a waiver for just abou anything.

    The way rates work with the Coast Guard and Navy is pretty straight forward. Assuming you’re considered qualified for everything and want to go for OS, you’ll get a chance to pick your preferred rate at MEPS. If it’s available you get it and if not they’ll offer you a variety of other rates or you can just stop there and go back home.

    That said, assuming the CG works the same as Navy, you never do just your primary job. While on a ship it’s common for everyone to be assigned to fire fighting teams, on load stores, etc. There are also longer term collateral duties like being a financial counselor, being a physical fitness coach, etc.

    I remember you saying you have a degree? Is there a reason you’re considering enlisting over getting a commission? Cause officer life is better in just about every way.

  • InquisitorInquisitor Registered User regular
    I do have a degree in English. To be honest I just don’t know that much about the military and the difference between enlisting and getting a commission and entering as an officer or not. I guess in my head I just don’t think of my English degree as making me officer material but maybe i’m selling myself short here.

  • DiplominatorDiplominator Hardcore Porg Registered User regular
    It varies considerably from community to community. Most prefer STEM but many just want you to have a piece of paper and a good GPA. That second part is what got me.

  • InquisitorInquisitor Registered User regular
    Well my GPA is pretty killer, guess it never hurts to ask. Thanks! Not an angle I was really considering.

  • mosssnackmosssnack Yeah right, man, Bishop should go! Good idea!Registered User regular
    Just going to echo the others. Do not enlist if you can get a commission.

    I’ve been enlisted in the navy for about 12 years now and am 32 years old. I am grateful for everything this organization has taught and provided me. With that being said, knowing what I know now.. if I were to enlist at the age of 30, I would absolutely fucking hate it.

    Your maturity and life experience would treat you well as an enlisted person, but you already have the degree. You’ll get a lot more mileage out of snagging a commission

    XBL: mosssnack12
    bnet: moss*1454
  • Iceman.USAFIceman.USAF Major East CoastRegistered User regular
    edited July 2018
    Since it sounds like you've got little experience with the military, I'm going to grossly oversimplify as a starting place: Officers are the supervision, leaders, commanders, managers. They are typically not technical experts but responsible for the larger picture. Enlisted are typically your technical experts and wrench turners. They're paid to be technically competent workers first, and leaders and managers of other enlisted down the line.

    Again, grossly oversimplified, so please, SNCO and NCO's in the thread please got jump down my throat...er, so to speak, haha

    From a strictly financial point of view, going in as an Officer is the best way to go. Now there's nothing wrong with enlisting, but you've already completing a significant hurdle to commissioning, getting a degree. As a simple example, check out this pay chart. Start in the "2 or Less" Column and check out the monthly pay for E-2 compared to O-1, E being for Enlisted and O being for Officer. Now consider that officers also typically get paid more in housing allowance, and the difference becomes even more pronounced. You should try and find an officer recruiter, Inquisitor. They're not nearly as numerous as typical recruiters but they do exist. You can find them by calling your local recruiting station and asking for one. Speaking specifically of the Air Force, there are some fields that require specific degrees (I'm an Engineer) but there are plenty that have no degree requirement such as Logistics, or Services.

    The real trouble is that officer slots are tough to come by. Allow me to explain. Let's say the Air Force needs 1000 new 2nd Lieutenants next year.

    Academy - 550 Lt's
    ROTC - 550 Lt's

    But wait, that's 1100. Right, because people are dumb and do dumb things and get kicked out for all manner of stupidity, so the Air Force overestimates the number of Lt's it wants to commission. Let's say 200 people don't commission because of some ridiculous cheating ring. Now we have a deficit of 100 Lt's, and that's where Officer Training School comes in. OTS is a relief valve for when the Air Force will miss its accession number, and allows them to meet the need quickly. You see now why these can be hard to work. Some years there are no classes! Literally none! Some years there are like 4 classes! It varies wildly, so even if you get a slot, you might be waiting up to a year to commission.

    There's a ton of experience in this thread, and you wouldn't be the first person we managed to talk into joining this dysfunctional family!

    Iceman.USAF on
  • RadiationRadiation Registered User regular
    Also something to consider is the Guard or Reserve. I know I mentioned that in job thread, but if you had wanted to stay in a certain area that's a good way to do it. Age also becomes less of a factor. You can find AGR slots (which is like active duty but not), but I'm not sure how they are on the Officer side of things.

    PSN: jfrofl
  • NSDFRandNSDFRand FloridaRegistered User regular
    edited July 2018
    Re Natty Guard and Reserve: that is also a good way to make sure (or at least have a greater chance) you get the MOS (job) you want. Reserve and Guard units have a master list of MOS with how many of how many rank/pay grade they should have. So, for example, the s2 (intelligence) shop for a Reserve Battalion will have X 35F (analyst) E8 (master sergeant) slots, Y 35F E5 (sergeant) slots, Z 35F E4-1 slots etc. to include officers and warrant officers. So you can go to a Guard or Reserve unit (at least in the Army) recruiter and they can tell you first if you could qualify to go to OCS and then if they have a slot for the officer MOS you want. At least in the Army if you go to active duty OCS your MOS is needs of the Army (highest class ranking people get to choose first, you may get stuck with what is left over, even then there's no guarantee that the CMF/MOS you want will be available even if you are highest ranking in class).

    NSDFRand on
  • InquisitorInquisitor Registered User regular
    Thanks for all the information, gives me a lot to look into and a lot more direction in my research. I've still got another month of disability pay, and at least the same amount of time building the muscles and ligaments in my leg back up, so, no rush on making any decisions yet. :)

  • NSDFRandNSDFRand FloridaRegistered User regular
    edited July 2018
    As a caveat to the Reserve/Guard recommendation, if you absolutely want to go active duty either take the gamble with OCS or be prepared to ride out your obligation with your Reserve/Guard contract. Recruiters will tell you that it's as easy as a conditional release and a 4187 but unless active duty is really hurting for bodies with your MOS and you have a good relationship with your chain of command you have a low chance of it working out. That's probably the first thing I would ever tell anyone who was planning to enlist or commission: be prepared to do only what you enlisted or commissioned to do. If you make very long term elaborate plans that include really cool schools or changing MOS during your first contract you're possibly going to hate your time in. Keep your eye on the 25 meter target: what MOS you really want and be the best at that job you can be. I say that because I made the mistake of enlisting in an MOS that I was pushed towards but wasn't what I really wanted. I got very, very, very lucky that after actually putting in work while deployed I ended up really liking my MOS and being okay at it.

    NSDFRand on
  • John MatrixJohn Matrix Registered User regular
    You wanna fly helicopters? The Army is hurting for pilots and if you can pass the physical you've got a strong chance.

    You'd be a warrant officer - a great combination of higher ranking than enlisted but without officer responsibilities. I think the program was called street to seat. Also check reddit r/army. They talk about dropping a warrant packet, going aviation, etc. all the time over there.

  • InquisitorInquisitor Registered User regular
    I'll definitely look into that! I've always found flight fascinating, be it planes or helicopters, though I have very little experience (like, did some glider sims and flew my uncles prop plane next to him one time).

    Also, helicopter pilot seems like a pretty nice civilian job for down the road as well.

  • NSDFRandNSDFRand FloridaRegistered User regular
    I remember going through AIT more than a decade ago now and being called to a formation to talk to Flight Warrant Officer School recruiters to talk to us. I don't think anyone took them seriously at the time but they were eager to talk to a bunch of 18 to 20 year old kids about signing up.

  • InquisitorInquisitor Registered User regular
    NSDFRand wrote: »
    As a caveat to the Reserve/Guard recommendation, if you absolutely want to go active duty either take the gamble with OCS or be prepared to ride out your obligation with your Reserve/Guard contract. Recruiters will tell you that it's as easy as a conditional release and a 4187 but unless active duty is really hurting for bodies with your MOS and you have a good relationship with your chain of command you have a low chance of it working out. That's probably the first thing I would ever tell anyone who was planning to enlist or commission: be prepared to do only what you enlisted or commissioned to do. If you make very long term elaborate plans that include really cool schools or changing MOS during your first contract you're possibly going to hate your time in. Keep your eye on the 25 meter target: what MOS you really want and be the best at that job you can be. I say that because I made the mistake of enlisting in an MOS that I was pushed towards but wasn't what I really wanted. I got very, very, very lucky that after actually putting in work while deployed I ended up really liking my MOS and being okay at it.

    I've been continuing my research into various topics (aviation for the army, or piloting helicopters in general seems pretty interesting). I don't quite fully grok the difference between Active, Reserve and Guard yet however.

    Is Reserve/Guard kind of like being on call?

  • RadiationRadiation Registered User regular
    Guard is a state owned asset and is usually used in response to state disasters. Given over in times of strain to the executive to use (ease deployment cycles, surges, etc) to augment the Active side. Reserve is like part time active.

    Usually the standard is one weekend a month, 2 weeks a year? Though my information could be way dated. You do a monthly muster, job type stuff then also a week or 2 field work. Sometimes thats training, sometimes its deploying to another area and play war a bit.
    Really depends on the job.

    It's a pretty good gig if you can stand it. Some guys are Guard/Reserve and also hold a government civilian job during the week. Your training from the unit usually sets you up well for gigs in the area as well if you want. Usually a couple people in a shop will work in the same place/area.

    PSN: jfrofl
  • NSDFRandNSDFRand FloridaRegistered User regular
    edited July 2018
    Inquisitor wrote: »
    NSDFRand wrote: »
    As a caveat to the Reserve/Guard recommendation, if you absolutely want to go active duty either take the gamble with OCS or be prepared to ride out your obligation with your Reserve/Guard contract. Recruiters will tell you that it's as easy as a conditional release and a 4187 but unless active duty is really hurting for bodies with your MOS and you have a good relationship with your chain of command you have a low chance of it working out. That's probably the first thing I would ever tell anyone who was planning to enlist or commission: be prepared to do only what you enlisted or commissioned to do. If you make very long term elaborate plans that include really cool schools or changing MOS during your first contract you're possibly going to hate your time in. Keep your eye on the 25 meter target: what MOS you really want and be the best at that job you can be. I say that because I made the mistake of enlisting in an MOS that I was pushed towards but wasn't what I really wanted. I got very, very, very lucky that after actually putting in work while deployed I ended up really liking my MOS and being okay at it.

    I've been continuing my research into various topics (aviation for the army, or piloting helicopters in general seems pretty interesting). I don't quite fully grok the difference between Active, Reserve and Guard yet however.

    Is Reserve/Guard kind of like being on call?

    The National Guard, as previously stated, are under the command of a governor unless they are on title 10 orders (called up for active duty by federal government). The Reserve is federal but part time. Some months you will drill Friday-Saturday-Sunday, some months only Saturday-Sunday depending on your unit's budget. Depending on your unit your AT (2 weeks a year) may not be done all together with the entire unit nor in a straight 2 week shot. You may get orders to go to classes that count as AT, you may just go to the unit during the week to do work that counts as AT (if you're a mechanic you work in the motor pool, if you're admin you catch up on paperwork etc.).

    As previously pointed out National Guard units can be mobilized for domestic natural disasters or even policing actions (large riots, for example) on state orders. A Reserve unit is very unlikely to have this happen. But both can be mobilized on federal orders to deploy OCONUS. KFOR in Kosovo and MFO in the Sinai Peninsula are both National Guard deployments (if you were to deploy to Sinai you get an orange beret/headgear).

    Unless you have a steady career with prospects for advancement you're better off going to active duty for the most part.

    NSDFRand on
  • John MatrixJohn Matrix Registered User regular
    I heard via r/Army that the Army just accepted 100% of the 40 civilians that applied for aviation warrant officer, FYI.

  • InquisitorInquisitor Registered User regular
    edited July 2018
    I heard via r/Army that the Army just accepted 100% of the 40 civilians that applied for aviation warrant officer, FYI.

    That's a good acceptance rate. Wonder how long that will last, makes me want to get the ball rolling on things. I need to have a chat with my family first. Also, can't get the ball rolling on things too soon, I imagine. Like I said, I broke my ankle a couple months back, got surgery, and I started my PT this week. I've been walking at least a couple miles everyday and doing a bunch of stretches and I'm on the mend to be certain, but I certainly don't see me passing any running based entrance qualifications at the moment. Not worried about pushups or situps at least though, didn't need two good legs to do those so I've been doing them the entire time my leg has been healing just for general health. So I've got those on lock, at least.

    Edit: Chatted with my Dad about it. He's pretty for it, though obviously he wants me to go Airforce because that's what he did. His comment on helicopters were "I guess if you want to be the slowest thing in the sky." Oh Dads. Obviously like, didn't need my folks blessings on this but, it's nice to know I won't be causing undue familial tensions if I go for it.

    Inquisitor on
  • QuidQuid Definitely not a banana Registered User regular
    Doesn’t the flight school have a high washout rate?

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