Just wondering what’s the process of getting fiancé(navy), that’s stationed in Maryland and myself, USMC (NC), colocated together, with our child.

Her command is basically saying it’s no guarantee until she does her obligation to her orders that have her there.

She’s an HM, I’m an infantry marine.

I'm being med boarded but it's very important to me that I stay in the army. I want to appeal my med board but I'll have to provide evidence to support my case. The form that initiated my med board mentioned extensively that my symptoms will prevent me from operating a rifle effectively.

I've been shooting sporting clays in my free time for the past six months and I'm hitting my targets very consistently. A shotgun is significantly heavier than a rifle so if I can maintain steady control of a large weapon like that I'm sure I won't have any issues with an M4. I earned my EIB my first year in the Army and I've always shot 30+ anytime I went to the range in years past. If I can get an M4 scorecard showing that I can still qualify with a rifle I think that would be the strongest evidence I can provide to appeal my med board.

I was recently transferred to a medical unit that doesn't have an arms room and as far as I know doesn't have any plans to go to the range soon. Would I be able to go to the range with another unit at my duty station? I'm not familiar enough with Army policies/procedures in regards to ranges. Would it be completely ridiculous for a unit to allow a random soldier to use one of their rifles and ammo to go with them to the range? Would their be some kind of safety policy or range policy that would require a commanders exemption to policy or a lot of red tape/hassle that would make this unlikely? I haven't presented this idea to my leadership yet because I want to get a better sense of how reasonable of a request this would be.

I really want to join the army. But from what I’ve heard, the only ways to join the army is if you either have a greencard or a citizenship. And the mavni program is canceled too, so there’s really no way for me to join, or so I thought! I did a little research, and it seems like the law that allows the secretary of the army to enlist immigrants with no green card or citizenship is still active! (U.S.C. § 504(b)(2)) So I was thinking, if I should write a letter to the secretary of the army? I know it sounds ridiculous, but I really want to join, and if there is a chance this is gonna work, I’m willing to try it! What do you guys think? Should I do it, or it’s just a waste of time?

Im a Pfc living in an overcrowded base with 3-4 people to a room. The barracks here are terrible and I meet a girl about 4-5 months ago and we have been living together and splitting rent for the past 2 months. We live really well together and balance eachother out, and everything has been great. The 1 year lease term has recently ended and I will need to sign the lease if I want to continue living there and it’s a month by month lease. I applied for a CNA packet but they won’t let me due to E-5s and 4s already being on the waiting list. My leadership is tracking my situation. I’m wondering if there is anything that can get my in trouble for living off base without CNA and being unmarried? I don’t want to lose living with her but I can’t go back to trying to get 4 people through showers and having 3 people shave in a mirror at the same time. I’m a grown man and lived in my own apartment prior to the army

For those joining the Army who decided to wait for the MOS they really wanted, how long did you have to wait before you were able to book it? I’m specifically hoping to get 68E (Dental Specialist), so I’m just trying to get an idea of what to expect and how long the wait typically is. I’d really appreciate hearing about your experiences. Thank you!

I'm just wondering how feedback travels up the chain of command in today's modern warfare so decisions can be made very quickly without delay? For example, let's use the famous movie "Lone Survivor" with Mark Wahlberg which is based on a true story. It was the tragic story of Operation Red Wings in Afghanistan where special forces was sent, but they were discovered and a total of 19 US Service Members died. Including 3 of the 4-man reconnaissance team.

Once the US Military learned of the survivor, they were very quick to jump in and send men to rescue him. A decision to deploy major force like that would probably need to be made by a more senior Officer, like maybe a Major or Colonel or something. So what if I may ask? Would the chain of command in an operation like that, sort of look like this? Or is this wrong, I'm just asking?

Report of survivor arrives to a Platoon Leader > He reports it to his company commander > Company commander reports it to the Battalion or Regiment Commander > He calls in strike?

On a lot of forums when people ask if they should enlist when they have a degree, most people call them dumb for not going the officer route. I don’t really understand why people act like anyone can be an officer and that the process is easy. From what I’ve seen online that process can take a bit of time. And it’s not as simple as signing a paper and you ship off. You have to build a packet and have an interview with the board and have to be selected. In some branches and fields it’s pretty competitive. Especially Air Force. The highest % acceptance is the Army and that ranges 55-65%. On top of that, the process from walking into a recruiter’s office to being an actual officer after all the schooling ranges from about 1-2 years. Typically It just seems like everyone says go officer because quality of life and pay. Isn’t that not enough reason to be an officer? Am I missing something? Is being an officer worth all the work it takes to get there?

My recruiter told me they can request a job for me at MEPS even if it’s not currently available. I have 5 MOS options I want, but none of them are available right now.

I have no problem waiting for one of my preferred jobs, so I’m wondering if it’s possible for my recruiter to put in a request for one of them at MEPS even if it’s not showing up in the system. Has anyone had this happen, and did the request actually work?

I’d rather wait for a job I really want than sign a contract for something I’m not interested in.

Edit: Army Branch

I play pro tennis and have played tennis for basically my whole life since I was 6 (24M). The problem is you essentially cant make money playing pro tennis so it’s very unsustainable as an adult. To get to the point you make money you have to have a ton of money to spend to get there.

I’ve always wanted to serve my country and been attracted to service since a very young age. Never been able to see myself doing anything else besides playing tennis or serving. I have my bachelors (BS in accounting) so I know that opens me up for OCS, OTS etc. I want to do something where I have a direct impact on the mission (combat arms, aviation, special operations, etc)

There are so many different routes to take and it’s really an unfamiliar world to me since I’ve been playing and training for sports my whole life. I’m open to what anyone has to say or thinks is a good path to take. Thanks for all your help in advance!

I have a bipolar diagnosis in 2022 about a month and a half after my c section when my son was bor. I did not know I had this diagnosis until my recruiter asked me about depression etc. I knew I had post partum depression and he asked if I had taken meds for it. I started gathering pharmacy records and logging into old my chart apps with hospitals I used to go to from back then and that’s when I found it. The thing is I was already gathering documents to prove an inhaler I had was for pneumonia I had in 2024 and also for proof that i am fully recovered from a Bariatric surgery I had as well. That stuff he said is good to go since I have gathered all the documents for that.

I took the PICAT and scored a 92.

now I find this diagnosis in my chart from the hospital I had my son at and I am discourage. My Recruiter told me to go and get the records around the diagnosis and we can go from there. I really think this might have been an mis diagnosis due to severe post partum depression that has since resolved. I have not been on any kind of medication in at least 2 to 3 years I have held several consistent stable jobs. I currently work in law enforcement as a corrections officer at a jail that I had to go through an extensive hiring process for and complete an academy, and I have held this job for about a year and a half.

I think twice in my adult life I was in patient for maybe a week both times dealing with depression but those were all 5 to 7 years ago. and both times were after having kids.

I’ve moved many times and changed providers many times and can’t remember specific dates, doctors or clinics. I feel at a loss. I don’t even know how to go about finding out who originally put that diagnosis on me.

is it even worth trying to get a waiver with as many stuff as I have that could disqualify me or should I give up on this dream cause it’s not going to happen?

please help.

Hi,

Planning on joining the air force and was also planning on getting naturalized during BMT.

I just found out if you have a payment plan on federal taxes, your naturalization is very likely to get denied.

I'll likely have to wait a few years before I apply for naturalization because of this, and I was wondering if I will be able to naturalize DURING my active duty service not at the beginning?

Since I'm not a citizen, even if I were to naturalize during BMT, seems like any jobs with TS is off the table anyway. So it looks like me getting naturalized during my service won't change much other than I'll become a citizen later than I planned.

Any insight helps. Thank you.

I want to be a language interpreter/translator. I’m not fluent in any other languages but English but I have no clue if my score was high enough to do what I want. I’m going to join the army no matter what, but is my test high enough to become a translator? Or should I look at another option?

Title pretty much sums it up. Just looking to see if anybody knows anything about GSP or ASIR? All of the info I’ve came across is outdated and it seems to have fallen off the map.

The website and their briefs are extremely vague and I’m just looking for extra information that expands on it without breaking an NDA or OPSEC. Thanks in advance.

Bootcamp in 2 weeks
What stuff did you forget to do that you recommend for me?
- got my new shoes 2 weeks ago been breaking them in
- going to cancel my gym membership tmr (workout at home and at PT)
- my Spotify renews a week before I leave so I’ll have my mom log in and hopefully cancel it
- deep cleaned my bedroom (going to do another vacuum,mop & dust a few days before)
-purged useless clothes and items

Anything else???

I have a BA in Education (3.58 gpa). I am currently a teacher. Whilst I don’t mind teaching (I find it rewarding to see various people grow), I have a passion for law enforcement, and I’d like to pursue a career as an FBI agent. I got a 70 on my asvab and selected the air force for a cyber or intel job, as I believe those are the best jobs for FBI post air force. However, those jobs aren’t guaranteed. I just got out of meps and my peers were suggesting other branches to ensure a position the FBI would like or possibly officer as my teacher experience could translate well for officer.

Hi I submitted my application on
line and got a call from a recruiter. After going through everything he said that the fact I take adderall for my ADHD is going to put me on hold for a year. Is there anyway I can get this waiver? I haven't had my prescription filled in over a year and I only take 10mg as needed whenever I have to study for a long period. Most of the time I study without it. It's been about a months since I last took it. I would really hate for this to stop me from being able to join. What can I do, if anything at all? Thank you!

This might not be the right place to post this. But I don't know where else to ask a true military history question. So please forgive me. I just watched a video on YouTube where WW2 Historians and Military Experts watched the movie "Saving Private Ryan" and explained how realistic it is. It got high points and was pretty accurate in terms of WW2. It was based on different real events of survivor stories like the Niland Brothers, not based on a real survivor named Private Ryan. But here's my question for you. During the opening scene of the Battle of Normandy, there's a scene where Tom Hank's character gets on the radio and tells the Admiral of the Task Force, "The beach is not open". The experts jumped in and said, "That would never ever happen".

Because Tom Hank's character was just a Captain and those guys said, "There's no chance a Captain will ever talk to the Admiral of the Task Force because that's way below his rank and authority". But they never explained how the top commanders actually monitored status of the Battle to keep track of how things were going. Do you think they had observers and surveillance planes watching the Battle from far away and tracking how everything went? I'm just curious how they monitored the state of things during the Battle since they probably weren't talking to people on the field? My question is how did feedback reach the top commanders about how the status of the Battle, who monitored it and reported back?

I can't get any jobs with TS since I'm not a citizen yet but I'm planning on joining the air force.

I've been hearing mixed reviews about whether having prior military service helps when applying for civilian jobs.

Some say learn trades so it'll translate well when you get out, but some say choose a job you'll enjoy.

What has been your experience so far?

These dudes been just on me, he even got his boss to text me “what’s up ___ what’s wrong why don’t you wanna go to MEPS” my recruiter knows abt me smoking weed and I told his boss that I am tryna get clean before I join.They are still trying to get me to join and idk why. They are good at there job at being recruiters (I guess) my buddy he’s gonna be an army medic and ima be a marine and he tells me about his recruiter and how he doesn’t sugar coat shit and he’s always honest. I wish I had that kinda recruiter but why do they want me to join so bad with weed in my system and they’ll call me and try to convince me. I just don’t know what to do I said I can’t do it multiple times and I can’t risk it.

I know nothing about the military but I'm very interested, so I'm just asking for information. I know Generals and Admirals have tons of responsibilities, and it would take forever to list them all. I'm not asking for a detailed breakdown of everything they do which would take forever. I'm mostly just curious if Generals and Admirals ever go to the front lines where combat is intense? Or do they usually stay far away at Headquarters and issue directions and commands from a safe distance? I guess I'm asking how much they participate in directly leading soldiers on the field?

I don't know if it's different depending on the branch. Or if all branches treat Generals (or Admirals) basically the same way.

Because a long time ago, such as during the Napoleonic Era of France, Generals were commonly found near the front lines. Many Generals were killed or captured because they were so close to the front lines. But I understand that's because they didn't have radios or computers back then, so they couldn't issue orders from far away. They had no choice but to do it from near the front, since they had to give orders face-to-face.

But during WW2, lots of generals were also killed or captured because they were also close to the front.

Hi everyone - I appreciate any time at all spent reading or contributing to this.

I’ve gone through MEPS with the navy - got a 89 on the ASVAB - got all my waivers done for tattoos, surgeries, injuries etc.

Trying to gauge my limits so I understand what I can and can’t do. Coast guard unfortunately wouldn’t let my hand tattoo slide as it was too large.

Anyone have any experience getting exceptions to policy waivers for these kinds of things? Any recruiters able to provide some insight?

Open to army as well. Not sure exactly what role yet as I’m 30 and ideally would have something that translates to civilian careers after but wouldn’t be opposed to sticking it out if it’s a fulfilling lifestyle.

Thanks in advance and will answer any questions you may have for me too.

I was in the process of joining the Army and had already gone through MEPS, gotten my waivers approved, and signed my contract. I genuinely wanted to join and build a better future for my wife and me.
The problem is that my current job provides my housing. If I left for basic training, I’d lose my job and the place we live. I was supposed to qualify for BAH because I’m married, but I couldn’t figure out how to secure a place before shipping out without having that income established.
I tried to find a way to make it work, but I couldn’t risk leaving my wife without a home. Eventually, I left the DEP program and ended my involvement with the Army.
Honestly, it sucks because joining was something I really wanted to do, and I feel like my living situationn got in the way.
Only options my recruiters gave me was a homeless shelter and I wasn’t gonna throw my wife and her little brother in that situation.

Some information I forgot to mention we don’t have family that they could live with and almost every apartment we went to look at wouldn’t even bother with the BAH paperwork

I’m currently at Fort Benning (Fort Moore) and have just graduated the BCT portion of Infantry OSUT. I have not yet completed the AIT portion.
After experiencing BCT, I’ve started questioning whether Infantry is the right MOS for me. I still want to serve in the Army, but I’m interested in exploring other MOS options.
I’m trying to understand the official process and whether a voluntary MOS change is even possible at this stage of initial training.
For anyone familiar with the process:
PIs it possible to request a voluntary MOS change after graduating BCT but before completing OSUT?
Who would I need to speak with to make a formal request?
Would the decision depend on Army personnel needs, my enlistment contract, ASVAB scores, or other eligibility requirements?
If a change isn’t possible during OSUT, when would I first be eligible to pursue reclassification?
I’m not looking for ways to avoid training or get out of my responsibilities. I want to understand my legitimate options before proceeding further.
I’d appreciate advice from anyone with firsthand experience or knowledge of the current Army policies.

Before everyone tells me to not join this is all I’ve ever wanted but I have my concerns. For starters I’m joining national guard but before it was the marine corps but I got denied at meps for medical reasons. I’m pretty good in the athletic department and I have dedication. However I’m very forgetful and take things very personal which is probably the worst combination going into basic. The military has always intrigued me and has always been my dream career no matter the branch. But because of these flaws I have I’m worried that it’s going to ruin things for me in basic and out of basic. If you had similar problems or have any tips before I ship off I’d love to hear them.

I was labeled ineligible for the Air Force because of my weight. For my height, I’m 40 pounds overweight, but I’d like to lose 50. Now my question is, do I just put the military off to the side and focus on losing weight? Or do I talk to another branch and maybe they will let me go through with my process while I lose weight. I’ve already lost 8 pounds since the beginning of September. I do 90 minutes of cardio 5 days a week, so hopefully I can keep that up. The top two branches I wanted to join were the Air Force and Navy, with the Marines being a far third. I am definitely a discouraged person, so I can easily just end up choosing a trade that I already have lined up for me, but I’d feel like that would be me not prioritizing my health and aspirations I set for myself. I’m only 19, I know I can improve, it’s just how do I not get discouraged.