18 M graduated from highschool
High school and living with my dad just hasn’t been an option for me. The environment at home is rough my little brother lives there and he claims to be in a gang, with anger issues worse than I’ve ever seen in my life. The police and even mental health places can’t do much because of his age, so it’s just not a safe or stable place for me. ( trust me we all tried to deal with him ) Parents been divorced My mom has tried to help, but she doesn’t have the money to really support me. And she just doesn’t have the will too and I respect that I want to be accountable for myself I never really like relying on others and I tend to give more so I guess I’m a bit selfless aswell, but I’ve been bouncing from place to place, renting out rooms while working part-time and trying to finish school. Right now, me and my twin brother are staying in a storage unit that a friend is letting us use. But their grandma, who owns the house, told us we can’t stay anymore. I understand and respect her decision, but it means I only have about a month left to figure out where to go.
I have some friends in the military, and honestly, it doesn’t seem that bad to me. Maybe a little lonely, but that doesn’t scare me to be honest, I feel like I could handle it. I’m in a relationship right now, and I really do want to give my girlfriend the world, but with the way things are, I barely have enough to get by, let alone take care of anyone else.
That’s why I’m thinking about joining the military. For me, it would mean shelter, food, and a steady job, the basic things I’m struggling to have right now. I was in JROTC all four years of high school, and I even made it onto staff. I heard that could help me start at a higher rank, though I don’t know exactly how it works.
I just really need some guidance. At this point, I know I can’t chase big dreams,I need a reset, a way to start over. The military feels like it could give me that stability, and maybe even a chance to meet people, hear their stories, and build something better for myself. More than anything, I just want a place to call home and the chance to move forward.
If anyone can help with some advice I’d be truly truly grateful
Comments
Bro, it sounds like you’re going through a tough time mate. Resilience is gonna be your best bud from here on out. Military’s not bad tbh. Yes, it’s gonna be tough, no sugarcoating that… but it might just give you that ‘reset’ button you’re lookin’ for. The discipline, structure & new skills can potentially set ya up for a better future. Plus the benefits you’d get (housing, steady paycheck, healthcare) could provide a much-needed stability. But remember, it’s a big commitment, not just a way out, so make sure it aligns with your life goals. Stay strong dude, you got this! 💪🙏🚀
go air force
military life can be a dream job or nightmare, it’s all by chance and luck. you and your twin can’t find jobs and get an apartmen?
Go military, utilize the health care, don’t spend all your money on trucks, stay out of barracks drama, don’t get anyone pregnant, stay close to the chaplain, get help with mental health and stretch because it’ll wear you out physically and mentally. Can be a good career or it could be a hard way to keep a roof overhead until you can save enough to get a better career.
Talk to a recruiter. Or just sign up on the website, and they will contact you.
Do Air Force or Navy. Get in , get out, reap the benefits. Pray on it! God will show you the way!
Yes, the military is a perfectly viable choice. High to low i rank the services- Coast Guard, air force, navy, army, Marines.
When you go in try to get the job(mos/rate/afsc) that you would like to do that is also a marketable skill on the outside…..try to get that job guaranteed in writing. I joined when i was 18 and it turns out to be the best decision i made. Able to get to college, learned mad technical skills, and the places and people i met have made it the best.
Joining the military (USN) was the best decision I ever made in life. But it certainly isn’t for everyone. Since you have JROTC experience, you have some idea of what it’s like, but active duty isn’t the same as JROTC. There are lots of opportunities to be had. There are also hardships. It certainly wouldn’t hurt to talk to a recruiter. Just be sure not to let them pressure you.
Go army, maybe biased since thats what I was. Its a good experience if you dont know what you are doing with your life. Take advantage of the education benefits and get your degree. Dont pick a job that you cant do once outside, ex tanker. Set yourself up, the military can be a great stepping stone or a career.
Ah yes another employee for big oil
Honestly, I usually don’t recommend military for many people, but for you – I think the military is a great option for you. The thing the military does well is provide structure for people, and that’s exactly what I think you need.
Sounds like you liked the structure from the JROTC and thrived there. And you have friends in the service. I think it would be a good fit. However I would suffest some support groups like alanon and smart recovery family support. Folks who have gone through chaotic households are more likely to get Post Traumatic Stress from service work. I got it from emergency social work. But I am recovering now in some somatic therapy. However I wish I had had somatic and went to alanon long ago. Somatic I see out of pocket so it doesn’t go on my insurance for personal reasons. I don’t want a diagnosis associated with my therapy. And Insurance control of my therapy. Somatic is body work to help move trauma out of the body and better connect body and mind. For me it is the best trauma therapy. Talk therapy and emdr did not do anything for me cause the issue is my flight fight freeze responses not my thinking or memory.
Go for it! The military has some great benefits, and you can use the GI bill to help you go to college. My sister is retired Air Force, and so that’s the branch I’d suggest.
Go for it. You’ll have the GI bill to pay for college or trade school when you get out, and will likely have a better idea of what you want to study.
Attitude is everything. For a serious, goal-oriented person, the service can be an excellent choice.
I’m a high school teacher, I encourage a lot of kids woth stories like this to head into the military. A change of scenery can do wonders.
What is it you wanna do in the military as a career then decide which branch army vet here beyond happy i went army.
Go for it, I would take Air Force or Navy personally if I had to do it again
I would recommend checking out Jobcorps before signing up for the military
2 full semesters of JROTC can get you a higher rank( meritorious promotion to E2) unless things have changed over the years. The military does open doors so I would highly suggest doing it. Don’t let anyone sway you as to which branch, pick the one that you feel is right for you.
Join up. Skip Army, wait for an opening in Air Force if you can. Do best you can on ASVAB for best possible training options.
The military is a great option. You can even go in and make a full career out it and enjoy benefits for life.
Very mature of you to consider the military as a potential way out of a broken homelife. JROTC likely gave you a glimpse into what the military is all about, so if you liked it and did well, the military is likely to be a good fit for you.
As far as the branch, each branch has its pros and cons. In the Army and Marines, just about everyman is truly a rifleman/infantryman and were the “tip of the spear” on the ground, other than chopper crews. If that’s for you, go for it. Your odds of seeing combat, especially close quarters combat, are much lower in the Navy or Air Force. In those branches, officers (in the form of pilots) see the most combat (from the air). Broad generalizations but a fair picture.
Good luck with your decision.
It depends what you are interested in doing. Go talk to all the recruiters that you can find and see what they have to offer you. You will have to take an exam to see if you qualify. Once you have your score on that they can guarantee you a job. If they guarantee it and put it into your contract, you are set. If you do not have it in your contract, you will go in whatever position they find for you.
Air Force and space force are the most comfortable, Navy and Coast Guard each have their pros. Army and marines are great if you like living in the dirt and going on lots of hikes.
Your job will determine where you get sent. If you go in the military, take advantage of every opportunity. Get all the education you can. Don’t be afraid to ask questions.
Whatever you do, be respectful and learn from every leader
Former Navy here:
You’re one of the few situations I recommend. It’s a last resort, please safeguard your mental health while you’re in. I’ve lost a lot of shipmates to mental health issues caused by service. One of my buddies JUST died in August before age 40 from drinking himself to death.
In order of which branches you should look at:
Don’t pick up drinking or smoking, watch out for toxic commands and sexual assault (yes it happens to men as well as women very frequently) and don’t get married for BAH. Save your money, use your GI Bill, and do everything you can to get good training.
Interrogate what job you’re being offered if you have a good ASVAB score. Recruiters dgaf if you get the best fit for you. I turned down a contract where I would have been on flight decks in the heat and waited for a desk job. I had a 93 asvab, they still tried to pressure me to take the first available contract. Maybe a hands on job will be what you want, but stop and think and research it. Ask on the subreddit for that branch. They’ll tell you the truth. That being said, I still got hearing damage on deployment lol. Wear your PPE and hopefully it’s not the 3M faulty stuff still.
Also don’t go navy nuclear engineer, they all have a terrible time and the suicide rate is super high.
I did 4 years in the Navy. No matter what branch you go in, pick your job carefully. If you do something that has a civilian equivalent, then you’ll get great training and you’ll be able to find work quickly when you get out. Although I was Navy, if I could do it over again I’d probably go with the Marine Corps—they just had a lot more fun.
But just know that your personal relationships will strain or break. At 18, the odds are near certainty that your gf will either cheat or break up with you. Happened to me, happened to my friends— I can’t tell you how many “West-Pac Widows” I saw (women who f-d every dude that walked while husband deployed.)
That said, in your situation, I’d still recommend it. I also came from a relatively poor background (at least the side that raised me) and at 18 I had nowhere to live and no help for college. I joined, paid into the GI Bill, went to college, went to law school, and have done well for myself. You could do that too.
Call the recruiters and they’ll give you the ASVAB test
Here’s a link so you can score high. You have to pass
https://youtu.be/CwqjUu1ARxo?feature=shared
It’s not a bad way to go. I went nuclear Navy cuz I didn’t wanna be shot at and I wanted to learn about atoms and electricity. It’s tough but steady job that you can’t be fired from, decent roof over your head and food in your gut.
Worst part is the hours 80-120 h/wk in port. I was deployed 90 days at a time, twice a year. I hear the surface fleet is strict in an asinine way (was on Boomer subs)
If you don’t go nuclear, there’s some cool locations to choose from but you’ve got to be better than the rest.
if you can, try for coast guard or air force first. they’re picky tho
What, no navy? I lived next to a marine recruiter so I have yo say Marine but I think Air force is a winner too.
Go Coast Guard
If you and the girl in withstand the 6months away for Basic Training. From there it sounds like you could accomplish anything you choose in the military, but it sounds like you want to be a family man first and foremost. No issue with that. Either go Air Force, or into combat support or logistics in the Army. Good luck to you and your choice.
My son joined the coast guard and is living large. He loves his job and loves serving his country. If you are willing to work, life in the coast guard is life changing!
Nothing wrong with “three hots and a cot.” Talk to a recruiter now so they can point you to resources for your current situation.
Military is an option, but before you do I want you to go to coolworks.com and sort by places that offer housing. Both my parents were in the military and got pretty high up there in rank. It’s fine for structure, security, etc. I’m just really worried that we’re entering a really bad time in American history and you can always join the military afterwards if none of the places you find suit you.
Find something you would like to do after military or an idea find a job that matches take the ASVAP find out what job you qualify for
and never buy a new vehicle from any dealership by any base after some time you should be able to save up money by living on base and saving your money and having a good credit score
so you can leave military with ability to get a home for your self very important you build not destroy your credit while in military that’s why I dont recommend a new car
Join coast guard or Air Force.
Overall it is not a bad plan. Be aware that it takes months to join, it is not necessarily a quick process. You need to dig up all sorts of records about your background and medical history and take tests and have physical exams. There are often bottlenecks along the way – how quickly you can bring the documentation, when they can book you for appointments at the processing center, what jobs you qualify for and when they have openings.
There are subs you can ask specific questions
r/AirForceRecruits
r/newtothenavy
r/USMCboot
I think the others are just the regular subreddits for the services
r/army
r/SpaceForce
r/uscoastguard
Good luck
My father was in about the same situation you were at the age of 19. He came from a poverty stricken family ( West Virginia ) his only options after high School, where the glass factories or the coal mines. His mother had died when he was 16 and his father remarried an awful woman. My father hated his stepmother. He joined the United States Air Force and served 25 years. It gave him a new life, education and a way out of poverty. He met my mother in Germany, they married in North Carolina, and had four children. My father was Korean and Vietnam veteran. I would suggest choosing a MOS in the medical or dental field. I wish you the best of luck. PS, I married a man in the Army and was an army wife for 24 years. I guess it’s in my blood.