30-07-2003 07:50									#1
	To reenlist or to not reenlist that is the question. Support Apolyton or Terrorists Win

As many of you know I spent six years in the Army and I've spent the last two years in the IRR ( a kind of nondrilling reserve) but what you may not know is that come Aug. 2nd I will be out of even the IRR. I've been reflecting over all of the good times, the bad times, and the in between times I had in the Army and now I'm mulling over the idea of reenlisting in the reserves.

I honestly thought I had decided not to reenlist several years ago but after a recent thread here at Apolyton (about good part time ways to make extra cash) I have once again reopened the Army can of worms. What do you folks think? What are the up sides and down sides that you can see to reenlisting?

I really like the free travel, the friendships, and the extra money would be nice but not really enough to get excited about since it would only be a few thousand a year. The idea of getting a military pension in addition to all my other retirement savngs is also a plus but you can't draw a reserve pension until you're 65 so I've got nearly 40 years to worry about that. The obvious downside would be the possibility (read almost certainty at least for a six year enlistment) getting pulled away from my civilian job, my family, and my friends to go to some hell hole overseas. Iraq and Liberia seem like obvious candidates but Bosnia or even another tour in Kosovo are possibilities. Am I missing anything here?

	30-07-2003 07:57									#2
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Re-enlist. I see only positive things coming out of it.

	30-07-2003 07:58									#3
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Definitely do not re-enlist. Especially with our current administration, you could very easily be pulled into some bullshit war somewhere, or even worse, occupation duty.

	30-07-2003 07:59									#4
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quote: Originally posted by Pekka Re-enlist. I see only positive things coming out of it.

Except for that whole "Death in some foreign hellhole thing."

ACK!

	30-07-2003 08:01									#5
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Tuberski, True...

	30-07-2003 08:02									#6
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Occupation Duties... Yep, I'd give it 50-50 that if I reenlisted I'd end up with occupation duty at some point. Especially given my MOS which the Army Chief of Staff, during his interview on NPR today, listed as a "criticially in short supply" area. In other words they need 37F bad to help out with the occupation duty.

The upside is I do reenlist I might not have to go for a year or two and by then things will likely have cooled off a bit.

	30-07-2003 08:03									#7
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Any chance at a signing bonus?

ACK!

	30-07-2003 08:07									#8
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Currently $5k but their talking about raising it to $10k. Included is $20k in student loan repayments. Admitably I'm done with school and have virtually no student loans to repay but it might be nice if I ever go to grad school.

	30-07-2003 08:07									#9
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quote: The upside is I do reenlist I might not have to go for a year or two and by then things will likely have cooled off a bit.

In Iraq, sure. In Liberia? North Korea? Afghanistan? The Balkans? Who knows.

	30-07-2003 08:10									#10
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quote: Originally posted by Oerdin Currently $5k but their talking about raising it to $10k. Included is $20k in student loan repayments. Admitably I'm done with school and have virtually no student loans to repay but it might be nice if I ever go to grad school.

If you are going to do it, what until $10k kicks in. $5k more and a chance to size up future travel plans......if you know what I mean.

ACK!

	30-07-2003 08:11									#11
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What exactly is your job in the Army? Do U have any family (Married w/ kids)? What would be the civilian Equivalent of your current job? Would U be able to take a pay cut if you were called to go overseas?(Civilian jobs tend to pay more)

	30-07-2003 08:12									#12
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The limiting factor is if I wait past Aug. 2nd then they might not let me keep my rank where as I do it Aug. 1st or sooner they will insure I keep my SGT stripes.

	30-07-2003 08:14									#13
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Hey man. It just so happens that the same question is being asked inside my head at this very moment..

Some questions you have to ask yourself

1. Opportunities for advancement. You have to find a slot that allows for promotions otherwise you could be stuck in a low rank. Would you have time to go to schools that are required for certain slots.

2. What rank would you go into the reserves as? Going from one status to another often involves a decrease in rank.

3. What kind of units are around your area. Some units go more than others. I'm in a matenience unit but I'm in one that is nondivisional so we could be supporting an artillary unit one month or an infantry unit the next. I could end up in Germany, or Iraq.

4. Family support. Are you involved with someone that would not understand or like you being gone for the annual trainings and possible depolyments.

5. Threshold for Army BS. Sounds funny, but think back to all the absolutely stupid things you had to do from time to time. If they didnt bother you too much then they aren't an issue.


It's a big decision. And to be perfectly honest my answer about weither to re enlist changes from day to day. For the most part I am single and extended deployments dont' bother me too much. If things would have went right a year ago, I would have been married with a little one. Then my attitude would have been different.

	30-07-2003 08:18									#14
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quote: Originally posted by Oerdin Currently $5k but their talking about raising it to $10k. Included is $20k in student loan repayments. Admitably I'm done with school and have virtually no student loans to repay but it might be nice if I ever go to grad school.

They pay you to go to grad school. You don't need the army for that.

	30-07-2003 10:24									#15
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I only had like a 3.0 so I doubt I could get much of a grant. Besides if I went to grad school I'd probably go for an MBA in which case they most certainly do not pay you.

	30-07-2003 10:27									#16
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It's a balancing act--your oppurtunites versis the chance for whatever administration is in power right now to send you to die in some foreign shithole.

Only you can decide.

	30-07-2003 10:31									#17
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I'm pretty much going to do it. My next thing is they have a psyop unit here in Sacramento and then they have another one in Walnut Creek (San Fransisco Bay Area) which is about 2 hours away. The up siide to the bay area unit is they are on "jump status" meaning they get to parachute twice a year. If they have openings then I think a two hour drive might be worth it to be air borne.

	30-07-2003 10:35									#18
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quote: Originally posted by David Floyd Definitely do not re-enlist. Especially with our current administration, you could very easily be pulled into some bullshit war somewhere, or even worse, occupation duty.

Ignore David Floyd.

Go ahead and do what your heart tells you, not some anarchist.

	30-07-2003 10:36									#19
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I highly recommend holding off until this current administration is out of office, and the world stops hating us.

	30-07-2003 10:37									#20
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quote: Originally posted by Comrade Tassadar I highly recommend holding off until this current administration is out of office, and the entire world stops hating us.

More crap.

Again I will reiterate do what your heart tells you, oerdin. Do not listen to the left wing thuggery in the world.

	30-07-2003 10:40									#21
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The biggest question is can you afford to get deployed? If yes, then go for it. If not, don't.

	30-07-2003 10:40									#22
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quote: Ignore David Floyd. Go ahead and do what your heart tells you, not some anarchist.

See, that's funny, because most people ignore you.

	30-07-2003 10:42									#23
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quote: Originally posted by David Floyd See, that's funny, because most people ignore you.

Actually no, most people ignore an illogical being like you.

	30-07-2003 10:45									#24
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Fezzed!

	30-07-2003 10:47									#25
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quote: Originally posted by CorpusScorpius What exactly is your job in the Army? Do U have any family (Married w/ kids)? What would be the civilian Equivalent of your current job? Would U be able to take a pay cut if you were called to go overseas?(Civilian jobs tend to pay more)

I'm 27, not married, no kids, but I do have a girlfriend. My civilian job being a Geologist and my military job (during my six years in) was a Psychological oppurations specialist. If I reenlisted that's what I would ended up doing again. BTW I'm only talking about reenlisting into the reserves so no full time duty for me without a Presidential call up.

	30-07-2003 10:49									#26
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Oerdin,

Actually, I know someone from work who is on extended deployment in either Germany or Iraq (he wasn't too sure which it would be when we last spoke) and works with psyops - he's actually an interrogator, IIRC.

	30-07-2003 10:50									#27
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quote: Originally posted by Oerdin BTW I'm only talking about reenlisting into the reserves so no full time duty for me without a Presidential call up.

Guess who goes up first when Seoul begins to glow in the dark?

Thats right....YOU.

If you could somehow get into a position where you would not be able to be deployed into combat, I would support it. I think everyone needs a little service time in their lifetimes.

	30-07-2003 10:52									#28
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Oh, I've already had a little service time thank you.

You are right about the rest of the world hating us because of Bush though and that the resrves would end up in Korea when the "Great Leader" wakes up one day and decides he doesn't like his afro and blames it on America.

	30-07-2003 10:54									#29
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Heres a fine idea: Enlist in the Finnish military.

	30-07-2003 10:57									#30
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And fight off the evil Russian invaders who are trying to take Finland's jobs? Oh what the Finns don't have any jobs. My mistake.