Had enough going to join the military next year.

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I'm going to apply for the air force, you know, if my ASVAB is high enough. A lot of crazy s**t happened to my family today. It started with my bi-polar father (he doesn't admit his disorder) freaking out at my mom for not being up to date on the news. Over the course of the day he started yelling, and swearing, and when his own two year old grandson was over! He didn't calm down, and he frequently denied being the one at fault... then he just walked out on us. Him a 52 year old man with four adult kids, decides now he's going to walk out on his family!

I'll put simply, I'm sure a lot of you have similar experience, my dad wasn't there for me. I only ever heard him say "I Love you" once or twice in my life when I was like 3 or 4 years old. Even bigger than that, he's never said he was proud of me for anything, not for little league (he also never came to any of my games), not for football (which I joined for him), not for anything! I had to comfort my mom (who also didn't do a very good job raising me, but at least she went to my sports games, my school plays, and anything else active I did), tell her that didn't matter, that no matter what I would try my hardest to take care of her. My brother (who had his son over) was even madder, he threatened to call the cops if they kept on yelling. So my dad gathered up some camping gear, and we don't know where he is. Hopefully went to either of his brothers houses to talk to them and try and calm down.

Things haven't been great for my family. We're still suffering from the foreclosure of our house, and the loss of two business ventures. But if I know anything I know my dad didn't handle it like a reasonable Human being would have. Not like I would have. So he's gone, if he leaves forever the good riddance who needs him, if he comes back I only hope that he will finally buck up and let my brothers, and sister, and mother help him.

No matter what though I have had enough of this family, this town, and generally everyone I've been meeting recently. Hell I don't know if joining the military will make things better, 6 to 1 odds with my luck it'll probably make things worse. There's discipline in the military though, and that's why I want to join not to run-away from my problems, but so I can learn to deal with them. I have no long term goals though for what I want to become, the only thing I really want to be is a para-rescue jumper. They have the highest mortality rate, most intense training, and most dangerous battles out of any other known job in the military, but the reason I want to be one is because out of any other part of the military I agree with there motto the most: "That others may live."

And... I guess... in a psychological way if I join the military I'll feel more like my grandfather whom actually served, and less like my father who never did.

Whatever you decide, choose what you think is best for you. Don't make a decision based on what you think others want you to do. I heard a phrase once "Don't make a decision when you're angry, or a promise when you're happy". Good luck!

I'm guessing your father went to a library or a bar somewhere. He'll probably be back.

The military is a good idea, though. I don't see any foreseeable wars coming up (unless North Korea tries something new and aberrant).

I survived a dysfunctional family so I can relate to your pain. Hope things get better.

My dad came back very tired, and he was able to make peace with my mother. I'm glad he was the better man and came back, we where finally able to share the fact we had become suicidal (well he did my mom and my brother already knew I was). It's still doesn't really change my choice though, I had made the desicion to join the military about a week ago, this event just solidified my choice.

If this is because you're desperate for money, enlisting in the military is a really awful idea. A ton of enlisted men are so poor that they have to use food stamps. And having lived on base before, can attest that a lot of soldiers end up living in some really rough trailer parks. And after you're out of the military, you're basically screwed. None of your military experience counts for anything unless you become a cop or a mercenary. And if you happen to get injured during your time in Afghanistan's Taliban Funtown, you can forget about that. You'll be homeless, and all the "Thank you for your service!" comments in the world won't change that.

EDIT: By the way, I don't know if you've talked to a recruiter yet, but just assume that everything they tell you is a lie. Because it probably is. If you don't believe me, when they promise you something that sounds like BS ask them to put it in writing and sign it. See what happens.

Did you even read what I typed? I'm not doing it for money, I don't give two f***s if I'm rich or poor or even if I end up homeless. Also my friend who was an enlisted Marine isn't on food stamps and is going to college, and has a steady job, or where you to caught up in figuring out why the military is a bad idea that you forgot they pay for college? Oh and also not all the skills in the military train you to kill someone or did you also forget the military has rescue programs (where they save people), desk jobs, satellite control, weather control, and many other non-lethal professions. Don't talk to me about recruiters buddy, having three relatives and three good friends who enlisted I know how to deal with recuiters and the process of joining. Yes I know recruiters over-exaggerate when they want to get you to join, but A) it''s their job to get you to join (a job which they get paid for) and B) they aren't telling you anything that isn't out of reach or accomplishment by any human being, you just gotta make yourself especially strong to be involved, hence why they are called "Special Forces." The military may be a f****d up arrangement, but I'm an adult god damn it! I will make my own decisions, so thanks for the advice but I'm not taking it.

The enlisted guys who are on food stamps are the ones trying to support a wife and three kids on an E-2's pay. Just like in civilian life, don't take on obligations you can't afford. I made no particular effort to save money during my four years active (Navy) but still had around ten grand in the bank when I got out.

The Air Force generally has the cushiest bases. Hope you like Texas as they seem to do most of their training there.

I hope you make it through PJ training if that's what you really want. Otherwise I'd suggest looking for something that'll be useful in civvie life. If I could go back and do it again I'd be a jet engine mechanic, but I didn't know when I joined that I'd like working on machines.

Military life isn't for everybody. Aside from Vietnam vets though, I've met very very few vets who regretted their time in uniform.

I wish you all the very best in your pursuits.

I'm glad your Dad came home in a better mood and I do hope he gets help one day, for all of your sakes.

sorry you having all that happen to you

envious that you're undiagnosed and can join.

as for the whole being poor thing it really depends on where your stationed and such. I know a few.
4 marines 1 navy
1 infantry marine- wife, 2 kids hes a Sargent i think now. on welfare- California
1 artillery marine- just him, makes enough to buy nice stuff, but considering welfare- California
1 engieer reserves marine- the pay they pay doesn't cover the costs of doing stuff, works at wallmart, considering welfare
1 navy nuke technician(i think, a lot of his stuff is classified) - he makes tons, lives alone on base or with other sailors off base.
another is my cousin he makes a ton as a marine.

I also know a lot of ex military and it is a person by person area by area thing. back when the army did bonus those guys were well off.

that said I'd love to serve as infantry not for money but for the honor and to serve my nation. I've been told though that the military is changing and not like what it use to be, plus they decreasing it to pre ww2 size.

I hope you can get in, and keep ranking up so you stay in. and as money goes if you get the mos you talking about I imagine it'll pay more then an airmen or private would, so that's a added bonus.

Fake news story. Just think, what's the logic in a super-powerful nation decreasing the size of it's own military?

Obama doesn't need logic.

f**k, man I tried, "Oh sorry AS is an NDQ"

Point is it's not true news story, and Obama has more logic in commanding the military in his little finger than that moron who ran and ruined the country before him had in his entire body.

I moved away from my family 4 months ago to live 1,000 miles away. Haven't looked back, don't miss it at all.

If you have a plan, it's well worth it.

its not fake its bill's in the senate, house, and DOD. Its a budget thing, in case you haven't noticed we are 17 trillion in debt. The military is the biggest part of the budget, so its getting cut and has been for a while. We can only hope that this cut is the last. I do get the reasons behind the cuts, but I think we should stop sending money to outside nations before making cuts inside the usa. RIP A10 warthog. they canning it in 1-2 years. though the fact that it was brought back from death once and then served so long is amazing. It is such a loved plane.

going avoid turning this into politics for both our sakes. but the above is true weather we like it or not, likely the same would have happen under any president. we are ending two wars, the military was bound to be cut. Intentions are also to make us less a war going nation. so long as its not pre ww1 number. another thing is he plans to rely on bombing instead of tradional combat, so far less people are needed.