26 SWM - I love to cook, spend cash on girls, drink Heineken

DAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAANQ|!!!!! /snuggle!

That looks like a beautiful view! Nice street too. :teehee

Where do you live? That town is like something out of a movie!

Elmwood Village, Buffalo NY... 5 minute drive from the Peace Bridge and Canuckistan. I love my porch - gotta have my grill and my excellent view of the um... "scenery" that passes by. I wouldn't want to live anywhere else within 400 miles. I can get any kind of cuisine I can imagine, and its within walking distance. Lots of city parks within walking distance as well. My street is also home to a world famous art gallery, lots of other smaller galleries, lots of off-beat stores with kitschy things that girls tend to like... hehe. Its definitely an urban environment so its not for everybody, but I love it. The part that I didn't take a picture of is one of my few vices - my coffee shop, right across the street! Next to that is the best music store in the area, and also a Blockbuster for "those" nights. Its a great bachelor pad.

If it just didn't snow so damn much here. :( And the only disadvantage is the parking. Every year, however, the city hosts a weekend-long arts festival literally right in front of my place. Very cool. :)

OK< I'm moving in with Danq :shock:

Intelligent, well spoken, and adorable?

Nice package :D

Picture that pic with an Air Force dress uni... shaaarp :D I'm thinking about leaving civilian life and using my degree to get me into OTS. Actually Mae since I know Veb is military - this is your opportunity to either encourage me or tell me not to do it! Hehe.

Were you in the military before? *confused*

As a Navy brat and an Air Force wife, it's my opinion that if you want to serve your country there are other ways of doing it, and if you want good career opportunities there are many many other ways of getting them. If you think the military is for you, go for it, but for heaven's sake go in with your eyes open. Are you prepared to be a soldier 24 hours a day, 7 days a week? Are you willing to have many aspects of your life dictated to you by your job? Do you like to move from place to place? Are you willing to subject yourself to random drug screenings (as in, drug screenings with no prior evidence of drug use) and questionable vaccines?

I'm honestly not trying to talk you out of anything. I think serving in the US military is one of the most honorable careers there is. It is also certainly not for everyone; no other job excerpts more control over your life. No other job takes more of your personal freedom. There is a whole military culture which, while fascinating and diverse, may or may not be something you feel you fit into.

What is your degree in?

Hey baby, how YOU doin?!

I have 2 B.S. degrees - one in MIS and the other is in Financial Analysis.

I'm ready for whatever my duties would entail, and I have an understanding of what the pros and cons are... for me I don't necessarily see the military option as a compromise. I'm not married, I have no kids, I am not tied down... so moving around and having the AF own my time isn't a problem. Its something I've been thinking about and researching for a while. I have a great job and I make good money, but my work is meaningless. I'd rather make less money and do something else. I didn't know that you were an AF wife - gimme as much info as you like! In your estimation, do you think that leaving civilian life for the military is foolish, especially since I'm considering going career?

I realize that not everybody is cut out to join the military - actually, I remember my dad telling me once that guys in our family "weren't cut out for the military" - my grandfather was in the Navy and earned a Purple Heart during WWII! Dad is a hippie, so his viewpoint on world events is skewed.

My husband has been out for a few years, and he was enlisted so I don’t know what the differences might be. My father was also enlisted, but he was a career man and retired after 20 years in the service.

I don’t want to say it’s foolish to make the switch from civilian to military. I’m struggling to word this; I have great respect for military personnel and am concerned that I will come off as harsh on them in some way :\. I have seen many well intentioned people, many intelligent, hard working people who honestly want to build good careers and lives for themselves while making their country a better place to be and believed the military was the way to do those things. I have seen them, 90 pounds and wasted from the gulf war syndrome. I have seen them go and never return. And I’ve seen them have their talents squandered because they weren’t high ranking enough, or because their recruiter told them to fill this slot instead of fitting their individual abilities to a job. I know to some extent it’s what they signed up for. And I’m not saying if you sign up for the military you’re going to get killed, or sick, or have your talents wasted. I do hold the opinion that often the military does not know what to do with a fine mind at work, but that’s neither here nor there.

As to my experience as an Air Force wife, there was, of course, both good and bad. There’s this mentality of “what goes TDY stays TDY” that I thought was horrible. It was difficult for mothers to work because their husbands could be sent to the desert any moment, but I suppose it’s like that in the civilian world too, to some extent. In base housing, the military tells you how long you are allowed to keep your grass. They are allowed to shut off your power if the overall base is using too much. They are allowed to do this during a heat wave, and they are allowed to do this for 8 days so that all of the food you bought on a below poverty level salary goes bad. They would compensate you for the food if you were willing to jump through the hoops though. Of course, the power in officer’s housing was back after one day, so this probably wouldn’t be a problem *laughs*.

I liked being surrounded by people I had some common circumstances with. I found it strange that things I did, mistakes I made, could affect my husband’s standing. Things like parking tickets and whatnot. I had a dear friend who got her husband in horrible trouble when she lost her temper in a conversation with the first shirt. She called him, upset and worried because her husband did not come home from TDY when expected. He told her that her husband was delayed and would be another few days, and she became angry because the first shirt never called her to tell her (her husband was doing secret stuffs and was unable to call her himself). He basically told her he didn’t have to tell her anything, and she told him that it was courtesy to call, and part of arranging TDYs and generally being responsible for your troops was making sure the family was okay. They went around in circles until finally she threw up her hands and cried “Are you fucking deaf?” At the same time, I learned that higher powers would let management hear it if families were treated badly. Part of being in control of someone’s life is making sure that person is mentally stable and safe, as well as basic physical safety, so families were looked after to some extent. This meant wives had a certain amount of power in a face off *grins*. Not much, though I think for officer’s wives it’s different, but enough to be listened to when you have just fucking had it.

Probably the main thing I liked about the military was the people. It’s funny that I had such distaste for the culture but loved the people a great deal, but there you have it. I had an opportunity to meet people from all over the country, with a host of stories and a camaraderie you won’t see anywhere else. There can be a great feeling of belonging (sorry if that sounds cultish, but it’s true enough).

Thanks for the input! I think its unfair and irresponsible that what a wife might say or do will affect the career of her husband. However, if you are in the military you should know the deal and know how to play the game I guess. If that first shirt was any kind of leader he would know that taking care of the spouse and being compassionate is just as important as ensuring that the soldier is well taken care of... its obvious that he handled it poorly. The last thing that a subordinate wants to hear is that you bad-mouthed his wife. Reading what you have to say is interesting to me because it shows the struggles and hardship that spouses have to face. Maybe if I was married I wouldn't consider this option at all, because I wouldn't subject my wife to that lifestyle unless she was okay with it.

I'm not necessarily concerned with what might be a waste of my mind, or something like that. I'm intelligent, a fast learner, diplomatic, I easily adjust to changing situations, and I have great people skills... I think I have a skill set that would lend itself well to a career as an officer. Maybe I am wrong, hehe - I only will know when I have all the info I need to make a decision on whether or not to take the green light.

I am not going to make a decision until I know more, so you are helping me out. :) What I am trying to learn more about are - the types of technical and non-technical jobs that I could do, the physical fitness requirements for pilots, etc. Basically, stuff that a recruiter could probably answer for me. Only when I have a complete picture will I decide. My cousin is a SSgt and is stationed at Beale AFB in San Diego, and one of my best friends and college roommates was a Navy brat and seriously considered OTS in the Air Force... until he met a girl :x

I would suggest having a good idea of what you would like to do before you speak with a recruiter. Many recruiters are more interested in filling a slot than in finding the best fit for you, and you may find yourself in a pressure situation rather than a comfortable question answer session, heh. You can probably research the career fields online. Try to talk to people in career fields that interest you.

DQ,

speaking from and enlisted point of view....well its different for officers. I can do soem research for you though if you want. and get back to you quickly. My father in law is retired Airforce

Good suggestion! If and when I talk to a recruiter I am going to make it clear that I am not signing shit and will not be pressured. If he or she tries it, I'm walking out and will find a different recruiter. Thats why I want to know as much as I possibly can before I subject myself to potential bullshitfest from a soldier that is only there because he is required to be. :) So far I've spent alot of time of AF's website, and my cousin is an excellent resource. I asked him how pilots are selected for different aircraft, and he told me that part of how they choose is based on your temperment. Guys that are agressive and can handle extreme G-strains well end up in fighters, and the calmer guys that can handle long flights end up in bombers and planes like the U-2. Piloting would be great, but I am sure that there are other jobs in the AF that could be just as fun and gratifying... which is why I want to learn more.

Thanks Larene! Any info is helpful to me.

will call him tonight DQ and get back to you tomorrow

You guys talk too much.

:( Now you broke my heart!

oh, oh, can I make it all better?



Such a cutie...

I don't want to be rude. But imo enlisted dependents have the worst views of the military. My experiences with the military were great. But then again i am an Air force brat to a retired 25year Full bird Colonel. My father was the one telling people what to do how to do it and when to do it. People who join as an enlisted man/woman either A, had no choice, B, wanted to get away from home, C, wanted a free ride in school, D, Was their best option.

All of which imo are good reason, but the "bitching and griping about the military just pisses me the fruck off. If you do not like the service get out it is that simple. Do not get a 6 year signing bonus just cuz its a 3500 increase in first years pay. Get a simple 4 year. Get your feet wet. My dad yes said he hated some of the things he HAD to do because of his higher ups and he also wishes he could have done more of the good things he did.

Every job is bullshit other wise it wouldn't be a job. Only when you like your job and love doing it should it EVER be considered a career. People in the military often reinlist because they are too scared to actually get out and find a REAL career, such was the case with my dad. He first made the decision to have the airforce pay for his college/med school then get out after meeting the 8 year requirement he had already obligated himself to. From his own mouth i have heard "I was too scared to leave a steady paying job and force my family to sacrifice when sacrifice wasn't needed." Granted he is now the Sr. VP of Queens Medical Center in Honolulu, HI. But had HE not made the decision to hold HIMSELF back then he would most likly not be where he is today.

Military views will always conflit Danq it is just the the way it is. I am and will always be Pro Military because my family has major military history on bth sides. Mom is a army brat from a CW4 and dad a army brat from a Lt Colonel. So YOU need to find out what is right for YOU.

ONLY thing i will say is go air force over all if you can. Bases are nicer, facilities are nicer. ANd there are more "desk" jobs that don't require field work. BUT there is a fair share of field work always remember that.