I took my ASVAB for the Army and got a 57, all good Alpha so no worries there. Got my GED. Im 18.

I would like to do mechanic work, but i dont mind the thought of sniper or combat because i have grown up around hunting and guns. Even there i cant quite decide what to go in as.

My question is, mainly, how do you know if you are cut out to be a soldier? Is there no way besides basic to tell or is there some questions i can ask myself if i can take everything?

That and, did you really not know what you wanted to be when you joined then things fell into place?

Thanks guys, i could call my recruiter and be gone ASAP but these things are holding me back.

Help is very appreciated.

you're gonna wind up doing what the Army needs you to (unless there happens to be an Opening in the MOS you want)

I would say that if you have to ask if you're cut out for the army then you're not ready for it. The army is something you should know you want to do. Also your recruiter will promise you the sun moon and stars and most of it will be, if not lies, then an embellishment of the truth As Matt says the army will decide what they want you to do. I put my name down for Armour and signals and ended up in the infantry.


That's great, but rabbits and deer don't shoot back or set off improvised roadside devices.

Chris; To know if you'r ready the enter the military is a tough question, and a question everyone who has served since the 70's has had to ask. Myself I wasn't sure until graduating from boot camp. Here are a few to things to remember about the service.
1. It's not what you want, but what they need. (yes you get to choose what you would prefer to do.)
2. The military is not a Macjob you cant just quit. Simple mess up we get by with at a civilian job, ie being late, cusing the boss, not being fast enough cant cost you money, time, ect.
3. The main differance between a civil job and military servce is: at a civilian job you work hard to make someone else richer, in the military you work hard to save your butt or someone elses' butt.

What ever you happens good luck.

Chris you will only ever know if you are cut out for the army by joining up and giving it your best.There is no way of knowing what you can and cant handle during your basic training as it will be something you have never experienced before,for some just being away from home for the first time can be too much too handle.
One thing is for sure you need to have a positive attitude that it is something you want more than anything else in the world.
If you dont give it a go you will regret it for the rest of your life,wondering wether you could have cut it or not.
Whatever you decide i wish you the best of luck.


Steve

First congrats on your ASVEB test…are you cut out to be a soldier, well that up to you. Seeing a recruiter and taking the test was your first step. Most often you a potential soldier should have an idea what he/she would like to do, then with the help from a recruiter they would give you advice and guide you into a position, and you have more choices with a higher ASVEB score. You mentioned you wanted to become a mechanic, talk to your recruiter and if it’s something you really want then make sure he knows it. There are many fields in mechanical work and not just in one branch. Look over or talk to the other recruiters of the different branches of services. Just don’t be pressured into a MOS, if you feel if you’re not being heard then go onto another recruiter.

Now once you go to basic training you’ll know if you’re cut out to be a soldier or not. Mentally you need to have discipline, know “right and wrong” and the willing to work with others. Having those three traits alone will help you through basic and through out your military career.

Over the years you can go onto specialty schools like sniper training, airborne or what else you look into. You may even be able to change your MOS later on.

Good luck with your decision,
Joe

I'd be worried if you WEREN'T asking yourself that question. I joined in '82, and have been Special Forces qualified since '83. There is not a day that goes by that I don't ask myself that question.

The uncertainty lies not in whether or not you're cut out for it, but whether or not you're willing to put in your time. If you wonder whether you're strong enough to pull a brother out of a burning Humvee, it might motivate you to do another set in the gym. If you wonder if your language skills are up to par, it might cause you to put in an extra few hours with the CD's. Whatever it is you choose to do, when you're satisfied with your performance, it will almost certainly taper off. Complacency kills.

In my three years as an army Drill Sergeant I never picked the privates who were sure of themselves for leadership positions. Often, they lacked the maturity to know that leading is more than telling people what to do. At times they really did have it going on, but they always will anyway later on in life. I liked to choose the "unsure' ones-the ones whose dads told them not to stick out so they could avoid the Drill Sergeants' attention. So they hovered in the background, and they're the ones I'd choose. It's surprising what a young guy can do when given the chance. Things even he didn't know he was capable of.
The earlier post was entirely correct-you'll always wonder whether you could have done it or not, rather than just going out and doing it. Trust me, I tire of hearing "I was gonna go SF but..." Same applies to anyhting else in life. No buts. Just do it, and don't ever quit.

Joe and 18B got it right, it is about discipline and attitude. I'm not talking about stand up straight, suck your chest in, perfect salute discipline - well that is part of it - but I'm talking about an internal discipline. You have to want it. The Army literally becomes your life - Active duty or Guard/Reserve it doesn't matter. And you have to want it. The discipline to get and stay in shape, the motivation to constantly learn, the desire to find the good things in a crappy situation (and there will be many, many, many, and many more of those). But I also remember a book where one of the contributers, when he looked back on it, he didn't remember the lost pay, the tour extensions, and all the other problems he had. He remembered the good things. If you can do that, then that is all you need. You live but once, so just make sure that your decision is not one that you will regret.

Now I didn't make it, but not for lack of trying or a lack of motivation. I went into it with a certain perception of what I thought the Army and Soldiers were, but that was quickly changed. If you do go, go with an open mind and everything will follow. But Anthony is right, if you don't like it but you've already signed that dotted line, tough. There is no quitting in the Army, literally. If you fail they don't just let you go. For some, its hell, but others it gives them piece of mind and allows them to focus on doing harder.

Jeff

Chris,
Don't worry big guy....you'll do just fine. I always knew I wanted to be in the military, just wasn't sure which branch. As it turned out, I spent three years in the Army Reserve (joined in 1986), 4 years in the USMC (1990-1994), and am now in the active Army (1995 to present). The old Army recruiting slogon " Be all that you can be" to me defines the military. I have held 4 MOS's.....supply specialist, combat engineer, amphibious assault crewman and M1 Abrams mechanic. If you are aggressive, like a challenge, willing to learn, and able to discipline your mind and body, then the military is definately for you and you will excel. If you are not sure you possess those traits... the military is still a good choice for you because just being in the military will develope those traits for you to one degree or another. Basic training is tough...no doubt about it, but it is not what the military is like on an every day basis. Military life is also tough and has it's own unique set of challenges....but it can also be very rewarding. If I were you I would enlist in an MOS that will teach you a technical skill that you may be able to use whenever you decide to leave the military. I would also highly encourage you to enlist for the the shortest enlistment time possible (2 to 3 years) just in case it turns out that a military career isn't for you. Because once your in , YOUR IN.....there is no "quitting the job" until your enlistment is up. The military can be a great career or a just great place to get started in life. But it is tough, alot tougher than your recruiter will tell you or have you believe. But it is also NOT like the movie "Full Metal Jacket" everyday or constant combat either. As far as being a mechanic goes.... it really depends on what kind of mechanic you become. I really enjoyed being a Tank mechanic but it is not something that is really marketable in the civillian sector and as a tank mechanic you can expect ALOT of late hours turning wrenches on broken tanks. I hope this helps you out a little. I think if you do enlist, even if you you absolutely hate it, you won't regret it.

You will do fine- nerves are completley natural - we all wonder if we have what it takes - it's the same feeling you get before "the big game" I questioned what the hell am I doing hre for a long time - We had a Major lube oil fire onboard and after I fought the fire for about an hour and was getting out of my fire fighting ensemble it hit me that this is where I was supposed to be =right here right now- I faced the booger man and I kicked his butt- as I said you will do fine -most of all - thank you for your chioce to serve - you are entering a special group of individuals that have a bond unlike any others I think in the end you will be glad you made the chioce - dont sweat the nay sayers they will always be around!

Are you willing to work whatever hours that a job takes? Are you willing to put the welfare of your unit and buddies ahead of your own? Are you willing to embrace the changes that will be made to your personality during basic- you will not graduate the same person who entered? These are all important questions. If you enter the military you are committing your life to defend your country- you lose the right to question your leaders.

In my experience, the military will either make you or break you. You will learn things about yourself and your capabilities that you can never learn anywhere else.

I am glad I served, I often hated it; sometimes loved it; but came out a much better man for the experience.
Rick

Well before you become a sniper you will have to prove yourself as an infantryman..
when i was in the corps I had to take an Indoc to get to STA platoon. the Army is however different.
depends on what unit you go to IE Ranger bat. 82nd scout pltoons or an lrsc you probably will have to do EIB pre Ranger and Ranger before you get the cool schools. like Halo,Scuba, Sniper, Pathfinder, thats how it was when I was in LRS and i was there for 5 years and the other units I knew guys in used the same type policy. but know this you have to be a good land nav guy good PT guy good road marcher and a good swimmer before you tryout for the varsity teams bootcamp is a great start just keep your mind on the objective and you will build up.

Good luck
Doc

Asking if you have what it takes is what got me into the Guard. I was 31 at the time, and knew my time was growing short to find out. I knew if I didn't give it a shot I would never know the answer. You get out of the military what you put into it. You will learn alot about yourself, and about people. If you choose this road, I wish you the best of luck.

I just want to second what everyone else has said and add one more thing, you,ve probably heard the phrase "Hurry up and wait". That IS the Army, you will spend alot of time waiting for someone else to do their part, so you can do yours. Or to go home. Also be prepared to be "corrected" for what seem to be alot of inconsequential things, the military has high standards for apperance, behavior, and attitude, and enforces those standards ruthlessly. If you can deal with that you will really find there's nothing like military life and the pride that goes with it. Good luck!

seeing that Chris's last post on the site was on 2007-09-19 (i.e. two days after this post, and a week after he joined the site), I presume that he either took your kind advice, and joined. Or just could not be bothered.

LOL!!!!!

I have not laughed that long in a while!...its been 18 months since he posted. He could have 50 kills by now! or not...LOL!!! GIMME MORE BEEER!! LOL!!!

All have hit the Nail on the head just a few words of advise

1. Get it all in writing (MOS(JOB) so on and so forth not in writing not going to get it

2. Dont let them tell you that it is a take it or leave it on what you want for a job you mite have to wait but get what you really want to do

3. Every thought about Aviation Maintenance it is a Combat Arms MOS if you work on Blackhawks or CH-47's you can even fly as a crewmember

But the key is get the job you want to do.

Chewie (1SG C. Downey, 15Z5M)

I joined the South African Marines in 1983,while South Africa was busy fighting the Bush War on the borders of the then South West Africa.At that stage we had to do 2 years of service or join permanent force.
My father was in the Infantry and I grew up in an Army environment. We stayed right next to a airforce base.
I always wanted to be a soldier,first option a pilot and the second spec forces.
Well I did not make the pilot's recruitment standards and joined the SA marine corps.
South Africa were in the bush war since 1965. It was a part of life.
I stayed on until 1989 when the war ended. The war was the only thing that kept me going.
I was not one for being base bound or doing training over and over,I needed to be there.
I made it a career to be a professional soldier. I will do it all over again.
WHY? I believe it's something that you have to be a soldier you get born with it. I ony new this when I was active during training lot sof teh guys with me realized that they made the wrong desicions and left and were successfull in sivvie street. Until today I'm sorry I left teh Marines or did not try to get into a foreign force. What I'm trying to say is that if you join and you dont feel good about it after your basic's then get out. If you do then take it a step further, see how you feel after your first operation or contact this will give you the final indication if you a soldier or not.

If you want to join the Army or whatever, you shouldn't have reservations... Just slight nerves. I have a better recommendation for you.... And I sort of did this myself. Why don't you try the National Guard/Reserves first? If you love it, then you know you can handle the army full time. Myself, I joined the Territorial Army (UK) when I started University, to give me a good enough background if I wanted to go full time. Fortunately, I found work in my field, and am still a member of the TA so got the best of both worlds. In the reserves you will have the opportunity to deploy on operational tours and get involved with a whole load of other things. The best thing about the reserves is that it is voluntary. So you get out what you put in.

Original post is 4 years old and poster hasn't visited the site since so he won't see your advice

Achwell....... We'll never know if he is bullet dodging.....