This is a very interesting read. I plan on joining the Air Force soon. I'm 26 and almost 27 and can't find a job. I am hoping to pass Air Force basic and spend the next 20 years in the Air Force in my field (IT), while earning a Bachelors in IT within the next 3 years after I graduate from tech school. The job market just sucks, more so here in Georgia.

Right now I've been doing Billy Blanks's workout videos and P90X exercises to get ready for basic.


Right now the biggest thing I have to worry about is passing the test in basic training. We have to do 50 sit up and push ups. I can do around 20 of each. Also we have to run 1.5 miles in like 11:00 + minutes.

I am not in basic now nor have enrolled in the Air Force, yet. I am researching and getting prepared for when I do.
You are younger than I am .

You should try to find something that might help with your feet, then join the Air Force, in like a year.

That really sucks that you dont get the benefits. Ive considered service in either the Army or Navy. But being in Canada, its really different and not as serious. I would love to take it on as a career.

Best of Luck in the future buddy. and make more frequent posts in your spare time. haha ;)


-Casselman

I got really flat feet too, it sucks. I had to stop running cross-country and playing soccer because of it

That's too bad (I guess?). It isn't easy to get into the military these days and stay there honestly, probably because it has become such a popular alternative to young people who can't find work.

Condolences.

Most people who join the military now a days only go in to get their time in, and then use it to go into being a police officer, or firefighter. After 9/11 it's really the only way anyone can get in anymore because so many veterans are coming back, and just going into that line of work that it just makes it nearly impossible for any regular joe to.

To TEMP that sucks it didn't work out for you in the military, but it's good that at least you didn't get kicked out for something bad. Most of the people I've heard of getting booted from the military are for some really idiotic things.

Wait, what?


Discharged for mere flat feet? Wow.

First off, thank you all for the replies and support. Hope I didn't miss responses.


One of my best friends is in the Air Force, and he loves it. I think by just doing your job training you earn college credits, but I'd have to double check on that. Definitely a good opportunity for education.

If you're doing P90X right now, you'll be more than prepared for boot camp. PT in the Navy's Boot Camp wasn't really that bad (the punishments were a different story). If you're not where you need to be now, I'm confident the Air Force will get you where you need to be (that's what my friend said at least).

As for my own re-enlisting, I'll see what employment opportunities open up. I would think Veteran status would unlock some doors, but we'll see. My discharge code says I'm allowed to re-enlist, but Legal up in Chicago sort of hinted that I probably wouldn't make it past MEPS if I tried. We'll see what the market looks like in 2012 I guess.

Good luck, though. Boot Camp is giant act; a theater of stress. As long as you don't quit, your drill instructors will pull (or drag) you through. People don't get kicked out for just being weak or stupid (not saying you're either of those things).


Thanks, bro. It's a great opportunity, especially if you're looking for stability like I was. I have no doubt you'd do well if you took at stab at it. Just make sure you're employer has your back in case things don't work out for Medical purposes, lol.

I probably will be posting like crazy now that I'm back. Just for Jax alone, I have a ton of shit to get off my chest. As you've probably guessed, the character slot fusion of the two Sub-Zeros stung like a motherfucker, but I'll count my blessings, lol.


Sorry to hear that, man. I actually was hoping to start running again now that I'm out, but there's that fear of making a bad situation worse. It's hard not too; I trained so long for the Navy that I don't really know how to stop. Hope you find some sort of footware/inserts that let you get back into soccer/cross-country.


You're right, cause that's exactly why I went in, hehe. Jobs are getting hard to find. I guessing teaching is my next stop, but I'm not sure how good of a teacher I'd be. Not great a disciplining other people.

Truth is that it's a relief as much as a disappointment. I wish I could have had a stable paycheck for four years, but Boot Camp did suck pretty hard. It's nice to be in a stress free environment.

BTW, while I was in Separations, they did let us have very limited internet access, so I was still hitting up MKO when possible.


Thanks, man.


Too true. I had friends in SEPS who were getting kicked out for fraud (lying about medical conditions/credit). Those discharges make job searching hellishly difficult. Feel so bad for those guys.


Well, that's how it started out. Over the weeks, the boots they gave me were causing all sorts of unnatural friction due to my fallen arch, and eventually the heels and insides of my feet started to blister up. After that, I started developing something called plantar fasciitis, which is the inflammation of the bottom area of the feet... I think.

The longer I stayed in the Navy, the worse it would have gotten. I came home with a lot of blood-stained socks. Granted, as others above have said, the military is over-populated right now, so they're knocking people out like flies.

It's always a pleasure to see you on MKO, Temp, but I feel that the reason you were discharged feels so unusual. I mean, flat-feet can be treated pretty easily, I'm surprised that they'd force you to leave because of it.
I'm a flat-foot myself, but to treat it, I've been wearing specially-made insoles that force my feet to have an arch to prevent the basic problems that come with being a flat-foot. Surely that could be done for you too and allow you to continue serving? They are expensive, but they'll last you a good couple of years and make you feel great.
Consider seeing a podiatrist about getting some made for you. They might hurt at first, since you've never worn them before and they will change the way you walk and even your bone structure a bit, but trust me, it's worth it in the long run.

It's definitely a strange case, but it's becoming more and more common now that the Navy is so saturated. My RDC mentioned that the same thing happened to another recruit the previous week. But you know... with a bag of alcohol swabs and moleskin, I wonder if I would have been able to suck it up for six weeks. Had I canceled that last medical appointment, I'd still be in the Navy right now. On the other hand, the plantar fasciitus would have probably caught up with me. Once I started doing watches, I had to shift my body weight every 3 minutes to soothe the aching (and it didn't really work after the 1 hour mark).

But I would love to get my hands on those custom insoles. Possibly for re-enlisting purposes, but definitely because I want to start running again. I was in the best shape I've been in since high school when I shipped out, and I ended up losing ten more pounds in boot camp. If I wasn't flat broke, I'd be hitting the dating scene at neck-break speed.

Anyway, I appreciate the support. It's good to be back.

Welcome back Temp. Glad you are back, but I'm sorry that your military career didn't work out. I did 4 years in the Army, and I know what a pounding your feet can get. Better to get out now then to have really bad issues later on in life. Keep in touch, and glad you are back safe and sound.

Yeah, this pretty much sums my feelings up as well. I'm (unfortunately) still sucking over here in Afghanistan and I couldn't imagine doing it with any chronic problems. Thankfully I only have a few more months to go before I deuce out of the Army.

Just take it as a sign, a positive sign imo.

Welcome back. Take care of yourself, man.

Question. Why did you want to join the Navy? Did you want to get out of the norm of civilian life?

Welcome back Cactus Man.

Sorry for the late responses. Been a lazy Thanksgiving week.


Thanks, Icebaby. They are glad to have me back, which is always a nice feeling. I have so many crazy stories, and it's nice to get those off my chest. I was at a bar with a couple of friends last night, and after half a Budweiser, the anecdotes started rolling out.


Thanks, Malebolgia. If the Navy fucked me up, I can't imagine what the Army would have done. I wonder how many years/contracts I would have stayed had things worked out; probably would have took off running with the G.I. Bill in four years, but ya never know.


Thanks, Truth. Hope Afghanistan isn't too brutal, especially given the holidays. And once again (not sure if you remember), I appreciate the advice you gave me months back when I was first starting the process. I weighed the pros and cons, and went with Navy for rating/MOS purposes, but all input helped in the long run.


Thanks. I'm taking it pretty easy for now. Uncle Sam paid for my new Xbox, so that's going to be on the agenda for a good while.


To answer that question on the broad level, I wanted financial Independence. I got my degree and have been doing various jobs since, but nothing was really working out as a career, and I have been relying on my parents for financial stability, which is... not ideal. I wanted to join the military so I could develop a solid savings and reap the G.I. Bill at the end of my contract. I've spent the last year in a half trying to figure out how to get into grad school for Philosophy/Theology, but with today's economy, I don't even consider loans an option. There's a ton of grant money out there for tuition, but living expenses complicate everything.

On why I specifically chose the Navy, I just felt it was the most historically rich of all the branches. The Air Force is great, but it's a 20th century invention. Nothing wrong with that, but in terms of heritage, but I'd rather build a legacy with the Navy. Also, like I mentioned in my response to Truth, the Navy gave me the job I wanted, which was Cryptology (CTR). The Army and Marines weren't even an option. I'm not an athletic person, so doing either of those branches would have required a whole different level of training.

And again, if you have any questions, definitely hit me up.


Heh, thanks. May be swapping out Cactuar if I find something more fitting.

Welcome home Temp. Sorry things didn't work out exactly as planned, but you're a smart guy. Keep chasing your dreams and things will work out just fine.

Yes!!!

I just wanted to say something ,I should have said in my first post. Your a smart , educated guy. I am sure if you keep at it, you will reach your goals.

Exactly. It really almost hurts to see people down when the military doesn't work for them or whatever. This job, regardless of branch or MOS, is despite what people try to make you believe actually is very thankless and unforgiving. Particularly when you have a unit that honestly doesn't care about the soldier and only cares about making a name for itself. Units that only care when people are looking.

I just hope I can impart some wisdom and knowledge through my time serving and the hellish wasteland I'm almost done doing a tour in. You really don't want this. You might think you do but you really don't. It's that feeling that you stand a real chance of dying mere months or even days before you make it back to the US. That your death won't even really mean anything to anybody aside from the people that are there sucking with you and family and friends back home. I've been thinking about that more and more with these past few missions I've been a part of.

This isn't necessarily towards Temp but to others considering this way of life. There is so much there for you in the civilian world. You have unlimited possiblity and potential. People just can't see it because they've been so bombarded with lies and their own self destructive limitations they put on themselves; compounded by the fact that despite how bad your life seems it can be much worse. You just have to work or fight for it. It might take your whole lifetime but eventually it things will come together for you.

Just gotta believe in yourself. You're stronger, smarter, and tougher than you realize. Don't let the military fool you into thinking they can turn you into something better...there's nothing they can do or change to you that isn't already there. All that confidence and strength is there you just don't know how to bring it out.

Blah. I don't know why I just typed all that. I guess I just have a lot of shit, fear, and angst on my mind lately.

That's strange that they would send you home for something as simple as flat feet. I work in a medical office and we have a podiatrist there. I haven't really seen any extreme cases of flat feet in people for as long as I have worked there. While it may be something that you truly wanted at the moment or not, the military is not for everyone. I joined the army this year only to leave due to failure to adapt. It's not a dishonorable discharge but man was I glad to be back home. At least you can say you tried. I know I did and now I can start focusing on my passion for music. Something that I longed for quite some time now.

Just be thankful that you have your health. it's what matters the most. Take care.

I was once told by some old miltary pals of mine that one cannot get into the military if he/she has flat feet.

Is this not true?

I thought it was. I know that one of my grandpas always told me he couldn't serve in WWII because he had flat feet(my other did serve quite admirably in the Marines, 2 years in the South Pacific in 26 campaigns and over 100 individual battles).

I'm very sorry to hear your this career path didn't work out for you, UserName. Does this mean you won't get any of the G.I. Bill benefits you were hoping for?

Nice post Truth,

I like hearing your viewpoint being over there. From what I hear, it’s beyond stressful. Good luck to you and TemperaryUserName.