Hi, as you can see I'm new. I have been looking for advice everywhere on what to do with my life as I am graduating next year. I have always planned on joining the Air Force but because of recent events(i.e. Syria, gαy marriage, ect.) I am thinking that the military is not what it once was and if I were to go to war would I be justified? I have been considering something like firefighter or EMT or even the coast guard instead of the Air Force. I want a job that is not the 'corporate slave' type but that is also morally good. My father and I talk about it and we both agreed that a combat job in the military would be wrong, but would a combat medic job be bad or some other support type job?
Since I am new I will give you a bit of backround. I am homeschooled, I live on a farm with goats and chickens, I serve Mass, I am the oldest of 10, I used to play Lacrosse as a Goalie, and thats about it.
I would recommend becoming a navy nurse. If you are bright and do well , the navy will put you through nurse practitioner or physicians assistant school. You will also be able to attain good government jobs more readily than your peers after your service.
Hi, as you can see I'm new. I have been looking for advice everywhere on what to do with my life as I am graduating next year. I have always planned on joining the Air Force but because of recent events(i.e. Syria, gαy marriage, ect.) I am thinking that the military is not what it once was and if I were to go to war would I be justified? I have been considering something like firefighter or EMT or even the coast guard instead of the Air Force. I want a job that is not the 'corporate slave' type but that is also morally good. My father and I talk about it and we both agreed that a combat job in the military would be wrong, but would a combat medic job be bad or some other support type job?
Since I am new I will give you a bit of backround. I am homeschooled, I live on a farm with goats and chickens, I serve Mass, I am the oldest of 10, I used to play Lacrosse as a Goalie, and thats about it.
… I have always planned on joining the Air Force but because of recent events (i.e. Syria, gαy marriage, etc.) I am thinking that the military is not what it once was and if I were to go to war would I be justified? …
First and foremost, I recommend that you look for a thread called "First-hand experience in the Military." It may be found in the Catholic Living in the Modern World subforum.
Quote from: claudelFirst and foremost, I recommend that you look for a thread called "First-hand experience in the Military." It may be found in the Catholic Living in the Modern World subforum.
I simply cannot find this thread. At all. I tried google even.
Even as a noncombatant, the military is a sea of immorality, sex, even drugs, and women in the service are implicitly encouraged to be (and often are) whorish.
You should not seek a wife there unless you find quite the exception.
The military is not interested in your desire to access *Catholic* sacraments or clergy. You will, at least, have access to a 'chaplain' who may or may not be a Catholic, and they need not even provide you with Catholic 'Mass', and will tell you your spiritual needs are accommodated by the offering of a non-denominational "Christian" service.
This may or many not happen, but be aware it is a possibility. This particularly complicated confessions as well.
Lastly, you will have to endure immoral men in your unit, who will be the norm, as well as an insistence you tolerate now-open ɧoɱosɛҳųαƖity.
These things would be true of almost any job, although the military magnifies these issues of immoral, unCatholic coworkers by also controlling where you live and in what situation you live (until you decide to get your own apartment off base).
So, it can be endured. You'll have to endure the world eventually anyway, but the military is different from being a waiter at a Chili's while you work your way through a community college, because you can go *home* at the end of the day instead of rooming with degenerates (possibly, although there are good people who are not Godless in the military). You can attend Mass on Sunday if you work at a restuarant, retail store, fast food, etc. The military you may get deployed and have to rely on the Mass options (or lack thereof possibly) available where they deploy you.
So, it has pluses and minuses. You will certainly make more money in the military from a lifestyle perspective than you will working entry level jobs while you go to a junior college.
Another option is a skilled trade apprenticeship. People say these require connections, and while knowing someone in a trade union helps, you can get an apprenticeship through diligence, especially since most entrants into apprenticeships "washout", that is, they do not finish because they are unmotivated or uninterested.
You can literally call unions and/or go to their websites to inquire about apprenticeships, or ask a local licensed tradesman (depending on the state you live in) if they'll take an apprentice or know someone who is.
There are more than plumbing, electrician and carpenter.
There are millwright, elevator mechanic (the highest paid bar none), structural steel, various portworkers like the longshoreman, boilermakers, etc all of which have unions and training programs.
Good luck, and pray for St. Joseph's intercession. Set yourself up to be able to afford a family by getting a skill.
You will find the sea of immorality just about wherever you go. God has given us the grace to be Catholic and we have to live that holiness that God calls us to. And who knows who you could be a vehicle of conversion for?
Honestly, the military is the best gig going for any young man that doesn't have appropriate connections to obtain employment after college.
I would discourage the military as an option, unless you wanted to excel at some exclusive military skill like flying a fighter jet or some military activity.
Quote from: Capt McQuigg
I would discourage the military as an option, unless you wanted to excel at some exclusive military skill like flying a fighter jet or some military activity.
Someone advised me the opposite was true. He said for every pilot in the air there are 200 people supporting it. He said get a math or engineering degree and go in the AF, they have the nicest facilities for families.
I wish my former husband would have joined the Army. After college he did require service in his native country's military and the same position here was really in demand.
Quote from: TiffanyQuote from: Capt McQuigg
I would discourage the military as an option, unless you wanted to excel at some exclusive military skill like flying a fighter jet or some military activity.
Someone advised me the opposite was true. He said for every pilot in the air there are 200 people supporting it. He said get a math or engineering degree and go in the AF, they have the nicest facilities for families.
I wish my former husband would have joined the Army. After college he did require service in his native country's military and the same position here was really in demand.
What country is that? I didn't know there was mandatory service--is it a draft?
He knew our situation and was just advising what would be a good path for my son as a young adult.
Hi, as you can see I'm new. I have been looking for advice everywhere on what to do with my life as I am graduating next year. I have always planned on joining the Air Force but because of recent events(i.e. Syria, gαy marriage, ect.) I am thinking that the military is not what it once was and if I were to go to war would I be justified? I have been considering something like firefighter or EMT or even the coast guard instead of the Air Force. I want a job that is not the 'corporate slave' type but that is also morally good. My father and I talk about it and we both agreed that a combat job in the military would be wrong, but would a combat medic job be bad or some other support type job?
Since I am new I will give you a bit of backround. I am homeschooled, I live on a farm with goats and chickens, I serve Mass, I am the oldest of 10, I used to play Lacrosse as a Goalie, and thats about it.
Quote from: IuvenalisEven as a noncombatant, the military is a sea of immorality, sex, even drugs, and women in the service are implicitly encouraged to be (and often are) whorish.
You should not seek a wife there unless you find quite the exception.
The military is not interested in your desire to access *Catholic* sacraments or clergy. You will, at least, have access to a 'chaplain' who may or may not be a Catholic, and they need not even provide you with Catholic 'Mass', and will tell you your spiritual needs are accommodated by the offering of a non-denominational "Christian" service.
This may or many not happen, but be aware it is a possibility. This particularly complicated confessions as well.
Lastly, you will have to endure immoral men in your unit, who will be the norm, as well as an insistence you tolerate now-open ɧoɱosɛҳųαƖity.
These things would be true of almost any job, although the military magnifies these issues of immoral, unCatholic coworkers by also controlling where you live and in what situation you live (until you decide to get your own apartment off base).
So, it can be endured. You'll have to endure the world eventually anyway, but the military is different from being a waiter at a Chili's while you work your way through a community college, because you can go *home* at the end of the day instead of rooming with degenerates (possibly, although there are good people who are not Godless in the military). You can attend Mass on Sunday if you work at a restuarant, retail store, fast food, etc. The military you may get deployed and have to rely on the Mass options (or lack thereof possibly) available where they deploy you.
So, it has pluses and minuses. You will certainly make more money in the military from a lifestyle perspective than you will working entry level jobs while you go to a junior college.
Another option is a skilled trade apprenticeship. People say these require connections, and while knowing someone in a trade union helps, you can get an apprenticeship through diligence, especially since most entrants into apprenticeships "washout", that is, they do not finish because they are unmotivated or uninterested.
You can literally call unions and/or go to their websites to inquire about apprenticeships, or ask a local licensed tradesman (depending on the state you live in) if they'll take an apprentice or know someone who is.
There are more than plumbing, electrician and carpenter.
There are millwright, elevator mechanic (the highest paid bar none), structural steel, various portworkers like the longshoreman, boilermakers, etc all of which have unions and training programs.
Good luck, and pray for St. Joseph's intercession. Set yourself up to be able to afford a family by getting a skill.
You will find the sea of immorality just about wherever you go. God has given us the grace to be Catholic and we have to live that holiness that God calls us to. And who knows who you could be a vehicle of conversion for?
Quote from: Capt McQuigg
I would discourage the military as an option, unless you wanted to excel at some exclusive military skill like flying a fighter jet or some military activity.
Someone advised me the opposite was true. He said for every pilot in the air there are 200 people supporting it. He said get a math or engineering degree and go in the AF, they have the nicest facilities for families.
I wish my former husband would have joined the Army. After college he did require service in his native country's military and the same position here was really in demand.
I agree with the moral/ethical issues of joining the military. But I have looked into stuff a little more and I came up with three possible ways I could do service to my country.
1. I could try out for one of these 'elite' units( i.e. SEALs, Pararescue, Special Forces.) because they seem more focused and more competent than regular "grunts." For most of these their recruitment websites on the requirement list they want people with no criminal record and moral standards (for instance, they aren't going to give some slum-dawg gang-banger a navy SEAL contract, or any special operator contract for that matter). Now the down side of this is that I might be used for 'peacetime' direct action missions that help further the agenda of O' and his ilk.
2.I could join the national guard. That way I wont be around the homo/drugs/anything-else crap 24/7, only 2 days a month and 2 weeks a year and plus I would get skills, experience, ect., and still have time for family and I dont have to move around so getting to Mass wont be so hard. The downside of this is that There is a great chance that I will be activated and sent to Afganistan ( 55% of troops there are National Guard). Also the NG are the true cannon-fodder, they train 2 days a month,get the picture? There is a Special Forces NG unit in Florida but you have to be at least 21 ( their website claims that they are up-to-snuff with active duty SF units). NG people go to regular army (or Air Force) training and boot camp :drillsergeant: (obviously).
3. I could just become a Firefighter. They get okay pay and as they go up in the ranks they make more. I would help my local community, I wouldn't have to move around, and it Isn't morally questionable, in fact it is morally good.
What say you!
Hi, as you can see I'm new. I have been looking for advice everywhere on what to do with my life as I am graduating next year. I have always planned on joining the Air Force but because of recent events(i.e. Syria, gαy marriage, ect.) I am thinking that the military is not what it once was and if I were to go to war would I be justified? I have been considering something like firefighter or EMT or even the coast guard instead of the Air Force. I want a job that is not the 'corporate slave' type but that is also morally good. My father and I talk about it and we both agreed that a combat job in the military would be wrong, but would a combat medic job be bad or some other support type job?
Since I am new I will give you a bit of backround. I am homeschooled, I live on a farm with goats and chickens, I serve Mass, I am the oldest of 10, I used to play Lacrosse as a Goalie, and thats about it.
My husband and I both served in the United States Army. I can attest to a few things. Firstly, there is a definite class system. Officers are the educated elite and have their own code of ethics. Since most of these men and women are from an educated family background with intact families and/or moderate financial status, they often have better insight, discipline, and moral values. Most of the enlisted personnel are from broken homes, poverty, limited access to education, and have questionable values to begin with. Living with a few hundred 20 somethings in a barracks can be a cesspool of moral degradation. It would make you sick to know some of the things these people do. The NCO's are often the worst because they come from the same questionable background but now have certain amounts of power and prestige.
Also, certain people are drawn to certain branches. The Army, for example, is about 20% black. Most of these are enlisted. This brings a certain attitude and atmosphere to the ranks. About 15% of the entire military is also now female. And many of those are black. It's a good place for a black woman of limited means to get ahead, have a steady income and housing.
Also, at a certain point, Officers really can't get promoted without meeting certain criteria. Almost 75% of officers are married as opposed to the enlisted which sits about 40 or 50%. They are expected to get married and their wives are expected to participate in some organization or activity on post. It's a political thing, so to speak, where at a certain point, officers must campaign for promotion. They have parties and hob-nob. Perhaps this is why many men in politics got their start in the military.
Yes, the military uses it's enlisted personnel as guinea pigs. I honestly believe that if they drop biological weapons my husband and I will survive because we have probably been vaccinated against just about everything. The only thing you can refuse is a flu vaccine, if and only if you have had a past docuмented reaction to it.
Why do people even consider joining? It's obvious. Life in the military is often a better choice than scraping and scrapping for survival. It's sometimes a way out of a terrible life. There is discipline there of some sorts and if you play your cards right a certain level of security and protection. You have a steady paycheck, always have housing, have free medical care, and rarely lack for anything. Some people think in this economy the pay off is worth it.
For those considering becoming an officer, the choice is often to pay back student loans, get some training in specialized fields like pilots or intelligence, and for political aspirations.
Truth is in this economy, even having a skill such as carpentry or electrical wiring does not always put food on the table.
Our son, who graduates college in December, is trying to get accepted to OCS in the Navy. He's spoken to us at great length about it. We've prayed about it. And while we are aware of the many dangers and problems with the military, we are okay with his decision. He doesn't plan on making it a career, but hopes to serve about 8 years.
Probably unlike most here, I don't take either position that "yes, it's a great idea" or "no, stay away from the military at all costs." I think all factors must be considered. Perhaps it's a better living environment for some. I don't think for most, though, a "career" is what one should consider. It ages you before your time. It changes you. You have to be very strong to withstand the emotional and spiritual attacks you will face.
Also, I was in quite some time ago. Now ɧoɱosɛҳųαƖs are freely admitted, and certain things that were not permitted those years ago are permitted now.
Generally speaking, I would say that unless you have a good plan and that you understand the bottom line, one should not join the military in any capacity.
What is the bottom line? You are expendable. You belong to the government. You will be placed in situations that will cause you direct harm, even death, for your government. Anyone who is opposed to this or who can't accept this, should not enlist nor take a commission.
FWIW, very few jobs today are conducive for traditional Catholics. If one is using this lone criteria for seeking employment, then one will either be greatly disappointed or unemployed. We no longer live in a society where moral values are respected or valued. Some careers, obviously, have more issues than others. But we do have to feed our families.
Young men are facing some hard times. I believe it's best to discuss these matters with both parents and priests. We must also be honest with ourselves about the world in which we live and our expectations.
Just my two cents....
Since most of these men and women [officers] are from an educated family background with intact families and/or moderate financial status, they often have better insight, discipline, and moral values.