Should Jack Move?

[Kaden]

Heh. I would love to hear your personal experience about the military, please.

It's extremely tough, especially a lazy videogamer like me. But if you go in knowing exactly what to expect and know what you want to get out of it, then it's a fantastic way to get your life on track. In Jack's case, it's a way for him to travel, learn some ridiculously useful skills in life and come back significantly richer with more job opportunities and college paid for.

I'm not saying that the military is perfect for everyone but don't just randomly walk into a thread and act like it's bad for everybody. As someone who actually went through the process (and still is), I can honestly say it's not as bad as people make it out to be.

You realize you just did the exact thing you're asking him not to do, right?

[Alura]

Uh, no? I'm not saying that military is automatically win and college is lose, but I've spoken to Jack about this personally and I don't think college is what would work for him.

If I gave the impression I'm 100% pro-military, I apologize. I do believe that for most people, college is the better options. For me, it wasn't, and I'm not sure it is for Jack, either.

[Kaden]

Don't worry about it.

[Ashe]

I've known more people that went in telling everyone how amazing the military treats them for the first year, and through most of year four they are frequently stating just how much they can't wait to be out and through with "all the bullshit". Then when I started college at one point, I was in it with a bunch of guys (and a girl) that had just gotten out of the Army and they pretty much all laughed in my face when I told them "Well, luckily school is completely paid for with you guys from the military". Said it didn't always happen and pointed out that a lot of people get promised things by their recruiters that don't necessarily make it into the contracts and even then, things tend to somehow find their way out of contracts over time (know a guy with severe scars up his legs from some type of bloodfly while in Iraq or Afghanistan, and they actually won't pay his medical now that he's out and he can't afford to fight for it).

Of course, as Reb appeared to allude to, there are likely just as many success stories as well. Its not something I've even entirely ruled out as a decision, just something that I haven't decided to go with at the same time.

[Super Buu]

If you believe the army does good things and you want to serve your country, by all means join the military, but I think it's a terrible idea to do it just because you can't think of anything else to do. There are many things you can do to force yourself to grow up (if you really want to push yourself) that don't involve signing your life away. Hell, go backpacking, that's my next goal. Or just live by yourself for a while in a new area, build some independence.

I'm not trying to bash the military here, btw, just trying to give some more ideas for anyone in a situation similar to Jack's. The military is often the first thing people think of when it comes to "I gotta man up and change my life", so much so that many people forget about the alternatives.

[Cain]

The military is often the first thing people think of when it comes to "I gotta man up and change my life", so much so that many people forget about the alternatives.

You can thank people who're paid to write motivational slogans and commercials for that.

[Jack]

I just got off the phone with the Marine recruiter I've been talking to, who for the past month has been telling me there is absolutely no way I would be able to go active duty (full salary, living on base, etc.) any time soon. Now all of a sudden his bosses have had a meeting where he's been given the green light to fill up a few more spots, and I can get qualified and actually enlist as soon as February. I know, right, FUCK THAT's GOOD NEWS. It's not.

The past 2-3 weeks I've forced myself into the realization that since I couldn't be a Marine, I would have to wait, and do this retarded college thing for at least a semester. That was a very hard 2-3 weeks. Now all of a sudden, (literally the day I call him to tell him what I've decided) he's all "well, actually...". Really frustrating and tiring. I've finally warmed myself to the thought of going (away) to college (I'm in community college already) and now this. :-|

Going to ignore him, do college for now, and talk to him again after the semester. If I think about this any more, which I probably will -_-, I will drive myself crazy and be back at square one.

[Celena]

If Jack is anywhere near as good at college as he as at finding the appropriate animated gif for any given situation, he will ace it.

[Jack]

[Celena]

[Jack]

I so want to smear feces all over this thread, you guys have no idea.

[Sage]

I was going to post a picture of a pile of shit and say 'give'r' but I googled 'shit' and then just closed the tab. I feel... a little bit dead inside.

[Ashe]

[Rem-13]