What's the best form of service to join? How much leverage will an associates in Liberal Arts give me?

Bob M

Coast Guard is only way to go.

Reyjaun

Here are some things you might want to correct. Living standards could be better depending on where you are comparing it to. Some branches have upgraded their facilities and living conditions so to generalize would be incorrect. Also the G.I. bill is the same for every branch. The G.I. bill is determined by DOD and not the individual branches. All branches fall under DOD. Only the Army and the Navy currently gives additional incentives to the G.I. bill. An associate will only get you a promotion to E3. The Marine Corp does not have medical corp, they use Navy medical personnel. No branch is worst than any other, if there was then we would only join one branch. Do no listen to any ignorant response. Learn about all the branches and what they offer then make an educated decision. It is your future and so long as you take the oath of enlistment and proudly wear you the US flag I would be honored to serve beside you.

SGT US Army Recruiter

MarathonWomen

Don't know about the rest but you can't join the Marines as a medic you'd have to join the Navy.

ETA - In the Marines that many college credits would grant you a one pay grade boost upon finishing boot camp, not sure if it's the same in other services.

Paradox

Don't join the military for the quality of life or pay. Join to serve. (No doubt you'll hear that many more time before you make your decision.)
If you're interested in air, space, and cyberspace power, then the Air Force is probably right for you.
It also strong medically, with a lot of options from optometry to aerospace physiology to public health to lab science. You could attach to anything from security forces to aircrew, and yes special operations.
Yes, the AF has some of the most rigorous special operations training. You have to want it with everything you've got, physically, mentally, and emotionally.

All enlisted job (MOS, AFSC, rating) training in the military takes place separately and after basic training (even if you're only separated by a bus ride). In the AF, most technical training for medical AFSCs is at Sheppard AFB (couple hundred miles north of Lackland). I think there are a few that are also at Lackland and maybe one at Walter Reed. Realize, though, that you'll most likely enlist into the "guaranteed aptitude area" that includes the medical AFSCs, which is the "general" area. Lot of other jobs in there.

USMC doesn't have medical MOSs; they use Navy corpsmen. All services use the same GI Bill. (Though, AF does not have a college fund, but it is the only one with anything like CCAF.) An associates degree itself won't get you much, but the college credit gets you advanced enlistment (20 credits to E-2, 45 credits to E-3).

Matteo85

I think you are on track with the Air Force. Each branch offers recruits the opportunity to select a specialization, so if you are interested in a medical career, you can ask to be committed to that program by your recruiter. Just remember, GET EVERYTHING YOU WANT FROM THE RECRUITER IN WRITING, otherwise you are at their mercy and they have quotas to fill.

Unfortunately, your Associate's won't do you any good. A Bachelor's would qualify you for officer candidacy, but there is an additional commitment.

The Air Force has a fairly robust FAC program, as well as a strong special forces contignecy, both of which need medical personnel. Of course you could always go with basic medicine as part of the MP (Military Police), or regular medical, such as support for flight surgeons, etc.

Whatever you decide, I would have a clear understanding of where you want to go with your medical career after you get out - that will help you decide whether to pursue medical training.

NWIP

Marine Corps do not have Medics, they have Navy Hospital Corpsman (HM) so do work with the Marines you have to join the Navy.

You don't spend a few extra weeks in basic for training you go to A School (Navy) or Tech School (AF) to go into the field. this isn't a few weeks, it can be months long depending on what you are going to be doing.

The highest you can go into either branch is E3 with an Associates if you are lucky. You also have to get a certain score on the ASVAB to even qualify for the medical field. Then you will have to wait until there is an opening which can be up to 1 year before you go.

Prospero Reincarnate

Of the military services, I favor the Navy. (too many religious holly rollers in the AF) If you want to be an officer, I usually suggest to get your BA before entering. (that's the best way to be assured of a commission before joining) If you're set against college for another 2 years (to get a BA in General Studies, or in a major) apply for the US Naval Academy.

Renee

Air force is the best, period. You really wont have much leverage based on having an associates, but if you joined ROTC and finished your bachlorres you could join the air force and get money to pay off your student loans, pretty sure. It's much better to join as an officer than as a grunt if you can do it.

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