Why does everyone say life in the military (U.S) is no good?

maya_zaviks

I once had a CO who told me that you would hate Six out of Seven days of being in the Army, but one day out of the week would make it worth it to be a soldier.

It's very true. Like any other job you have good times and bad times, but the good have always outweighed the bad in my case.

Berderderder

I absolutely loved the time in Active Duty that I had. I was 19 y/o at the time I entered my Permanent Duty Station. I was lucky and got stationed in Germany, and absolutely loved it. There were times I hated it too. A lot of it can depend on the chain of command you have and the people that you work with, just like the civillian world, but I wish I had never left active, and plan on going back when my guard contract is done.

Jason L

Love it

Why do some people say life in the military is no good? Because there are some people who hate the military, who answer these types of questions, that have never been in the military just want to give it a bad rap. There may be some people who have been in the military and had bad experiences and tend to generalize everything as bad.

The military is what you make of it. There will probably be some bad experiences, depending on how long you stay in. However, the majority of your experiences will most likely be positive.

You will get training to do a job, meet new people, travel to places. You will become a member of a team.

ET1 (SS) USN retired

It was okay.

I liked the high level of pay. The ability to complete college while serving. And the investments.

My 20 year pension has allowed me to retire. :)

Mary Jo's Ghost

To tell you the truth the only people that I hear say that are traitors, cowards and other general losers that have never served.

NavyCrab

It's the same thing as many people will say that they HATE their jobs. They would quit the jobs if they were to win lottery.

Quite a few military members and former members joined for the wrong reasons. And once they realized that the military is not for them, it's already too late. Plus, they can't just get up and quit the jobs, since they're under contract.

Military is just like any other jobs (for the most parts); there are good days, and there are bad days. Fortunately for me, I picked and qualified for the job that suits my personality well.

BUNNii

well i am not in the army but i am in a relationship with a soldier. what is bad about it is the time you are apart from the people you love and of course deployment.
But dont judge so fast. the military makes people stronger and you value the time a lot more.

c0w60y

I retired after 29 years. AND THEY PAID ME!
For one, I loved being a soldier. I liked being part of a team, my wife and I traveled as I was transfered all over the world, from Korea to Germany, to North Carolina, to Texas. Everywhere we would go, we would meet old friends and gain new ones. I'm still in contact with my "Band of Brothers" from Vietnam.

There are downsides, military - base housing was horrible in some places, not until recent years did money come in to make some of these places more liveable.

Lots & lots of benefits like medical, dental, optical, etc. Discounts on travel, vacations, theme parks as well.

As a retiree, I still get these benefits.

Deployments to combat zones was hard, very hard. Especially for wives or children who are left behind to take care of every little thing like fixing the plumbing to paying bills on time, not to mention worrying about getting a telegram, or a visit from the post chaplain.

Jeez, I just talked MYSELF out of this! I QUIT!!

Oh yea, too late. Been there, done that, got the T-shirt.

Srekal

the people who said that, were they ever in the service??....anyways...the service is great, it is a full time job though, they might complain the work is hard and manual, but the service takes care of you....they help you financialy, physically, mentally, and so on.....the military is great, i love it!

The military is good once you get used to it. A lot of the guys who say military life is bad are usually former service members who got kicked out for disciplinary problems. They came straight from high school to to the service being babied and suddenly find themselves being responsible for their actions. Usually they compare what they make to other people saying they don't make any money, not factoring in the extra benefits they get and the fact that they don't pay rent and get free food if they are single or deployed.

The other people who say it are usually civilians who think joining is a ticket straight to Iraq with a early return in a body bag. Or they heard the stories of guys who got kicked out and assume it is like that for everybody. You are going to have your bad days in the military but you can have that with any job. Half of the stuff some troops do would get them fired in the civilian sector but they usually just get a minor punishment instead. Even coming up positive in a urinalysis won't get you kicked out in most cases if it is your first time and you aren't an NCO or Officer.

Jill C

I don't know who you're talking to, but my husband has been in the Army for 14 years. We have been married for 12. He absolutely loves his job and both of us feel the Army has been very good to us. I couldn't imagine our life without the Army. Separations can be difficult, but I have a very full life outside of him and he really enjoys what he does so time goes by fairly quickly when we're apart. The military community is extremely supportive. Despite what many say, the pay is good. I know it would be difficult for my husband to get a job in the civilian world making what he does now. At one point he looked into the police force, but would be making less than half he does now. We never have to worry about medical care. The Army paid for his Bachelor's Degree. He has received excellent training, traveled around the world, and has established strong friendships. My husband will stay in for at least 20 years, at which point he can draw a retirement check and still be young enough to work a second job if he chooses to get out.

RYAN S

Dude.....I cant believe I get paid to do what I do. I love it.

Mike S

Life in the armed forces isn't for everyone. There are separations both long and short, there is duty to be performed even when you are home in garrison and the pay isn't anywhere near the greatest or even comfortable. I had to take someone's overnight duty for 20 bucks to earn the money to afford my oldest daughter a birthday cake on her first birthday. And then there are the important dates that you miss out on because of that very same duty. Missed x-mas', birthdays and sundry other holidays. But the time's you are together...well they can be the best in the world. No, life in the military isn't for everyone but then again neither is life in the civilian world. It is what you make of it. A little tougher than life on Wall Street but it can be very rewarding. I fully enjoyed my 26 years in the Army with a family. I have two daughters, one son, five grand daughters and three grandsons. And my wife and I are still together in retirement. Yep, satisfying and rewarding. Good luck to you.
...Mike S...

G-Man

I know that my cousins and uncle would dispute that notion.

medici1206

I'm guessing, the complaints are based on the demands put on the troops and the meager pay they get.
Our troops do more than any other career demands, risk more than any other career demands, and pay less than any civilian counterparts (same jobs!). Our troops sacrifice more and receive less. They are the most overworked, underpaid, and sadly- often underappreciated workers out there.
What they do is incredible. What they receive is miniscule. What they expect is nothing. It really is mind boggling...
I was raised in the military and am now married to it and can see exactly why people dont' jump to join. It's a hard life adn it isn't for everyone. However- there is a very simple formula: Want less or earn more. In the military, the odds of earning more are pretty slim, LOL!-- however, it's easy to want less. We become content with less things and happier with more self respect. Our priorities are different, that's all. The military life- well- it's a tough one. But for many, it's the most rewarding life they could ever have.

moonhonie

People say its no good because for what you do you very rarely get paid the right amount to do it. but you are getting paid to learn the trade plus all the extra benefits. i will say that it's def better for a single member b/c the family gets left behind alot, but all the other families are there to band together, plus you know what your getting into before it happens. The military isn't for everyone, but the people that complain are those people you see in civilian life that can't hold a job anyway

Lovin my Army Man

People who say life in the military is bad are people who were never in the Military or people who joined up expecting it to be something completely different than it is.

It takes a man or woman with heart, pride and some crazyness insdie to be a true soldier in any part of the military and every single person who gives it their all should be honored and thanked. The ones who leave because they "hurt" their back or the women who get knocked up to leave should have never been in there in the first place.

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