When I took my asvab I was surprised when they told me my mechanical aptitude was really good…didn’t know a Phillips from a flat head but wound up as an aircraft mechanic which was fuckin dope!
Oh God, I was an idiot. My recruiter said I qualified for everything. I told him I wanted to be an Airborne Infantryman. He repeated, Everything, could write my own ticket. So I decided… To double down on an Airborne School and Infantry contract. If I could go back in time I’d give that man a beer, slap myself, and forge my own signature on a military intelligence analyst contract. I’d have loved that job, learning languages, embassy postings (travel), and being all up in everyone’s tea. But no 17 year old Maggoty had to be a dumbass.
Lmao, I have similar story but it actually worked out in the end for me. When I signed up for the Air Force I did really well on my ASVAB, but I told my recruiter that I wanted to leave as soon as possible because I just wanted to go already. Well she signed me up for open general, meaning the AF would pick my job for me. So I left for boot camp with no job and was assigned Cyber Security Analyst. Which was super lucky because I could have also been a cook or a cop or something
Former linguist here… I’d recommend not joining as a linguist on your first enlistment. Go in on something simple: admin, truck driver, something with a short tech school. Then re-enlist as a linguist.
For prior service students in a Cat IV language, Monterey is pretty much a ~2 year, paid vacation. You’ll have free time to attend college classes, take a part time job, or something else that will benefit you in the long run.
For initial entry students, it’s a 2-year, officially condoned and mandated hazing ritual.
When I took my asvab I was surprised when they told me my mechanical aptitude was really good…didn’t know a Phillips from a flat head but wound up as an aircraft mechanic which was fuckin dope!
Oh God, I was an idiot. My recruiter said I qualified for everything. I told him I wanted to be an Airborne Infantryman. He repeated, Everything, could write my own ticket. So I decided… To double down on an Airborne School and Infantry contract. If I could go back in time I’d give that man a beer, slap myself, and forge my own signature on a military intelligence analyst contract. I’d have loved that job, learning languages, embassy postings (travel), and being all up in everyone’s tea. But no 17 year old Maggoty had to be a dumbass.
Lmao, I have similar story but it actually worked out in the end for me. When I signed up for the Air Force I did really well on my ASVAB, but I told my recruiter that I wanted to leave as soon as possible because I just wanted to go already. Well she signed me up for open general, meaning the AF would pick my job for me. So I left for boot camp with no job and was assigned Cyber Security Analyst. Which was super lucky because I could have also been a cook or a cop or something
If it’s to see where you fit, they will put you where you fit.
Dude, you were kissed by Murphy.
Former linguist here… I’d recommend not joining as a linguist on your first enlistment. Go in on something simple: admin, truck driver, something with a short tech school. Then re-enlist as a linguist.
For prior service students in a Cat IV language, Monterey is pretty much a ~2 year, paid vacation. You’ll have free time to attend college classes, take a part time job, or something else that will benefit you in the long run.
For initial entry students, it’s a 2-year, officially condoned and mandated hazing ritual.
Having the right paperworks and acting on said paperwork are two unrelated things in the military.