Navy/Army etc

ste_bla · 15 Jan 2008 at 20:34

Now I was trying to tell a mate who's thinking about joining the navy about the possible downsides and he doesnt believe me and i cant seem to find any details online. So is the following true, somewhat true or false;

1) After basic training you cant drop out
2) You only get out early if your kicked out or injured in some way
3) If you go AWOL they hunt you down wherever you go and you end up in prison for longer than the minimum service
4) If you do a civilian crime the mit. take over and you end up a lot worse off

Haiku · 15 Jan 2008 at 21:42

ste_bla said:
1) After basic training you cant drop out

You get six months and are then tied in for four years. That's all I know for sure.

Biohazard · 15 Jan 2008 at 21:44

ste_bla said:
Now I was trying to tell a mate who's thinking about joining the navy about the possible downsides and he doesnt believe me and i cant seem to find any details online. So is the following true, somewhat true or false;

3) If you go AWOL they hunt you down wherever you go and you end up in prison for longer than the minimum service
False, they sometimes look. People go awol for years though
4) If you do a civilian crime the mit. take over and you end up a lot worse off
False,depending

Vulcan · 15 Jan 2008 at 22:08

ste_bla said:
Now I was trying to tell a mate who's thinking about joining the navy about the possible downsides

1) After basic training you cant drop out

Well, if he wants to join the military, why would he want to leave anyway?

You can leave after 6 weeks of basic so I believe, before you complete the last 2 weeks.

ste_bla said:
4) If you do a civilian crime the mit. take over and you end up a lot worse off

I would rather be in a highly regulated and disciplined military prison, than a pound me in the ass prison.

ste_bla · 15 Jan 2008 at 22:12

Longbow said:
Well, if he wants to join the military, why would he want to leave anyway?

If you end up not liking it even after basic training it can be difficult getting out

I'm not trying to discourage but trying to say its not all fun games and like the ads on TV.

Ghosteh · 15 Jan 2008 at 22:13

ste_bla said:
Now I was trying to tell a mate who's thinking about joining the navy about the possible downsides and he doesnt believe me and i cant seem to find any details online. So is the following true, somewhat true or false;

1) After basic training you cant drop out
2) You only get out early if your kicked out or injured in some way
3) If you go AWOL they hunt you down wherever you go and you end up in prison for longer than the minimum service
4) If you do a civilian crime the mit. take over and you end up a lot worse off

All of these things would be explained to him if he went into an AFCO(Armed Forces Careers Office) and told them he was thinking of joining up. It's not like they are things that would be hidden.

Sinque · 15 Jan 2008 at 22:13

Longbow said:
I would rather be in a highly regulated and disciplined military prison, than a pound me in the ass prison.

Speaking from experience there or?

ste_bla · 15 Jan 2008 at 22:14

Ghosteh said:
All of these things would be explained to him if he went into an AFCO(Armed Forces Careers Office) and told them he was thinking of joining up. It's not like they are things that would be hidden.

Ahh fair enough, he sent off forms and made an interview yesterday thats how we started talking about it

MoratJG · 15 Jan 2008 at 22:27

ste_bla said:
Now I was trying to tell a mate who's thinking about joining the navy about the possible downsides and he doesnt believe me and i cant seem to find any details online. So is the following true, somewhat true or false;

1) After basic training you cant drop out
2) You only get out early if your kicked out or injured in some way
3) If you go AWOL they hunt you down wherever you go and you end up in prison for longer than the minimum service
4) If you do a civilian crime the mit. take over and you end up a lot worse off

I can only speak from my Army experience. We are going back a while.

1) We could leave, by our own choice, any time before the 6-week point. After 6 weeks it become more difficult, but certainly possible. After completing training we were required to give 12 months notice.

2) Not true. I suspect it's even easier to leave these days.

3) True, to an extent. Your name will remain on the list until you are caught, or confirmed dead. Whilst you are unlikely to "hunted" there are specialised units, called "A and D's", (Absentees and Deserters) that operate with civilian police to track down AWOL's.

4) Depends on the crime. For most civilian offences you will be dealt with by the civil police and courts. Sometimes you might get time in both military and civilian prison but I dare say this is becoming less frequent. Each case will be treated on it's own merits though, so it's hard to give a definitive answer.

I would add though, that if your friend is thinking like this he might want to seriously re-consider his decision to sign up.

xen_ · 15 Jan 2008 at 22:35

He could always take cocaine and get out that way. A popular option as a last resort to get out.

Biohazard · 15 Jan 2008 at 22:38

xen_ said:
He could always take cocaine and get out that way. A popular option as a last resort to get out.

lool

Scythe · 15 Jan 2008 at 22:45

Biohazard said:
lool

It's the truth. Many soldiers now take some cocaine/weed etc. and go tell their commanding officer for a quick get out.

waterproofbob · 15 Jan 2008 at 22:54

It depends what branch or the Navy he is applying for, Army is a set service after basic, where as Navy it depends what your are being trained to do. They aren't that strict but it is certainly the best part of 18months commitment after the first 6week period. It also depends if he is going in as a rating or is going for officer training.
Also seems a very extreme way of looking at a career, if you think you are going to want to go AWOL then why join up. If you commit a crime on a forces base the likelihood is that it'll be dealt with by the MPs.

Dist · 15 Jan 2008 at 23:06

if i remember right, if you sign up for 4 years, and pass basic training, then although you can get out after a 12 month notice, you will be placed on some sort of army reserve thing untill your 4 years is over. Im not exactly sure how it works, but i guess it means its possible to get out with 12 months notice in peace time, but with manpower shoratages and war, reservists will be called into duty, so if you leave and become a reserve for the remainder of the 4 years, you should still be sent to war unless you choose to go AWOL.

Also, if your friend is between 16 and 18 then they get an extended period where they can choose to leave the army, something like the first 6 months after basic. After that point, its as hard for them to leave as anyone else.

Personaly i plan to join the army myself once i finish my degree as a soldier in the signals. Although there are some downsides, to me, the positives outweigh the negatives. Pay is better then working at a helpdesk, i get to travel the world, make a living AND still continue to learn so many skills. The advantages of joining the armed forces are often overlooked, but they are there.

ste_bla · 15 Jan 2008 at 23:10

waterproofbob said:
Also seems a very extreme way of looking at a career, if you think you are going to want to go AWOL then why join up. If you commit a crime on a forces base the likelihood is that it'll be dealt with by the MPs.

Not for me, with kids and that not a chance

If i didn't then could well be a different story

peetee · 16 Jan 2008 at 00:55

ste_bla said:
1) After basic training you cant drop out
2) You only get out early if your kicked out or injured in some way
3) If you go AWOL they hunt you down wherever you go and you end up in prison for longer than the minimum service
4) If you do a civilian crime the mit. take over and you end up a lot worse off

1 : like said its 6months or something, you can also easily get out numerous ways by being rubbish at your job or whatever, claim its affeceting mental health bla bla bla.
2 : as above
3 : yes you do get hunted down because its a criminal offense to do a runner, you MAY end up in prison, but there is a trial etc for this, so a lot of things can be taken into account, If you're not stupid you will be able to go to a shrink and be diagnosed as going a bit loopy and get away without any punishments and no dishonourable discharge. She went AWOL with her bf who was due to go back to military prison for an offense, she claimed she'd gone doo-laly and is now working in a dentist. During your hearing it would also be shown in your defense how miserable etc you have been and reasons for leaving, aswell as evidence of discussing this with peers and trying to get out, it can be then ruled that you had a moment of temporary judgement lapse as you felt you had nowhere to turn.
4 : 4) If you do a civilian crime the mit. take over and you end up a lot worse off

Whats that meant to mean? It depends on cirumstance.

Have you ever thought that maybes some people are actually happy with joining the forces? And love it. Why try and put him off, hes got 8weeks of basic which is generally as bad as it gets in a lot of ways to make his mind up, then 6months in whatever trade or position he has decided to do.

You can buy yourself out before your minimum service time is reached with some professions, if the training hasnt been much, generally wont be a massive buyout since people need to be able to afford it.