Expert: MARK A. HOWELL - 11/9/2010

Question
if your not married but have kids can you still join?

what is the differences between all the army,air force,navy ex. by that I am also asking about benefits an schooling along with what they do?

what is the difference between active duty an being in the reserves?

I am very interested in joning i just dont really know anything about all of them. I am hoping with all your experience you could help me.  

Answer
Kalee,

1.  Yes, but you may not have more than 2 dependents.

2.  They're exactly the same, by law.

3.  Basically, an active-duty person does his/her military job full-time for a living.  A Reservist usually has a job as a civilian and puts on a uniform and performs military duties one weekend a month and two full weeks a year.  Reservists only get paid on the days they actually do their military duties.  That figures out to an average of 38 days a year for which they get paid.  There are some exceptions, but generally that's how it works...a part-time job.

Military life in each of the services is pretty much the same, only the jobs are different.  The mission of the Army is defeat an enemy on the ground and assume long-term control of an area.  The Navy fights battles mainly on the sea and provides support along the coasts.  The Marines travel by water to an area and go ashore and establish control of an area short-term. The Air Force provides air superiority over an area of conflict and provides long-range destruction also.  The Coast Guard is mainly in the business of saving lives, no taking them.  It provides security along the U.S. coasts.

Because of these different missions the individual jobs are somewhat different, but still very similar.  A man with a gun is a man with a gun, no matter which Service he is in.  Same with a communications specialist, fuels technician, engineer, etc.

I usually advise women to join the Navy or the Air Force if they're undecided.  There are women in all the Services and they certainly do an excellent job.  However, in my experience, women in the Navy and the Air Force seem to enjoy their jobs more and are happier with military life.  That's purely my observation after 30 years, and that's what you asked for...my opinion.

Think about what occupation you'd really like to do for the rest of your life.  Chances are, the military has that same career field.  Plus the military has some field you won't find in everyday civilian life such as nuclear weapons, etc.

Do some research on the Internet and decide which Service sounds best for you.  You can find a list of occupations for each of the Services at these web sites:
Army: http://usmilitary.about.com/od/enlistedjobs/tp/armyenlistedjobs.htm

Navy:  http://usmilitary.about.com/od/enlistedjob1/Enlisted_Rating_Job_Descriptions_and...

Marines:  http://usmilitary.about.com/od/enlistedjo2/a/marinejobs.htm

Air Force:  http://usmilitary.about.com/od/airforceenlistedjobs/a/afjobs.htm

Coast Guard:  http://usmilitary.about.com/od/cgjoin/l/blcgjobs.htm

Best of luck and thanks for considering the military.
Colonel H