Reply #22: The services are a good way [View All]

[BlueCollar]

to change the direction of one's life. If it hadn't been for the Navy I wouldn't have my career today.

That being said, you said "...she seems committed to this choice..." and that i think is the important aspect of the whole thing.

The service is a committment and not one to be taken lightly. In my experience, it is also an organization that has a lot to offer however I would advise AGAINST a hasty decision...

By that I mean...what exactly is the Air Force recruiter offering as an MOS?

BTW in the Navy it is known as an NEC (Naval Enlistment Classification)

The school in California is probably the defense language Institute in Monterrey...used by all branches of the service and all the spook agencies...NSA/CIA/ABC/123...yadda/yadda....and it is VERY GOOD...enjoys an excellent reputation, but you can get there through a variety of methods. Mostly used to train intelligence related billets but I believe that the Diplomatic corps (State department) uses the institute also.

If she is to be trained there...and French is the language she will specialize in...and her billet/MOS will be cryptology/intelligence etc. then the safety factor is somewhat improved. They are unlikely to want to place an intelligence MOS in a combat zone...but as has been pointed out...they can switch your MOS any time they want.


Bottom line, Air Force or Navy ...less likely to face sustained combat situations...Army/Marine Corps ... it's what they do for a living ...Coast Guard...Good luck...highly desirable and damn tough to get in to.

Best of luck...but don't let her be too hasty with her decision...recruiters don't all lie...you just need to make sure that the decision making process is measured.