We just got a new guy here in Iraq, he's 23. He's been in Iraq for about a month and has already made up his mind not to reenlist. But he is active duty. I am not going to try to talk you out of joining the Armed Forces, but I am going to tell you somethings you need to be aware of. Even as a National Guard Soldier, if they need you over here, you will be coming. As far as I know the Guard is stretched really really thin these days. If you went 19D Cav Scout you would be trained at Ft. Knox, KY. Keep in mind though, as a Cav Scout you might be put into an Armour Unit and become a Tanker. I know, ground-pounder to Tanker. It also happens the other way around. There is something called having a secondary MOS and when you sign up as a Tanker, your secondary MOS is Cav Scout. At least that's how they treat the guys that go active. Also, remember you are signing up during a time of war when almost every part of the Army is stretched thin, so they can, and will, throw you where they need you. I am a Tank Mechanic, so I've gotten to learn a lot about what Tankers go through, and the Cav Scout switch thing. I am on my second tour in Iraq, but not by choice. I have been Stop-Lossed 20 months beyond the end of my contract. So I signed up for four, and will spend almost six. I also don't work on Tanks anymore. The Army is so short handed here in Iraq that they put us, an Armour Unit, in a place where the roads are not big enough for Tanks. So we use Hum-Vs and the new MRAPs.
Tankers are now Infantry, and I hardly work on Tanks. I now work on vehicles that I've never been trained on. Which is fine, I can adjust, and I care about keeping Tankers as safe as I can. But these guys didn't sign up to be ground-pounders. In my first deployment, and this one, I do the job of a Tanker, Infantryman, and a Mechanic. So in this type of war, you will do much more than your job. If you are ready for that, that's ok, but you need to know that it happens. I suggest you got straight to LE. Why? Because even as a Guardsman you can be Stop-Lossed and that might delay your real plans. However, if you really are set on joining, go Air Force! I have never seen a pissed off, job hating Airman. I'm sure they are out there, but they always seem to in a better mood. As far as I know they have yet to use Stop-Loss. Do NOT go MP to become a cop on the outside. It's the kiss of death. LE agencies will not take you. I know a friend you tried that, and many other since I've been in the Army. Pick a job only after you have done some serious research on it, because your recruiter may not know anything about it beyond the little description the Army provides for him. Also understand the Stop-Loss is in very wide practice right now, so expect to serve more than what you sign up for. Check out the Navy or the Air Force and see if the can offer you a better deal. Also, ask your Army recruiter about Stop-Loss and then watch him dance around the issue and throw out some BS answer.
