And no disrespect, insult, or offense taken.

The thing I have against putting one's life on the line is that life out of the Army is just as, if not more, dangerous. Case in point: a young man agreed to an appointment here a few months ago. He liked the information, but was unwilling to commit because of the inherent risk associated with military service. A month ago, he was found dead, beaten to death on a sidewalk in Lufkin. Yeah, civilian life is much more safe than Army life.

I also know that I would prefer knowing that I died in honorable, noble to service to a cause greater than my own paycheck or perceived personal safety. That and the thought that my name will be immortalized in brass, granite, and/or marble bringing honor to my family name. When the Nation called, I was there to protect and defend Her when others were...unwilling. No greater accomplishment, IMO. Yet again, I am biased. I am a Soldier and a Non-Commissioned Officer.

I really considered the Armed forces once I got out of High School but just couldn't put my self out there in harms way. Of course as stated before majority of armed forces are not in combat but yet there is always that risk.

wtf are they thinking canning ALL the admin assistants? Sure they'll save money on the bottom line but now they're spending $30-$40 an hour to have the engineers deal with the stuff the admin assistants had been doing...

Too bad you can´t cross the border swimming to find better jobs.

I've really considered it, my job working making sandwiches @ Potbelly really sucks. On the app and orientation I told them I wanted full time and the most they can give me is 20 hours because they are giving all these highschoolers spending cash that want to work there instead of giving college kids a chance and giving us money that we really need to live. I also have yet another part time job and I only get 8 hours on that so I have a total of 25 hours a week from 2 jobs, its very sad. I'm currently looking for another, and it just isnt looking too hot.

Exacly. it used to be Smiths Aerospace, until GE bought it, and when GE came in they said jobs were going to be cut, which they cut some of the secretaries and kept all the good ones around, my grandma was a good one i guess lol, but then they came in this week and said everyone is gone on july 10th.

Man that sucks, the job market is bad right now but I just got a second job at a liquior store just to help out with gas and like activity money I need to go to clubs, amusement parts, etc. Virginia has alot of jobs and lots of people are hiring but there mostly like overnight jobs at home depot, target etc, and mc donalds, wendys but nobody wants a job at these places because there to big for that. To me at a time like this a job is a job.

I hope things get better for you a your grandmother boosten.

Yep, you and I are just two different people who chose two different paths. It worked out for each of us though.

there are tons of jobs available in IA right now, just not for skilled labor so much.

The hard part about todays job market is not the fact places arent hiring, because some places they are.

Its the fact that younger be like myself, Boostin, arl, and all the other young un-employed folk have to compete with other young 'unz and umemployed adults.

Yeah, I thought about joining the military right after high school. My dad was in the Army my whole early childhood when I was living with him before my parents split. I was in boy scouts, went to my dad's office, I was just enjoyed being around that stuff. I wish there was a way to do like a "trial period" and see if I would want to go the full distance and actually commit. I've always said that I think I woulda joined if I was living in the '70s, early '80s, because my dad always has these interesting stories to tell me. But IDK, maybe one of these days...

So after high school I went to work at Dollar General as an Asst. Manager and went to college full-time in business. I just went to a community college because I got grants and it was all paid for. I did that for about a year but I really couldn't decide on what I really wanted to pursue. I coulda went for one more year for free until I would have to transfer to a university for a bachelor's. Then that would mean loans and and money I didn't have at the time. I wasn't too crazy about having a debt to pay and interest. I was also looking at the future job market after I would graduate and obviously that didn't look too promising in the near future.

So I heard they were opening a brand new Honda plant where my dad lived. I hadn't seen him but maybe 3 times in 9 years so I decided to move to Indiana to get to know him while I can, and hopefully get on at this plant. I ended up getting called and i'm now employed over there. Decent benefits, a lot better pay than DG (at least for a 21 year old). So right now i'm just trying to see if I can move up in the company and just save as much money as I can for a nice down payment on a house. If this doesn't work out, i'll either look back into the military (barring injury/age) or i'll hit the books and go back to college. At least the bank account looks very nice right now in these depressing times. BTW, I don't just live with my dad & step mom and live off their support/being spoiled. I saved up the money to pay off my car while I was at DG, I pay my own phone bill, car insurance, RENT, food ...and help out around the house when needed and respect the ppl I live with. Thankfully i'm single and have no kids, no tie-downs. Just not looking for a family or relationship right now until I get to where I wanna be.

Right now there is my life story in a nut-shell. Hope you make the right decisions and look out for your future. ....and sorry for the long story, I was bored and had nothing else better to do. LOL!

Reese, you made me read all of that just because you were bored? wtf! lol just kidding.

Apparantly you had nothing else better to do than to read all of it... LOL j/p zzzzing!

Haha i was curious

I have thought about going OTR, for those who dont know what OTR stands for .. its Over The Road, and become a truck driver i just dont really want to be far from home, and now curently being only 20 until sept, i can only stay in the state of iowa, otherwise i found a job where i can drive brand new trucks from a manufacture close to my hometown, to FLA for 900 per truck, so i should be able to do 2 trucks a wk so some good cash for a bit but idk yet, OTR is my last resort