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Demarriyon
Student
North Little Rock, Arkansas
1
Question
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How do I know if joining the military is right for me ?
How do I know if joining the Military is the right fit for me ? Lately I've been asking myself this because of my size.
Being skinny only weighing 120 and being 5'8 makes me rethink joining the military. Being that skinny is only making be doubt if I successfully do any weight or conditioning right, which I know I won't be able to do every task they give me but I don't wanna get babied and have to do less because everyone else around me is bigger.
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4 answers
Ryan Pfeiffer, MA
Firefighter Lieutenant / EMT
117
Answers
Fort Collins, Colorado
Updated
Ryan’s Answer
Hey Demarriyon, glad to hear you're considering military service. I can you've already got a great attitude because you're not just worried about yourself - you're worried about letting down those around you by not contributing as much. That's exactly the team focused mindset that you'll need.
Like others have said, if you have the inclination I encourage you to try. You'll be put through some initial medical testing at a place called MEPS, and there will be minimum fitness requirements you're required to meet, either just before or right at the start of boot camp. If you don't meet the standard yet it may extend boot camp a few weeks because the first few weeks you'll spend in a separate unit just focused on bringing your fitness up to those minimum standards. You may be surprised how much progress you can make - these training units, drill sergeants, and fitness trainers do this for a living and I promise you you're not the first skinny guy to show up at boot camp.
Not sure how old you are, but if you're on the younger side you may also still fill out with time. I was never skinny myself, but I have been 5'10 since the 6th grade - I was 130lb then, increased to 170 in high school, and now hover around 200 - but I stayed 5'10" the whole time. So you may or may not still fill out a little as you get older.
Lastly, there are a variety of fitness requirements, size requirements, and job requirements depending on your branch of service and your occupational specialty. I'm not sure what draws you to the military...if you want to be a Recon Marine then yes, you might find your size more of a challenge, but if you want to be an Air Force Intelligence Analyst it may never be an issue again after boot camp.
The older I get the more I think "what if." I'm sure we all do. If you keep coming back to this idea, it may stick around for a very long time and you don't want to still be thinking about it when you're 40, cause then it's too late. If you're young, unmarried, and no kids you've got more freedom and opportunities now than you ever will. Go on adventures, take calculated risks. Even if you don't find the military isn't for you (like I did), your 4-6 years will be done in a flash and then you'll still have 40-years to work somewhere else. (Not to mention all the training, education, and VA benefits you'll earn in those few years).
Hope this helps. Let me know if you have any more specific questions.
Ryan
U.S. Air Force, 2014-2018.
Like others have said, if you have the inclination I encourage you to try. You'll be put through some initial medical testing at a place called MEPS, and there will be minimum fitness requirements you're required to meet, either just before or right at the start of boot camp. If you don't meet the standard yet it may extend boot camp a few weeks because the first few weeks you'll spend in a separate unit just focused on bringing your fitness up to those minimum standards. You may be surprised how much progress you can make - these training units, drill sergeants, and fitness trainers do this for a living and I promise you you're not the first skinny guy to show up at boot camp.
Not sure how old you are, but if you're on the younger side you may also still fill out with time. I was never skinny myself, but I have been 5'10 since the 6th grade - I was 130lb then, increased to 170 in high school, and now hover around 200 - but I stayed 5'10" the whole time. So you may or may not still fill out a little as you get older.
Lastly, there are a variety of fitness requirements, size requirements, and job requirements depending on your branch of service and your occupational specialty. I'm not sure what draws you to the military...if you want to be a Recon Marine then yes, you might find your size more of a challenge, but if you want to be an Air Force Intelligence Analyst it may never be an issue again after boot camp.
The older I get the more I think "what if." I'm sure we all do. If you keep coming back to this idea, it may stick around for a very long time and you don't want to still be thinking about it when you're 40, cause then it's too late. If you're young, unmarried, and no kids you've got more freedom and opportunities now than you ever will. Go on adventures, take calculated risks. Even if you don't find the military isn't for you (like I did), your 4-6 years will be done in a flash and then you'll still have 40-years to work somewhere else. (Not to mention all the training, education, and VA benefits you'll earn in those few years).
Hope this helps. Let me know if you have any more specific questions.
Ryan
U.S. Air Force, 2014-2018.
Anne Emshoff
Retired
1
Answer
San Antonio, Texas
Updated
Anne’s Answer
The military might just be for you. First off, what branch are you interested in? If you are not sure, talk to all the recruiters and take note of the pros and cons. I was in the Army. I personally would recommend the Army, but it is definitely not for everyone.
Regarding physical fitness, you are thin right now, but you may well be up to the challenge. The problem with too many recruits is that they are overweight, not underweight. I recommend talking to a trainer and get an accurate assessment of your fitness. Height/weight does not tell the whole picture.
If you need muscle, I highly recommend getting on a nutrition and exercise program before signing up. The military is used to building people up, but a good level of fitness will make this a lot easier on you. I'd give myself about a year before actually applying to make sure I'm at a good fitness level before heading out to boot camp.
Also, the military is not just about fitness; that's just one component. You need to be patriotic and willing to serve out a full enlistment. If you just want job experience or the GI bill, but are not patriotic, you should decline. Patriotism and service should be your primary reasons for enlisting.
The Army has the largest numbers of job specialties and the greatest number of duty locations. It also is the oldest with grand traditions and genuine field training. It is not as physical as the Marine Corps, but more than the Air Force, Navy, or Coast Guard.
I wish you the best of luck. The military provides great training, education, fitness, and ability to travel. It also provides the best health care and life balance compared to any civilian jobs I've tried.
COL (RET) A. Emshoff, USAR 1994-2016
Regarding physical fitness, you are thin right now, but you may well be up to the challenge. The problem with too many recruits is that they are overweight, not underweight. I recommend talking to a trainer and get an accurate assessment of your fitness. Height/weight does not tell the whole picture.
If you need muscle, I highly recommend getting on a nutrition and exercise program before signing up. The military is used to building people up, but a good level of fitness will make this a lot easier on you. I'd give myself about a year before actually applying to make sure I'm at a good fitness level before heading out to boot camp.
Also, the military is not just about fitness; that's just one component. You need to be patriotic and willing to serve out a full enlistment. If you just want job experience or the GI bill, but are not patriotic, you should decline. Patriotism and service should be your primary reasons for enlisting.
The Army has the largest numbers of job specialties and the greatest number of duty locations. It also is the oldest with grand traditions and genuine field training. It is not as physical as the Marine Corps, but more than the Air Force, Navy, or Coast Guard.
I wish you the best of luck. The military provides great training, education, fitness, and ability to travel. It also provides the best health care and life balance compared to any civilian jobs I've tried.
COL (RET) A. Emshoff, USAR 1994-2016
Sue West
Retired military
7
Answers
Updated
Sue’s Answer
Joining the military is a big step, and it's okay to worry about the physical challenges. If you find it too tough, the worst outcome is a discharge without any negative mark on your record. If you're eager to join, give it a try. With the right training, you might surprise yourself with what you can achieve. At basic training, you'll meet others who feel just like you, and together you'll form a strong team. The support and belief from your peers will push you to succeed.
When I wanted to join the Marines after high school, I was worried about a specific event in the physical test. I practiced daily and trusted that I could do it. With determination and faith, I went to Boot Camp and passed with ease.
Before you start, you'll have a physical exam. Talk to the doctor about your chances of handling basic training. They can give you helpful advice and feedback.
Good luck on your journey!
When I wanted to join the Marines after high school, I was worried about a specific event in the physical test. I practiced daily and trusted that I could do it. With determination and faith, I went to Boot Camp and passed with ease.
Before you start, you'll have a physical exam. Talk to the doctor about your chances of handling basic training. They can give you helpful advice and feedback.
Good luck on your journey!
Carmen B
IT support
2
Answers
Norfolk, Virginia
Updated
Carmen’s Answer
Different branches of the military offer different roles. If you join, after boot camp, your job may not be all the physical. You’ll have physical test and challenges but just being in the military will not mean you face them everyday. During annual or bi annual physical test your weight and age are factored into your expected outcome.
For the branch you’re interested in, find out the passing standards for their fitness test and test yourself at home.
There will be plenty of folks and all different sizes. Some will be self conscience about their weight, height, their ability to run or swim or climb. That’s what bootcamp is for and if you feel even mildly confident in your practicing I think you’ll be fine.
For the branch you’re interested in, find out the passing standards for their fitness test and test yourself at home.
There will be plenty of folks and all different sizes. Some will be self conscience about their weight, height, their ability to run or swim or climb. That’s what bootcamp is for and if you feel even mildly confident in your practicing I think you’ll be fine.