How do I help my little brother get out of the Marines? My little brother (well, not so little anymore) recently graduated from Marines' boot camp and is now in infantry training (I think, I'm woefully ignorant of military terminology). He recently expressed to me online that he's basically had enough with the Marines and wants to go home. Is there any way he can do that simply and legally? Would he have to get a dishonorable discharge. Seriously, I know nothing about the military having come from a long line of cowards. Can he just leave or is there some special process? Is there some kind of hotline or something he can call to be counseled on this stuff? [more inside]
posted by anonymous on Nov 9, 2009 - 29 answers

Is there a central source that will clearly, objectively explain all the different paths through the US military? Enlisting versus ROTC versus other routes to entry, different ways of becoming an officer, different ways to get an education/get your education paid for, the different schools offered within the different branches, what jobs tend to be combat-related and which ones don't, how choosing a career path works, etc? [more inside]
posted by anonymous on Aug 12, 2009 - 6 answers

I'm liberal, non-religious, college-educated, and I think I want to join the Coast Guard through the "Blue 21" direct-to-aviation officer's program. Am I crazy? Is this a viable option? Who can I talk to, other than recruiters? [more inside]
posted by anonymous on Oct 9, 2008 - 14 answers

Tell me about what it's like to be in a military family. [more inside]
posted by anonymous on Sep 11, 2008 - 14 answers

How can I get to know U.S. military culture? Details inside. [more inside]
posted by anonymous on Apr 12, 2008 - 20 answers

Current and former civilian Department of Defense employees, are/were you treated as second class citizens? [more inside]
posted by anonymous on Feb 19, 2008 - 10 answers

What sort of things should I write about to my soldier pen pal? [more inside]
posted by anonymous on Nov 19, 2007 - 18 answers

Besides the glaringly obvious, what might a soldier home on leave like to do? [more inside]
posted by anonymous on Sep 17, 2007 - 24 answers

My friend has been accused of rape, which I think is absurd. Need legal advice for him (especially from anyone familiar with the U.S. military court system) and emotional advice for me. [more inside]
posted by anonymous on Jul 25, 2007 - 30 answers

Help me give informed consent about being an Army wife. Ridiculous amounts [more inside]
posted by anonymous on Jan 16, 2007 - 38 answers

I'm thinking of joining the Air Force with an eye towards a flight or airfield operations officer position, and I could use some advice on how to maintain control of my career so that I don't end up in a dead-end position in a place I don't want to be. [more inside]
posted by anonymous on Oct 8, 2005 - 10 answers

Are there any queer mefites with military experience?

I'm thinking of enlisting in the U.S. army after I graduate from university this spring. As in, I really want to do this, depending on MOS restrictions my red/green colorblindness impose on me. One of the things I have to consider, though, is my penchant for sleeping with members of my own gender. I think I "pass" pretty well, but I'm curious if there's anyone out there with experience spending time in the military closet, or alternatively, you have associated with a soldier whom you knew was in the closet. If you have general military advice, feel free to lay it on me, but I have probably seen most of it one place or another. As in, some might be tempted to tell me to get a commission if I've got a bachelor's, something that doesn't interest me.

Thanks for your help!
posted by anonymous on Nov 16, 2004 - 13 answers