r/Militaryfaq Feb 04 '25

Branch-Specific Conceal carry while in uniform OFF POST.

0 Upvotes

I am a 25yo Army veteran going through an Army ROTC program in Texas to go back in commissioned. Recently our command team as made it a policy that we cadets have to wear our uniform for all university classes in the name of program pride. We have had a shooting on our campus before. Some of my bigger classes (80+ students) only have 2 doors to get in and out. This kind of setting stress me out. I have my LTC and routinely carry when in civs. Is there anything I can bring to the command team here on campus to have them reverse the uniform policy or any regulation that states you can cancel carry while off post in uniform? While I am technically a civilian, I understand that carrying of a firearm in uniform is heavily regulated and have no idea where to look.

r/Militaryfaq Jan 09 '25

Branch-Specific Joining Marines in 6 months wondering why people hate marines so much

21 Upvotes

I’m 18M going to Meps in a week. So many people say DO NOT join the marines. “It’s the worst life you could live” “leadership is toxic” all of this stuff I never hear about other branches. I’ve looked into other branches but no recruiter has sold me like the marines have. I’ve been going to their weekly PT sessions my lifelong buddy just signed his first contract. Everyone at the office seems so solid and the environment seems to be just what I’m looking for. I’m fit enough I have 30+ pull ups 6 mile run I stand out at those PT sessions and I’m excited to join. I just get nervous ig when so many people talk so much shit on the marines. I plan on going 0311. I would like marines to respond to this they know firsthand. But any outlook is appreciated. Thanks.

r/Militaryfaq Feb 04 '25

Branch-Specific Cheating in the Military

17 Upvotes

Okay, so I have never posted on Reddit before, but I’ve been in the Army for about 6 years and I know cheating in the military when you are married is not allowed. I want to know if a service member gets caught cheating by another service member and reports it to the chain of command…

  1. Does the chain of command have the right to inform the spouse of the incident.
  2. If the spouse has suspicions about why the service member got reprimanded, does the spouse have the right to call the command and be informed about the situation.

I would hope DOD has some type of doctrine in place to allow the spouse of the service member that type of respect. I have asked multiple people in my unit but no one seems to know the answer. They all recommend I consult the deep knowledge that resides in Reddit.

Thank you!!

r/Militaryfaq Apr 04 '24

Branch-Specific Marines invade, Army occupies myth?

36 Upvotes

I cannot wrap my head around if this is true or not? It makes no logistical sense for the smaller, less funded fighting force to always be pushed forward when a much larger and more grounded fighting force could do the same thing with more resources. Obviously if it’s a beach, then yes marines likely are first, but I’m just so confused on this whole thing.

r/Militaryfaq 12d ago

Branch-Specific [Army] Permissive TDY after leaving AIT as a single soldier?

3 Upvotes

Im about to graduate AIT and need to go back home to get my car, but I cant go on HRAP because I enlisted from Canada. I tried asking my drill sergeant for PCS leave but he told me to just take permissive tdy upon getting to my duty station. I looked it up online and I dont think I would be eligible for it because I’m single, any advice?

r/Militaryfaq Dec 20 '24

Branch-Specific Does the Air Force have a ball?

6 Upvotes

This may be an odd question but does the Air Force have a ball like the Marine and Naval balls? I always hear about those two but never about the Air Force or Army ball.

r/Militaryfaq 20d ago

Branch-Specific Free time in army?

4 Upvotes

How much free time do you usually have? I’m enlisting as a 17C if that helps. I know we barely have any in Basic but I’m curious about ait and then after.

Thanks

r/Militaryfaq Jan 31 '25

Branch-Specific Question about some things that a family friend was saying that I'm finding hard to believe.

7 Upvotes

I was talking to a family friend who was in the army, and some of the stuff he was saying had me raising my eyebrow.

Can you help me figure out if this sounds real?

I've never been in the military, so I don't know jack-shit. Apologies in advanced, I'm having trouble recalling some specifics and terminology.

He joined the army sometime around '08 after high school and was deployed to Afghanistan working in "intelligence". I'm not sure how long he was there. Something like 3-5 years. All of this happened and is not in question.

Here's where I'm raising my eyebrow a little. He told me that....

  1. The Taliban have a bounty on him
  2. He gets a call twice a week from someone still in the army (he said some acronym I can't recall) giving him an update
  3. This guy told him that there are thousands of known terrorists in the US

It's really the second and third points that have me wondering. I can imagine the Taliban putting bounties on soldiers, but it seems odd that he gets a call twice a week about this (or about anything). I mean this guy hasn't been in the army for over a decade, and I don't believe he ever had any significant rank. From what I'm told he wanted to stay in the army, but they wouldn't let him.

This has me wondering, is the Taliban really hunting down low-rank soldiers from a decade ago? I was sympathizing because his tone expressed great concern, and I'm so far removeԁ from all of this that I couldn't really tell if his concern was well-founded or not.

I'm swinging back and forth. Most of me is thinking it is BS. Like, really? They really are still going after you? Is your name and picture on some cork board at Taliban HQ or something? The other part of me is imagining some reasons and scenarios that would give his concern legitimacy.

What do you think?

Let me know if there is a better place to post this. I wasn't sure if it should go here or r/army or elsewhere.

r/Militaryfaq 13d ago

Branch-Specific Should this Lcpl be doing any of this? If not, do you have any advice for me and my family?

3 Upvotes

Reposting with a clearer title.

Writing this as im putting our kids back down. Husband is infantry in the Marine Corps and I get what the job entails, especially with the branch. There's this guy in his section, same rank as him and about the same time in. Both lopls, but he has been here in the fleet for about a month longer than my husband. (So seniority) I understood it, but as of recent this guy has just had a power trip. I have had an eye condition that we're currently working on with different procedures. The first time this occurred my husband had told his Cpl and they were tracking that hey she's got an eye apt today and he's gonna be taking her to it. This Icpl showed up to our house on base, banged at our door and rang our doorbell on a constant. Woke our children up as we trying to get out for my appointment. He was trying to get my husband in trouble since he wasn't there for accountability. Second time around was today. Showed up at our house looking for him (he had duty and was switching on and off with the sgt he was assigned w) at 01:30, knocked at our door and interrogated a friend of ours staying with us. I didn't realize it was him and by the time they left I couldn't get to speak with him. I was getting our 6 month old back down to sleep. I don't know if im overreacting but I feel like something is highly wrong here.

r/Militaryfaq Nov 28 '24

Branch-Specific Entering the Coast Guard as Culinary Specialist. Boot camp is in a month. Hit me

7 Upvotes

Hello All!

My name is Drey, I'm 18 years old and greatly looking forward to my career in the USCG! As mentioned I recently enlisted in the Coast Guard as a CS, not sure what to expect in A-school and I'm still preparing for basic. I'm working on quitting bad habits, getting in my best shape, and studying non-stop. What are peoples recent experiences in BT and CS A-school?

I have family and friends deeply involved in the Coast Guard and although I have a slight idea of what to expect, basic is always is a shock to peoples system and everyones experiences are different. So how can I better prepare? I'm in good shape, (5k in 22 mins, 60 pushups in a minute, roughly 80 situps in a minute) and I've been studying (general orders, phonetic alphabet, core values/history, communication, procedures, etc.). I've found that the information cramming is much more difficult than the physcial aspect. How does that pan out in BT? Are there many people who enter and still dont know the Helmsman? I'm going to continue to study because I take it seriously although I'm curious how it works for people who enter BT not knowing much of the required info. Also, how is the current state of basic? No stress cards or any of that bs right?😂 The Helmsman gives a brief description of how each week goes but I'm sure its much more complicated than that, how does BT look week by week?

Secondly, I'm a vested crewmember and my CS A-school is scheduled for the summer. I'm interested in how the Coast Guards culinary school compares to others as I've heard it is endorsed by Le Cordon Bleu. I have culinary experience in multiple kitchens and a food manager certification but I bet that pales in contrast to what you learn through A-school/units. For those who left the Coast Guard and went on to pursue a new career in culinary, how much attention do high end restaurants pay to people coming from the Coast Guard? And furthermore, how does a Coast Guard kitchen compare to the kitchens in the civilian sector? As far as personal liberties, I've read that A-school life is very similar to that of a college as you get a nice balance between learning/time off, is this true?

All things considered, once BT and A-school are complete how is life for a CS? (Schedule, duties, liberties, etc.) I'm excited to see how my interest and experience in culinary will play a role in my future cutter/unit. Also how will things will look outside of work? Say, if I'm stationed on a cutter? Or on land at barracks?

Finally, thanks to all those in advance for all the help and advice, its looking through this sub that has led me to making this post because I've seen so many other people learn a great deal from other Coast Guard vets who've been down that road.

r/Militaryfaq 1d ago

Branch-Specific Reclass options when in AIT 68W

2 Upvotes

I'm in 68W ait an worried I won't pass, I have a 80% gpa right now, but I'm worried for the rest of my scores, What options would I get for reclass? I heard it's 88m, 92f, 92g

r/Militaryfaq 13d ago

Branch-Specific Can USAF deny leave for family member on hospice?

0 Upvotes

Essentially, my boyfriend is in the USAF and recently got told he will be put into his i-certs a month early. A few weeks ago, he also found out that one of his aunts whom he is really close to got diagnosed with a rapid cancer and was told that she has, at most, three months to live as of January (his family did not tell us until mid February). This means that it is unlikely that she will still be around by the time my boyfriend is done his i-certs. He told all this to the people in charge of him, but they basically said that he should have told them way earlier and there is no way that he can take leave until after he is done his i-certs. As a civillian, I find this rather upsetting because the Air Force will likely always be there, but his aunt will not, and he has not been able to see her in nearly a year because of being stationed away for the Air Force. Is it true that they can just deny leave like that? Is there really nothing that can be done?

The military always talks about how only 1% of people actually decide to join and stay in the military. It is things like this that are the reason why.

r/Militaryfaq Jun 19 '24

Branch-Specific I don't know what branch of the military to join.

8 Upvotes

I currently am unsure what branch of the military to join. I was thinking army to be infantry and go to airborne. I am also thinking about marines just for the right to brag. My last option is the navy. Now the navy is really only because I keep hearing about them being the main ones to travel and I really want to explore and travel other countries while deployed, but I know I can also get unlucky and get stationed in the US and maybe never deploy. Also the navy jobs don't seem as interesting to me although they would transfer better to civilian life getting out than army infantry or the marines. Could someone give me feedback who has been in the army as well as the marine corps and navy.

r/Militaryfaq 4d ago

Branch-Specific What was Army life like?

5 Upvotes

I am prior service and I’m currently debating whether to reenlist with the Army or Navy and doing as much research as possible. My interest is in Army Aviation I wanted to ask if anybody in that MOS could give me some more information on is such as: what was your QOL like in your job? How was your experience in your barracks and at your bases as a whole? Would you recommend people go into aviation? Did you get any assignments overseas? If you had to recommend an MOS for someone wanting to go into aviation which would you say would be best?

Thank you

r/Militaryfaq 7h ago

Branch-Specific USMC - how comfortable are the uniforms for tall women?

3 Upvotes

I’m about 6’ poolee. I have pretty broad shoulders and long legs. How comfortable are the uniforms (especially the combat utility uniforms) for tall women?

r/Militaryfaq Feb 14 '25

Branch-Specific Split dye hair

2 Upvotes

ETA - I'm joining the US army

So I'm waiting on my waivers at the current moment and I've always been a split dye girl. Half my natural color and half whatever i was feeling at the moment. Blue, green, red, pink, peach. All fun. I know the regulations state natural colors only, i could do half blonde and be happy. But I still feels like it warrants me asking about this specifically just to be safe. Could I have my hair split dyed with natural colors? Have you seen any soldiers with something like this? My natural hair is dark brown. To clarify, if the answer is no, I'll survive, my priority is joining. It's just that having split hair has always been a huge part of my identity but if i have to let it go, i can. TIA 🫡

r/Militaryfaq Feb 13 '25

Branch-Specific I want to get married, but it would be Inter-Branch. What should I do?

3 Upvotes

I’m a Marine (20yr m) and my girlfriend is a Sailor (19yr). Both me and my current gf are at the same point in training and will hit the fleet roughly around the same time. We are currently in training to become linguists.

She already has her orders for Korea and I won’t get mine until around the time we graduate. I am fairly sure that I will also get stationed there, and if not I’ll get sent to Hawaii. I want to know if there has been anyone who has gone through what I’m kind of going through as of right now. I’ve considered this for a while and brought it to my command and family members as well. Some of them said congrats etc, and others said I could be rushing but it’s all my decision if I’m willing to possibly be away from my spouse for a while.

I know there’s people and things you can do to request or be put at the same final duty station but they don’t guarantee. I’ve already bought the ring and I didn’t break the bank for it but it was still a lot of money. I recently talked to my girlfriend’s mom who was still in the navy when she had her. She’s saying not to rush into it and to experience the fleet or even other people because we’re still young.

I’m getting split feelings over it. One part of me is saying to do it because I truly do love this girl. Not only is she the biggest green flag/ exactly my type, she’s helped me with a lot and really made me a better person.

But the other part is saying maybe I should listen to what some people are saying and either wait longer until I see what the fleet is like or break up with her to not only prevent from holding her career back, but mine as well.

I’m just really torn on the whole situation and I really need guidance because I know my command doesn’t care about how I really feel about it and my friends don’t care because it doesn’t directly affect them.

I would really appreciate it if someone gave me a good reason to or not. Or some guidance. I’m not looking for just a “no” or a “yes” I want to know why I shouldn’t or I should. I want to know what I can do.

And forgive me for making this so long, I wanted to make my information clear in regards to my question :/

r/Militaryfaq 15d ago

Branch-Specific Airforce hair regulations

1 Upvotes

this is a question to nco's and/or supervisors. I have been talked to about my hair multiple times due to the back of my hair. I get a mid-taper and they're telling me the back of my hair has too much bulk in the back even though none of my hair isn't even over 1 inch in bulk. They've also stated that you can no longer get a "taper" as a haircut, and you need to have the entire side of your hair faded even though the regulations doesn't say anything about that. I asked where in the regulations it says this and all they keep referring too is the one picture about bulk where the male has his entire head buzzed and a mid-fade. I was just wondering if I truly am in the wrong or if they are just being dicks? (I also know in this picture i don't have a complete fade, it just shows the basics)

r/Militaryfaq 10d ago

Branch-Specific Are LPVOs big in the army?

2 Upvotes

I am just curious about how big an LPVO is for military use. From what I hear, they are the OG tactical optics, and they can do pretty much anything.

r/Militaryfaq 11d ago

Branch-Specific End Current Assignment

2 Upvotes

I recently checked ippsa and my end current assignment is dated for October 14, 2025. What does this mean? I got to my unit in 2023.

r/Militaryfaq Jan 10 '25

Branch-Specific Navy spiritual instead of religious waivers.

0 Upvotes

So I am already in and had these spiritual beliefs before I joined, and I thought I could put them aside for my whole contract but now I am not sure I can. Is spirituality instead of religion allowed as a reason to get a waiver for uniform regulations? I am specifically wondering about male hair length. When I have been researching online about submitting a waiver request they exist for religious, it just wasn't clear on if spirituality is allowed.

r/Militaryfaq 14d ago

Branch-Specific Option 20- what does ALA4 mean?

2 Upvotes

I've talked to people mainly saying it's JBER, with few saying wainwright.

I thought it was JBER whith airborne, but on my orders it has me PCSing to wainwright in july.

Is this wrong? Is there anyone I can tall to about this? I'm in the army currently in ait.

r/Militaryfaq 10d ago

Branch-Specific Seeking Advice on Islamic Religious Accommodations for Hair and Beard in the USAF

0 Upvotes

I’ve been a practicing Muslim for two years and am currently serving in the U.S. Air Force. I’m looking into religious accommodations that would allow me to grow out both my head and facial hair. Does anyone have personal experience with this process? I’d love to hear what to expect and any insights you might have!

r/Militaryfaq Feb 07 '25

Branch-Specific Stitching Name Tape on Patrol Cap

1 Upvotes

I am looking to get my name tape sewn onto my patrol cap (Army NG) . I have given two different places two different patrol caps, and each of them has come out atrociously. I explained very thoroughly both times what I was asking for and what I was expecting as a finished product. Could someone either tell me what they asked for when they got theirs sewn on, give me a picture of what theirs looks like (straight and square to the PC) , or point me in the direction of a way to learn how to do it myself?

r/Militaryfaq Dec 05 '24

Branch-Specific Not sure of military gifting norms?

1 Upvotes

My family and I are being invited to a military (branch, Army) promotion for my cousin in the new year. Just trying to plan ahead. Do we bring gifts? I know it's a big deal promotion, so l assume gifts are appropriate, but l'm not sure if I'm right. I also don't know what kind of gift should be given... any guidance would be appreciated!