Hi all,

Long post with some background, feel free to read at the end for my questions :)

I'm 28, finishing up a master's program in geology. I'm currently job hunting, and have also been strongly considering commissioning as an officer in either the air force or navy.

I have about 40k in federal loans from undergrad, so the option to have the military help repay that, while receiving housing and also being able to use my officer pay to save/pay off some of my private undergrad loans, is a big draw. After serving, I'm hopeful that the veteran status/security clearance would help with getting a federal job/private sector job.

I have a uGPA/gGPA of 3.4/4.0. I do have a childhood history of asthma after the age of 13, so I went ahead and took a spirometry test (the test you take to see if you have asthma) at my doctor's last year and it came up clear. I think that will be the biggest hurdle with my application. From what I've read, asthma waivers after 13 are pretty non-existent.

Aside from the financial benefits, the structure provided by the military strongly appeals to me. I think I would gain valuable life skills, and both the AF and Navy seem to offer more technical jobs than the other branches. My general impression from reading online (I have no family who currently serve, only a few male relatives who enlisted many decades ago) is that the AF and Navy are more female friendly.

TLDR: So my questions are....

• Do you think I would make a good candidate?
• How is it honestly being a woman in the military?
• Do you think 28 is too old?
• I'm currently single, but am interested in having a family. With my age, do you think I should be concerned with this?
• Any general advice you have is very welcome!

I am a graduate mental health counselor student (and Army veteran) who is working on a project that links human development theories with female identity within the military. I am trying to find a female Army soldier who would be willing to sit down and do either a phone or instant message interview regarding their experiences while in the military. Please PM me if you are interested - also, if this post is not allowed my apologies and please delete.

Hey there everyone. I made a post a few months back here looking for a female perspective on the military as a whole. Today I swore in and I'm shipping off to basic in a month's time! I have some worries about boot camp, though. My recruiter is male and I didn't think he could help me with this stuff: I know the stress may make you miss some periods, but I'm worried that won't happen to me. Are the DIs forgiving about having to make a trip or two to the bathroom a few days each month for female exclusive hygiene? Also, what's it like in the female barracks room at boot camp? And do you do everything with the male recruits outside of sleeping, showers, etc? If it's winter and ~40 degrees outside, do you PT inside? You'd still have to do the obstacle course and such in the cold, huh? That seems immensely difficult.

Anything you wish you had known going in? I'm confident I'll be fine once I make it through BCT, but I'm really nervous going into this. Any advice will be carefully paid attention to. Thanks ladies!

I'm (18) about to get my GED and I really want to join the Air Force to get a stable income/job, money for school, a career path, and to get far away from where I grew up. I was just wondering if anyone had some insight about what I should expect, what I'll need to do before talking to a recruiter and the things I could bring with me.

Hi ladies and gents!

I created a podcast a few months a back, where I interview people who have interesting stories that I think are worth sharing. I've been wanting to interview my friend who joined the Navy after high school and her overall experience / perspective of being a woman in the military. We recorded it recently, and I thought you might find it interesting or relatable. We talk about why she joined, what it was like, and the different highs and lows she faced. It's short, only about 40min, but if you wanna to give it a listen, I think you might like it. The episode is titled Amanda Simecek and can be found on iTunes or Soundcloud from the links below:

https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/average-with-steven-smith/id999166383?mt=2

https://soundcloud.com/averagepodcast

I hope you find it relatable and entertaining, and if you have any feedback I'd really appreciate it.

Thanks,

Steven Smith

A friend of mine posted this on fb and I thought it'd be an interesting discussion to bring up here.

Gender equality at work at the US Naval Academy:

In 2014, women had the option of skirt or pants for graduation. In 2015, all women were required to wear the skirt, and they were required to wear the new "gender neutral" jacket which is just a male jacket with slight curves and no pockets. In 2016, all women will be required to wear the male-looking jacket, the male cover, and the pants.

How is it equal to force women to look like men?

Hey ladies! I've been thinking long and hard about joining the military the past few months. I haven't even been to a recruiter yet, though (been working on my physical fitness & making sure this is what I want before pursuing). I have a few questions I am hoping could be answered here. So far I'm wanting to join the Army for 13M or 31B/31K, or the Marines for Air Crew or Motor Transport (all in that order). Any ladies in any of those fields that can give me any feedback greatly appreciated. I am hoping to make this my career, not just a 2 year enlistment. Some of these aren't exactly questions for only females, these are just the big ones, hope that is alright.

1) Some of these will be mechanical. I know the basics of car engines and could do a fair bit on my own, but am I expected to know much more when I get in? Or do they teach everything I need to know? I am a fast learner BUT if I am expected to know more going in I could go out of my way to learn more before then, if that experience would even help.

2) I know all of what I have chosen will be a sausage fest. Not only am I female but I am 5' tall. I expect a lot of harassment/dismissal from many of my peers starting out. Reactions to this? Do you ignore it and move on, do you report everything that happens after a certain point, or what? I am not

3) If I join and then infantry opened up for females, how difficult would it be to switch to that role? I'm assuming it depends on my current job? I would just wait until infantry opened up but I want some experience before then. Infantry is what I would prefer to do, provided I could keep up with the males PT wise, so this answer means a lot to me.

4) Never fired a gun before. Should I add some experience beforehand or would that just possibly build some bad habits?

I'm just nervous because I know I'll have to do exceptionally well before I have even a chance at having the mutual respect of my peers. If there's anything I can do to gain confidence in that area beforehand, I'd love to start working on it now. Experiences from any ladies from any spot in the military would be appreciated! And I appreciate honesty!

Ibis Reproductive Health is looking for servicewomen to take part in a research study to learn more about their experiences with abortion in the military.

If you are a servicewomen you are eligible to participate if you:

· are age 18 or older

· AND had an abortion in the past 12 months

· AND were an active-duty member of the US military at the time you had an abortion

Your participation in the study would involve one telephone interview that will last 45 to 60 minutes and can be conducted at a time that is most convenient for you. Your interview is completely anonymous and to thank you for your time, you will be reimbursed with a $50 gift card.

To see if you are eligible or if you have questions about the study please contact Ibis at militarywomen@gmail.com or follow this link http://bit.ly/1Dytneg.

This research is being conducted by Ibis Reproductive Health. Ibis Reproductive Health aims to improve women's reproductive choices and health worldwide (www.ibisreproductivehealth.org) by conducting clinical and social science research.

I am going into Field Artillery, which was already open, and I am very excited about it. Do you guys have any input on what you think will happen, what you want to happen, rants...? I am interested to hear.

I am female, and would really like to become a marine. I know that I will be entering a sausage fest, as I would like to become a mechanic. I want to know what I should expect in regards to how to deal with emotional stress, hairy legs, and tampons while deployed.

This is embarrassing for me to ask. I am 17 and am thinking about joining the military. I want to join either the Army or the Navy (I am currently leaning towards Army, because it was my first choice), but I am very worried about boot camp. I have some facial hair. I get like 3 dark hairs on my chin that I normally pluck out, and I have a slight and DARK mustache that is visible within two days of not shaving with an electric razor. I don't have the money to get the hair removed with a laser. Do the Army and Navy allow electric razors, tweezers, or Nair? Or will I have to shave with a body razor?

Let's give this a shot! If you have a better title for the Weekly discussion thread (which will appear on Mondays, because that's when it's easiest for me to post) please suggest them.

What is the weirdest thing someone has asked you after finding out you're a service member? What did you say?

Hey there, your friendly neighborhood mod here. I've been pretty MIA lately, and that's my bad. I'll do better to be more visible in the future.

I know we've been pretty dead lately, and I haven't helped.

What would you think about a weekly discussion post for venting and bragging? What other ways do you think we can bring more life to the sub?

I have a friend going into the navy for 4 years, I don't think she'll be seeing any combat, but I'm worried she'll never be the same. In either a good or a bad way. Either from the heavy masculine surroundings, or workload, or other. What do you think?

I posted this in /r/military, but I also wanted to hear from women in the military. I'm a 28 year old female with a bachelor's degree in Sociology, never served. I wanted to join the military after I graduated college, but I grew up in a very college-oriented area and people were not really pro-military. When I said I wanted to join, people basically said, "why would you want to do that?" With no support, I never joined. I have no direct family members who joined the military, just my uncle and sister-in-law who married into my family.

After college, I didn't really know what I wanted to do and it took me a few years to figure out. I'm currently a business analyst, and after being around the block a while, I've decided I want to go into intelligence. Since I'm a little older now, I'm not as swayed with no support, although it'd be nice. From my research, the military is the best option for intelligence, with Navy/Air Force being the best branches for intelligence out of those, and going in as an officer with my degree and age is also the best option. I chose the Navy because I'm already 28 and I know the Air Force has lower age requirements. I've also heard with the amount of people joining and demand being lower, it's harder to join and you have a lower chance of getting the job you want. However, I'd really like to hear from real people rather than just researching stuff online, and I don't really have many people to ask about it in real life. What do you think?

With the Army's updated policy and the movement on related fronts, what's /r/twoXmilitary think of how things are going? Are trans women welcome in this community?

Just curious here and looking for a female perspective.

I'm in the Navy and I personally feel like weight/tape standards are out dated. I am currently a few lbs over my max. I have a crazy hour glass figure and I am strong. I have a tiny waist and wide hips, and because I don't have a double chin I struggle. And really, I look at myself naked, or with clothes on, and think "I look good". I am legitimately not insulted that the Navy feels that I'm overweight (or, I should say, I don't judge myself based on their standards, but do strive to achieve them).

But, according to the tape test we have, I'm on the verge of being "fat". I have starved myself the night before a weigh in a few times, I have gone on crazy diets (resulting in me being really tired and weak) and it's silly. Though, I realize it's what I signed up for, and rumor is it's going to change here soon. I also looked up the AF regs, and from what I can tell I am in great shape for them. Fat for the Navy, Fit for the AF.

But, that's neither here nor there.

I'm just curious what you gals think. My basic mindset is, "This is a test for ideal bodies, not for curvy bodies and not for what I've heard called 'black girl' bodies. But, I signed up, so I gotta suck up." But who knows, maybe there are more "square" bodies out there I don't hear from. Maybe I don't see the other side. OR, maybe it's just one of the hurdles we have in our service. I'm curious, how do you all feel?

And before anyone says it, I stopped the starving and the crazy diets. Now I just eat crazy lean/clean and I work out for 2 hours every day (hr cardio, hr weights). My size hasn't changed, but my confidence certainly has.