Some say that I'm too soft for the military. (Though I'd expect the military to toughen me up.) So what jobs do you suggest that are for soft people?

That’s odd…real life army isn’t Yipee Ki Yay Motherfuckyeah America. I’m sure the army can use you somewhere. Not everyone in the military ends up as a soldier, they need plenty of different people for different things.
They usually leave out people who are clinically insane, have issues with things like depression or suicide, or who have major physical handicaps…but not because you’re too “soft”.
If you’re into computers, programming or technological maintenance for example, they need you, even if you’re a cross dresser. Srsly.

Sexual Healer

What are you into?
Working with kids could be an option.

Some branches of the military have tougher physical and mental standards than others, but the only way you’d be “too soft” is if you’re unable to follow direction and/or adhere to the strict regimen of military life.

As for jobs, you must first evaluate (a) what you’re good at, (b) what careers you think you’d like to pursue and (c ) what training you’d most likely need. Once you’ve determined that, you should select the branch of military that offers a job that offers training for the job you’d like to pursue.

Understand though that job training is secondary in the military. You’re agreeing to place your life on the line in the service of your country.

Don’t get your priorities mixed up.

Well, if you’re a total pussy then go for just about any job in the Air Farce :D

Seriously though, the only jobs you really have to be tough for are in the USMC and the Army. The Navy is not physically demanding and if you can’t handle the navy mind-games then no branch of the military would be suitable for you. However, you might not want to be in any of the Engineering rates if you value sleep.

Of course, don’t expect brains to get you by either. While it’s essential to be highly intelligent for certain rates, your creativity and inquisitive nature may be your undoing. They do things the way they do them without question for a long time, they resent any “sand in the gears” if you catch my drift.

Look for career opportunities involving helping people that do nor require agreeing to follow orders to kill other people.
There are so many such careers if you are intelligent, determined, diligent and persistent.

@Dr_Lawrence: With all due respects, that advice is ill advised. Signing an agreement with the armed forces acknowledges that whatever branch you enlist in will use you as they see fit, regardless of what your specialty or career billet is.

In fact, one of the first things they tell you upon arrival at Boot Camp is…

…You are now the property of the United States (whatever branch of service).

I went to service school for records keeping (US Navy). Upon arriving at my duty station, I became a laundryman, because that ship didn’t need a rookie record’s keeper. I stood fire details, manned the quarterdeck, painted, scrubbed floors, cleaned torpedo tubes, hauled supplies and did everything else I was instructed to do. Make no mistake about it, if they need you to carry a gun, fire a rifle or launch a torpedo…you will…or pay the consequences.

Work in a mattress factory. Get a job with Downey. Breed chinchillas. Become a politician and try to past a bill to lower noise levels.

But seriously, not all military jobs require you to eat broken glass for breakfast. There are several “soft” jobs that could work out for you.

When I joined the army in 1978 there was a battery of tests to find out what aptitudes are involved. Sort of like the army’s version of an IQ test. You just can’t tell them what you want to do and get that job usually. There will be a range of military occupational specialties, (MOS) each soldier will qualify for. But the army will put you where they want, not where you want. You might want to try to avoid 11B (infantry) or 13B (field artillery)MOS’s or anything with a “B” in the title. Those are combat arms MOS’s and since we are in a couple shooting wars odds are they will cram you into one of those unless you have some kind of special powers

Well, people who don’t have conditions that disqualify them for military service that they’re lying to their recruiters about might do well in the military. Other people need to get offline and stop playing video games and actually do their schoolwork and then they might just have a degree and be able to find a job.

@Likeradar Bad, bad idea.

@woodcutter I hope to be in 35-Whiskey. I certainly wouldn’t prefer 11 or 13-Bravo. Being in the Navy or Air Force may keep me away from such grunt-work.

You said you were going for the USAF. Nearly everything in that branch is technical.

You’ll be fine. Score high on the ASVAB (if you have that much college credit, I’m certain you’ll be okay) and you’re nigh guaranteed a tech or intel position.

@woodcutter: That’s right. I forgot I was required to take an aptitude test. My acceptance to service school was a result of my test scores. But I’ve met sailors who were guaranteed schools but didn’t immediately attend because they were needed for active service.

@SABOTEUR You seem to have misunderstood my comments.

I meant to explicitly exclude any military careers at all.
My tongue in check wording may have obscured my meaning.

@Dr_Lawrence

Sorry.

Bear in mind, though, that tongue-in-cheek and sarcasm don’t always translate well online.

(Don’t I know it…)

In any event, I apologize for the misunderstanding.

nothing wrong with being in the military. you will get out of it what you put into it, just like anything else in life

A military career is honourable and a great place for people to learn many valuable skills. Many military people retire alive after years of service. Some don’t.

Don’t worry, @EgaoNoGenki is going to shoot for the position with the least possible danger… of being shot and of having to do anything. That is, after he lies to the recruiters about his mental health and actually gets in and before they throw him in jail for lying about it.

http://www.fluther.com/disc/67940/how-do-air-force-military-training-instructors-compare-to-the-other/#quip1036374

Don’t join the military, @EgaoNoGenki. You are too soft.

@avvooooooo Part of my decision to join the Navy (aside from offering me the best deal) had to do with the bravery of being out of range. Most Naval combat these days is by missiles, drones, or aircraft.
As for the mental health thing, if you have high ASVAB scores, they may well overlook anything that doesn’t require medication… and maybe a few things that do. Trust me, there were few sane people at NNPTC when I went through ;)

Regardless of branch, there will be a lot of gruntwork. There is cleaning, maintenance, cleaning, colateral duties (I spent a lot of time in the mess decks and in Hazmat; things not in the job description of an EM), cleaning, more maintenance, and you might also be asked to do some cleaning. I think I learned more about operating a floor buffer than I did about a 750KW EDG!

@jerv Well-said, Jerv.

@jerv Some mental health conditions, including the one in question, are currently unwaievable. Even for people who think the rules don’t apply to them and that everyone will bend over backwards for them because they’re so awesome.

@avvooooooo If you are referring to AS, I think that it’s not quite so cut-and-dried. Otherwise, they would have a much harder time filling certain billets. It also flies right in the face of what I have both seen and experienced. It also doesn’t explain where half a decade of my life went. You’d be amazed how easy it is for a government agency to lsoe paperwork.
As for being egotistical, the military is a great place to learn humility. If you think you are an exception to the rules, they will make an example out of you. Maybe push-ups in Boot Camp, maybe a couple of NJPs, or possibly just being taped up somewhere, but one way or another, the military has ways of dealing with that sort of thing.

@jerv AsI have listed out for @EgaoNoGenki before here, the reason AS is a disqualification is because of the fact that it impairs social functioning and can be disruptive in the military environment. In addition, people who ask “why” instead of following orders (and how think that rules don’t apply to them) are likely to have issues. Insubordination and dealing with it are disruptive to the unit. No doubt they have their reasons for the disqualifications for disorders that “will seriously interfere with adjustment in the Army as demonstrated by repeated inability to maintain reasonable adjustment in school, with employers and fellow workers, and with other social groups.” This applies to other branches, the Army was just the information that I found.

As I have also said, lying about having a disqualifying disorder is grounds for being kicked out at best.

@avvooooooo Technically true. Being an asshole can also be disruptive as well though, and lying about anything can disqualify you. All I am saying is that there is a difference between what is written and the way things are done. If you can’t figure out the difference then you won’t survive ten minutes in the military.
Personally, I think part of the reason I manage myself so well is that I spent a few years where I had to adapt or suffer. And it really hit home after I wound up losing a stripe; something that straightened me out pretty damned quick.
If you think I’m an asshole now, you should’ve seen me before the military :D

Well, since it is very clear that Eago never finishes anything, I don’t think what job he gets is an issue. He’ll never join, so the question is moot.

If you ever got in and bored GIs with your “novel ideas” that you are more interested in bullshitting about than actually writing, you can expect repeated beatdowns. As long as you insist on being fake and self-indulgent like you’ve been here and especially on AB, you had better steer clear of the armed forces.

Worked on a construction job after my senior year in college and those guys don’t mix words. This was a high rise apartment blgd that required concentration etc…if you mess up, those guys would let you know it real fast and believe me, there was no thank you etc…more like, “boy get that damn shit clean up!” “Get the fuck out of the way boy!” Believe me, after that summer nothing hurt my feelings!!!!!!

Finish college then go for a commission in a support branch. Try for something that translates into the civilian world (like I didn’t). No matter what service or branch you go into, remember that once you sign on the dotted line they own your ass. You can even be forced to serve for longer than you signed up for (see STOPLOSS).

The military life can be great for those who thrive in highly structured environments. Despite undiagnosed Aspergers Syndrome, I thrived in the Army and National Guard for almost 30 years. Don’t go in expecting a soft assignment or with a “know it all” attitude, they will eat you alive. Fit in, conform, learn the drills and keep your damned mouth shut. Remember that if the DI wants your opinion, he will tell you what it is. Most of BCT and OCS is just a hazing ritual, just play the game and if you have what it takes you’ll do fine.

Here is some information regarding having Asperger Syndrome in the Military Service, that might be of help.

link

Count your blessings and don’t have a career in the military – I don’t care how ‘soft’ or ‘hard’ you are (I’m assuming these are some kind of pathetic infantile notions of real man-hood or toughness) – just don’t do it.

There are so many different jobs for people in the military that I’m sure there is pretty much something for everyone. For the uk army this website www.armyjobs.mod.uk can help people find the best job for them, is there anything like that for the US army?

I was going to suggest working in a mattress factory, but I see that Haroot has beat me to it! So I will tell you this: know yourself. Feedback from others can be helpful, but what matters is whether you believe a military career is a good fit for you. If you are interested in the military, there’s still time to join ROTC in college to get some hands-on experience. You need not sign a contact, because I know young men who’ve taken the courses for a semester or two without making a commitment.

If, OTOH, you agree with your friends’ assessment, but you still want to work with the military, you can always look for a civilian job with the military, such as a journalist or a GIS technician (just to name a few possibilities). Your school’s career center can also guide you towards other options.

Sensible advice, @lonelydragon.

@lonelydragon, I second that. That is great advise.

@Eureka the questions here live on whether or not the OP comes back – it’s a plus.

@Eureka After a few years, you get used to it. Besides, Egao does sometimes return. I’ve actually had a few two-way conversations with him.

@smashbox I think the best way to put it is thusly; imagine living near a busy road and hearing whirring and buzzing and the occasional siren and all sorts of other stuff 24/7. It sucks, but after a while you get used to it.
Then one day the noise stops… and the world just doesn’t seem quite right without that constant clatter. Have you gone deaf? Did the world blow up while you weren’t looking?

I come back to read frequently when there are new responses. When did @Eureka start holding ill will against me? Who is s/he on the other Q&A sites?

[Mod Says:] Please stick to the topic folks. The question is “Some say that I’m too soft for the military. (Though I’d expect the military to toughen me up.) So what jobs do you suggest that are for soft people?”

If you do not have anything of value to add to the question please refrain from commenting and move on to the next question.

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ummm..guess no one here ever worked on a contruction job to toughen you up…well, try it.! It will do the job!

loll..excuse me, construction job! senior moment!

Well, you could split the difference: Navy SeaBees and Army Corp of Engineers are military construction.

I always miss out on the fireworks!