Which Branch Would You Join?

[sanantone]

I was 18, and had no idea what I wanted to do (but knew I didn't want to be a short order cook for the rest of my life).  I also knew I wanted to travel, but had no idea where.  The Navy pretty much made both decisions for me.  I got OJT in electronics and communications, have been all over the world, and got an honorable discharge which has given me several advantages being a veteran.  No complaints.

Same here. 18 years old, wanted to travel and get training in a field that would help after military life. Got both, IT rate.

PS: in my observation (regarding standard of living) the Air Force wins hands down ?

In the Navy, my Division Officer told me that he had a higher quality of life as an E-4 in the Air Force than he did as an O-3 in the Navy(at least on deployment/out to sea).

I find the Air Force appealing because it's known as the brainy force with the second highest ASVAB score requirement and some of the most educated recruits, but that's really just a result of what kinds of positions they have the most need for. With the higher enlistment requirements, it's no wonder that the Air Force does most of the cybersecurity work, which is the main medium for conflicts between developed nations in the 21st Century. If I liked water, I would find the Coast Guard more appealing. They have the highest ASVAB score requirment, are mostly involved in homeland security and law enforcement, and have short deployments. 

NOAA Corps would be second on my list if it didn't require being on ships for so long. The areas you can serve in are also limited, which is similar to the Coast Guard. As a matter of fact, NOAA Corps recruits go through basic training with the Coast Guard. Since the Army is so large, it has a lot of opportunities. For me, personally, I wouldn't have a reason to choose the Navy or Marines unless they had openings for positions that didn't have openings in the other armed forces. The Navy is great if you like water and travel or want to provide medical services to the Marines since they don't have their own. Navy members also rarely die in modern wars. The Marines are great if you like combat.

If you want to be a doctor, all of the branches will pay for med school, and you'll do your residency in a military hospital.  You'll owe 4 years to the military after that, but be paid a decent amount while you're there (I think it's about $125k-ish per year).  

But, you won't end up in the Marines since they don't have doctors.