My life is in ruins.

[tblue37]

56. My friend was considering the Army some years ago when he was in your situation. I

pointed out to him that he could join the Navy, receive the same kinds of benefits, but with far less chance of getting used as cannon fodder.

He did so. Minimum enlistment was for 6 years. He did two years here, and two stationed overseas.

His tech training from the Navy is what made him eligible for a good civilian job troubleshooting medical computers, and he is now a happy family man with two kids, a nice wife whom he met while stationed overseas, and a job that has enabled him to support his family comfortably and buy a house.

In the old days I might have suggested the Air Force as well as the Navy as an option, but they were sending airmen to the front line in Iraq, too, so not that!

(The Coast Guard might be another option.)

BTW, he was not "good at school," either, so he was sure he couldn't handle tech school in the Navy. I pointed out to him that training their tech support personnel is essential, and the Navy (or any other service branch) has a lot invested in making sure their trainees succeed in tech school. He had little faith in his ability to learn such things (when I first started tutoring with him when he was in his early twenties, he couldn't even add, subtract, or multiply fractions!), but he graduated second in his class in tech school.

Think of the Navy, young man.