I once was a young man who joined the US military (army) and I wish I had known what it was really like beforehand. It is not my intention to discourage you but to rather tell you the way it really is. Pretty much everything you know or have been promised is a lie. I seen a lot of badass dudes cry in boot camp alone and it's nothing to be ashamed of. It will be the most difficult thing you have ever done in your life... No sleep, the true meaning of physical exhaustion, horrible food, 2min cold showers and treated lower than low. I might point out that just because you volunteered doesn't mean you can quit and trust me you will want to quit at some point. After a few weeks you'll be numb to the abuse and out before you know it but you'll be different person. You will NOT be doing the job you signed up for. Say you want to be a communications guy right? Well there are thousands of others who signed up for the same job monthly and only a handful of positions. The training for said job is a joke and is not recognized by any college. You will do whatever they say do from cutting grass to checking cars for IED's. You need to realize that it is not a coach/player relationship with your NCO's etc. Most do not want the assignment they are own and will flex their rank to make you do whatever they please. Your stuff will more than likely be stolen from other soldiers/marines at some point. There are a lot of no where to turn types that would probably be in jail if not the military. I just want you to be aware that times have changed and it will be nothing like anything you've seen in movies or that a recruiter may have told you. Don't get me wrong I have a great deal of respect for those who serve and I still feel a sense of pride when I see my uniform hanging in the back of my closet but if I could have done it over knowing everything I know now I probably would have went to college instead. Just make sure it is really what you want to do. Every guy I know pretty much went in wanting to be Special forces or something of the nature but I only know one that actually made it. Either way, stay strong, good luck.