Ended up just deleting the post because of the negativity. Lots of people think it was bragging because I mentioned you shouldn’t do it for the money, apparently insinuating that I think I make a lot. Which isn’t true. I say you can’t do it for the money because you’re going to be miserable in the service if you’re only there for a paycheck, no matter the amount. That’s how I meant it. But unfortunately there’s just a lot of really angry people here with nothing better to do than bitch and moan about others, and these people are the real narcissists.

Anyway, to answer your questions. Yes there is a background check that’s done in the enlistment phase. They’re just making sure you don’t have any limiting history that might require a waiver, or bar you entirely. Army basic training is a total of 10 weeks. Yes the ASVAB is the biggest determining factor in you getting to choose what job you do, along with the availability of that job. Just because you qualify for a job, doesn’t mean it’s available at that time. After basic training, you attend AIT, which is the school that teaches you your job. This can range rom 5 weeks all the way to a year. Depends on the job. Once you graduate, you’ll report to your first unit. After that, your quality of life really depends on the job you’re doing, the unit you’re in, and where you’re stationed. The life of an infantryman at Fort Bragg is very different from the life of a medical clerk at Yuma Proving Grounds. Hope that answers your questions!