Korean Job Discussion Forums

[danielkim80]

I'm just curious. Why did you decide to work as an english teacher?
If i were you, i'd rather choose to serve as an american soldier.
As far as i know, us military guys make more money and get better housing, a lot of tax benefits as well.
Even 2nd private make more than 2,000$/month not to metion the officers. Captain makes 7,000$/month with nice housing(usually costs 2 million won/month)
i know one guy who work as GS 13(he's now civilian worker in the us military) after 20 years serving in US military.
He makes 10,000$/month with 3.5 million won/month apartment.
its true!

I think joining us military is much better choice than working as an english teacher. i know many of you guys are way too old to enter west point. but u don't have to be an officer. you can be sergeant major of the army one day if you start as a private.

and ......from what i have seen, most us miliary officers have gorgeous GF or wife. see john mccain and his wife.

[Passions]

LOL.

[teachteach]

Not too mention a feeling of accomplishment that goes with the military as well.

[Oreovictim]

Sounds like a good gig, but . . .

My dad was in the Navy for about eight years. He's said that the military is good. They have great benefits, they train you, give you housing, (but my mom did complain that they don't pay enough to families), etc.

But

My dad also said that you have to realize that you are defending the country, and if a war breaks out, don't be surprised.

Plus, I wouldn't like someone barking orders at me. I worked at Motorola for six years, and I worked with A LOT of ex-military. Some of them were pretty cool, but most of the were abrasive and just down-right annoying. And I don't believe the stereotype that the Marines are the rudest and crudest and the coast guard/navy/air force are the polite, civilized ones.

By the way, thanks for defending America, and sorry that so many soldiers (and civilians) have died because of Bush.

[crazy_arcade]

War is awesome. I could be in Iraq!
I could serve in a country in which the locals despise and shit on me!

[OnTheOtherSide]

[Mr. Pink]

And then there is the Canadian, British, Irish, Australian, South African and Kiwi English teacher that is here because, well, we aren't American, so don't have that option of serving in Korea.

Also, unless you are an officer or senior NCO, the gig in Korea is not really better than being an English teacher. Especially if you are into holidays and relaxing.

Of course being a civilian working for a defense contractor or the DoD and getting paid a real salary is the shizzle. My buddy is in Korea doing that...he makes over 100k a year plus gets like 40k a year for housing.

But once again, I am not American so that option is just a pipe dream for me.

[Lekker]

My mom and dad were both in the US Army during Vietnam and they're both fucked in the head because of it. Mom volunteered and was almost killed because of it. Dad was drafted, no choice. I will never join the U.S. Army. Call me a coward if you want. I still have discipline and I can still defend myself if I need to.

Being patriotic and representing your country of origin is one thing. Being used is another.

[jkelly80]

Might have something to do with the 8-year commitment, genius.

[mnhnhyouh]

Being a teacher, I can quit whenever I want to, change jobs at will, move countries at will. When I say at will, I mean my will, not somebody elses.

Try that in the military.

h

[Lekker]

I applied to OCS from over here. I submitted all the necessary information, I remained in close contact with officers both here and elsewhere in the world. From what I was told, going by my background and my qualifications, I had no problems being accepted into OCS, a program which produces officers for the Army, which is in need of officers right now, on basis that I would finish Basic Training with no problem. I passed the physical fitness test with no problems at Yongsan Army base and when time came for the inprocessing paperwork I was told that I couldn't go OCS because, well, they just had no reason to tell me that, that was just their final say.

With that said, I talked to my friend here who is an officer and according to him, and a few other soldiers I have met here was that the recruiters are liars. That's just it. On the surface, the U.S. Government is not up front, not honest, dodgy beyond belief. I wonder how it is behind the surface. Quite honestly, I would prefer to stay away from the Military, that is unless I had a real reason to devote myself to it for 8 or some years. Right now, I don't see a reason to join. I thought about it many times. But quite honestly, I would rather not be put in the front in Iraq to have someone fire bullets at me all day, every day, for reasons that just aren't clear. Sorry dude, I'll stick to teaching English for now and gaining valuable experienc doing what I am doing.

[genezorm]

while your points are quite interesting, i feel that in my chosen profession the likelyhood of me being shot or killed, or encountering a roadside bomb is quite low.....
also, i appreciate that i can go out whenever i want, do whatever I want and am not required to sport a lame haircut

and i do not have to be subjected to this

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C1zGjiqV5cE

[Lekker]

[OnTheOtherSide]

Signing up for the military is waaaaaaay too much of a loss of freedom for me. I'm not gonna be the government's pissant for four years. With this war in Iraq, they are showing that they really don't value the lives of the soldiers and that they truely do think of the soldiers as mere tools. They won't even give many of them full health insurance after they lose limbs, etc. And they are relentlessly sending them on multiple tours and working them to the bone.

The entire backstory to the war in Iraq, and the entire history of the Bush Administration is way way too shady for me to want to be any part of it at all. Most of the operations that the U.S. military are participating in are, unfortunately, very far from noble.

Ever since day one I knew going into Iraq made no sense whatsoever and would end up putting America into a recession, now this is coming to pass. Why would I want to participate in that? America is just trying to clean up it's own mess over there now, and not succeeding too much.

[ChopChaeJoe]

I like English. I like teaching. I wanted to come to Korea. I don' see how the military could give me all that. Also, joining the military is signing onto a way of thinking and requires giving up almost all of one's independence and freeedom of choice.

OP, did you put any thought into this question at all before you posted. Your argument is pretty weak.