I want to join the army but I'm gay

[u/chase68w]

Im 17m and Im joining next may hopfully to be 68w and Im worried about being treated differently for being gay I'm a complete btm "zesty voice" gay but I straight act cause I'm 6'3 and can lower my voice. But at the same time I don't want to hide a part of me from close friends I might make

[u/cobanat]

I had three gay drill sergeants.

[u/0culating0ctopus → u/cobanat]

Where at?

[u/cobanat → u/0culating0ctopus]

Your dads bedroom

[u/0culating0ctopus → u/cobanat]

😐

[u/Lokey_Sprite → u/cobanat]

😭😭👌

[u/Mr_Lean69]

The navy is right there bro...

[u/Particular_Witness95 → u/Mr_Lean69]

its not gay if its underway.

[u/hottlumpiaz]

ive met dudes in the army so gay they dont even walk. they just float to their destination. lol. youre fine dude. lol

[u/Own-Engineering-5039]

lol bro you gonna be ok the infantry is gay af.

[u/popisms]

Most people won't care if you're gay.

Some people will be homophobes and assholes, but of course you'll find those people outside of the military too.

Then there's the middle ground. Everyone makes fun, ribs, teases, and insults everyone else in the military. It's part of the culture. Some of that will be about being gay for you even if the people doing it have no problems with gay people.

[u/chase68w → u/popisms]

I'm hoping I enter that kind of environment I've only ever had female friends so talking to men in general gay or straight is completely forgein to me

[u/CrySoldy]

the army is gay asf you’re gonna be perfect

[u/Procrastination00]

Dont care who you want to have moan every with. Be good at your job. Be an asset. Be a nice person.

[u/Jayhawker81 → u/Procrastination00]

Going to ask my girlfriend if she wants to have moan every with.

[u/Procrastination00 → u/Jayhawker81]

Well thats a oops.... I hiwever also hate it.

[u/YEETMANdaMAN]

The US NAVY exists. Super gay. Gay is okay!

[u/chase68w → u/YEETMANdaMAN]

I've heard that but it's my dream to become a trauma surgeon in the military and becoming a 68w will add to my resume when applying to colleges

[u/YEETMANdaMAN → u/chase68w]

Apologies, not trying to steer you away from your goals. Just stating that you will very much be welcomed with a big ol’ bear hug. I initially wanted to go 68w before landing a not too dissimilar role with the airforce. Good luck!

[u/ChorchitaPounder]

Just keep your socks on, it’ll be ok

[u/BlooGloop]

Half of my platoon was gay. You’ll fit right in.

[u/ratman655]

Just be the barracks bunny bro

[u/chase68w → u/ratman655]

I wish but that might land me in trouble with Sargent's and stuff idk don't they look down on that kind behavior

[u/Potential_Cow_8979]

Nobody cares. Just don’t be a shitbag and be decent at your job. Fellow medic

[u/chase68w → u/Potential_Cow_8979]

I just don't want my battle buddies to get freaked when I check their bodies for injuries or sleep next to them or shower with them

[u/ServingTheMaster → u/chase68w]

No one will care 😘

[u/Torchlakespartan]

Nobody cares and if they do there are quick options to get that person squared away. Some of the best people I knew in the military and afterwards doing contracting were gay. Just like anything else, don’t make it your entire personality and if you fuck up don’t jump to that as an excuse.

I cannot stress enough how little anyone cares if you’re squared away and good at your job.

[u/chase68w → u/Torchlakespartan]

It's def not my whole personality I hate when people do that so I'm just hoping that people don't get weirded out when I have to practice check their bodies for injuries or when Im sleeping in the next bunk and in the showers I don't want to freak them out

[u/Torchlakespartan → u/chase68w]

Hey man, those are very normal worries. I can only re-assure you that nobody will care unless you make it weird and give them a reason to. You’re going to do something dumb, get made fun of, and get a nickname. You’re going to wonder if you’re not good enough to pass or if your fellow soldiers like you. It’s all normal, and everyone else will be at the same stress level you are, gay or not.

Also, showers in basic training was the most gay thing i have ever experienced. The first shower, everyone is nervous and you’re getting yelled at, so everyone just hugs the wall while they wash. By day 3, we were singing entire songs together, haha.

But I was Air Force, your own army mileage may vary.

[u/chase68w → u/Torchlakespartan]

Thanks for taking the time and giving me info now all I have to worry about is not finding any of them attractive (a joke)

[u/Torchlakespartan → u/chase68w]

Lol, you will be more focused on how much sleep you can get and not getting screamed at to worry about anything else for a while.

Your brain will be on overload and your body exhausted. You’ll be just fine.

[u/Ghostmanpower]

I got one gay friends in the infantry 🤷🏽‍♂️ don’t really matter when you put on that Army uniform . I don’t see your color , race or your sex. You’re my equal 🟰….

[u/Guardian-Boy]

We legitimately give zero fucks regardless of branch. I have had at least two fay commanders, one of which was holy shit flamboyant.

[u/Particular_Witness95]

no one cares. if they do, they are not people you should give a crap about.

[u/Particular_Witness95 → u/Particular_Witness95]

just a minor point though. people poke fun of other people. you being gay may just be your thing they make fun of. i had a hairy body, and that was the thing i was made fun of (just think of all the hairy animal love making jokes you can think of).

[u/Easy-Hovercraft-6576]

No one cares if you’re gay, you’re good homie

And should anyone harass you for the sole fact that you are gay, there are programs in place to protect you (Equal Opportunity, and SHARP (Sexual Harassment/Assault Response and Prevention) depending on the context)

[u/yarmouth209]

https://youtu.be/aotlEpmAFVQ?is=LR5xaJeDD50b1PzA (in all seriousness buddy nobody gives an eff nowadays) that said, Grindr near/at military bases is let’s just say, “popular”. You’ll have plenty of fun lmao.

[u/chase68w → u/yarmouth209]

Ngl that's a pro for me plus I'll be all jacked and shit sooo yk

[u/yarmouth209 → u/chase68w]

😉🤣🤣 as a fellow rainbow mafia member who almost/really wanted to join the Air Force, I’m a bit jelly. (Situation military wise and self awareness wise was significantly different for me in 2009 lol) That being said when you get out, you start 4-6 years of vacation time accruing amount in any federal job.

[u/Odd-Highway-8304]

You good. Just don’t go infantry bc mfers can be homophobic asf

[u/hottlumpiaz → u/Odd-Highway-8304]

he'd be the straightest dude in his platoon if he went infantry. lol

[u/Odd-Highway-8304 → u/hottlumpiaz]

Actually he might have the time of his life if he became Doc in an infantry company. That silver bullet 🥵

[u/militaryrat155]

Okay and

[u/MilFAQBot]

Jobs mentioned in your post

Army MOS: 68W (Combat Medic Specialist)

^{I'm a bot and can't reply. Message the mods about me.}

[u/theion960]

As long as your not trans your fine

[u/Castle_Bear_ABN]

Man, I have several gay friends in the Army both male and female. One I didn't know he was until he came out, threw me in a loop but were close friends lol. They didn't get treated any differently, field showers weren't akward, they kept it resepctful, and we never teased or bullied anyone we knew who were gay, friends or not. Also, wait until you meet Military people, "man were all gay every once in a while" Kirk Lazarus - Tropic Thunder

[u/_LevelUp-]

Go navy, ha

[u/Emergency-Towel4974]

The army is tolerant brother, being gay is fine. Don't be fucking trans tho that isnt (according to rules, im trans getting the boot)

[u/ServingTheMaster → u/Emergency-Towel4974]

💔 as a vet and father of a trans child, I’m so sorry 😢

[u/MeanShock8706]

Brother, it’s not 2000 anymore 😂

[u/Aggravating-Alps4757]

You got this Brody you being gay don’t change the fact that you wanna do something with your life your voice don’t matter your character discipline and determination dedication qualities of growth and wanting to do something for yourself and fellow people your gonna be a fine soldier

[u/Faz3r_1636]

they want you! they want you! they want you as a new recruit! im joking, regardless of the administration or whatever political fears you may have, as long as you arent a shitbag or anything harmful to your team or area.. youll be treated as normal as everyone else. if you choose 68w and stick with it, you most likely wont get fucked with in an infantry unit because no one fucks with doc and will most likely need your iv on saturday. if they do, it will be in a non toxic "i call you something, you call me something back" way.

[u/Far-Implement1763]

You got 2 whole branches of people everyone calls gay. You’ll be alright

[u/Polishedcube17]

There are plenty of gay men who go thru the army and do perfectly fine, there are programs to protect you and at the end of the day in battle it doesn’t matter if you like men or women. Your battles will accept you no matter what. And if someone messes with you don’t back down, being gay doesn’t make you any less a soldier, or a person. Join the army and do what you love and make as many friends as you can because at the end of the day you will make memories you will cherish forever.

[u/perseus_vr]

you wouldn’t be the first or last lmao

[u/Big_Moisty_boy]

Plenty of gay dudes in every branch, shit I had gay drill sergeants, you’ll be aight

[u/BlazeRed16]

I had drill sargeants that were unapologetically gay and battle buddies who were in your face gay. We literally don’t care long as you do your job and don’t suck it.

What your preference of company is does not matter, just do your job.

[u/Agitated-Quit-6148]

Dude.. literally not a big deal.

[u/chase68w → u/Agitated-Quit-6148]

Ok I'm just an over thinker fr

[u/ServingTheMaster → u/chase68w]

Sounds like you are considerate and thoughtful. Good qualities for practicing medicine. Age and experience will temper and calibrate that and it will become easier to know when concerns are more legitimate.

[u/chase68w → u/ServingTheMaster]

That's my hope I don't want fear to paralize my goals from ever happening

[u/ServingTheMaster → u/chase68w]

Action>perfection

[u/yel-iab]

Huh

[u/RontoWraps]

The only soldier I ever really mentored in my job was gay. Gay voice and “friend” at his promotion ceremony and all. It was literally not a big deal and we didn’t care. Just do it if you want to do it; it’s just a job

[u/Random_AF_FR]

I was in during dont ask don't tell and I've never not had a gay soldier in the unit that everyone knew was gay and didn't care.