Nerds and the military

Untill last year I was hell bent on joining the USMC and becoming a marine. I knew that I was going to do this because it was the only career that appealed to me. It was the only career theat seemed productive and interesting.

Then I learned how to program a computer.

So out of curiosity do you think that people in the military get along better with techies than the general population? Do you think they share many traits?

I’m not in the millitary myself, but I have several friends who are, and who are also unrepentant dorks. They assure me that the percentage of geeks (nerds, dweebs…what have you) in the millitary is an order of magnitude (only a geek would say “order of magnitude”) higher than among civillians.

Have no fear.

Unit, Corps., God, d20.

17 years here of being first in, then married to, the Air Force. Yes, geekitude abounds in the military. You’d be hard pressed to find an AF dorm that didn’t have a RPG of some sort running in someone’s room every weekend.

However, many of them are also smart, unique, and funny, so it’s not so bad :).

Yup – there are geeks crawling out of the woodwork of just about every ship, barracks and quonset hut in the armed services. My own sweet nephew (20 years old) has been in the Marines for 2 years and, although he is a sweetie and I love him to pieces, I must stipulate that they don’t come any geekier than that boy. So go ahead and join up – you’ll fit right in!

Jess (6 years active duty in the Navy, married to a recently retired Naval officer with 26 years service, daughter of another retired Naval officer and sister to a Navy Senior Chief with 22+ years active duty service.)

Well yes, but where I am, they all suck. Take that as you will.

Fortunately, I shall be out soon, so I can deal with my regukar friends and their geekitude. :smiley:

I’m most likely joining the USAF next year.

So I DON’T have to worry about getting beaten up when I wear my Boba Fett halloween costume around base?

Speaking as both midshipman and a nerd, yes you will fit along very well, at least in the Navy or Air Force.