If you are being discouraged by the veterans you have talked to then maybe your motivation for joining isn´t really what it should be, perhaps you should hold off on joining untill you are SURE.
The decision you are about to make have the potential of affecting ALOT of people around you, so you better be sure this is for you.
YOU need to make this decision, not anyone you "have talked to"..
When you have, at some point you just have to take the plunge.
Worst case, you do your hitch, you don´t like it.
Best case, you love the life and wants to make a career out of it.
All in all, man up and make a decision.
KJ sends...