ALT-2 Joining the Military
Joining the military is a very large step in many people's lives. It involves an almost complete transformation for most people who join, as life in the military is completely different than civilian life. Over your life you may have given the military some consideration. After all, it might be fun to learn how to shoot a rifle, work on the electronics systems on a fighter plane, or jump out of airplanes. You keep hearing about all of the great benefits in education that military personnel get after they leave the service. Oh and women love men in uniform. You also hear about IED explosions that kill Soldiers and Marines. You hear about getting stationed far away from your family. You hear about how hard basic training is. The real question remains. Is it right for you?
First you will need to consider what you can get out of being in the military. A three, four, or sometimes five year commitment in the armed forces will ensure that your life is changed forever. It will teach you how to take pride in your appearance, how to be organized, and how to follow orders and possibly give out some orders as well. These are all useful job skills in any career. Employers often look for people with military service as they can typically be trusted to do the right thing and be punctual about their tasks. Military service will also help if you decide to enroll in college after your discharge, as you will be more prepared for the rigorous schedule of a college education.
Then there are the financial benefits of being in the military. The government wants to make sure you are a fully motivated Soldier, Sailor, Airman, or Marine if you join, so they will make sure your financial needs are taken care of. Pay will not be anything overly fantastic as an enlisted service man or woman, but it will allow you to have enough spending money to enjoy your life. As an example, an E-3 in the US military earns about $1,700 a month. Then you have to consider the fact that they will give you a place to live or the financial means to do so. If you are married or have been promoted to E-5 then they will provide you an allowance based on the local cost of living to pay for a residence off base. Married troops also make slightly more money a month to help provide for their spouses, who often cannot get high-paying jobs in the local community. Oh, and they feed you. If you live on base then you will receive free meals at the chow hall on base, which typically serves tasty meals. If you live off base or work odd hours then you can get commuted rations, meaning that they pay you extra to allow you to buy your own food. They also cover the cost of your health care. So this $1,700 a month does not sound all that shabby now, does it?
The military will also pay for most of your college education. They cover your full tuition while you are serving, meaning that you can take online courses or community college classes for free to prepare yourself for getting your degree. They also offer you the Montgomery GI Bill, a program that allows you to pay $1,200 to the government in exchange for around $45,000 toward your education after you are honorably discharged. If you already have a bachelor's degree then the Army has a program that will repay up to $65,000 in student loans for certain career paths. Needless to say, these programs are all very useful for someone who needs money for education.
Then there is the benefit of serving your country. You will have the satisfaction that you are defending your nation, and most people will give you an immense amount of respect for doing so. Long gone are the days of Vietnam veterans coming back from combat to be spit on and called baby killers. Bands dedicate songs to service members, people buy them drinks, amusement parks give them free admission. People understand how military members put their lives on hold (and on the line) to defend the country, and they give them immense respect for doing so.
But like anything, there are bad things to go along with the good. Basic training will be hard. People other than your parents will tell you what to do for possibly the first time in your life. You will be doing this for at least three years (the minimum Army commitment), and once you sign up there is no viable way to just quit without a dishonorable discharge haunting you for the rest of your life. In short, make sure that you can handle the military lifestyle. If you have doubts then you may just want to stay at home.
You also have to consider where you will be stationed and where you may be deployed to. Many jobs in the US Military can be stationed not just around the United States, but all over the world. You will have the ability to select three places in the Continental United States and three places around the world you would like to be stationed, but the only way you will actually get these locations is if there is an opening for your particular job at that base. So you may end up at a location far away from your family and your friends. This may not be a big deal for some people, but some people may have serious relationships that they may not want to put on hold or end. Others may have spouses who do not want to move. They may have children with someone who they do not live with, meaning that a military commitment could mean a long time of being away from important family. There is also the very real possibility of being deployed to Iraq, Afghanistan or any other war zone if you are in the Army, Marines, Air Force, and certain jobs in the Navy. You can also expect to spend six months at sea several times if you are in the Navy.
Weigh these options. Remember that once you are in you are in until your contract is up or they throw you out. If it is something you still want to do then go talk to your local recruiter. Be proud that you are taking the first step toward defending your country.
