Is the Military worth the time?

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Is the military worth the financial relief?

Yes.
6
67%
No idea.
3
33%
 
Total votes: 9

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Switch Kicker
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Is the Military worth the time?

Post by Switch Kicker » 22 Oct 2007 08:57

I was discharged from the ARNG Sept 20th of 2007 due to some irreversible mistake in my shipping orders. The National Guard apologized, and asked me to come back in 6 months to resign my contract. I don't mind the military. I actually enjoy a handful of it's aspects. But there was no way in hell, that I was going to sign another 8 year contract (6 active, 2 inactive), not get a sign up bonus after not receiving my sign up bonus from the prior contract, into the same branch that just screwed me over 2 years into my contract. No way in hell.

However, a month later, I found myself realizing that there is no way in hell I can pay for college. And without college, I'll end up leading a very unfulfilled lifestyle that I will hate, and my life will be unstructured and messy, and I'll probably succumb to depression by my late twenties after 10 years of factory work. Granted, I could go to college if I spend the next 6-8 years in debt (after going through some figures with my biological mom who's an accountant), meaning the next 6-8 years of my life would be quite miserable in my opinion.

So I have four options. Be a failure. Be in a really really tight squeeze (financially) for the next 6-8 years. Rejoin the ARNG in 6 months, with no sign up bonus. Or join the Army Reserves about a month from now and get a sign up bonus...

Ruling out the ARNG because it's the same deal as the Reserves, except I will get a $20,000 signing bonus, the Reserves will pay for all of my college, and even pay up to $400 a month in living expenses while going to college. So I can breeze through my 2 years of college without any debt, and living pretty comfortably.

However, is that comfort and financial relief really worth the 6 years of active service? I'm not afraid of deployment, in fact I fought tooth and nail to get on deployment with my best friend, but I couldn't go because of the mistake on my shipping orders. So I have a feeling of guilt on the side of it all, because he's there, and I'm not.

I admit, that any feedback given will probably not effect my decision too greatly, but I would really like to hear some opinions from people in different parts of the country, and other parts of the world. So please try to think of yourself in a similar position and tell me what you would do personally. Not what I should do, but what you would do. Note that deployment is a guarantee when joining any branch right now. So don't base anything off of false hope that there's a chance you can go the 6 years without deployment to somewhere.

Thanks for any honest feedback given. And I'd really rather this not turn into a debate about how the US is evil, and the US military is evil, or that they're baby killers, or whatever. Thanks again.
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Post by Maraxus » 22 Oct 2007 09:07

Baby killer. :x







Two options in my mind.

One, don't join. Find a scholarship program (which there are plenty of) like FastWeb and write short simple sweet essays for funding. Use your resources (like your mom) to find out how much you'll need to pay back after your schooling is complete. Community colleges are cheap and most have programs that transfer over to four year colleges. After your two year associates get a part time job and a little extra cash for later.

Two, join the reserves and find a job that fits you that you can actually enjoy doing. Learn everything about that occupation and transfer your skills and SMART transcripts to college life to get a head with tuition covered from the GI Bill. That's what I'm doing, and it's going well.
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Post by BainbridgeShred » 22 Oct 2007 10:42

From what I've heard, it's been the NG that has been getting screwed as far as benefits go, while regular enlisted has little trouble.

I told my brother when he joined that he shouldn't expect the next 4-8 years of US international relations to be focused on small conflicts and nation building. So you should take into account before joining if your life is really worth the benefits and priviledge that goes along with signing the contract.
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Post by Maraxus » 22 Oct 2007 11:43

BainbridgeShred wrote:From what I've heard, it's been the NG that has been getting screwed as far as benefits go, while regular enlisted has little trouble.

I told my brother when he joined that he shouldn't expect the next 4-8 years of US international relations to be focused on small conflicts and nation building. So you should take into account before joining if your life is really worth the benefits and priviledge that goes along with signing the contract.
This isn't about life and death, despite what you've heard we aren't dying in mass numbers overseas. It's more concerned with the minimum obligation required in return for the best benefits.
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Post by Switch Kicker » 22 Oct 2007 12:34

Maraxus wrote:
BainbridgeShred wrote:From what I've heard, it's been the NG that has been getting screwed as far as benefits go, while regular enlisted has little trouble.

I told my brother when he joined that he shouldn't expect the next 4-8 years of US international relations to be focused on small conflicts and nation building. So you should take into account before joining if your life is really worth the benefits and priviledge that goes along with signing the contract.
This isn't about life and death, despite what you've heard we aren't dying in mass numbers overseas. It's more concerned with the minimum obligation required in return for the best benefits.
Exactly.
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Post by Switch Kicker » 22 Oct 2007 12:50

BainbridgeShred wrote:From what I've heard, it's been the NG that has been getting screwed as far as benefits go, while regular enlisted has little trouble.

I told my brother when he joined that he shouldn't expect the next 4-8 years of US international relations to be focused on small conflicts and nation building. So you should take into account before joining if your life is really worth the benefits and priviledge that goes along with signing the contract.
I don't know about your area's' ARNG, but that sounds like it's restricted to your area's unit. The ARNG's benefits are still thriving. Hell, all my Guard buddies have either a new vehicle, new house, new furniture, free college, or a combination of the 4. But they all have free college for sure. If ARNG is lacking in benefits where you're at... someone's not doing their job...

Curious though, what do you mean by regular enlisted?
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Post by PegLegHolly » 22 Oct 2007 12:53

i voted yes.


if you can't afford to put yourself through college, then you should try to find other means... like what you're considering. many people can make a living without getting education further from high school, but that is a lifestyle choice that everyone has to make.

for me, college is the only way to move up. i live in a small town, where homelessness, addiction, and poverty is the experience of the majority of our population. without going to college, i wouldn't get a high paying job, or the opportunity to move to another city with job opportunities in my field.

if college is what you want, and itd be difficult to make it by with college debts, then find anyway to get your education for free.





an alternative:
most student loans let you pay them off after you graduate. if you choose and college that has good job placement, then when you graduate you would have a good paying job that will help you pay off your student loans quickly. this is what im doing, because i dont think im military material. sure, i will be in debt for a few years after i graduate, but it seems like the demand for people with the degree im earning is rising.
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Post by Iron Clad Ben » 22 Oct 2007 13:21

Having student loan debt may not be as bad as you think. As long as you are getting the right type of student loans:

1) Subsidized loans if at all possible. This kind does not accumulate interest while you are in school. The government pays the interest on these while you are in school.
2) Low interest rate. Anything over 7% is tough to work with. If you can get loans in the 3-4% range or less you're doing really well.

There actually is such a thing as GOOD debt. If you get an interest rate that is lower than what your money would make in a savings account (as much 5% in some cases) that is a very good scenario. You are effectively borrowing at a better rate than you could make money if you put it in the bank. Meaning that once you're out of school, paying off this loan is effectively getting you a better rate of return on your money than putting it in savings. Something like credit card debt on the other hand is BAD DEBT, it's much worse, at 17-19%+ interest rate it is terrible debt to have. It's important to know the difference between good debt and bad debt, it depends primarily on the interest rate, but also the terms.

FILL OUT OF THE FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid) This is absolutely critical. The government is giving tons of money grants and loans away at MUCH BETTER rates than private banks. Only use private bank loans as a last resort. The private banks will not be afraid to sell your own grandma on the street for $40 if they need to squeeze some money out of you. Private bank loans are bad debt. The government loans on the other hand typically have better interest rates, can be deferred or forbeared if you encounter financial hardship and are forgiven if you die.

I had very good experiences with government loans. My 1st year out of college I wasn't making very much money and had to go on forbearance. My loans still accumulated interest, but I didn't have to pay for 1 year. That was a lifesaver. I managed to pay all my loans off (they were in the $20K range) within 4 years of graduating college. It's NOT bad debt, don't be afraid of it. Creditors understand student loan debt and as long as you pay it off on schedule, it will not adversely effect your credit rating. It really was never a dark cloud hanging over me. Out of college I got a good job (eventually) and could pay the loans off ahead of schedule. I never worried.

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Post by dp » 22 Oct 2007 13:28

Community college it up, get a loan, work some hours during the school year, get a full time job over summer.
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Post by Switch Kicker » 22 Oct 2007 20:15

Pirate Man wrote:Community college it up, get a loan, work some hours during the school year, get a full time job over summer.
Military's less stressful, by far.

Thanks for the lesson and advice on loans ICB. It was very informative.

I still haven't made a decision on what I'm going to do. But I"m leaning very strongly towards military, for other reasons along with the college benefits. One of which is the guilt (Guilt I shouldn't have, but have anyway.). Every guy (or gal) that gets discharged early without going on deployment feels like they got off easy. Well, at least anyone with a spine does... It's not JUST the college (Though it's the main factor.) that's making me want to rejoin. It sickens me that my best friend calls me using his computer from overseas, and I'm not there. You really can't understand that kind of feeling unless you're experiencing it yourself. Because I was told that I was going to end up feeling that way, and I was like, "Pfft, doubt it." What a slap in the face that was.

But yeah, my Dad's friend is the career counselor for my old high school, gonna be talking to him sometime this week. Thanks for the feedback btw.
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Post by Bringerofpie » 25 Oct 2007 13:25

I wouldn't join the military, but that's just me.
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Post by BainbridgeShred » 25 Oct 2007 16:34

This isn't about life and death, despite what you've heard we aren't dying in mass numbers overseas. It's more concerned with the minimum obligation required in return for the best benefits.
That's exactly my point. US soldier's aren't dying in mass numbers, but the threat of a major war is looming larger than ever. My message was that you should weigh the benefits of the "benefits" against the potential of a conflict greater than Iraq 1/Iraq 2, Kosovo ect.

The term he was talking about was 4-8 year's and in that amount of time who knows what the state of the military will be.
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Post by Switch Kicker » 25 Oct 2007 18:28

BainbridgeShred wrote:
This isn't about life and death, despite what you've heard we aren't dying in mass numbers overseas. It's more concerned with the minimum obligation required in return for the best benefits.
That's exactly my point. US soldier's aren't dying in mass numbers, but the threat of a major war is looming larger than ever. My message was that you should weigh the benefits of the "benefits" against the potential of a conflict greater than Iraq 1/Iraq 2, Kosovo ect.

The term he was talking about was 4-8 year's and in that amount of time who knows what the state of the military will be.
Well, we're not going to do anything about N. Korea's five whole nuclear weapons. Because there's only five, and they all are less powerful than 1/100th of the bomb dropped on Hiroshima.

Other than that, the only thing anywhere near the possibility of another war would be Iran. And with the 2008 elections coming up (and the fact that Democrats are highly favored right now) I doubt we'll be going to war with Iran any time soon. And if we do, I'll have already been deployed to either Iraq, Afganistan (Iraq 2?), or Kosovo, and would'nt be able to deploy for the invasion of Iran. Key word being invasion, the time frame that has the highest death toll in a war.

Idk.. I'm just not worried about being deployed. Just worried I might be wasting time.
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Post by brinard » 25 Oct 2007 18:45

you have to go thru the military before you get your school taken care of. thats 3--4 years i think (dont care) and then another 3-5 for school.

i dont know how old you are, or if youve even been in the military. but if youre atleast 20-25, that makes you entering the job world after college at age 30ish. imo, that is too old to finish college and have an edge on younger college grads looking at the same job ops as you.

that being said, i would just FAFSA, and see what your #s are. thats what will make the biggest difference in my book. 0's and *'s are best. that means most state aid you can get wil be awared to you. (grants, scolarships). you should retake the act to make it even better (TN has a 4000$ grant if you get a 22 and youre poor, 3g's if you get a 21)

either way, i would not go into the military. loans can be repaid, easily if you actually try in college. but if youre killed in war, then yeah. waste of time. you never even made it to college, and youre dead.

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Post by PegLegHolly » 25 Oct 2007 20:17

did you read, brian?
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Post by brinard » 25 Oct 2007 20:34

nope.


now that i have, i wouldnt change much other than the actual time for the time i guessed.

debts are payable. you can get deferred payments on loans to not have to start paying like ben said.

i think youll be alright fred. dont be afraid of banks/loans. thats how you build credit. (just make sure you have a job while your in school, or else it will pile up)

maybe work a year or two to save for college. then enroll, take it easy with the job, and make the most of college. (i hope youd choose a good concentration, not videogame designer or something stupid.

either way, good luck.

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Post by Switch Kicker » 25 Oct 2007 22:03

Brian.. you're funny.

You can go to college while enlisted. I'll be 22 or 24 (depending on my dedication to my education) before I go out into the career field to look for a job. I'll be 20 when I start college. College for Respiratory Therapy. Only requires 2 years, but 4 years will make you move up faster, and you can't be a superior in the field without 4 years. So, I guess it's just gonna roll out onthe floor as I do it... I always have teh choice to go back for the extra 2 years, but.. I have two years to thikn about it, so yeah.

So no... it's not something stupid, like game design, or arts (Not that art is stupid... the idea of me taking art is stupid...)

Dont know if I said this yet.. too lazy to scroll down and check... But after i get my 2 year degree, I want to change my would-be military job to Respiratory Specialist (basically the same thing as a Therapist, different name though). Then I could do my job, while either doing2 mroe years of college, or simply spend the last of my contract ina hospital, away from the battles. Which is always better.

Idk. too many god damn options... Where's my magic 8 ball... *looks around*
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Post by Jeremy » 06 Jan 2012 04:05

Interesting first post. So many things have been said about nationalism, but perhaps I'll appeal to yours (how ironic of me) and go with this;

"Of all the dispositions and habits which lead to political prosperity, religion and morality are indispensable supports. In vain would that man claim the tribute of patriotism who should labor to subvert those pillars of human happiness, those firmest props of the duties of men and citizens." - George Washington.

Not that I agree about religion, but the point, of course, is that you should support ethical behaviour, not your country.

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