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15 Responses to “I really want to travel and get a college education. Is the military a good idea?”
The military is a great way to help you reach your goals. However, as with everything you will get out what you put into it. You can definately achieve all your goals with the military.
It might be a good idea given your circumstances, I don’t know. Just keep in mind that once you join the military, you are theirs for the duration of your enlistment. You may well end up traveling to places you don’t want to go. And anyone in the military should be prepared to be injured or die for a cause that may or may not make sense to you. Just be sure you fully understand what your are getting into.
Depends. For many it is a good idea. For some it aggravates any latent mental health issues. Make a careful and informed decision. If you were abused as a child, physically, mentally, emotionally and/or sexually, then it is probably a bad idea to go into the military.
1) Uncle Sam paid me over 25K for college
2) He also gave me three hots and a cot
3) Medical & dental
4) 30 days paid vacation a year
5) Got to play with all kinds of neat guns and stuff
Hint: don’t enlist in a Combat Arms MOS, or MP, Intel, or anything that’ll send you to a war zone. Go into Finance, or some REMF job like that.
In the past I would say go for it, but these days you will probably just get basic training, a gun and a ticket to a bloodbath in some desert hellhole!
It is a great idea. I spent over 5 years in the Navy on the medical side. I did a little bit on a ship, a few years in a hospital, and a year serving with the Marines in Iraq as a field medic. I took a bunch of classes that turned into college credits (instructor course, medical classes, etc.). Now as I’ve been out of the military I get:
free health care from the VA (I get it for a while but most get it for 2 yrs)
$1000+ a month from the GI Bill
I was able to travel to 10 countries and at least 20 states
I get free tuition because of the state veteran rules
Life experience, friends for life, skills, etc.
I’m still in shape
Its worth it if you don’t mind the institutionalization which is not as ridged but similar to that of college life on campus (minus the aggressive side, working out, but you have rules, schedules, and are away from home).
The military is a good idea if it is something that you have beeen wanting to do for a long time. Like everything it has its good things and its bad things. Don’t be fooled and think that it is all good. If you want a good college education, I say go to school. Cuz the military… they train you for a certain skill and then they put you to work for whatever years you signed up for. You are going to be very busy and school will be put off. My advice is talk to a lot of people who have joined the military and see what they say. Don’t trust recruiters they get paid to get people signed up.
Being active in the military does have is ups such as free education, you will be taken care of. About travel, that it all depends on the kind of job you will be doing in the military. And also it has its bad sides to it, like getting deploy and maybe ending in a base you wont like. It is like my husband says, you really have to join for the right reasons. If you like the military life you join but if you are joining because you want to travel and free education and health insurance is not a great reason to join.
…and that’s the problem. You don’t know what you’ll get into. Lately, the military has put a “stop loss” program into place — that means soldiers in some branches who have made it to the end of their enlistment period are being forced to stay on, not allowed to quit. Plus who knows what’ll happen with Iran — we may end up at war with them, too, over their nuclear program. Or with North-South Korea. Basically, we’re probably going to be at war for at least the next 10 years or so, pretty much continuously. If that doesn’t scare you, then go for it — I admire our volunteers. But there’s no way you can know what you’ll get into, and the military does not have to honor their agreements in times of war.
when i enlisted that is what i wanted to do. I did acheive that goal but the military is not for everyone. it is not going to be a cakewalk and discipline is the key. you must be prepared to do what is asked of you. sure the benefits are great the travel is good and the educationis available to you. But we are at war now so those plans may be put on hold for a while. are you willing to go the next step. and once you enlist if you don’t go where you want to, You can’t just up and quit. Dedication is the key and be prepared to do whatever is required. God Bless
Quick and to the point.
College Education, yes when you are doing a train up to get deployed.
Travel, yes, if you like to see sand.
Health Insurance or Life Insurance. Either are not bad.
All seriousness don’t join for those reasons. You might get a lot more then you bargained for and won’t get a chance to do the things you joined for, ie college.
July 8th, 2009 at 3:41 pm
Kelly
Well if you want to do it,and it your dream go for it,or just Pray to
God and see what he say.
July 9th, 2009 at 5:55 am
Lonnie
The military is a great way to help you reach your goals. However, as with everything you will get out what you put into it. You can definately achieve all your goals with the military.
I suggest the Air Force…….
July 11th, 2009 at 7:33 am
Bertha
It might be a good idea given your circumstances, I don’t know. Just keep in mind that once you join the military, you are theirs for the duration of your enlistment. You may well end up traveling to places you don’t want to go. And anyone in the military should be prepared to be injured or die for a cause that may or may not make sense to you. Just be sure you fully understand what your are getting into.
July 12th, 2009 at 11:29 am
Erica
Depends. For many it is a good idea. For some it aggravates any latent mental health issues. Make a careful and informed decision. If you were abused as a child, physically, mentally, emotionally and/or sexually, then it is probably a bad idea to go into the military.
July 15th, 2009 at 1:26 am
Georgia
Now that the Iraq study group has given their recommendation, I think you’re safe not to go to Iraq. You can get a lot out of the military.
July 18th, 2009 at 6:34 am
Melissa
1) Uncle Sam paid me over 25K for college
2) He also gave me three hots and a cot
3) Medical & dental
4) 30 days paid vacation a year
5) Got to play with all kinds of neat guns and stuff
Hint: don’t enlist in a Combat Arms MOS, or MP, Intel, or anything that’ll send you to a war zone. Go into Finance, or some REMF job like that.
July 18th, 2009 at 8:26 am
Ray
In the past I would say go for it, but these days you will probably just get basic training, a gun and a ticket to a bloodbath in some desert hellhole!
July 18th, 2009 at 8:36 am
Francisco
It is a great idea. I spent over 5 years in the Navy on the medical side. I did a little bit on a ship, a few years in a hospital, and a year serving with the Marines in Iraq as a field medic. I took a bunch of classes that turned into college credits (instructor course, medical classes, etc.). Now as I’ve been out of the military I get:
free health care from the VA (I get it for a while but most get it for 2 yrs)
$1000+ a month from the GI Bill
I was able to travel to 10 countries and at least 20 states
I get free tuition because of the state veteran rules
Life experience, friends for life, skills, etc.
I’m still in shape
Its worth it if you don’t mind the institutionalization which is not as ridged but similar to that of college life on campus (minus the aggressive side, working out, but you have rules, schedules, and are away from home).
July 18th, 2009 at 1:40 pm
Glenn
The military is a good idea if it is something that you have beeen wanting to do for a long time. Like everything it has its good things and its bad things. Don’t be fooled and think that it is all good. If you want a good college education, I say go to school. Cuz the military… they train you for a certain skill and then they put you to work for whatever years you signed up for. You are going to be very busy and school will be put off. My advice is talk to a lot of people who have joined the military and see what they say. Don’t trust recruiters they get paid to get people signed up.
July 20th, 2009 at 1:55 am
Vincent
You will find no better source for the things you are looking for, assuming you are a young person and don’t have a free supply of money.
July 20th, 2009 at 8:34 pm
Evelyn
Being active in the military does have is ups such as free education, you will be taken care of. About travel, that it all depends on the kind of job you will be doing in the military. And also it has its bad sides to it, like getting deploy and maybe ending in a base you wont like. It is like my husband says, you really have to join for the right reasons. If you like the military life you join but if you are joining because you want to travel and free education and health insurance is not a great reason to join.
July 23rd, 2009 at 8:54 pm
Bernard
…and that’s the problem. You don’t know what you’ll get into. Lately, the military has put a “stop loss” program into place — that means soldiers in some branches who have made it to the end of their enlistment period are being forced to stay on, not allowed to quit. Plus who knows what’ll happen with Iran — we may end up at war with them, too, over their nuclear program. Or with North-South Korea. Basically, we’re probably going to be at war for at least the next 10 years or so, pretty much continuously. If that doesn’t scare you, then go for it — I admire our volunteers. But there’s no way you can know what you’ll get into, and the military does not have to honor their agreements in times of war.
July 27th, 2009 at 1:48 am
Edwin
when i enlisted that is what i wanted to do. I did acheive that goal but the military is not for everyone. it is not going to be a cakewalk and discipline is the key. you must be prepared to do what is asked of you. sure the benefits are great the travel is good and the educationis available to you. But we are at war now so those plans may be put on hold for a while. are you willing to go the next step. and once you enlist if you don’t go where you want to, You can’t just up and quit. Dedication is the key and be prepared to do whatever is required. God Bless
July 29th, 2009 at 10:21 pm
Vernon
Quick and to the point.
College Education, yes when you are doing a train up to get deployed.
Travel, yes, if you like to see sand.
Health Insurance or Life Insurance. Either are not bad.
All seriousness don’t join for those reasons. You might get a lot more then you bargained for and won’t get a chance to do the things you joined for, ie college.
August 1st, 2009 at 9:45 pm
Ronnie
Travel: yes. College: not likely. Recruiters will promise anything as long as it isn’t in writing.