Benefits of enlisting

[Anonymous]

Corrected post:

The last is the biggest point. You can’t control where you move , how often you (and your family) move. You have few rights. The organization does not care too much about your welfare, to be honest.

They can literally order you to kill people, or risk your life for values you do not support. And if it causes you mental anguish or permanent disability, you may have to fight for years just to receive the benefits you deserve.

(Mind you, some passive/directionless people like it, precisely because they are not in the driver’s seat.)

[Anonymous]

I mean, my cousin enlisted back in the mid 2000s and got killed in Iraq, so, no things didn't work out for him.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What are the main benefits of enlisting in the army/navy etc? Can one come out ahead with this trajectory?

I enlisted, traveled the world, learned a technical job, was supervising and being held accountable for other people's work by the time I was 20, lived abroad, and got four years of college tuition free. I got experience and an education I could never get at a university.

But I think the military services and world situation has changed since I was in. I would go in with eyes open, and be sure you have guaranteed training in the field you want.

A guy who works in the mail room of my company was in the military (Navy?). He was taught something about telephone wires in there, and when he got out he thought he'd get a job doing the same thing as a civilian and found out the military was over a decade behind the technology. So he worked private Security at a club for a couple of years before switching to mail rooms.

My guess is this mail room guy's story is not fully fleshed.
Look, even I know about telephone wires, low vo and fiber optics and I am not in the trade. The military, as I understand it, develops what latent talents you have because they need it. If a person doesn't demonstrate aptitude, that person wont get more challenging work. Incompetence would be dangerous.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Corrected post:

The last is the biggest point. You can’t control where you move , how often you (and your family) move. You have few rights. The organization does not care too much about your welfare, to be honest.

They can literally order you to kill people, or risk your life for values you do not support. And if it causes you mental anguish or permanent disability, you may have to fight for years just to receive the benefits you deserve.

(Mind you, some passive/directionless people like it, precisely because they are not in the driver’s seat.)

Correct but most people are not front lines and it depends on the branch.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:What are the main benefits of enlisting in the army/navy etc? Can one come out ahead with this trajectory?

Don’t. The US is constantly at war. So many veterans come back with psych problems. Don’t do this to your child.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Our current president is a sociopath who could give orders to deploy to attack law abiding American citizens because he has no respect for the rule of law or normal values. And as an member of the military you will be required to follow his orders - there is no room for questioning.

It is a very scary time right now. I would not want to be in the military and at his beck and call to fulfill his childish mafioso fantasies.

Complete fool^

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Ahead of what?

Ahead in life (career, savings, happiness, opportunities for success, family etc.)

This is hard to answer. Many military enlistees fall prey to payday lenders and other abuses. There is a reason that every street leading up to a military base is littered with liquor stores, payday lenders, etc.

Now, if your kid is disciplined and saves their $$$s and uses the military to gain useful skills, takes advantage of the GI Bill for college, etc., it can work out.

Other approach is to have the military pay for your college and then serve as an officer.

This is blunt truth. It’s a fantastic way to gain skills (even if you don’t aim for NCO+) and change your life, but you have to handle it the right away.

This! Enlisting can be great. You have virtually no bills for several years and can save a lot of money. The military provides you with many, many useful skills beyond your designated job. If you plan to go to college, your designated military job doesn’t matter. You can either serve out all your time then U.S. GI Bill, or serve 2 yrs and apply for Green to Gold ROTC scholarship and can switch to a student status enroute to becoming an officer. If you don’t plan on going to college, then yes, try to get a guarantee to a job specialty that has a civilian equivalent.

All in all, the military can be an amazing experience with much to gain- so long as you are smart, disciplined, and don’t make dumb mistakes/choices while in. (Don’t get married, don’t make a baby, and don’t blow $$$$ on a car and bunches of alcohol and strippers)

[Anonymous]

Enlisted people make very little. Some are on food stamps!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Ahead of what?

Ahead in life (career, savings, happiness, opportunities for success, family etc.)

This is hard to answer. Many military enlistees fall prey to payday lenders and other abuses. There is a reason that every street leading up to a military base is littered with liquor stores, payday lenders, etc.

Now, if your kid is disciplined and saves their $$$s and uses the military to gain useful skills, takes advantage of the GI Bill for college, etc., it can work out.

Other approach is to have the military pay for your college and then serve as an officer.

This is blunt truth. It’s a fantastic way to gain skills (even if you don’t aim for NCO+) and change your life, but you have to handle it the right away.

This! Enlisting can be great. You have virtually no bills for several years and can save a lot of money. The military provides you with many, many useful skills beyond your designated job. If you plan to go to college, your designated military job doesn’t matter. You can either serve out all your time then U.S. GI Bill, or serve 2 yrs and apply for Green to Gold ROTC scholarship and can switch to a student status enroute to becoming an officer. If you don’t plan on going to college, then yes, try to get a guarantee to a job specialty that has a civilian equivalent.

All in all, the military can be an amazing experience with much to gain- so long as you are smart, disciplined, and don’t make dumb mistakes/choices while in. (Don’t get married, don’t make a baby, and don’t blow $$$$ on a car and bunches of alcohol and strippers)

Hum…no it’s not. For some single if they live in the dorms maybe but they earn so little families get food stamps and wic. The jobs suck, officers treat you badly, can be sent anywhere and may not be released as promised. Clearly you are not entitled or an entitled family. We are a retiree enlisted family. I would be fine with my v
Child going in as an officer only. We’ve saved since birth to avoid this.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Enlisted people make very little. Some are on food stamps!

And wic.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Our current president is a sociopath who could give orders to deploy to attack law abiding American citizens because he has no respect for the rule of law or normal values. And as an member of the military you will be required to follow his orders - there is no room for questioning.

It is a very scary time right now. I would not want to be in the military and at his beck and call to fulfill his childish mafioso fantasies.

Complete fool^

Retired enlisted family. Agree. I would not want to be active duty now. No way.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Our current president is a sociopath who could give orders to deploy to attack law abiding American citizens because he has no respect for the rule of law or normal values. And as an member of the military you will be required to follow his orders - there is no room for questioning.

It is a very scary time right now. I would not want to be in the military and at his beck and call to fulfill his childish mafioso fantasies.

Military service members take an oath to defend the Constitution- not a person. If a SM is asked to do something unlawful, they do not have to do it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Ahead of what?

Ahead in life (career, savings, happiness, opportunities for success, family etc.)

This is hard to answer. Many military enlistees fall prey to payday lenders and other abuses. There is a reason that every street leading up to a military base is littered with liquor stores, payday lenders, etc.

Now, if your kid is disciplined and saves their $$$s and uses the military to gain useful skills, takes advantage of the GI Bill for college, etc., it can work out.

Other approach is to have the military pay for your college and then serve as an officer.

This is blunt truth. It’s a fantastic way to gain skills (even if you don’t aim for NCO+) and change your life, but you have to handle it the right away.

This! Enlisting can be great. You have virtually no bills for several years and can save a lot of money. The military provides you with many, many useful skills beyond your designated job. If you plan to go to college, your designated military job doesn’t matter. You can either serve out all your time then U.S. GI Bill, or serve 2 yrs and apply for Green to Gold ROTC scholarship and can switch to a student status enroute to becoming an officer. If you don’t plan on going to college, then yes, try to get a guarantee to a job specialty that has a civilian equivalent.

All in all, the military can be an amazing experience with much to gain- so long as you are smart, disciplined, and don’t make dumb mistakes/choices while in. (Don’t get married, don’t make a baby, and don’t blow $$$$ on a car and bunches of alcohol and strippers)

+1 I know several people who took full advantage of everything the military has to offer. Do 3years, get GI Bill, don't have baby, get married, or get in debt and it is a great way for a young person to get some independence, leadership and responsibility. Navy and Air Force has the best quality of life

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:What are the main benefits of enlisting in the army/navy etc? Can one come out ahead with this trajectory?

You get to board forst on flights so if nothing else, there is that.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Our current president is a sociopath who could give orders to deploy to attack law abiding American citizens because he has no respect for the rule of law or normal values. And as an member of the military you will be required to follow his orders - there is no room for questioning.

It is a very scary time right now. I would not want to be in the military and at his beck and call to fulfill his childish mafioso fantasies.

Military service members take an oath to defend the Constitution- not a person. If a SM is asked to do something unlawful, they do not have to do it.

An order is an order. You get court marshaled.