Joining military

[Anonymous]

I'm wondering if the posters who are supportive live in DC area or elsewhere? Because if you live elsewhere you might not be able to see that there is one huge issue with enlisting in the military (esp. - Army) in the past decade+: you have to be blind not to see very young guys with no legs, no arms, some with half of the body missing... And, obviously, many-many thousands with life-long injuries that are not so visible to the outsiders... Yes, Afganistan and Iraq are almost "over" but the time in the 80s and most of the 90s when enlisting was just one of the possible safe choices is not going to be back anytime soon...

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

The health insurance now has been a huge blessing as the children and I have lots of medical needs, but its also not so good as many of the doctors are residents now (some are great, most are not) and have no clue and the quality of care has gone way down.

Could you use Tricare Standard and choose your own doctors? We are a retiree family and we have never used Tricare Prime, only Standard. I always check to make sure the doctors we go to take Tricare and there are some that have a relationship with Tricare who charge a lower co-pay than Standard (I don't remember what that is called at the moment). It might be worth looking into to see if there's a better option for your family.

We consider it but the co-pays and out of pocket for what we need are way to high (same with taking insurance through my husband's employer). For us, its cheaper for us to stay on prime and just private pay (therapies, evaluations). I'm getting a run around on getting diagnosed so I may private pay to go somewhere else if my doc who I liked does not return in the fall as scheduled. I finally got a new primary care doc who is great and we love our ped, so I want to say with them. Tricare has been very generous to our child and that is my primary concern. We could not do what we have done for him without Tricare Prime. (though on the flip to that, some of the things have been private pay because they refuse to cover good evaluations, etc).

So there are two distinct tiers of military health care, depending on whether you are willing or able to pay the premiums of the higher tier vs. the one with fewer choices but no out-of-pocket costs. HOWEVER, in either case, you have found that either tier is apparently better than what your husband or you can obtain on the private market or through his private employer. So really, it sounds like the military option is a pretty good deal.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I'm wondering if the posters who are supportive live in DC area or elsewhere? Because if you live elsewhere you might not be able to see that there is one huge issue with enlisting in the military (esp. - Army) in the past decade+: you have to be blind not to see very young guys with no legs, no arms, some with half of the body missing... And, obviously, many-many thousands with life-long injuries that are not so visible to the outsiders... Yes, Afganistan and Iraq are almost "over" but the time in the 80s and most of the 90s when enlisting was just one of the possible safe choices is not going to be back anytime soon...

While tragic, what most people don't realize is that only a very small proportion of service-members will ever be in any kind of significant danger. That's not a widely popular idea, because the public likes to think that we're all basically heroes, but most of us were never in any danger.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'm wondering if the posters who are supportive live in DC area or elsewhere? Because if you live elsewhere you might not be able to see that there is one huge issue with enlisting in the military (esp. - Army) in the past decade+: you have to be blind not to see very young guys with no legs, no arms, some with half of the body missing... And, obviously, many-many thousands with life-long injuries that are not so visible to the outsiders... Yes, Afganistan and Iraq are almost "over" but the time in the 80s and most of the 90s when enlisting was just one of the possible safe choices is not going to be back anytime soon...

While tragic, what most people don't realize is that only a very small proportion of service-members will ever be in any kind of significant danger. That's not a widely popular idea, because the public likes to think that we're all basically heroes, but most of us were never in any danger.

Are you the USNA grad with paid off house and money in the bank? Although I will agree that there are many people in the military who enjoy safe and rewarding careers I would never call a million+ people "a very small portion"...
http://www.ibtimes.com/va-stops-releasing-data-injured-vets-total-reaches-grim-milestone-exclusive-1449584

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'm wondering if the posters who are supportive live in DC area or elsewhere? Because if you live elsewhere you might not be able to see that there is one huge issue with enlisting in the military (esp. - Army) in the past decade+: you have to be blind not to see very young guys with no legs, no arms, some with half of the body missing... And, obviously, many-many thousands with life-long injuries that are not so visible to the outsiders... Yes, Afganistan and Iraq are almost "over" but the time in the 80s and most of the 90s when enlisting was just one of the possible safe choices is not going to be back anytime soon...

While tragic, what most people don't realize is that only a very small proportion of service-members will ever be in any kind of significant danger. That's not a widely popular idea, because the public likes to think that we're all basically heroes, but most of us were never in any danger.

Are you the USNA grad with paid off house and money in the bank? Although I will agree that there are many people in the military who enjoy safe and rewarding careers I would never call a million+ people "a very small portion"...
http://www.ibtimes.com/va-stops-releasing-data-injured-vets-total-reaches-grim-milestone-exclusive-1449584

They got their education paid for and picked a career field that is high paying afterward. Probably did not do it all via military but life after the military.

Most service members are deployed now. It has obviously slowed down but many were in danger and if they do not have physical injuries, they have emotional. There is nothing safe about being in the military, especially now.

[Anonymous]

What's the saying? Lies, damn lies, and statistics?

Being "treated" at a VA hospital does not equal being injured, and it certainly does not equal combat injuries to the degree you're implying, yet the author of your article conflates the two.

Keep in mind that one of the most common reasons for service-related disabilities (13% of all disability cases) is sleep apnea related to obesity.

[Anonymous]

"Most service members are deployed now."

You mean currently (because no, that's most definitely not true), or at some point during their service? Because if it's the latter, isn't that the whole point?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

The health insurance now has been a huge blessing as the children and I have lots of medical needs, but its also not so good as many of the doctors are residents now (some are great, most are not) and have no clue and the quality of care has gone way down.

Could you use Tricare Standard and choose your own doctors? We are a retiree family and we have never used Tricare Prime, only Standard. I always check to make sure the doctors we go to take Tricare and there are some that have a relationship with Tricare who charge a lower co-pay than Standard (I don't remember what that is called at the moment). It might be worth looking into to see if there's a better option for your family.

We consider it but the co-pays and out of pocket for what we need are way to high (same with taking insurance through my husband's employer). For us, its cheaper for us to stay on prime and just private pay (therapies, evaluations). I'm getting a run around on getting diagnosed so I may private pay to go somewhere else if my doc who I liked does not return in the fall as scheduled. I finally got a new primary care doc who is great and we love our ped, so I want to say with them. Tricare has been very generous to our child and that is my primary concern. We could not do what we have done for him without Tricare Prime. (though on the flip to that, some of the things have been private pay because they refuse to cover good evaluations, etc).

So there are two distinct tiers of military health care, depending on whether you are willing or able to pay the premiums of the higher tier vs. the one with fewer choices but no out-of-pocket costs. HOWEVER, in either case, you have found that either tier is apparently better than what your husband or you can obtain on the private market or through his private employer. So really, it sounds like the military option is a pretty good deal.

You only get two options (three if you include the hopkins plan) - prime and standard. Neither are good choices as we are retirees and get the lowest priority. You get what you pay for so we spend at least $1000 (some months 2-3 times that depending on evaluations and travel) for medical care for our child - its still cheaper than paying a premium, deductibles and copays through employers but tricare only covers limited therapies and specialists and you have to use approved ones (some good, mostly bad). The new primary care for me has only been in the last 6 months. The past few years I've had horrible primary care docs and often landed in the ER.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:What's the saying? Lies, damn lies, and statistics?

Being "treated" at a VA hospital does not equal being injured, and it certainly does not equal combat injuries to the degree you're implying, yet the author of your article conflates the two.

Keep in mind that one of the most common reasons for service-related disabilities (13% of all disability cases) is sleep apnea related to obesity.

That is done to get a disability rating at retirement or discharge. Service members are told do the doctor rounds to get up their retirement pay. It is a big scam and its sucks as if you are going to the sleep clinic for real care, they often blow you off thinking that is what you are there for and refuse to treat you.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I'm wondering if the posters who are supportive live in DC area or elsewhere? Because if you live elsewhere you might not be able to see that there is one huge issue with enlisting in the military (esp. - Army) in the past decade+: you have to be blind not to see very young guys with no legs, no arms, some with half of the body missing... And, obviously, many-many thousands with life-long injuries that are not so visible to the outsiders... Yes, Afganistan and Iraq are almost "over" but the time in the 80s and most of the 90s when enlisting was just one of the possible safe choices is not going to be back anytime soon...

Its easy to overlook that if you are not at a place like Walter Reed all the time. My children think missing limbs is normal and its really sad to think that is part of their normal as that is what we see on a weekly, sometimes daily basis. They don't know any different.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What's the saying? Lies, damn lies, and statistics?

Being "treated" at a VA hospital does not equal being injured, and it certainly does not equal combat injuries to the degree you're implying, yet the author of your article conflates the two.

Keep in mind that one of the most common reasons for service-related disabilities (13% of all disability cases) is sleep apnea related to obesity.

That is done to get a disability rating at retirement or discharge. Service members are told do the doctor rounds to get up their retirement pay. It is a big scam and its sucks as if you are going to the sleep clinic for real care, they often blow you off thinking that is what you are there for and refuse to treat you.

ITA. Point is, let's not look at the number of patients who have visited the VA health system and presume that that number must be equal to the number of people with combat-related injuries or mental disorders. Because that would just be absurd.

[Anonymous]

Many HS graduates attend college on an ROTC scholarship. They participate in the school and branch's ROTC training and study, work, live like a regular college student. In return, they make a commitment and sign a contract with the military for a set amount of time. When they graduate they are commissioned as an officer. (Those without a college degree enlist, those with are commissioned).

As active duty military, if you are in the military for a set amount of time, you also get a GI bill, even if you already went to college and do not need it to pay for school. You can award it to an immediate family member. It is an enormous benefit.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'm wondering if the posters who are supportive live in DC area or elsewhere? Because if you live elsewhere you might not be able to see that there is one huge issue with enlisting in the military (esp. - Army) in the past decade+: you have to be blind not to see very young guys with no legs, no arms, some with half of the body missing... And, obviously, many-many thousands with life-long injuries that are not so visible to the outsiders... Yes, Afganistan and Iraq are almost "over" but the time in the 80s and most of the 90s when enlisting was just one of the possible safe choices is not going to be back anytime soon...

While tragic, what most people don't realize is that only a very small proportion of service-members will ever be in any kind of significant danger. That's not a widely popular idea, because the public likes to think that we're all basically heroes, but most of us were never in any danger.

Except from paper cuts.

[Anonymous]

My DD's pay for college plan is to join the Air Force.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My DD's pay for college plan is to join the Air Force.

What made her choose the Air Force?


I have 2 friends in the Army bothy of which are still in the Army.


I had 3 friends joing the Air Force. One is stil in of the three. Quite frankly only because he is a nurse. The other 2 said it wasn't what people thought it was. They considered transferring to the Army but didn't want to have to go through basic training again.

And i have one family member that joined the marines. Been on for about 2 years. His dad is a marine officer. He is now wanting to transfer to the Army.