Anonymous
05/08/2025 22:11
Subject: Benefits of enlisting
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.
Anonymous
05/08/2025 22:07
Subject: Benefits of enlisting
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.
Anonymous
05/08/2025 20:21
Subject: Benefits of enlisting
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:There's a big difference with going ROTC or an academy as an 18 year old, or choosing to enlist without the degree. It really isn't comparable. A 2nd Lieutenant is making almost six figures, and will definitely go beyond that as a 1st and eventually Captain. They do their four years if it's Army, and that leads to nice advantages for grad or law school and a lot of companies as they move on. The credit card and airline benefits for young officers are ridiculous. All those clean cut young people sitting in the lounge and flying business when you travel? Yeah, that's ROTC and academies.
Obviously it comes with a cost. Too long to get into. And four years is a very long time to not be in control. But ROTC/ the academies/ OCS comes with significant benefits for most people. But that is a very different experience than just rolling out of high school and enlisting.
That's not enlisting and you are changing the topic.
NP but they literally said that wasn’t enlisting.
Anonymous
05/08/2025 19:47
Subject: Benefits of enlisting
Anonymous wrote:There's a big difference with going ROTC or an academy as an 18 year old, or choosing to enlist without the degree. It really isn't comparable. A 2nd Lieutenant is making almost six figures, and will definitely go beyond that as a 1st and eventually Captain. They do their four years if it's Army, and that leads to nice advantages for grad or law school and a lot of companies as they move on. The credit card and airline benefits for young officers are ridiculous. All those clean cut young people sitting in the lounge and flying business when you travel? Yeah, that's ROTC and academies.
Obviously it comes with a cost. Too long to get into. And four years is a very long time to not be in control. But ROTC/ the academies/ OCS comes with significant benefits for most people. But that is a very different experience than just rolling out of high school and enlisting.
That's not enlisting and you are changing the topic.
Anonymous
05/08/2025 19:08
Subject: Benefits of enlisting
There's a big difference with going ROTC or an academy as an 18 year old, or choosing to enlist without the degree. It really isn't comparable. A 2nd Lieutenant is making almost six figures, and will definitely go beyond that as a 1st and eventually Captain. They do their four years if it's Army, and that leads to nice advantages for grad or law school and a lot of companies as they move on. The credit card and airline benefits for young officers are ridiculous. All those clean cut young people sitting in the lounge and flying business when you travel? Yeah, that's ROTC and academies.
Obviously it comes with a cost. Too long to get into. And four years is a very long time to not be in control. But ROTC/ the academies/ OCS comes with significant benefits for most people. But that is a very different experience than just rolling out of high school and enlisting.
Obviously it comes with a cost. Too long to get into. And four years is a very long time to not be in control. But ROTC/ the academies/ OCS comes with significant benefits for most people. But that is a very different experience than just rolling out of high school and enlisting.
Anonymous
05/08/2025 17:49
Subject: Benefits of enlisting
C'mon y'all. Enlisting =/= to accepting an officer's commission.
Enlisting is good of you're poor and need to pay for college afterward, and you don't take your eye off the ball. Otherwise, what're you even doing? Just joining for the "shoot brown people" tournaments?
Enlisting is good of you're poor and need to pay for college afterward, and you don't take your eye off the ball. Otherwise, what're you even doing? Just joining for the "shoot brown people" tournaments?
Anonymous
05/08/2025 17:46
Subject: Re:Benefits of enlisting
You can become Vice President.
Anonymous
05/08/2025 17:45
Subject: Benefits of enlisting
I mean, you might DIE just for doing your job, so that's ... something.
Anonymous
05/08/2025 17:38
Subject: Benefits of enlisting
Anonymous wrote:What type of enlistment ? Lots of kids do ROtC. Pay for college, owe the govt some years.
ROTC is to get a college degree and go in as an officer. Enlistment is going in at 18, maybe up to 24 and being enlisted. Very differnet.
Anonymous
05/08/2025 17:37
Subject: Benefits of enlisting
Get away from your family, especially if you cannot afford college. My husband is a retiree/enlisted and we wouldn't support our child doing it. Low pay, grunt work, very hard to take classes while working. No say in your job or where you move to.
Anonymous
05/08/2025 17:34
Subject: Benefits of enlisting
What type of enlistment ? Lots of kids do ROtC. Pay for college, owe the govt some years.
Anonymous
05/08/2025 14:04
Subject: Benefits of enlisting
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.
Anonymous
05/08/2025 13:54
Subject: Benefits of enlisting
Anonymous wrote:Ahead of what?
Ahead in life (career, savings, happiness, opportunities for success, family etc.)
Anonymous
05/08/2025 13:50
Subject: Benefits of enlisting
Ahead of what?
Anonymous
05/08/2025 13:48
Subject: Benefits of enlisting
What are the main benefits of enlisting in the army/navy etc? Can one come out ahead with this trajectory?