A little background info: I'm 25. I've pretty much always wanted to join up. My grandpa was in the army so I've grown up around the culture and shooting a variety of weapons since I was 5 or so. My parents were non-negotiable about me going to college so I couldn't go out of high school. So I went to college and got degrees in Forensic Science and Chemistry. Had a kid and got married. About a month and a half ago the wife and I separated. Now I don't really know what to do. Seems like a good time to join if that's what I'm going to do. Just feel like I need some sort of structure right now since my life's went to shit lately. If I were to join it would be marines or army. I was thinking I might be too old though. And also I have no idea what kind of job I would be getting into b/c I don't know if the degrees matter. Ok, so tell me OT, does it seem like a good idea or am I being a bitch and should wait for my life to maybe straighten out. Yes, I know it's ridiculous to ask OT for life advice. At least I didn't put it in the main.
I think its always a good idea. I have been in the Army for 12 years and I have made a good life for myself. If you join the Army you could put a direct commission packet in and work for JAG or be an intel officer. There are many opportunities. 25 is not old. I have inprocessed people that were 33 and just joined, all because they wanted a life change.
just think after only 4 years active you will be 29 or 30 when you get out. If you go reserves on an 8 year contract you will be 33. Do you really want to be 33 and in the fucking military if you're not going to do 20? You have a great degree. Put it to use and make money.
that's part of the problem. i make decent money now (like $65k). i don't know what the pay is like in the military. also i don't know how easy it is going to be to find a job when i get out if the economy is still shitty.
if you not happy with you job now, then obviously the money doesn't matter 25 is not to old, do it, go in as an officer or warrant
I may be one of the crazy ones, but I was 31 when I went in. I had a college degree and a wife to support. My degree was in psychology and I did not really know what I wanted to do. I thought about the Army to get ahead for a few years. I figured I would be 35 and have had a good steady job. Well, I am past 40 now, I have been in for nine years, and so far, the Army has been the best thing that could have happened to me. My job in the Army is in the field of mental health, and I am currently on duty as a Recruiter. I never worry about getting fired or laid off, can't happen. Don't have to worry about a pay cut, can't happen. People talk about the low pay in the Army, you will go in at a higher rank than most, and will be in a leadership position sooner than most. The higher rank means higher pay. That is because the Army needs the leadership that college graduates can offer. If you choose to go in enlisted, you will go in as a Specialist. That is three ranks higher than most high school graduates. I would also suggest you look at what you don't pay for when you are enlisted in the Army. I get an allowance from the Army for my groceries, I get my rent paid, I don't have to pay for medical care for myself or my family. I recently looked at my pay and benefits analysis, I make over $75,000 in pay and benefits. Not bad for someone who screwed around after college until joining the Army. My rank is Staff Sergeant, and I could have earned that in about 5 years if I was really driven. But I coasted and made it in six years. One other benefit is that at 25 you could be drawing a retirement check when you are 45 years old. That will leave you plenty of time to start and retire successfully from a second career and draw two retirement checks when most are drawing one, or some people, none. The Commissioned Officer route is a whole other world, and I would be willing to let you know the qualifications if you PM me. SSG Schwartz
went to the websites and requested more info from both Army and Marines. had to give a phone # for USMC. hopefully my phone isn't ringing off the hook soon.
On the flipside, you can be kicked out for stupid shit. And you cant retire on a retirement check, it is an alright supplemental income, but even if you retire as an E7 at 20, you are still looking at < minimum wage every year.
It gets really bad once you get in trouble at E6. If you get busted down, and are past HYT, you're out. Then you have no marketability, and you think getting a job is "hard" in today's economy with just a college degree, try getting one with a bad conduct discharge.. out on the streets in an instant. Your whole lifestyle fucked up. Obviously it is very easy not to get in trouble. You just still have to watch your back. Wrong place at wrong time. Guilt by association. If you get a bad CO, just being in the same vicinity when something goes down even if you try and stop it might be enough to fuck over your career.
My mom tried to tell me that I couldn't retire on a $1700/mo Army pension. I told her "Just look at your brother, fuck he doesn't do shit on $200/mo."
Correct but he is used to living on $200/mo. You're going to be used to pulling in $85-90k/year if you retire as an O4, then dropping down to a third of that. Most likely wont even pay your mortage & utilities. You will have another job when you get out of the military, unless your spouse makes decent money. I look at military retirement as an extension of your free house. Buy while you're in, start paying with BAH, when you get out, your retirement is your "BAH"..
if you go officer you would be making 65k in 4 yrs, yea the first 4 you wont be making it but its still not a bad living unless your currently living horribly above your means
at this point i'm pretty close b/c the wife and i just got separated. i kicked her out so now i'm paying all the bills however, if i join up i'll rent out the house until i can sell it so that will take care of a lot of it.
If you go enlisted you should be making ~50k in 4 years (maybe a bit less, unless you count TA). I would never go officer unless it was medical related, because then you're only an officer for pay. Junior officers put up with more shit than junior enlisted.