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d4in · 01-07-2004, 09:47 AM

Speaking as someone who was in the navy for 4 years, 2 months and 3 days, I thikn the military is a great opportunity for those wanting to either get money for college or go to college under obligation to serve on completion. I blew all my tuition money the first year I was in college on pertying and drinking, so being broke and nowhere to go, I joined the Navy for the G.I. Bill alone. After a wonderful (but exhausting) enlistment, I got out and went to school. I just graduated from college back in mid-December and the Navy paid for it all.

Here are some things that I looked at before joining.

Army - front lines - read the news

Marine Corps - even closer to the enemy than the army...we used to have these guys go out and spot rounds for us when we fired five-inch guns, they were a couple hundred feet away from where the rounds landed...not my kind of job, but some might be interested

Air Force - great for married life and they usually stay at nice bases, food, etc., but opportunity for advancement when I was thinking about joining was almost ZERO. I had a high school friendd that went into the AF and the highest he got rankwise while there was E-4 (and he had just gotten that). I was a E-5 for a year before I got out.

Navy - AWAY FROM THE FIGHTING WITH ALL THE BENEFITS. Not great for married, but I was single at the time. LOOOONNNGGG cruises away from family, but you get to see some great places that most dont get to see except during wartime. My ship did LEOPS, which means we looked for drugrunners in Central and South America. I've been to Panama City, Panama 27 times, Mazatlan, Alcapulco, Manta Ecuador, Galapagos Islands, Puerto Vallarta x2, Curacao, Puerto Rico, Cartagena, Guatamala, etc. and got to spend at least 3 days at each place doing anything I wanted to (ie. tourist time)

Now back to the school part. I signed up with the VA office at my University, and they ran checks on my Navy paperwork (discharge papers, etc.) and filed with the regional VA office to cut me a check every month I was in school. At the end, I was receiving $900/month for going to school full time. The college I attended defined full time as 12 semester hours and that ran about $1500/semester. So, 2 months paid for the tutioon and the rest went to books (~$500/semester), supplies, and my bills. They could care less what you do with the money, as long as you are in school for those hours and you pass the classes. For this reason, I graduated with NO OUTSTANDING SCHOOL LOANS. This may not sound like a big deal, but I know people that are 35-40 years old that are still paying on their loans and interest from those loans.

Now, on staying in, I would only advise to do that if you are really happy with the job you do in the military. The retirement for military service these days is horrible. Again, budies of mine that retired from the Navy when I was onboard had to find new jobs/careers after they retired (26+ years) becasue the retirement checks weren't enough to live on.

Just thought you could use some insight into the military and school related issues. I am biased towards the Navy though, because that's the branch I chose. But then again, you might be inclined towards a different branch.

Hope this helps some.

01-07-2004, 09:47 AM	#23 (permalink)
d4in Computer Nerd Location: Bishop, TX	Speaking as someone who was in the navy for 4 years, 2 months and 3 days, I thikn the military is a great opportunity for those wanting to either get money for college or go to college under obligation to serve on completion. I blew all my tuition money the first year I was in college on pertying and drinking, so being broke and nowhere to go, I joined the Navy for the G.I. Bill alone. After a wonderful (but exhausting) enlistment, I got out and went to school. I just graduated from college back in mid-December and the Navy paid for it all. Here are some things that I looked at before joining. Army - front lines - read the news Marine Corps - even closer to the enemy than the army...we used to have these guys go out and spot rounds for us when we fired five-inch guns, they were a couple hundred feet away from where the rounds landed...not my kind of job, but some might be interested Air Force - great for married life and they usually stay at nice bases, food, etc., but opportunity for advancement when I was thinking about joining was almost ZERO. I had a high school friendd that went into the AF and the highest he got rankwise while there was E-4 (and he had just gotten that). I was a E-5 for a year before I got out. Navy - AWAY FROM THE FIGHTING WITH ALL THE BENEFITS. Not great for married, but I was single at the time. LOOOONNNGGG cruises away from family, but you get to see some great places that most dont get to see except during wartime. My ship did LEOPS, which means we looked for drugrunners in Central and South America. I've been to Panama City, Panama 27 times, Mazatlan, Alcapulco, Manta Ecuador, Galapagos Islands, Puerto Vallarta x2, Curacao, Puerto Rico, Cartagena, Guatamala, etc. and got to spend at least 3 days at each place doing anything I wanted to (ie. tourist time) Now back to the school part. I signed up with the VA office at my University, and they ran checks on my Navy paperwork (discharge papers, etc.) and filed with the regional VA office to cut me a check every month I was in school. At the end, I was receiving $900/month for going to school full time. The college I attended defined full time as 12 semester hours and that ran about $1500/semester. So, 2 months paid for the tutioon and the rest went to books (~$500/semester), supplies, and my bills. They could care less what you do with the money, as long as you are in school for those hours and you pass the classes. For this reason, I graduated with NO OUTSTANDING SCHOOL LOANS. This may not sound like a big deal, but I know people that are 35-40 years old that are still paying on their loans and interest from those loans. Now, on staying in, I would only advise to do that if you are really happy with the job you do in the military. The retirement for military service these days is horrible. Again, budies of mine that retired from the Navy when I was onboard had to find new jobs/careers after they retired (26+ years) becasue the retirement checks weren't enough to live on. Just thought you could use some insight into the military and school related issues. I am biased towards the Navy though, because that's the branch I chose. But then again, you might be inclined towards a different branch. Hope this helps some. __________________ I am not a vegetarian because I love animals; I am a vegetarian because I hate plants. -- A. Whitney Brown Last edited by d4in; 01-07-2004 at 09:51 AM..