"FULLY" PAID college tuition - HOT or NOT?

[Tanner]

NEone here done the military thing? The whole enlist for 4-6 years and have college "FULLY PAID" for when U R done?

Is this a HOT DEAL or not?

NE thoughts on enlisting after college to have it paid for then... or as a career? Somehave told me that U can retire from it @ age 40something?

MERRY CHRISTMAS EVERYONE!
Tanner

 

[Leatherneck711]

Could be HOT, maybe not. It all depends on your situation.

I worked for Uncle Sam with the Marines from 88-93 out of High School. One piece of advice, do NOT listen to recruiters, their job is to get bodys and they usually dont give a s*@! about you. Don't join only because of the financial stuff, its not that great, and 4-6 years is a long time if u dont like what your doing.

I found it to be a pretty good deal, I had some time off from school, learned some skills, and college was easier for me as a result. The money for college when I was in was not that great. I only received $400 a month through the GI Bill, thats it. Tuition was paid by good old ME and college loans and grants. As far as retirement, as enlisted (before college) you only receive 50% of your base pay after 20 years and 75% after 30 which is generally about $20 k/year, so your still gonna have to work after you get our unless you wanna " live in a van down by the river"

If you want to make a carrer out of the military, I would look into being an officer. If you get into an ROTC program, they will pay for ALL your college in exchange for a certain amount of your life after college, but its much better being an officer and you get paid more.

Be carefull, research the financial stuff on your own, and decide if you want to be a soldier for 4 years

 

[NOoDleWoRld]

yeah.. they say they will pay upto 30,000 dollars for college.. hence the word UPTO.. but i mean the US MILITARY is awesome. if u want to give up school and go active for 4 years or reserve for 6 years go ahead.. but i would get the degree with a student loan... but yeah GO JOE. MERRY CHRISTMAS PEOPLE.

BTW . recruiters make $1,000+ for every head they get to sign up. if u signed and dont want to go. talk to ur doctor ; ).

 

[chrisbest01]

don't be stupid.

if you can go to college after high school, then go.

joining military is waste of time. I was told I can go to college while I'm in there, yea sure, if you have time. Had the schedule from 7 - 5 M - F, and you have to spend time on other thing like ironing your uniform, polishing your boot, police call, and duty watch etc. No only that, all the colleges offer to the military are community colleges, therefore only liberal arts class will be accept by a better college.

and if they says "FULLY" PAID tuition, it's all bs, there is no such thing as "FULLY", they only pay "FULLY" if you come back to the service for another 4 - 6 years after you graduate from college. They only give you G.I. bill + bonus (maybe).

there is also another problem come up, you haven't been to school for 4 - 6 years, you think you can handle school once you get discharge? or better yet, what kind of college will accept you?

I was almost in the marine corps. usmc recruiters are the biggest liar in the world, oh wait, they don't lie, they just don't tell the "TRUE".

 

[GtPrOjEcTX]

<< your still gonna have to work after you get our unless you wanna " live in a van down by the river" >>



I'll bump that Chris Farley quote usage.

 

[chrisbest01]

if you sign up and don't want to go, just tell them you don't want to go. they can't do sh*t about it. the day you go to bootcamp, that's the contact that mean it. everything before that, if you change your mind, just tell them you don't want to go anymore, don't let them scare you said you don't get any kind of financial aid from the gov't when you go to college. said that to my friend, he got all got of aid and scholarship.

and if you are decide to go anyway, don't go as "open contact".

and btw, you get a lot of freebies from the recruiters, don't let them fool you.

 

[ArmyInfantry]

Not a bad deal. Serve yoru country, build character and shot weapons. I joined the Army National guard two years ago as an Infantryman. Its not a bad gig...drill on the weekends, two weeks in the summer. If you are joining the military to get money, that's all good and fine but you have to realize one thing: When the time comes to dig deep and you're in a world of pain (mental and physical), you have to have something else you are working towards than just besides money. Basic training now a days is a jokes unless you go to Infantry basic training or Marine Corp boot camp. If you just want to make money and pay for college, join the Air National Guard or Army reserve. The Air National Guard is a cake walk and they give a lot of signing bonus, college weavers, tuition assiantance, load repayment, and the Montgomery GI Billl (270 a month). I'm sure your recruiter will tell you all about the great things...NEVER trust a recruiter....NEVER....even if he seems like your best friend in the world and he swares on his honor. They will lie through their teeth. Make sure you milk him/her before he milks you.

If you are going to college or planning to...I think there is no better place than the Army National Guard or the Air National Guard to get your tution paid for. The Marines is more of a pride and honor thing, where you dont do it for the money (More power to them). If you are thinking of active duty, make sure you get a MOS (job) you want. Most active duty Army personal get a 50,000 MGIB when they come out not to mention the signing bonus and all that good stuff.

I am going to stop ranting now....e-mail me if you got questions.

-Specialist Gong

p.s. Oh yeah...there's always the chance of you getting deployed for a year and have to spend christmas and new years guarding a military instillation....like me.

 

[ArmyInfantry]

Chris, have you ever been on active duty or reserve status? You said you almost joined the Corp. Most of the information you put out on the first post is incorrect. Please dont give out information based on second hand contacts if you have never been on active duty.

 

[ghoul]

I aggree with you ArmyInfantry. I did 3 years active to get the GI bill and although it was only 400 a month, it helped a little. Grants and student loans made up the (large) difference. My suggestion is to join the Guard. I'm currently with the 1/125 infantry in Michigan and am recieving the GI bill for a 6 year enlistment. One weekend a month and two weeks a year is (usually) all you do. If you want to perform the airport duty, its currently voluntary. You will also recieve other 'electronic' benifits.

Free army.mil dod (dept of defense) secured email account

Great auto/home insurance (cheaper than ANYONE else) USAA

Use of the PX/BX for tax free and marked down food and merchandise AAFES

Or a guaranteed home loan ( 1% down, low interest rate) Veterans Administration

Special preference for goverment jobs and not to mention law enformement, wanna be a Federal Air Marshal?

No, I'm not a recuriter.

 

[kinkyboy702]

Most of you guys have poor grammar. I wonder if that's a result of joining the military then going to a crappy school afterwards. hehe, j/k.

I was always under the impression that joining the reserves (1 to 2 weekends a month) while going to school was a good idea. Let me know because I'm considering it starting this summer. Don't they pay like $400/weekend?

 

[ghoul]

$400 a month? Only if you are an officer. For us lowly enlisted folk, expect around 200 a weekend if you have a wife and kids. My written grammar is poor, thus the reason why I'm in school Usually army folk dont speak in complete sentences. No offense taken.

For pay rates click here

 

[ArmyInfantry]

I dont got no bad grammar.



The reserves and national guard is one weekend a month, two weeks in the suymmer for annual training. Reserves plays more of a support role whereas the national guard is more combat oriented. I get about 130 for a drill pay and 277 for my GI BIll so it adds up to 400 bucks. If you just want easy money, join the Air National Guard.

 

[Liquidh2o]

don't take this the wrong way, but if the only reason you're going to join the military is to get money for an education, then don't join. I believe the G.I. bill for us(the Air Force) is up to around $20,000. How it works, you have to put two years time in service before you can use it. Once you activate it they start paying you monthly payments of around $900, for three years(as long as you're taking classes). What makes this even better is that the air force also offers tuition Assistance(they pay for 75% of your cost for tuition, not to exceed $2000 per semester(could be year, can't remember!)). Since October of last year, Congress passed a bill, which allows us to use our G.I. bill to pay for that 25% tuition that the Tuition Assistance doesn't cover. Taking classes while you're in the military is something you should really take advantage of. You could complete a Bachelor's degree and still have a lot of your G.I. bill left to put towards a master degree.

And concerning what everyone else is saying....

Yes, don't listen to recruiters when it comes to joining the military, they'll say/do anything to get you to join, sad but true. If you wanna join, make sure it's for the right reasons, because nobody's happy doing a job they don't want to do, and it makes the lives of those you have to work with just as dismal(I speak from experience, having had to work with people who didn't want to be in the military once they realized what they had to do).

It's definitely not a normal job, or even a job for that matter. It's a way of life, one that you'll have to adapt and get used to. Sometimes you work mon-fri, 7-4, other times you're working 7 days a week for a month from 7-7. Have to polish your boots(takes all of about 10 minutes to rebuff em after you get your first real good polish on them), your uniformed pressed(I just take mine to the dry cleaners like everyone else ), hair cut short, and no facial hair. If you're single you gotta keep your room lookin clean, and if you're married and live on base you have to keep your yard lookin clean.

The military can be tough at times, but for me, the pride of serving my country, helping others in need, and knowing that I help defend the freedom of people like all my little anandtechers makes it all worth it.

 

[dmk11]

I know a couple people in college that did the ROTC thing. Tuition (around $20k - private school - any school you can get into), books, uniforms, dorm, all fully paid. I think they give you a one/two year "trial". If you don't like it, you can quit and you don't have to pay back anything. If you did the whole 4 years, then you have to work for 4 years after graduation..

I don't know the details because I didn't do it, this was 5 years ago, so the program might have changed too. But I think it's a pretty hot deal.

 

[GermyBoy]

You'll never catch me fighting or enlisting to serve this crappy country. Peace cannot be found through war, and there would be no terrorists if we weren't such a huge power, forcing our presence on the little guys.

We spend over $400 billion a year for the armed forces, country security and overall "defence". The American public must be pretty stupid and easily manipulated if they still can't realize that we're never going to be safe, even with all of this money spent.

For about $40 billion a year we could make this planet a Utopia, giving food and water to those in need, and more importantly, providing contraceptives to those freaking nations that multiply like Jackrabbits.


Sorry for the rant. Go for it though if you need $$ to go to college.

Peace out.

 

[XZeroII]

Good point Germy Boy. Of course war will never go away because there will always be some *** with a funny hat in some pitiful country that hates life, but if you think about how much it would cost to police the whole world with an army of men and compare that to how much it would cost to make the world a better place...there is no comparison. It would probably be a bit more than $40 billion a year, but in the long run we would definatly come out ahead.

Yea, the recruiters are definatly misleading. My cousin joined the Marines and he said that everything they told him was a lie. Of course we need a military, but you'd better rethink your options if you are in it for the money. Did anyone else hear about the people who were complaining because they signed up for the money, and are now wanting out because they might have to fight? I nearly choked with laughter.

 

[tm37]

Pay Charts

If you do your 30 years and make E-9 (this isn't easy) your retirement pay would be $3048 a month, and you also would get medical coverage FOR LIFE! That's worth a pretty penny as well. Show me another job that you can retire with that pay prior to age 50 with medical benifits and that high of a retainer AND they provide all the training!

There isn't one to be found.

Now I only did 2.5 years but I do get $196 a month (disability which is tax free) for an injury that I sustained in my off time. Now if you follow the normal career path and only do twenty years and make e-6 your retainer would only be $1210. but you get that for the rest of your life. and medical. While many of you see this just a spit and no money I know of many retirees that spent there money well while in and when they retired had a house paid for. If you make the sacrafices you can retire prior to age 40!

Also while in if you are married as an e-4 you get $431 (tax free) for rent or free housing along with comrats (food also tax free) that when I was in was like 12 bucks a day or $360 a month AGAIN TAX FREE. If you live in a high housing cost area they also increase your housing allowance with VHA (varible housing allowance).

So lets take a look at you actual income
after just 5 years lets say you make e-5 (not that hard)

Base pay - $1623 month or $19476 (this is taxed at the low end due to it being low)
Basic allowance for Substance (housing) - $532 month or $6380 year
Comrats (food) $360 or $4320 a year.

So your total yearly pay would be $30000 BUT you only get taxed on $20000!
Plus 30 day vaction a year, and Free medical for you and your family.

Also while active Yoiu can attend school and get the Military to pay 75% of your tution! When aboard ship or deployed education is free!

Some states also provide Additional benifits to vererans of there state (california provides FREE College at UC or STATE funded schools for yor kids if you are rated disabled at 0%)

The military ACCUALLY MAY GIVE YOU FREE TUTION after you get out depending the state you enlist in (My friend will be attending UT[Texas] next year).

So look at ALL the opportunities that the military can offer you BEFORE you say the PAY SUCKS!

 

[starkravingmadman]

<< Serve yoru country, build character and shot weapons >>

hehehehe, merry christmas, (another of the perks is that you don't have to spell or type well). No offense meant.

Dont let bitter people jade you (chrisbest01), it's not for everyone, but it is a measure of your worth if you succeed. Cowards will always decry the sacrifice (GermyBoy). This is their way of assuaging their guilt for having never given of themselves for anything greater than a fistful of cash or a new vid card (even if a hot deal).

As for the folks who say this is a dead end, your breath is wasted. I served, went to college, and am now a physician, and my grammar isn't all that bad (even if I did take english from a community college while in the service). Yes, this is an unusual occurence, but it still happened to me. No, I wasn't a supply clerk or administrator, I was a grunt, and had to contend with odd duty schedules, weeks in the field, and TDYs where the doo-doo was hitting the fan. But I survived, rather I thrived.

Unlike the shallow, flag waving mock-patriots that have come out of the woodwork, I carry my love of country deep inside, inculcated in my youth, and forged by years of service to something I hold dear. I need no emblem to signify my patriotism, I lived it. I'll refer you to the verbiage below, which is an eloquent embodiment of a veterans look at service.


taken Sen. McCains speech at Annapolis

...I say that fully aware of the hardships and risks that we impose on those we send to fight for us. I say that fully aware of the horrors that war inevitably visits on the innocent. I don't think war is glorious. I don't know a veteran who cherishes a romantic remembrance of war. All wars are awful. When nations must defend themselves by force of arms, a million tragedies ensue. Nothing, not the valor with which it is fought nor the nobility of the cause it serves, can glorify the cruel and merciless reality of warfare. That's what makes war a thing to be avoided if possible. But it is not possible now. There was no avoiding the war we are in today anymore than we could have avoided world war after the bombing of Pearl Harbor.

In America, our rights come before our duties, as well they should. We are a free people, and among those freedoms is the liberty to sacrifice or not for our birthright. We no longer have military conscription. Nor do we need it because we can rely on the patriotism of more than sufficient numbers of Americans to defend willingly the liberty of us all. Yet early in life, you have grasped a great truth: that those who claim their liberty but not their duty to the civilization that ensures it live a half-life, having indulged their vanity and self-interest at the cost of their self-respect. The richest man or woman, the most successful and celebrated of our citizens possesses nothing important if their lives have no greater object than themselves. They may be masters of their fate, but what a poor destiny it is that claims no higher cause than wealth and fame.

I do not believe that war and military service are the only means to honor in America. God grants us all the privilege of having our character and our patriotism tested. But those who wear the uniform of the United States know better than anyone the meaning of American citizenship.

<This next one is especially good.>

The terror our enemies have tried to sow in the hearts of Americans will now be the essence of their lives, however abbreviated their lives will be. And when they meet their Maker they will learn that they had their theology all wrong. Right, not hate, makes might. As they experience our power, so will they know the full measure of our righteousness. And as their last hour approaches they can ask an all-loving God for mercy. But don't ask us. We bring justice, not mercy.

My warrior days were long ago, but not so long ago that I have forgotten their purpose and their reward. This is your call to arms. This is your moment to make history. There will never be another nation such as ours. Take good care of her. The fate of the world depends upon it. May God bless you, as He has blessed America with your service.

 

[tm37]

<<

<< Serve yoru country, build character and shot weapons >>

hehehehe, merry christmas, (another of the perks is that you don't have to spell or type well). No offense meant.

Dont let bitter people jade you (chrisbest01), it's not for everyone, but it is a measure of your worth if you succeed. Cowards will always decry the sacrifice (GermyBoy). This is their way of assuaging their guilt for having never given of themselves for anything greater than a fistful of cash or a new vid card (even if a hot deal).

As for the folks who say this is a dead end, your breath is wasted. I served, went to college, and am now a physician, and my grammar isn't all that bad (even if I did take english from a community college while in the service). Yes, this is an unusual occurence, but it still happened to me. No, I wasn't a supply clerk or administrator, I was a grunt, and had to contend with odd duty schedules, weeks in the field, and TDYs where the doo-doo was hitting the fan. But I survived, rather I thrived.

Unlike the shallow, flag waving mock-patriots that have come out of the woodwork, I carry my love of country deep inside, inculcated in my youth, and forged by years of service to something I hold dear. I need no emblem to signify my patriotism, I lived it. I'll refer you to the verbiage below, which is an eloquent embodiment of a veterans look at service.


taken Sen. McCains speech at Annapolis

...I say that fully aware of the hardships and risks that we impose on those we send to fight for us. I say that fully aware of the horrors that war inevitably visits on the innocent. I don't think war is glorious. I don't know a veteran who cherishes a romantic remembrance of war. All wars are awful. When nations must defend themselves by force of arms, a million tragedies ensue. Nothing, not the valor with which it is fought nor the nobility of the cause it serves, can glorify the cruel and merciless reality of warfare. That's what makes war a thing to be avoided if possible. But it is not possible now. There was no avoiding the war we are in today anymore than we could have avoided world war after the bombing of Pearl Harbor.

In America, our rights come before our duties, as well they should. We are a free people, and among those freedoms is the liberty to sacrifice or not for our birthright. We no longer have military conscription. Nor do we need it because we can rely on the patriotism of more than sufficient numbers of Americans to defend willingly the liberty of us all. Yet early in life, you have grasped a great truth: that those who claim their liberty but not their duty to the civilization that ensures it live a half-life, having indulged their vanity and self-interest at the cost of their self-respect. The richest man or woman, the most successful and celebrated of our citizens possesses nothing important if their lives have no greater object than themselves. They may be masters of their fate, but what a poor destiny it is that claims no higher cause than wealth and fame.

I do not believe that war and military service are the only means to honor in America. God grants us all the privilege of having our character and our patriotism tested. But those who wear the uniform of the United States know better than anyone the meaning of American citizenship.

<This next one is especially good.>

The terror our enemies have tried to sow in the hearts of Americans will now be the essence of their lives, however abbreviated their lives will be. And when they meet their Maker they will learn that they had their theology all wrong. Right, not hate, makes might. As they experience our power, so will they know the full measure of our righteousness. And as their last hour approaches they can ask an all-loving God for mercy. But don't ask us. We bring justice, not mercy.

My warrior days were long ago, but not so long ago that I have forgotten their purpose and their reward. This is your call to arms. This is your moment to make history. There will never be another nation such as ours. Take good care of her. The fate of the world depends upon it. May God bless you, as He has blessed America with your service. >>



NICE this should be a must read!

 

[dirtrat]

<< NE thoughts on enlisting after college to have it paid for then... or as a career? Somehave told me that U can retire from it @ age 40something? >>



I just (Oct 1st) retired from the Air Force after 20 years. I'm fourty one and get a monthly pension but I joined late. You could retire at 37-38 depending on when you join. Be aware that this pension isn't even close to enough to live on. You will need to get another job. The military isn't for everyone, thats for sure. As far as never having the time to go to classes, better get used to going to night time and weekend classes. They do have colleges and classes set up to accomidate you. As far as signing money and bonuses, there has never been a better time to join. When I signed up 20 years ago I didn't get anything.

 

[ghoul]

^ Bump ^ for a great read. Thanks for posting that.

 

[StevenYoo]

You want free tuition? just go to Cooper Union like me! Everyone here has a free ride.

 

[all168]

AT long time ago after I grad from high school, a army recruiter contact me and I pass the test to joint them, but since 2 friends failed and i didn't want to go anymore. But I remember he told me army will fully paid for college, it only take 4-6 years in army and I will able to grad from college at that time, after that 4-6 years , army will find a good job for me after army. So in my mind army is a good place to go if I can't get financial aid to attend college, but after reading this thread, army is not a good alternative way to goto college after all.

 

[C'DaleRider]

starkravingmadman.......good post.

When I read stuff like this;

<< You'll never catch me fighting or enlisting to serve this crappy country. >>

, I know I'm reading the rantings of a preteen who has no idea what it has taken to make this country free enough to be able to spout drivel like that.

Yep, this country is sooooooo crappy........I just wonder why everyone else in the world is beating our doors down to get in?

 

[UpGrD]

5-yrs Army and loved every minute of it. Its all in your attitude. Bring a good one and it will be the easiest most rewording job you will ever have. If your not a moron you wont be treated as one. I got out, went to school, never so much as paid for a pencil.
Best deal here!