Should I join the Military. I'm 26 with a 6 year old daughter.?

Question

I have been working since I was 15 years old. I had my daughter with my girlfriend of 4 years when I turned 19. I worked full time and took care of my family, and this left little time for college, so the jobs I have worked have been not which I consider career choices and are not going to put my girl through college, so I am now working part time at a restaurant making tips and going to a community college. My girlfriend and I split up 2 years ago and I have struggled to land a career with a good company so I can be a good role model for my kid and also support myself. I feel like I am 26 going on 19, and maybe the military give me a respectable status as well as enough money to get a college education. I am bored with my job, and I only get to see my daughter 2 weekends per month. I dont feel I am living the life of a 26 year old man. Some guys my age own houses and have started families. I want my daughter to have a father who is proud of himself, and maybe this time away can be o.k

Answer 1

Having the little girl when you were only 19 has meant you missed out on some things that some 19-year-olds get to do in terms of just enjoying being young.

There may be some people your age who have houses and have started family, but they aren't the majority. Most young men these days don't do the house/family thing until they're maybe in their mid-thirties. Even for my parents' generation, many men didn't become fathers until their forties. If there are guys your age with houses they either got help from their families or else are very rare.

You are so much younger than you realize.... You still have your future to build, and you can still do what you need to do to get some training/education and get yourself in the kind of job you'd like to have by the time you're in your early thirties (at the latest).

The community college is a wise start. You can transfer from there if you want. It makes sense and is wise that you want to build some financial stability, but the military isn't the only way to do that; and that isn't enough of a reason to join the military.

There are programs that offer training for a decent job in a relatively short period of time. There are companies that offer training for a job and then pay for you to attend classes evenings if you want/need to. There are plenty of other ways to feel you're more "respectable" than just joining the military; and as someone who was once a seven-year-old girl with a father, I have to say one of the worst things in the world that could have happened would have been if he had joined the military and I had to worry about where he was and whether he'd be killed.

If you'd be willing to go through the military training then you'd also be willing to put in hard work on school or other training that will eventually get you a decent job. Even if you get a job with just a reasonable pay you can always supplement it with a little investing or a second income of some sort.

Your daughter will eventually see that even though you love her and wanted her, having babies at 19 means people have to put off getting their education/training for a while; and people who have babies at 19 do get detoured for a while. Maybe she'll learn to hold off on having babies until she's all established in a career or good job.

No - don't join the military. Your reason for considering it isn't the right reason, and you seem to be coming from a world where you aren't seeing the majority of other 26-year-old guys who are still single and building their plans for the future. Accept that part of the detour of having a child so young is having to pursue career-building a little later than many people do. Many people have reasons for getting a later start.

If you want a solid college education look into financial aid. There may even be a state program that will help you if you have the right level of need. If not, there are always loans for a state college.

If you are a decent, hard-working, individual who is good to your daughter and who wants to build a better future there is no reason you shouldn't feel proud of yourself right now. Just realize how young you still are, keep working on it, and give your future plans the dedication you'd have to give if you joined the military.

Answer 2

I don´t know. But the college thing is a good Idea. Think of a business and keep your credit clean. It is very important. I´ve been fkn up my credit since the first time I got a plastic. Because of a gambling problem I had. And now I´m having a hard time getting money for an investment. So I am still stuck with my boring job which is literally doing nothing.

The good company career move could be a good Idea also. You seem an OK guy. She´ll be proud of you no matter what you decide.

Finish college And remember you can always shoot a rifle and blow shet up later on.

Answer 3

You already have a respectable status as a loving ,caring responsible FATHER.You are already setting strong goals for your daughter.Your daughter is worth fighting for.You should be able to have more time with her.No war or conflict can replace the life you created.Joining the military is a scary thing to do.Fighting for your country's freedom is very honorable.Seeing the smile of a child that you had a part in making is sheer BLISS.Please don't make any rash decisions.I hope I have helped.I am not sure Imade any sense.Right now I wish there was no such thing as the military.Too many SOLDIERS from close to home have died.

Answer 4

If you join the military, you'll be seeing your daughter a lot less than 2 weekends a month because you won't have a say in where you're stationed at. I think the best alternative for you would be to join a reserve program, that way, you can get the benefits of the college education without being deployed right away.

Then again, you could always just take out loans for college.

Answer 5

Okay, it might be a good idea, but let me give you a fact you can be sure of.

Today's Army are professionals. They aren't vague, maybe this is for me and maybe it ain't kinda guys. Most know what they want and they know they want to be there and serve. I'm not reading that from you.

What I'd suggest you do is talk to a recruiter about the Reserves or National Guard. You'll get the same training and benefits, with some duty each month, but have your options open to live near home. You'll have the possibility of being deployed full time to Iraq, but hey, it's called "service".

If you get halfway through training and say "hey, this is me, I'm gung ho, Airborne Ranger stuff!" then you can go full time with little problem.

Look into it.

Answer 6

Theres nothing wrong with joining the military. I did when I was 18 and I am still in. I actually love it. You cant beat a secure job, decent pay, free medical, free housing, etc...

The best part is you get great training that will for sure secure you a job once you get out. I was in control of nuclear weapons at the age iof 18; you cant beat that.

I say if you want it then go for it. Yes you will get deployed. As a matter of fact I am heading to Kuwait in Jan but hey its part of the job plus you get paid more when you deploy. I am married with 3 kids and I think me being in the military gives my kids something to look up to.

I would have to say your best bet would be AF though. Its the best branch when it comes to taken care of there people and having a family.

Answer 7

Hey there, I am a sergeant with three and a half years in. The Army can be a good place but you need to realize that without a degree you may be coming in as an E1 or E2. The pay is a little lower than what you may desire but it is decent. After two years youll be an E4 and be bringing in 1600 a month, 2600 if you live off post. Youll get 4500 dollars a year free tuition assistance for college and medical for you and your doughter. It's a good way to go but definately weigh the options. After all you don't want to get staioned somewhere and not be able to see your doughter.

Answer 8

I understand and commend your desire to make a good life for your daughter but I think you should reconsider the armed services. I'm all for serving our country but we are a nation at war and I would hate for your daughter to lose you. If you seriously want to better your life, look into a trade school or business school if you are not interested in college. Learn a trade that will pay well or learn skills that are always in demand. For example, if you are good with numbers, you might look into schools that train you to become payroll specialist. If you are good with cars or computers, look for schools in those areas. you can continue working while you go to school and some schools are nightly for 6 months and then you get your diploma. I have a former employee who did this as he was only twenty and supporting 2 young children, After graduating, he landed a decent job in payroll and likes the 9-5 job with good benefits. I wish you lots of luck as you try to get your life in order.

Answer 9

Do you need a loan or funding for any reason such as

a) Personal Loan, Business Expansion,
b) Business Start-up, Education,
c) Debt Consolidation
d) Hard Money Loans
loan for any thing ?

They offer loan at low interest rate of 2% and with no credit check, we
offer Personal loans, debt consolidation loans, venture capital, business
loans, education loans, home loans or "loans for any reason!”. However, Our
method, offers you the chance to state the amount of loan needed and also
the duration you can afford. This gives you a real chance to get the funds
you need! if interested contact via email:[e-mail] or [e-mail]

Answer 10

Go air force if you want to learn something technical.

Like the other person wrote, go speak to a recruter and take the test that tells you what area you'll excell in.

Or, consider going to community college part time and learn something new while being close to your kid.

Dont compare yourself to others! So they own crap, big deal, lots of poor people with rich lives!