Should I join the military?

Question

I am 22 years old. I have no education other than my HS diploma & my Class B CDL. I drove a school bus for one school year in order to get "free training" for my CDL.
I drove for them from 9/05 until 6/06, 30 hours a week, $12 per hour. No benefits, sick days, holidays, etc. I could have gotten the same training for about $1,500 from a CDL driving school & not had the nightmare of driving the school bus (were we really that bad?).
Since June, I've been driving a truck for a linen service. Two 10 hour days, a day off, two 10 hour days, 2 days off. My days off are Sunday/Monday, plus Thursday.
I get $12 per hour & my employer offers health insurance for $145 per month. They pay $75 per month. The deductibles & co-pays are pretty high. We only get a few paid holidays & only 2 sick days. After a year, you get vacation of .015 hours for every hour worked. In a 2,000 hour year, thats 30 hours off. This job sucks. I need to get a better life. Should I join the military? There's not much else

kapute2 I'm a truck driver. I would hope to do something like that in the military... I have a skill, unfortunately it isn't worth much these days... While I'm not thrilled about combat, and would not volunteer for it, I would go if asked.

Answer 1

There was a time when a stint in the military was a smart way to go and several times in the past I've advised people to enlist. Sadly, the military has changed and it's no longer a good thing to do. There is no other job that requires so much from you and gives so little in return. How do you put a price on the horrendous conditions our military is in? Don't get sucked in by the commercials trying to romanticize war. They try to appeal to your machoness and desire for adventure, etc., etc. Don't let yourself feel so desperate for a job that you willingly volunteer for a chance to be killed or torn apart. That said, there are other things to look at.

I've read articles recently that talked about the shortage of truck drivers to fill an increasing demand and the article sounded like the shortage is nationwide. If I were you, I'd be trying for UPS or FedX or other similar companies. The pay and benefits are excellent. If you don't mind driving long haul, there are always jobs available for cross-country drivers.

More than anything else, I see you as needing to get a job with regular hours so that you can start doing something about getting education that will fit your for a better job. By regular hours, I mean the same hours every day so that you can plan classes. There are community colleges that have great one- or two-year classes that train you for jobs where you'll never lack for work but still be home every night, have regular hours, good benefits, etc. Jobs such as: Electronics of any sort, HVAC (heating, ventilation and airconditioning), Plumbing, and lots more.

You can do this! Hang in there and good luck!

Answer 2

Sure, it's a viable option. Take some practice ASVAB tests (like this: http://www.military.com/ASVAB) to see what kind of things you're already good at. This'll give you an idea of the kind of jobs you can go for in the military. Of course, if you go in as a truck driver, that's still what you'll be when you get out.

I signed up for 6 years active duty to get extra training and experience, went into advanced electronics. That laid the foundation for 30 years of good-paying jobs. It was a tough life, not good for families or relationships, but in the long run it was a decent trade-off - no college debt, good job when I got out.

Your other options are to get a local or long haul truck driving job that has better pay/benefits, but it's still not a career with a lot of growth potential - just something to do if you like to drive for a living. If you want, you can try and get a job in a hazardous/remote area and at least make more bucks, but that's only good if you have no relationships to maintain or have some that can stand the strain of being apart.

Good luck.

Answer 3

You have already made the first step in your mind realizing that there is something else out there. Sure you could do the kind of job you have and eventually get somewhere but you just know...... and there is.

So you join the military and get education benefits, pay, food, clothing and a sense of belonging to something. Even if you only do 4 years you get to get outside of "the box". Even if you returned to civilian life that pride will stay with you and will look good on a resume forever.

One caution is don't keep yourself in a box. When you take the ASVAB take the best job that is offered even if you think that you could not do it in a million years or it sounds boring. All jobs will send you toward places, people and experiences that will serve you for your entire life.

Ah.......to do it again and have the moment that when one truly realizes that all I have in life stems from the moment I just signed a piece of paper and joined.

And please do not listen to your other answerer Queenslayer. It is so obvious that she just never got military life. Once you are in opportunities abound if you play it right and keep your nose clean. This is the mistake so many make..... just not getting the fact that you have to follow rules.

Answer 4

If you join you need to do it now before you get to old. By now you are supposed to be finished with collage but anyway the average age for new soldier is 19. If you need a start in life the military is good. You get a lot of benefits. Like 100 percent medical with no Co pay. Everything is covered you will have no out of pocket expense. You also get VA loans and a G.I bill but before you go in to the military think about going to school to get your degree first then come in as an officer. You will get treated a lot better and make way more money. It's totally worth the wait. If you must enlist now ask the recruiter about putting you into a MOS as an truck driver. Since you the experience once you get out of Basic Training and AIT you will get promoted but make sure this is in your contract with your recruiter. Also think about driving for a company like KBR that works with the military. You will be paid very lucrative!!!! Don't join the army because if you do you are going to IRAQ PERIOD. Try the Coast Guard they don't do sh**!! I spent 3 years in iraq and trust me it is no fun. The Coast Guard doesn't get Deployed so try them first.

Answer 5

If you're up to the physical demands of the military, I think it's an awesome choice. My husband had no schooling or training other than his GED, and he enlisted about a year ago. You get 2.5 days of paid leave a month, which add up over time to about 30 days a year. It's a salary, so you don't have to worry about short checks. You get a housing allowance, a food allowance... you get to wear an awesome uniform, travel the world, you get to use a military discount just about anywhere. You get awesome training and money for college if you sign up for the GI bill.

Give up 6 years of your life (4 active, 2 reserves) and you'll come out on top. It's a great way to go.

Good luck to you!!!!!!!

Answer 6

It's time to sit down with a recruiter and hear their selling points. Bear in mind, it's like civilian life. You have good days, and bad days.

When you get done reading all the crazies, realize it's more likely that you'll die driving a truck in the US than serving in Iraq in "real deal" combat.

Answer 7

The military is not for everyone. It is not bad job, the only thing is the deployments. If you have a roof over your head and not struggling, I wouldn't consider it. I joined the army about ten years ago as a last resort. My life is better because of the army, but like I stated earlier, it is not for everyone. You may like it, you may not. But if you should join, go air force. They treat their soldiers a little better and their deployments are shorter.

Answer 8

You need to learn the hard way, don't you? They lured you in with "free training" to get your Class B, and you paid a pretty dear price, didn't you?
If you think that was bad, wait until you see what the military has in mind for you to earn your "free training" with them!
They way things are today, $12 per hour and lousy benefits, that makes you just about average... sad, but true.

Answer 9

Why join the military? There are civilian jobs in Iraq that pay way more than what you will get in the military. Tax free as well. If you're willing to take the chance of being blown up, may as well get the big bucks for it.

Answer 10

No, not a good option, especially now. Check out all the poor vets coming back from the ATO without limbs, minds, or other parts of themselves, and how the VA/Govt. is "treating" them. Your job is not really that bad, nor does your life sound so, either. There are plenty of people in American (and plenty more in the 3rd world) who would kill to trade places with you.
I think you should re-evaluate your attitude and priorities, and look around and count your blessings!