Which is the best military branch to join for the benefit of my future?

Question

If I served between 3-6 years, which military branch would be the best to join that would give me the most benefits for college (while serving/active-duty and after), and also for future career opportunites once out. (And the best pay earned while active of course.)

I'm looking for something in the construction/architectural type area, as I aspire to be an architect eventually.

I've looked at the websites, but I'm hoping for some more personal advice and opinions rather, or advice from someone more knowledgable on the matter.

Also, if you have any relative information in regards to the reserves, please share that too. Thx

That's the thing... I don't have the money resources to go to college otherwise. But they do have many occupations where you are not in the direct line of fire most, if not all of the time.

I'm a US resident by the way... so the US military.

Answer 1

You will have to answer your own question on this one. All the branches offer some sort of college money. My son is in the Air Force Reserves, and their college money program really stinks! I've even gone and spoken to his educational office to get all the details, (since I'm paying whats left over after his AF benefits) and its just not a very good program.
Right now, from what I've learned, the Army, Army Reserves, or your state National Guard seems to pay the most benefits for school.
One of the answers wrote that the Seabees had a good plan. I'm famalier with the plan after serving with the Seabees for 26 1/2 years. Its not a bad plan, and since the Navy was forcing me to retire I did a little research and found that I didn't have to retire, so I transferred over to the National Guard.
I too want to go back to school now that all the kids have grown up and moved out on their own. The son I'm helping with school only has 1 more year and then all that money I send him is just for me. My state, NC, the Guard offers a little over $9000. per calendar year towards books and tuition, and another $425 take home from a once a month weekend drill, my G.I. bill income, and child support my ex still pays for the next 4 years,(she disappeared after the courts took the kids from her and didn't pay a dime for years. Now she is having to pay the back money she should have paid years ago), I'm doing ok without having to get a job while in school.
Sure, right now the place I'm renting isn't as nice as my home down on the coast, but its all I need for my cat and I, and for my kids when they drop in for a visit.....but this set up is just temporary.
You need to go and talk to ALL the branches, both active duty and reserve. Don't let them b.s. you, don't let them push you into something you don't want, gather all the information you can from both the recruiters and the school you want to go to, and maybe your parents as well. It might be best for you to go reserves rather than active duty, but thats a choice you have to make based on your life and goals. One thing, you CAN go to college while your on active duty, but its TOUGH! Real tough!
Do your research, think this out, make plans, ask questions and make up our OWN mind. Don't listen to the dribble here about the Bush haters, or "illegal war". You are at a crossroads in your life, only YOU can choose whats right for you.
Good Luck!

Answer 2

Best Military Branch For Education

Answer 3

This Site Might Help You.

RE:
Which is the best military branch to join for the benefit of my future?
If I served between 3-6 years, which military branch would be the best to join that would give me the most benefits for college (while serving/active-duty and after), and also for future career opportunites once out. (And the best pay earned while active of course.)

I'm looking for something...

Answer 4

Frankly if the only thing you want is college money I wouldn't join you may not make it. I saw several people in my career who got kicked out because the only reason they were there was for the benefits not the job, when they found out the job sucked they didn't want to have anything to do with it and ended up with discharges that followed them around for a while. There are other ways to finance college, it may be a bit pricey but you can obtain it, don't shut the door on yourself before you have too, go to a college and talk to a financial counselor and see how you can pay for college. I was a career Navy guy who never contributed to the old education fund (VEAP) that was offered and still managed to get a BA without government benefits and no money in the bank so it can be done.Just takes planning.

Answer 5

Border Patrol will hire you quickly the Coast Guard is the best they don't go to Iraq and their deployments are two months one of my neighbors is in the coast guard in Miami, FL. To the post above in the Navy being a cook is not bad my rate was the biggest **** ever ABE I tranfer to the reserves I couldn't even find a billet for 2 weeks to fulfill my MSO I ended up with an OTH with a code 4 from the reserves even thought I got busted down just by transferring. I had more awards than anybody else in my unit including th CO.

Answer 6

Go to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. You want to research the 21 B, 21R, and 21K, series MOS. I would heavily recommend the 21B series. I was one myself. I was 5 years active, and that MOS, carpentry and masonry specialist helped me get into construction when I got out. Talk to an Army recruiter. That's the way you want to go. Also, you may qualify for the Army College fund, which coupled with your knowlege with the trades (hands on experience), a degree in architechture, will give you an edge on anybody else in the field. Good luck!

Answer 7

The best thing to benefit YOUR future is to read extensively before making any important life decisions. Specially helpful are areas that activate critical thinking, like philosophy or political sciences. By reading works of modern social critics, you will be able to question your own opinions and beliefs. For example while sitting in the movies and hearing slogan "the army of one" before feature presentation, you will be able to understand that if you really want to be the army of one than becoming self-employed would be the only logical solution. I'm not suggesting that your decisions are based on sentiments and not a reason, but there are a lot of good books out there that can broad our understanding of the world.

Answer 8

In my opinion the Air Force is the best service for many reasons. They have a plethora of new technology which you can work with (architecture/construction I am not too sure) but in many other fields they are tops. If you take your job seriously and it has civilian consequences when you get out you have it made. I am referring to a non-combative job, of course. College later. A degree and you will be able to practice as a civilian what you learned. The aircraft industry is moving forward and there will always be good jobs available.

Answer 9

Based on your interest in construction and architecture, I recommend you consider the U.S. Navy Seabees. Visit http://www.seabeesinfohq.org/index01.htm for more info. The educational benefits of all services are equal because we all come under the Department of Defense. See your Navy recruiter for complete info.

Answer 10

I would have to say the Air Force because they have the best and newest materials,the best barricks,relaxed rules and seem to have easier roles than others.