Ok, well don't really know anything about the army, but if I join the army, I heard that they would pay for your college. My mom says that I should not join the army because I can die. So my question is if I join the army so that they can pay for my college, will they send we to Iraq and is it angerous to sign up for the army?
2007-10-04 17:36:16 · 17 answers · asked by Bob Lewis 3 in Politics & Government ➔ Military
My son is almost finished with college, and it was totally paid for by the military. There is quite a bit of red tape and you have to be diligent about applying for it and following up with the paperwork, but yes, they will pay for your college.
You didn't say how old you are. If you are still in high school, you can do deferred enlistment programs through National Guard and now I think some of the other branches are doing it, too. My son did it with the Guard. He joined when he was 16, went to boot camp during the summer between his junior and senior year, and then to tech school the summer after he graduated high school.
Then, he enrolled in ROTC program at college to become an officer. Several times, his Guard unit got deployed, but he was in a different status since he was enrolled in officer training full time they didn't send him but let him continue his education. This past summer he went to something called LDAC. It's kind of like boot camp for ROTC cadets--they rank you according to how you do & the higher you rank the better chance you have of getting the assignment you want. After ROTC and graduation, cadets have the choice of going into Reserve or Active Duty Army (or I think he could have stayed with the National Guard), but regardless, a certain number of years service commitment is required, and right now, during war time, that means you will almost certainly get deployed into a combat zone. A recruiter can explain it better than this, but I am telling you how it worked for my son. Each branch of the military has different programs, different requirements, and different jobs within the branch, but they will all pay for college if you qualify. If you chose the Navy, you would possibly be stationed on a ship off the coast rather than "in country boots on the ground", or with the Air Force, you would be at an airbase, and somewhat safer than Army. You could also join the Coast Guard and stay domestic and get the same military benefits. (Did you see the movie The Guardian--it's about rescue swimmer training in the Coast Guard.) Every recruiter for each branch will try to talk you into signing with them (they are like any salesman and trying to meet their quota) you have to do some research on your own and try to determine what is best for you. What career goals do you have? What college would you like to attend? All these things factor into it.
My son will likely get deployed next year, but at least he got college behind him and got some additional training and will go as a leader. If you are truly serious about college and have the grades to make it, you would probably qualify as an officer candidate.
It is a serious commitment, and certainly not for everyone (especially during wartime), but as a mom of a soldier (and a military spouse) I can honestly say that I am more proud than I am afraid. I'm certainly not going to tell you that it's not dangerous, and I wouldn't recommend joining right now if your parents aren't supportive. Either help them learn more about it to answer their questions and ease their concerns, or wait until you are grown and the decision is really yours to make on your own.
There are some commercials geared to parents of potential recruits so I figured there was some online information in that regard. Here's what I came across surfing the web.
Whatever you decide, best of luck to you.
2007-10-04 18:01:12 · answer #1 · answered by arklatexrat 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Listen to your mom and listen to your heart. If you die you will never go to college. And if you don't die, you will be scarred by all the dead people and the ruthless random killings. It'll be on your conscience.
If you don't die, your family will always be anxious about you and it'll make your mom cry because she'll always worry if you are still alive. No matter how careful you may be, you don't have eyes on the back of your head or spider-sences.
It's dangerous to sign up for the army not only because you're posing a huge risk to the lenght of your life, but also because it encourages violence and the idea that war is alright. If there are soldiers, there will always be war.
My brother went to military school at 15 and I only got to see him 2-3 weeks in the year. It was a schooling choice for him. He quit a few years later. He didn't enjoy the experience and said things like, "They make you wake up at 4 am and put on those heavy suits and make you start digging trenches--for morning practice"
You can just take out a loan to pay for college and live a long life. If you're ever not sure about something, that's usually because you have your own doubts about it. You probably don't really want to go to the army anyway, deep down. So stay home. Or move to a different city. But don't get killed! Please.
2007-10-04 17:57:25 · answer #2 · answered by Trouble 3 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Of course the Army can put you in dangerous situations, you already know that. And yes, odds are now if you join you will serve in Iraq. If you just want to join for school that is not the best way of getting money for school. There are so many ways of getting money for school without joining the military.
Federal aide and programs like that.
2007-10-04 17:45:41 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
I f you are going to join anything like the Army forget it. ! Join the Marine Corps. Better training better chances of survival in combat.
Or if you are looking for education out of it as well. Someplace you will get good training in a skilled trade investigate joining the Navy Sea Bees.
Also think in terms of the Coast Guard. Not as big as the other branches but still lots of schooling available ranging from aviation mechanic to electronics. It comes under the department of the Treasury not the department of defense.
Also check out the Air Force. They also have a lot of technical jobs and loads of good technical schools. Some of their electronics schools are equivalent to a Four year Electronics Engineering Technology B.S. degree.
Don't just restrict yourself to the army. Investigate all branches and see what they have to offer you.
Then after you decide and if you are being guaranteed a school for like electronics get it in writting when you are enlisting.
Bear this in mind all recruiters; Army, Navy, Air Force, Marines, Coast Guard. They are all former used car salesmen so be sure to get everything in writting.
2007-10-04 18:07:45 · answer #4 · answered by JUAN FRAN$$$ 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
My bet is Iraq or you may go to Afghanistan. They will pay for college. It is something which will be dangerous but you must know that you are under the control of someone higher in rank. The military is not a democracy.
You join to serve your country.
2007-10-04 18:00:42 · answer #5 · answered by stbill 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I agree with lae. If you join for college, join the Air Force or the Navy. Any way you go, you should join because it is what you feel you have to do. The army is probably the most dangerous branch right now, but they all have their penalties and rewards. Good luck with your decision.
2007-10-04 17:45:48 · answer #6 · answered by therealbrucewayne1983 1 · 1⤊ 0⤋
The key thing about joining the army is to choose your job wisely, if you get the right job, then u have nothing to worry about, even when you go to Iraq. To be able to get the best jobs you need to score high on your asvab, which means you actually have to study for it
2007-10-04 17:53:32 · answer #7 · answered by God's favorite 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
You chance of dying in the war is only about 1%, but your chance of a difficult injury is higher. Why not go talk to your guidance counselor and ask for ways to pay for college? The army isn't the only way.
2007-10-04 17:44:35 · answer #8 · answered by Katherine W 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Yes they will pay for your college. Let your Mom know that more people die in the US than died in Iraq. There are also other services too.
2007-10-04 18:43:59 · answer #9 · answered by John C 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
it all depends on what job you choose, and if you go active or reserve. all services of the military have plans to pay for college. you just don't have to go to that army there's still the marines, navy, and air force. each one will pay for you college. but it really does depend on what you job is, if you infantry, chances are your not gonna have time to go to college. and the likely hood of you going to a foreign land is high. but if you pick and job like intelligence you can do online courses or go to college. which ever you prefer
hope this gives you a little insight
2007-10-04 17:52:10 · answer #10 · answered by J.J. 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋