Rich people don't answer. What would you do?

Question

Okay, I'm wanting to join the military, active. But I'm being offered a 20,000 dollar sign on bonus if I go reserves. I REALLY need that money, because I'm dirt poor from having to pay 331.02 a month for my new mustang. I've given up my social life to have it. I could pay off my car and have 8k left. So what would you do? Go active because that's what you really want, or go reserves to get the cash. Btw, I have a great job, so reserves would work well for me too, so I won't have to quit. Tell me what you think!!!! Be harsh, be nice, be whatever it takes to be honest.

Oh and reason I said rich people don't answer, is because they would go with what they wanted, and not care about the 20k because they have enough to be comfortable as it is. So just middle class and poor people plz ;)

Answer 1

Go with the reserves. Chances are you will get plenty of active time anyway and you can always apply to go active after you're in.

Q~

Answer 2

Well giving this much thought I'd still go with ACTIVE duty. My reasoning is that the military DOES get paid pretty well. Taking into consideration that they live in the barracks which DOES have heat, hot water, and you get to eat three squares a day for FREE. You get 100% medical.So given these your pay check is basically yours to do as you please with. NOT $20,000 cash up front, BUT take TAXES away from your $20,000 and you end up with like just over $14,000. NOT the amount you had envisioned. And you civilian job, well that could end next week. You never know where or when things will change. Give this some serious thought as you're doing as if you go ACTIVE you can't back out, or change your mind. Good luck with whatever you do.
OH, if you do go ACTIVE you'll still be able to keep your car as you'll be able to afford it.

Answer 3

Go active now or some thing like your Mustang and 20K shall keep coming in your way and derailing the the opportunities.Have you considered disposing your Mustang now,reducing debt burden and go for what you really want ie active service?Time shall come when you may be able to have even a better car.For long term gains one has to go short on immediate props.That's the rule of the game for' HAVE-NOTs' like us.Choice is your's.

Answer 4

The question you need to ask yourself is are you prepared to go and die for your country, family friends and all that yada yada. Or at least be prepared to go into a hostile enviroment for a few months to a year.

If you can answer yes to that, take the money because they will definitely get their money's worth back from you.

And I am not rich. I retired from the Air Force 5 years ago, so I figured that gives me some sort of authority to reply..

Cheers,
Ed

Answer 5

Sorry, but there's NO way I'd trade my freedom for any amount of money. I've been broke before (and I'm definitely not rich now), and NOTHING could make me join the military.

Answer 6

go with the reserves, you can always go active later and the way things are, you will be active before you know it, whether you want to or not.

Answer 7

go into the reserves.

But what I really wanna know is...if you're so dirt poor...what the heck are you doing driving a new Mustang,a car that you can't really afford? Hell, maybe I'm the daft one.