Postby drawscore » Tue Oct 14, 2014 7:24 pm
>>>"Never joining the military . . . . ."<<<
If you like what you do in the military, it can be a good life, or even a career. Too many people picture the military as a bunch of loony tunes, running around in camo, and shooting people. That's only a small part of it. The military trains its members in a variety of fields, like fixed and rotary wing mechanics, truck drivers, journalists, dental hygienists, medical assistants, broadcasters, finance and accounting, and the list goes on. And yes, if you like doing it, they will teach you to kill people and break things, too.
I put six years in, and it didn't do me any harm. I was a photographer/journalist.
There are also some other programs if, after four years of college, you wish to continue into medicine or law. If you meet the standards, the military will give you a free ride - tuition, books, housing, the works, but upon graduation, they're going to want eight years from you - four active, and four reserve. Medical graduates get a commission as pay grade O-3 (A captain in the Army and Air Force; a lieutenant in the Coast Guard/Navy. The Marine Corp does not have medical officers - they use Navy doctors)
Law school grads are commissioned as O-2's (1st lieutenant in the Army/Air Force/Marines; lieutenant (junior grade) in the Navy/Coast Guard). Divinity school graduates are also commissioned as O-2's.
To be sure, the military is not for everyone. It is regimented, and many things permitted in civilian life, are not permitted in the military. However, it's still worth checking out the opportunities that the military services offer. Hell, you might go to broadcasting school, and somewhere down the line, become the Walter Cronkite of your generation. Or, into finance school, and wind up as the next Warren Buffett.
Drawscore