Long story short, I'm a freshman at Cal Poly slo, my brother is a senior at Bellarmine, and my sister is a freshman at Mitty. There is a pretty good chance my father will lose his job which means financial problems.

Anyways, my mom was telling me about how some of her college friends had the military (Airforce, Army, ect.) pay for college as long as they served post-graduating.

Does anyone have experience with this? I'm trying to research it but it's hard finding a specific example of someone who is already in college but still wants to commit to the military.

Any help is appreciated, and, yes I could confront a recruiter but I just don't want to yet

 

I've never heard of the military paying for your college if you promise to enlist AFTER graduating school. You have to be active duty to even qualify for the GI Bill in the first place.

 

I think you need to also consider just getting loans. Cal poly isn't THAT expensive compared to private schools - what are you majoring in? If it's say engineering you have a good enough earning potential to where loans should not be a problem to pay back. In any case you pay them back over 10 years and you can delay it if you don't have a job anyways.


Last I checked ROTC was a 5 years commitment? Actually when I was a freshman I considered joining ROTC because I went to a private university which was among the most expensive in the world. Exploring other options I ended up chopping a good 70% of my tuition with scholarships, and got loans for the other part. I know people who did do ROTC, and while they got their tuition and some living expensese paid, 4 years out of college they are in active duty - don't forget your early-mid 20s is pretty much a prime in your life. You go to the military for 5 years you're giving up half of your prime young life. I don't know about your family history or ethnicity but a lot of caucasians start balding in their late 20s, do you want to leave the military and be growing old already?

Now of course this isn't to say the military isn't rewarding and to some it was a better experience that shaped their lives far for the better than if they had just sat around or lived a normal civilian life. In fact I know some of the managers and executives at my company spent a good 10 years in the military and pretty much learned the same skills they would have if they worked at companies, and left the military into corporate civilian life with a lot of relevant experience.


But in the end it boils down to if you really want to do this. If you're doing it just for the money, you shouldn't. There are better ways to pay for college. think about this from the flip side - if this was such an attractive option why would the military be willing to pay 20-40 thousand dollars a year just to guarantee your service? And even if you really want to do this, you have to remember how long the commitment will be and if you're willing to give up that much time.

 

He's probably talking about ROTC

 

It is ROTC. my cousin's kid got accepted to USF's program. He has a four (I think) commitment. But they handed him a $100,000 for his 4 years of schol...

So if you know you want the military life after college I SAY GO FOR IT!!!!!

Good luck!

 

Ah probably right about the ROTC. Another thing is, don't forget a military enlistment contract is actually 8 years in reality. You serve 4 years active, and the rest of the 4 years you go into "inactive reserve" Basically if you are needed, they can reactivate you at any time in the remaining 4 years of your contract.

I have two friends that got reactivated in their last year of inactive reserve. One guy ended up as an instructor at SOI at Camp Pendleton since he was former Recon. The other guy who was a Corpsman ended up deploying to Afghanistan again. Got ****ed by the Big Green Weenie. It happens.

 

Don't join the military unless you truly want to serve your country and are willing to make the ultimate sacrifice. Is cash for college worth risking your life for? How do you feel about taking another persons life? Can you do that in exchange for college tuition? I'm just playing devils advocate here. I served my country and for no other reason but to serve. I think our military is weakened by people who join thinking that they're going to make a quick buck for school. These are the same people that skip off to Canada when it comes time to really serve. I in no way mean you. I'm just presenting a scenario that illustrates if your heart isn't in it, you're not doing anyone any good. By all means join and serve, but do it because you love your country and the American way of life. Not because you need some cash for school.

 

wow...ive been considering the same thing with the Marine corps..i went to college after HS but i havent attended colloge the last year and a half...i dont know what i wanna do but i know that this infact has been at the top of my mind..

 

Well if you're gonna join, you might as well join the best.

But seriously, consider it carefully before you decide to enlist. I've been there, and the guys that signed up for the money for school, bonuses and all that other **** are the ones sobbing in their racks the first night they arrive at boot.

 

ROTC is also not enlistment, it is IMO a college style Officer Training School (OTS) so you also graduate as possibly a 2nd lieutenant.

 

Those are the ones you see in the black bags...they arent there mentaly...they are thinking what they are going to do with school and 4years after they get out of the force...but yeah...USMC is the best of the best!!! Props to you!

 

Hey, affording college isn't that bad because of all the resources out there. Have you applied for grants or loans through www.fafsa.edu.gov? They offer grants(money you don't have to pay back) for low income students, so if your dad is unemployed, I think you have a good chance of getting it. Also, loans are available to many people, and majority of students have to use loans to pay for it. Taking a loan isn't so bad because they have deferment plans and gives you a chance to pay it back. Also, they have programs called "Work-Study" which is basically University jobs that pay a bit better vs you getting them on your own. Working on University grounds is not a bad idea since they work around your school schedule and put your education first. You can pay back the loans when you start working instead of going into the military to "pay" it back. It's basically the same thing except you can start on your career early. If you do well academically, just seek out scholarships and apply to as many as you can. There's a bunch out there.

I don't know if going the military route is a good idea. If I were you though, I'd wouldn't join the Marines. I have a friend who joined after high school and he haaaates it. He said the people who joined were a bunch of losers and just a bunch of partiers/frat type guys. He is applying to college after he gets out. The hours, training, and life style can be pretty tough when you're in the military.

I'm not anti-military though. I think going through their Officer's training program looks rewarding. Better pay, respect, job as an officer but more responsibility.

Bottom line, go for grants and loans and you'll be fine. If you have to sell your car to pay for college, do it. Tt'll pay back 10x over as long as you concentrate and be ambitious. College is important and Cal Poly is a good school, congrats on getting in btw.

 

The military is just like everything else in life, you get out what you put in. If you're there for a paycheck it will show. If you were fence sitting and fell into the military's yard, you'll be in for a rude awakening.

Bottom line, realize that you will be committed to serve and the only way out is to desert. If you go that route you'll be marked for life and it will look worse than if you had no experience at all to a potential employer.

Personally, I think its a pretty good way to go if your hearts in it.

 

Air Force Officers can get some pretty cool jobs, ex. Pilots, Doctors

 

I'm in the USAF and almost have my bachelors in business administration and associates in criminaly justice. While serving tuition is free as long as u pass ur class. All u have to pay for is books. Now after u get out the military, you have a Montgomery GI bill or 9/11 GI bill. Both are grants for college. The only difference witht the 9/11 GI bill is that they pay for your rent as well. Let me know if u have any questions.