10 ms·

My daughter is going into the Air Force, getting her degree at night for nothing in 2.5 years, going back in as an officer, effectively doubling her income all

My daughter is going into the Air Force, getting her degree at night for nothing in 2.5 years, going back in as an officer, effectively doubling her income all the while not paying for food, lodging, medical/dental. She plans on doing 20. She'll likely marry an Air Force officer, and two people retiring at 39/40 YO will have a combined retirement of just under 100k (today's money), all the while not wasting precious money on medical/dental. She'll be young enough to have a second career in her chosen field and if the legislators don't screw up SS, she'll have three retirement incomes.

isostatic 8y ago
All paid for by those who don't go into the military–industrial complex, but instead pay enormous taxes to fund it. The kid fixing broken windows does well too. The U.S. accounts for 35% of the world's defence spending, more than twice that of Russia and China together.
- israelisreal 8y ago
  You are paying for it by your service, which only 1% of the population serves. I have nothing but respect for the military and those who serve. People need to stand behind the troops or in front of them. People sleep well at night because of the military and their sacrifice.
  - bluntfang 8y ago
    except for all those people in poverty who don't sleep or eat well.
    - adamwong246 8y ago
      don't forget the collateral damage caused by those troops. Americans might get to sleep well and eat well, but those yemeni weddings guests who got droned get neither.
  - s73v3r_ 8y ago
    The current incarnation of the military has done exactly nothing to protect me, and likely has taken actions to make things more dangerous for me.
  - isostatic 8y ago
    And logger, or fishermen, or oil rig workers, or drivers, who app work far more dangerous jobs, don't "sacrifice" I sleep well at night because of a roofer who risked his life to fix a hole, not because the US spend an obscene amount of money on its military. P.S the military isn't that dangerous. The largest killer is suicide, then transport accidents, then other accidents. Truckers are in a far more risky job, because of the danger of driving, and because of the sedantary lifestyle. Next time you see a trucker at the gas station remember to applaud him and thank him for his service.
  - hansthehorse 8y ago
    Former military here - American service men and women haven't defended American freedom in over 75 years. Time to let that line go I would think.
- oh_sigh 8y ago
  And all those who don't go into the military-industrial complex benefit from a secure America, and a country like America being a global hegemon and not Russia or China. The kid fixing broken windows does good too, but isn't exactly risking their life and limb in such an explicit manner as the way a member of the armed forces may.
headcanon 8y ago
I'm happy for your daughter, but I'm not sure what your point is. State service can be a rewarding career path, I don't think that is in debate here.
- israelisreal 8y ago
  The post was meant to state that there are paths that do not require going into mounting debt. The military is a fine path for those who are wired that way. It teaches discipline, team work, being a part of something bigger than yourself, and in return you basically live for free, largely pocketing the lion's share of your income. A young person can get a degree at night in the military (free) and if they like the military after their 4-year enlistment, can become commissioned in 3 months and effectively double their income, all the while spending nothing. It's a win-win. To the leftists that hate the military, nothing will convince them, but they sleep well at night because there are people willing to do so.
  - Art9681 8y ago
    I'm a veteran that had to enlist so I could get out of poverty. I also lean left. Let me say this out of a little spite since you decided to get political: If you and your daughter's mother made the "right" decisions, your daughter wouldn't have to enlist in the military to have a chance at a good life. I'll show myself out now.
    - israelisreal 8y ago
      Fair enough, but it's her choice. She is choosing this path largely because she doesn't want to attend college in a traditional setting and deal with the kinds of BS that plague colleges now. My daughter leans hard right, again her choice, and in many ways she is further right than me or her mother. My daughter wants to do things her own way, and the Air Force is the way she wants to do it. Who am I to stop her? She's always been a willful kid and she's always been academically on point. The Air Force way benefits her in numerous ways, not least of which is she keeps her money in her pocket.
yardie 8y ago
My family has served in every branch except the USCG, and I was NROTC early on. The educational benefits are great, the GI Bill is great, the VA financing you can access is great. None of that requires a 20 year stint. I knew quite a few officers who planned on doing the 20 year office career and then retirement. None of them made it. I knew plenty of officers who wanted to be stationed in Hawaii. They got a taste and then were redeployed elsewhere. The Air Force you think you know does not exist. They are as cut throat as any corporation. And like a corporation the closer you get to retirement the harder they try and spin you loose. Your daughter may do all 20 years of service. But do know that one day she will plateau career wise and when she does that is when the sharks circle. [0] [0] https://taskandpurpose.com/military-needs-abandon-promotion-boards/ https://taskandpurpose.com/military-needs-abandon-promotion-...
jampekka 8y ago
"There's room at the top they're telling you still, but first you must learn how to smile as you kill, if you want to be like the folks on the hill" https://youtu.be/iMewtlmkV6c https://youtu.be/iMewtlmkV6c

isostatic 8y ago

All paid for by those who don't go into the military–industrial complex, but instead pay enormous taxes to fund it. The kid fixing broken windows does well too. The U.S. accounts for 35% of the world's defence spending, more than twice that of Russia and China together.

israelisreal 8y ago
You are paying for it by your service, which only 1% of the population serves. I have nothing but respect for the military and those who serve. People need to stand behind the troops or in front of them. People sleep well at night because of the military and their sacrifice.
- bluntfang 8y ago
  except for all those people in poverty who don't sleep or eat well.
  - adamwong246 8y ago
    don't forget the collateral damage caused by those troops. Americans might get to sleep well and eat well, but those yemeni weddings guests who got droned get neither.
- s73v3r_ 8y ago
  The current incarnation of the military has done exactly nothing to protect me, and likely has taken actions to make things more dangerous for me.
- isostatic 8y ago
  And logger, or fishermen, or oil rig workers, or drivers, who app work far more dangerous jobs, don't "sacrifice" I sleep well at night because of a roofer who risked his life to fix a hole, not because the US spend an obscene amount of money on its military. P.S the military isn't that dangerous. The largest killer is suicide, then transport accidents, then other accidents. Truckers are in a far more risky job, because of the danger of driving, and because of the sedantary lifestyle. Next time you see a trucker at the gas station remember to applaud him and thank him for his service.
- hansthehorse 8y ago
  Former military here - American service men and women haven't defended American freedom in over 75 years. Time to let that line go I would think.
oh_sigh 8y ago
And all those who don't go into the military-industrial complex benefit from a secure America, and a country like America being a global hegemon and not Russia or China. The kid fixing broken windows does good too, but isn't exactly risking their life and limb in such an explicit manner as the way a member of the armed forces may.

headcanon 8y ago

I'm happy for your daughter, but I'm not sure what your point is. State service can be a rewarding career path, I don't think that is in debate here.

israelisreal 8y ago
The post was meant to state that there are paths that do not require going into mounting debt. The military is a fine path for those who are wired that way. It teaches discipline, team work, being a part of something bigger than yourself, and in return you basically live for free, largely pocketing the lion's share of your income. A young person can get a degree at night in the military (free) and if they like the military after their 4-year enlistment, can become commissioned in 3 months and effectively double their income, all the while spending nothing. It's a win-win. To the leftists that hate the military, nothing will convince them, but they sleep well at night because there are people willing to do so.
- Art9681 8y ago
  I'm a veteran that had to enlist so I could get out of poverty. I also lean left. Let me say this out of a little spite since you decided to get political: If you and your daughter's mother made the "right" decisions, your daughter wouldn't have to enlist in the military to have a chance at a good life. I'll show myself out now.
  - israelisreal 8y ago
    Fair enough, but it's her choice. She is choosing this path largely because she doesn't want to attend college in a traditional setting and deal with the kinds of BS that plague colleges now. My daughter leans hard right, again her choice, and in many ways she is further right than me or her mother. My daughter wants to do things her own way, and the Air Force is the way she wants to do it. Who am I to stop her? She's always been a willful kid and she's always been academically on point. The Air Force way benefits her in numerous ways, not least of which is she keeps her money in her pocket.

yardie 8y ago

My family has served in every branch except the USCG, and I was NROTC early on. The educational benefits are great, the GI Bill is great, the VA financing you can access is great. None of that requires a 20 year stint. I knew quite a few officers who planned on doing the 20 year office career and then retirement. None of them made it. I knew plenty of officers who wanted to be stationed in Hawaii. They got a taste and then were redeployed elsewhere. The Air Force you think you know does not exist. They are as cut throat as any corporation. And like a corporation the closer you get to retirement the harder they try and spin you loose. Your daughter may do all 20 years of service. But do know that one day she will plateau career wise and when she does that is when the sharks circle. [0] [0] https://taskandpurpose.com/military-needs-abandon-promotion-boards/ https://taskandpurpose.com/military-needs-abandon-promotion-...

jampekka 8y ago

"There's room at the top they're telling you still, but first you must learn how to smile as you kill, if you want to be like the folks on the hill" https://youtu.be/iMewtlmkV6c https://youtu.be/iMewtlmkV6c