The core of the military is people. No matter how big the ships, you need sailors to sail them; no matter how swift the planes, you need pilots to fly them; and no matter how precise the missile launchers, you need soldiers to fire them. And, of course, you need people to plan strategies during wartime and training during peacetime, as well as people to manage the execution of those strategies and that training. That's where you fit into the picture.
At this time, the armed forces of the United States are now all-volunteer, meaning that you can't get drafted to serve unless Congress and the President deem it necessary. Doing your civic duty to protect the American way of life is more than enough reason for many enlistees to sign up. These benefits include educational, housing, medical, and dental, benefits. Additional pay is also given for special duty. The benefits the military provides are legendary and virtually unparalleled by any corporate package.
The specific educational benefits available to you for military service today are plentiful in number and generous in kind. For instance, if you get a direct commission in the Army after you graduate from college, the Army will in most cases pay off your student loans while you serve in addition to issuing you a regular paycheck.
Almost anybody involved with getting people to join the military will tell you that even if you don't want to make a career of it, the skills you will learn while you serve will be applicable to almost everything in the private sector. You could learn a lot about a technical field, should you choose to specialize. And you will certainly learn about responsibility. Just keep in mind that your ability to mine a bridge might not translate to, say, the movie industry.
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