…or nieces or nephews, etc. I’m having these questions come up and I’m torn on this. On one hand my experience has been like no other- got a chance to see and do so many things, forged the best friendships, housing/education/medical benefits through the VA afterwards. But those cons - the higher odds for experiencing abuse, witnessing or performing horrifying things, etc…all the stuff that comes with lifelong damage…
What’s everyone’s take on this? Would you recommend the military for your kids?
Unfortunately it still remains probably the best social mobility ladder in America. Before I joined I was working at Walmart, after I got out I got a job at a top tech company. With things being the way they are now, I would recommend someone join for the shortest enlistment they can get. Get their experience and their education benefits and get out. If we pulled our heads out of our ass and made state colleges and universities free to attend, then no I wouldn’t recommend the military. However, I’m pretty sure that won’t happen and the fact that the military is such a good social economic ladder is by design.
Yeah this was me too. Working in retail/food & bev work hell. School was just not a possibility while working those types of jobs - affordability-wise and time-wise. It took me a couple enlistments to figure out what I wanted to do “after” and then working in that direction while I was still in. I’m in a technical field now, lots of job security - even w AI - and there’s no way I’d be here without the military given my circumstances back then. But I have to agree - there may be easier ways to climb that ladder depending on a person’s situation.