Thinking about joining the military..

Coming from a military background I have high respect for the men and women that go out there and fight for our freedom, but personally.. I don't think I could ever die for this country. :/

I was in the Army for 3yrs and had two trips to Iraq. I don't regret joining but I'd never do it again. Think long and hard on if military life is what you want.

Going into the army, and if you apply yourself, you can be making $3,757 a month at 4 years of service. That is based on being an E-5 Sargent with 4 years of service and living off post, collecting BAS (food allowance) and BAH (rent allowance). The same grade and years of service living in the barracks would receive $2488 a month but would live rent free, utilities free and provided meals for free. You can attain E-5 in as little as 3 years if you strive for it (in most MOS's (jobs)).



Here is the 2012 pay chart for the Army. This is the flat before tax base pay chart. Chart reflects Basic Pay only and does not include bonuses, allowances and other benefits. This is only the pay chart for enlisted personnel and for commissioned officers. I did not add the chart for warrant officers.

*Based on 2012 pay tables.

**Pay for Private (E1) will be slightly lower for the first four months of service.

Cumulative Years of Service
Grade 2 or less Over 2 Over 3 Over 4 Over 6 Over 8 Over 10 Over 12 Over 14 Over 16 Over 18 Over 20 Over 22
E-9(4) 4708.80 4815.60 4950.00 5108.10 5267.70 5523.60 5739.60
E-8 3854.70 4025.10 4130.70 4257.30 4394.40 4641.60 4766.70 4980.00
E-7 2679.60 2924.70 3036.60 3185.10 3300.90 3499.80 3611.70 3810.90 3976.20 4089.00 4209.30 4256.10 4412.40
E-6 2317.80 2550.30 2662.80 2772.30 2886.30 3143.10 3243.30 3436.80 3496.20 3539.40 3589.80 3589.80 3589.80
E-5 2123.40 2265.90 2375.40 2487.60 2662.20 2845.20 2994.60 3012.90 3012.90 3012.90 3012.90 3012.90 3012.90
E-4 1946.70 2046.30 2157.30 2266.50 2363.10 2363.10 2363.10 2363.10 2363.10 2363.10 2363.10 2363.10 2363.10
E-3 1757.40 1868.10 1981.20 1981.20 1981.20 1981.20 1981.20 1981.20 1981.20 1981.20 1981.20 1981.20 1981.20
E-2 1671.30 1671.30 1671.30 1671.30 1671.30 1671.30 1671.30 1671.30 1671.30 1671.30 1671.30 1671.30 1671.30
E-1 1491.00



Cumulative Years of Service
Grade 2 or less Over 2 Over 3 Over 4 Over 6 Over 8 Over 10 Over 12 Over 14 Over 16 Over 18 Over 20 Over 22
O-10(1) 15647.10 15723.30
O-9(1) 13685.10 13882.50
O-8(1) 9683.10 10000.20 10210.80 10269.60 10532.40 10971.00 11073.30 11489.70 11609.10 11968.20 12487.80 12966.60 13286.40
O-7(1) 8045.70 8419.80 8592.60 8730.00 8979.00 9225.00 9509.40 9792.90 10077.30 10971.00 11725.50 11725.50 11725.50
O-6(2) 5963.40 6551.70 6981.30 6981.30 7008.00 7308.60 7348.20 7348.20 7765.80 8504.10 8937.60 9370.50 9617.10
O-5 4971.30 5600.40 5988.00 6061.20 6303.00 6447.60 6765.90 6999.30 7301.10 7763.10 7982.40 8199.30 8446.20
O-4 4289.40 4965.60 5296.80 5370.60 5678.10 6007.80 6418.50 6738.30 6960.60 7088.10 7161.90 7161.90 7161.90
O-3 3771.30 4275.30 4614.60 5031.00 5271.90 5536.50 5707.80 5988.90 6135.60 6135.60 6135.60 6135.60 6135.60
O-2 3258.60 3711.30 4274.40 4418.70 4509.60 4509.60 4509.60 4509.60 4509.60 4509.60 4509.60 4509.60 4509.60
O-1 2828.40 2943.90 3558.60 3558.60 3558.60 3558.60 3558.60 3558.60 3558.60 3558.60 3558.60 3558.60 3558.60
O-3(3) 5031.00 5271.90 5536.50 5707.80 5988.90 6226.20 6362.40 6548.10 6548.10 6548.10 6548.10 6548.10 6548.10
O-2(3) 4418.70 4509.60 4653.30 4895.70 5082.90 5222.40 5222.40 5222.40 5222.40 5222.40 5222.40 5222.40 5222.40
O-1(3) 3558.60 3800.10 3940.80 4084.50 4225.50 4418.70 4418.70 4418.70 4418.70 4418.70 4418.70 4418.70 4418.70


1) Basic pay for an O-7 to O-10 is limited by Level II of the Executive Schedule which is $14,975.10. Basic pay for O-6 and below is limited by Level V of the Executive Schedule which is $12,141.60.

2) While serving as Chairman, Joint Chief/Vice Chairman, Joint Chief of Staff, Chief of Navy Operations, Commandant of the Marine Corps, Army/Air Force Chief of Staff, Commander of a unified or specified combatant command, basic pay is $20,587.80. (See note 1 above).

3) Applicable to O-1 to O-3 with at least 4 years and 1 day of active duty or more than 1460 points as a warrant and/or enlisted member. See Department of Defense Financial Management Regulations for more detailed explanation on who is eligible for this special basic pay rate.

4) For the Master Chief Petty Officer of the Navy, Chief Master Sergeant of the Air Force, Sergeant Major of the Army or Marine Corps or Senior Enlisted Advisor of the JCS, basic pay is $7,609.50. Combat Zone Tax Exclusion for O-1 and above is based on this basic pay rate plus Hostile Fire Pay/Imminent Danger Pay which is $225.00.

5) Applicable to E-1 with 4 months or more active duty. Basic pay for an E-1 with less than 4 months of active duty is $1,378.80.

6) Basic pay rate for Academy Cadets/Midshipmen and ROTC members/applicants is $990.00.

Bear in mind that the American military maintains various "other" pays that are not included as part of the pay tables above. These include Hazardous Duty, Imminent Danger Pay (otherwise known as Combat Pay), Submarine Duty Pay among others. Additionally, there are certain allowances provided such as Clothing Allowance, Basic Allowance for Housing and Cost of Living Allowance.

I say go for what you want! I know it's a HUGE decision, as I recently joined the Air Force Reserve back in April. I leave in exactly 23 days for boot camp. I originally looked into the Army first, but being a single mom it wasn't practical or smart for my son's sake. I really can't say that one branch is better than the other, we are all serving our country in different ways, and without one the others can't do their jobs efficiently. Go with what your heart wants (as corny as that sounds :rolleyes:) I really liked the idea of the Reserves because I'm still serving my country and getting all the same benefits as the full timers (such as schooling!), but I work there part time and can keep my job and not move my son around the country. The Air Force's shorter deployments are also a nice relief. I have the utmost respect for the men and women in other branches, a 15 month deployment can't be easy physically or mentally :salute:

Thanks for the replies and information guys!

And how exactly do I become an officer? I know if I go to any university and obtain a bachelors degree that's one part, but, what's the second part? Also, what rank is a new officer?

Thanks again guys!

You can become an officer in the Army a few different ways. You can come in as an officer 0-1(2nd lt aka 2nd lieutenant). You can also come in as enlisted and then go through the Green to Gold program. Or one of the best officers are Warrant Officers. WO's are a class of their own, not really enlisted and not really commissioned. WO's start off as enlisted and then go through the steps to becoming a WO.


http://www.goarmy.com/careers-and-jo...n-officer.html

http://www.todaysmilitary.com/military-careers/entering-the-military/becoming-a-military-officer


Also the retirement for the military has changed. You no longer start receiving your retirement pay as soon as you retire. You still get all of the other benefits but your pay wont start until you turn 62.

I'm not trying to discourage you by any means, but like a few have already stated if you're thinking of joining any branch as a back up plan I would seriously rethink that. Joining the military is a commitment that isn't easy to get out of, it's not one of those regular 9-5 jobs...you can't give a two weeks notice if you decide that it's not for you and expect to be gone.

Now to answer your questions:

I haven't heard anything about the job outlook not being very good if you just go into the military. My job is Air Traffic Control, so my job outlook if I decided to get out one day is very good. I have a set of skills that are isn't for everyone. As far as the Marine Corps is concerned I have one of the few jobs that you can pass the school house but if you can't actually do the job you get booted. It all depends your job (MOS) and if there is a high demand for it in the civilian world. Though I know countless people who get out and are hired because they were in the military and have experience that lets say someone just graduating from college doesn't have.

As far as pay goes it's enough to live comfortably off of I believe. If you live in the barracks you don't have to pay for things like electricity, heat, food (you'll probably have a chow card) etc etc. It will come out of your paycheck so it's like you never had it. Everything else you make is yours. If you want a complete break down of what you'll make at each rank with time in do a Google search for military pay charts. I know you said that you're not really in it for the money but we (Marines) get paid the least as far as all the services go. Just something to think about.

Boot Camp/Recruit Training is hard and challenging. There's really no way to sugar coat it. We have the hardest recruit training out of all the services. It's also the longest. It starts pretty much before you even arrive and ends the day you graduate and are no longer a recruit but a Marine. If you want to get a better understanding check out videos like Making A Marine on youtube, Ears Open Eyeballs Click, The Marines, The Making of a Marine, and The Crucible just to name a few that are about Recruit Training. It is true though that you don't do school work at Recruit Training. You don't use cell phones, don't get weeks off, real world things that you use to do no longer exist.

Experience varies from Marine to Marine. I've been in 7years and about to pick up SSgt on the 1st, I've been deployed and about to go again at the beginning of the year. I've been to 15 different countries, and my first duty station was Iwakuni Japan. So you have a good chance of traveling and seeing other locations. Every chance I get to get out of the states I volunteer for it. So the not going overseas thing that whoever told you is a crock lol.

It's not hard to make friends in the military. It's rather easy because you have share a common bond with everyone that is there with you. Most friends that you make with be lifelong friends and become more like family.

I'm one of 4 kids, all sons. Everyone of us has joined the military. 3 Marines (1 Air traffic controller, Comm/Drill Instructor,Grunt) 1 Army (Bulk Refueler). We all enjoyed the time we have/had in and wouldn't have changed it for anything. I plan on saying in for a while...don't know what I'd do if I got out. Being in the Marine Corps isn't really hard to do as long as you can follow rules and you know how to act. If you have any questions about anything Marine Corps related shoot me a pm, I'll be happy to answer. And good luck in whatever decision you decide to make.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by TessadasExotics

Also the retirement for the military has changed. You no longer start receiving your retirement pay as soon as you retire. You still get all of the other benefits but your pay wont start until you turn 62.

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That is news to me. There has been discussion of it, but nothing near that has passed. Retirement right now is the average of your last 3 years base pay, starting a 50% for 20yrs and up to 75% for 30. Payment starting immediately upon retirement. Also, from the SecDef himself, any possible future changes to that will not affect those of us currently serving. So, let us avoid unsubstantiated rumors.

As far as learning about the military, you need to do A LOT of homework. I am a Mustang (I was enlisted, now I am an officer), and the Navy has done very well by me. They paid for my Bachelors and Masters degrees. I have deployed a lot, and will very likely deploy again soon, but I would not trade the experience.

I FULLY agree with the folks that are bothered by your initial statement that you are looking at the military as a "back up", to be honest, we do not really want folks using it as a back up. We want folks who are invested 100%. Gone are the days of joining up, getting some education and moving on without deploying. When forward deployed, we need folks that are there for the right reasons, as not to get others killed from any lack of dedication or focus.

Joining any service, and especially the Army or USMC, may well mean you come home in a casket. That is just the honest truth, I have personally seen it time and time again. YOU have to be able to reconcile that, and really look at your motivation for enlisting. As a NCO or officer you may well be responsible for the lives of the men and women under you. Losing them is something that will NEVER leave you. You carry that burden for life.

Another thing to VERY closely analyze is: How do you feel about authority? You will be ordered to do things, not asked. It is not a democracy. You do not complain, you find solutions and get the job done. I have seen countless young folks who join and have a horrible tour because they have authority figure problems.

Also, it is becoming harder to get in. The forces are drawing down as the wars do. In 4-5 years, it may be even more so difficult to get in, especially in the officer corps.

As far as jobs, there are about as many types as there are civilian jobs. If there is something you like to do, and can score high enough on the entrance exams to get it, then there is likely a good job for you.

I am wrong about the retirement age... I guess you do still start collecting upon retirement. When I got out of the Army it was supposedly changing to 62, but I guess that got the boot. :D



*edit ha, too funny Jinx, you beat me to it. After I posted that I went to go look at the new changes and saw that they still have not changed the retirement as they said they were going to.

I'll tell you Air Force is an easier basic training, shorter deployments, better digs, and much better employment opportunities after you get out.


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