Thinking of enlisting...Follow

Here's the perspective from a double army brat:

Having military parents provided me with some great opportunities I would not otherwise have had, but also made things difficult and unstable as an adolescent. It was difficult to form lasting friendships with other kids when they were constantly moving away. (The guy I had a crush on in 8th grade, who also had a crush on me, found himself packed up for Holland when his dad got orders. My first major teenage relationship - destroyed before it even had a chance.)

Just be aware that as a military family, you won't be able to put down roots. You're always moving, or planning to move, or trying to settle down after the last move. A few years later and the cycle repeats again. My mother said her greatest regret in life was losing the really nice three story house they had in South Carolina when she made the decision to join my father in Germany. This constant churn causes frustration in children, who often lash out with behavioral issues (hence the term "army brat" - although many of us wear it as a badge of honor when we're adults.)

I was fortunate that by the time I was growing up, my father had retired and I had the settled childhood my friends and my older sisters never did - but I still lost touch with dozens of friends due to various shipments.

Also, I have a buzzcut fetish since my formative years were spent amidst young recruits at church.

There's PLENTY of government assistance available at the moment to get by while you go back to school.

One thing that wasn't mentioned which is an unseen benefit. Right now people are patriotic up the ***. Ridiculously so. Not online, because we all know how that is, but face to face people will kiss your *** or leave you alone. That's not the benefit though. Like I said, people are patriotic up the ***, which translates to discounts and free sh*t everywhere. Sometimes its to the point where I hide my military status. Not because I don't enjoy being spoiled, I just don't feel it's right.

Anyway, you go anywhere in uniform to eat that requires waiters, chances are your meal is free. If it isn't, you'll get a discount. You ask for a military discount, chances are incredibly high you'll get 10%~20% off whatever it is you're buying. You go to a bar, someone'll pay for your drinks. Usually anonymously. If you're not in uniform, just ask and show your ID card. You can get discounts anywhere, and I can't stress anywhere hard enough. McDonalds, Burger King, Subway, Duncen Donuts, Starbucks. I bought a pair of decent running shoes, the kind that are like a hundred bucks, and got $20 off.

Like I said, sometimes I feel guilty over it and don't just out of a ridiculous amount of New York Italian Prideâ„¢, but I do take advantage of it more often than not. I also don't think it's a good enough reason to join the military, but it is one of the benefits you should know about.

Now, there's also the Commissary and Post Exchanges. If you can help it, DO NOT SHOP THERE. You'll be told that you don't pay tax on the stuff you buy there, which is true, but my god everything is so overpriced that the money you save on not paying the tax on it is isn't a benefit. Well, you can get good deals at the Commissary, mostly bulk foods and I can't say I've ever been disappointed in the steaks and such, but do avoid the PX/BX/NEX/Whatever letter X on the bases and do your shopping off base.

I just thought of this after buying a $700 Elliptical and having it reduced to $560 before the 10% sales price was added into it. I'm sure he'll say otherwise, but SIGNAL is generally so far in base that the only action they'll ever see is if someone lobs a mortar into their base, and the action is they'll hear about it and maybe trip over a rock when walking to a bunker. Honestly, I'd say if you're concerned about being hurt, that and Finance are probably the better choices for you.

Edited, Aug 26th 2011 2:58pm by lolgaxe

Actually, the PX toy shop has a critical advantage during the holiday rush - they'll be the last to sell out of that year's OhMyGodMyChildWantsThis toy. I got a rare 1982 cabbage patch kid because the PX had a late shipment, and we had civilians trying to sneak on base once word got out that there were still Tickle Me Elmos available.

Overpriced? Maybe. Available? Quite possibly. Better to pay an extra ten bucks than to be forced to pay quadruple off eBay.

What I miss? I was signal for 5 years.

Yep, was bored - decided to stop by. I see the OOT isn't very active any more.

Join the Danish armed forces. Our country is so ******* small, you and your family won't have to move anywhere, ever.