|
|
 |
|
|
|
 |
 |
 |
|
Common Military Questions  Military Benefits Joining Other Questions Military Benefits What's the Montgomery GI Bill worth? For active-duty service with an honorable discharge, the Montgomery GI Bill (MGIB) provides $28,800 in educational support. That means your contribution is only $1,200. The MGIB Program provides up to 36 months of education benefits, which may be used for degree and certificate programs, flight training, apprenticeship/on-the-job training, and correspondence courses. Generally, benefits are payable for 10 years following your release from active duty. In the past, the value of the Montgomery GI Bill has increased annually. More on the Montgomery GI Bill What other higher education support programs are there in the Military? For active-duty service with an honorable discharge, the Montgomery GI Bill (MGIB) provides up to $50,000 in educational support.The MGIB Program provides up to 36 months of education benefits, which may be used for degree and certificate programs, flight training, apprenticeship/on-the-job training, and correspondence courses. Generally, benefits are payable for 10 years following your release from active duty. Other military education programs include Servicemembers Opportunity Colleges (SOC), Tuition Assistance, Testing Programs, and Military School Credits. More on College Programs What kinds of job training can you get in the Military? The U.S. Military operates a world-class job-training network, which includes over 300 schools teaching over 10,000 vocational and technical courses. The Military created it because the Services need and train people constantly for hundreds of jobs. Some of them equate to the hottest civilian jobs, such as computer programming, medical technician, and health-care worker. Nearly every civilian job has a military equivalent (journalist, radio broadcaster, photographer, surveyor, driver, and so on) -- but in the Military, your training is free. More on careers in Today's Military Can I choose my job specialty after Basic Training? The Military wants to give you what you want. They make every effort to match your interests and aptitudes with their needs. When you enlist, if the job you want is available and you qualify, it's yours, and you get it in writing. However, with the exception of the Navy,* if a particular job specialty isn't available at the time you desire it, your recruiter can give you information about making "job reservations" through the Delayed Enlistment Program. *In the Navy, the DEP is made up of people who have already sworn in and have a contract for a specific rating. What do you make in the Military? In 2003, new recruits start at about $1,000 per month, which automatically increases to about $1,239 per month after four months. By the time your first enlistment is up — say at four years — you should be making approximately $1,680 per month base pay, a nearly 59 percent increase from when you started. If you have some college education or completed JROTC in high school, some Services will start you as an E-3 — at $1,300 per month. Fact: raises generally come faster and more reliably than in civilian life. In the Military, you earn pay raises every two years simply for serving, and most people are promoted at least three times during their first four-year enlistment. Now that's something to add to your "pros" list. Base pay is just that — it's where your total compensation begins. Your total financial package also includes the value of your free housing and meals, and remember that, in the Military, your money goes much farther than in the civilian world, thanks to military perks like low-cost life insurance, everyday shopping discounts, and so on. More information about military salary levels What travel opportunities are there in the Military? The opportunities for travel are one of the best parts of being in the Military. Your first step after Basic Training will most likely be your job training school, followed by travel to your first duty assignment at another base. You help select where you'll be assigned, and you can volunteer for overseas duty if you want to see even more of the world. The Military has bases in Hawaii, Japan, Germany, England, Italy, Spain, and other overseas locations. And, even if they're based in the United States, Sailors on sea duty visit ports throughout the world. If you're looking to travel on your own, many commercial airlines offer fares at significant discounts just because you're in the Military. And here's an even better deal — you can often take a free "hop" on a government airplane when extra seats are available. The only catch is that on overseas flights you have to buy your own meals. The Military also operates low-cost R & R (that's rest and relaxation) lodges and hotels in Hawaii, Germany — even Disneyworld and other choice places.   Joining What qualifications must I meet in order to join the Military? It's simple. In general, the Services require U.S. citizenship or permanent residency (i.e., a green card if a non-citizen), a high school diploma or equivalent, good health, and minimum scores on the Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery (ASVAB). You should be between the ages of 17 and 35 and have no criminal record. As for physical requirements, the services require that minimum and maximum heights fall between 5'0'' to 6'8" for men and 4'10'' to 6'8" for women. Weight standards vary among the services, so talk to a recruiter about them. Some job specialties have additional standards, and some qualifications may be waived on a case-by-case basis. These are general guidelines, and they can—and do—vary by service. To be 100 percent sure, discuss these details with a recruiter. I'm not sure which service I'd like best. How do I decide? Like any endeavor or adventure you hope to embark on, it's best to talk to people who have already had a similar experience. To determine which service would be the best fit for you, find friends or relatives who have been in the Military, and pick their brains! Visit the Services' Web sites to get more info. Links are located at the bottom of this page. Each of the services offering active duty has its own character and spirit. And each service offers great benefits and many job opportunities. Search engines can also provide some information, but check carefully to be sure the sites you find have reputable, accurate, and updated information. Finally, visit local advisors who can help you match up your abilities and interests with current active duty openings in their services. Don't forget to ask about part-time service in the Reserves and National Guard if that interests you. How do I go about joining the Military?
More about the Next Steps in joining up How long do I have to serve if I join? Most first-term enlistments are four years, but there are also programs with two-, three-, and six-year enlistments. It depends upon the Service and the job to which you're applying. Be sure to ask about enlistment bonuses—some Services offer them. And don't forget part-time opportunities in the Reserves and National Guard. A local advisor has all the details you'll need about terms of service. Other Questions No doubt you'll have more questions about military service. The site below has many answers for you and other important people in your life. More FAQs at the Today's Military Web site Related Resources Service Info U.S. Army U.S. Marine Corps U.S. Navy U.S. Air Force U.S. Coast Guard Army National Guard Air National Guard Military Info Military Careers Military FAQs
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
 |
 |
|||
| ||||
