There are currently 1.3 million active-duty service members in the US, but due to attrition and retirement, we need to increase those numbers by 150,000 new recruits.
Recruiting isn’t easy. The number of people who are ineligible is greater than those who are eligible, and of those who qualify, there is a much smaller percentage of people interested in joining the military than in previous decades.
Learning more about the benefits of joining the military can help increase the numbers. Bonuses, college tuition waivers, and other benefits can sweeten the pot, making military careers more attractive. Keep reading to learn more about the benefits of serving your country.
Table of Contents
1. Serving Your Country
This is probably one of the most obvious benefits of joining the military. No matter what branch you choose, you have the opportunity to serve your country and protect the freedom of your fellow citizens.
Being a part of the military means that you learn the true meaning of service and are part of one of the world’s oldest clubs. There are many benefits to being a military veteran, including reminiscing with your fellow servicemembers and exchanging military coins.
2. Education
The Post-9/11 GI Bill pays for tuition at a college, university, or trade school for veterans who served at least 36 months in the military. Once they leave the military or are no longer active service military members, they can use this tuition along with a living stipend to get a degree or professional education.
Spouses and children can also benefit from this bill, depending on how long the person commits to the military.
3. Career Training
There are many different training options for you, no matter what type of career path you want to choose. Not only does the military pay for you to get your degree, but you also have training opportunities while you are still on active duty.
There are different careers that you can be trained for, including military police, engineering, and piloting planes. All of these skills can be used once you transition to civilian life.
4. Active Duty Benefits
While you are an active-duty military member, you get free or nearly free housing, food allowances, full medical benefits for you and your family, paid vacation, and tax-free commissaries and exchanges, located on military bases.
There are many benefits when you are no longer on active duty as well, so they don’t end when you go on reserve status or leave the military.
5. Veteran Benefits
Veterans enjoy things like VA loans, which is a program that provides no down payment mortgages to veterans. Military retirement benefits can be worth millions, depending on how long you were in the military, your rank, and your salary.
Do These Benefits of Joining the Military Appeal to You?
If you are considering joining one of the various military branches, but are on the fence, hopefully, these benefits of joining the military helped tip your decision in favor of joining. There are both intrinsic and extrinsic benefits to serving your country and this article outlines only a few of them.
If you found this information helpful, be sure to check out our other articles for more.
