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.
this post was submitted on 29 Jul 2023
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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.
I always first recommend joining a trade union, it's great money and they'll be making way more than peers by the time they get out of college and usually not getting a job in the field they studied in unless it's an incredibly high demand job. Salary ceiling is lower than an advanced degree requiring job, but you get there a lot quicker.
Then I recommend college if they can get it easily. If they can get a degree without going wildly into debt, good. If they can get their masters, even better. If getting a masters, undergraduate school doesn't matter. But if a bachelor's degree will do, go to the best place you can afford.
Otherwise, join the service. Really think about what you want to get out of the service. If you want to get job training, look for a job that is similar to what you want to do for a living. Personally, I want to roll around in the dirty and shoot guns and travel the world. So I went combat arms, rolled around in the dirt, shot guns, and traveled the world. But my job had nearly zero relevance to any civilian jobs. But I got out and went to college. And after graduated and bounced around do all sorts of jobs that had nothing to do with my degree. And ultimately, I am working back at my alma mater on the grounds crew taking care of campus. And I love it.
With everything, it's what you make of it.
Trades aren't likely to be replaced by AI anytime soon either.
Noooooooobody wants to do them. I have a BSCS with 20+ years IT experience and I still end up running cable from time to time.
I can second trades. I did make more than my peers, even though I didn't get an education. They caught up eventually, naturally, but by then i was making my own schedule, doing something new everyday (: worth it.
I've always advised that there are three reasons to join the military: you feel an actual calling to do so, you have a family and no other way to support them, or you don't know what to do with yourself so you have Uncle Sam take care of you for four years so you can work it out. (I was option three: I ended up staying for eight.)
I would also advise my kids or anyone else to only consider the Air Force, the Space Force (even though it's still in beta) or the Coast Guard: while there are dangers with any branch, it seems that in-country if the bullets or IEDs don't kill you quickly, exposure to burn pits and other toxins will kill you slowly.
Hey part of the Option 3 crowd here too. Took me about a decade to figure things out so guess I'm slower than most. Yeah while I'm entirely grateful for the doors the military has opened, I'm kinda not too excited about the premature death and disability from toxins part. Now given that these seem to be recurring themes throughout all major conflicts you'd think that military service would incur a guaranteed lifetime post-service medical care that is world-class. But no, it's a dog and pony show to prove how injured you are or might be one day to get that. Until that changes it's going to be hard for me to sell that path.
Yeah but only if it's the air or space force. And even then just do the minimum service to get the benefits.