Why I'm a big advocate for joining the military after high school...

So, I actually joined the military when I was 17. It wasn't something I originally wanted to do. I was one of those kids that went though high school with no plans... or ambitions. I just did not know what I wanted to do. I had gotten a scholarship for track at a college in Eastern Washington but it was only a half year scholarship during the season of track. It was scary for me to think about moving to the other side of the state to go to college and support myself with no help. 

Which, at the time, I was already living on my own and supporting myself but it was where I was familiar and I was sharing an apartment with friends. I had left high school the beginning of my senior year to finish out the year doing independent study and finished about half way through year and was able to graduate early with my diploma. During that time I moved out and into an apartment with some of my friends that I worked with. My dad agreed to let me move out if I could sit down and show him that I could support myself. So, I did.

It wasn't until that spring that I started realizing that working at a movie theater wasn't really a long term gig and after that I had no plans, and that was scary. I didn't have anything I really wanted to do. It wasn't until I went to my brother's Marine Corps graduation and seeing how much he had changed that I started thinking about joining myself. 

I ended up signing up, and my parents agreed since I needed their signature because I wasn't 18 year. That summer my mom thought it would be a good idea for me to to go earlier and so my ship date was moved to July. I ended up spending my 18th birthday at bootcamp.

But here's why I think it's honestly a great option for kids out of high school. You learn so much. You learn discipline, you learn how to be on your own, you meet so many different people, you're able to travel and go to different parts of the country or even world. Not only that, given that you don't get in trouble and separate with an honorable discharge, you get education benefits that help pay for your college tuition. 

There's always been talk about how military benefits are garbage, I personally never really thought that. You don't pay for medical or dental. They provide all housing and utilities and you get a paycheck. If you go into it and start a family when you're a PFC or even LCpl then it can be hard financially, but they still provide you a lot of different benefits for you and your family.

With that, I've talked to my kids about joining. For me, I'd rather they chose a different branch than the Marine Corps just because I don't think the BS involved is worth it. I think you chose the Marine Corps if you have the mindset that you want to be the best of the best. That you want hard and you want that brotherhood or sisterhood, because it is unlike anything else. I wanted that so that's why I went that route but if you're not looking for that specifically, 100% choose a different branch. The Marine Corps will more than likely not be enjoyable for you. You can choose another branch with better/quicker promotions, more laid back leadership, and less toxic masculinity. People will probably get upset over that last one but just keeping it real. 

So, four years serving as active duty in the military and you can learn a whole trade and have experience when going out to the civilian world. Now, they even have great transitioning programs for military members transitioning into the civilian world that will help you get a job. I was able to get my degree in Photography and then went to school for Business Administration all paid for by my GI Bill. Definitely worth looking into it in my opinion.