Being in the military is considered to be a career that is honorable. With all the violence that is going on in the world, we sometimes do not see the positives of what the military has to offer. Our United States Armed Forces consist of five branches: Army, Marine Corps, Navy, Air Force, and Coast Guard, all offering great personal benefits and benefits to the country.

Being in the armed forces gives you the benefit of traveling to difference countries, creating a fun and exciting experience for a person not used to traveling. Your spouse and/or dependent children can also travel for free if they are joining you at a new duty station. The Army has posts in Israel, Italy, and Japan, while the Marine Corps has posts in Germany and The Middle East. The Navy has post in Cuba, Greece, and Guam, and the Air Force has post in Honduras, Bulgaria, Netherlands, and Saudi Arabia. In addition, no matter where you are posted, the military offers trips at a discount.

The training in the military prepares you for whatever hard tasks you may endure while serving. It is a process that teaches you how to react in any giving situation. Basic training consists of ten weeks of the total combat training, where individuals learn the basic fundamentals of being a soldier. The advanced individual training consists of the remainder of the total basic training period, where the recruits train in the specifics of their chosen field. All the new recruits go through a boot camp to push them to their physical and mental limits.

The forces provide housing for those who choose to live on base, or assist with purchasing a house in a community close to base. The base is a facility directly owned and operated by or for the military or one of its branches that shelters military equipment and personnel, and facilitates training and operations. In general, a military base provides accommodations for one or more units, but it may also be used as a command center, a training ground, or a proving ground. In most cases, a military base relies on some outside help in order to operate

When you live on base, your housing is generally fully paid for by the military. The amount of money you receive depends on factors such as your rank, the cost of living in the area you are assigned, your base pay and length of service. Certain complex bases are able to endure by themselves for long periods because they are able to provide food, water and other life support necessities for their inhabitants while possibly being under siege.

Medical care in the military is very beneficial. TRI-Care is the medical program that is offered to military soldiers. It provides free medical services to those who are serving and their dependents. Generally, in order to receive care, you must visit hospitals specific to the military. Furthermore, after you retire from the military, you may qualify to receive free medical care from a Veterans Affairs hospital or clinic.

Lastly, serving in the military may give you a boost should you opt for another career after you retire from service. If you choose to work for the government, you will more than likely get veteran’s preference in hiring. Many private sector employers choose former military members because of their skill and training. Military members who retire from the service earn a pension, which is a regular weekly, bi-weekly, or monthly payment made during a person’s retirement from an investment fund to which that person or their employer has contributed during their working life.

The military can benefit a lot of people in plenty of ways, whether it be the travel, training, housing, Medicare, or retirement. Living in Military City, U.S.A., we need to know the benefits of the military and what they have to offer those who are looking into joining. Especially at Judson, with such a high population of military kids, and Randolph Air Force Base as our neighbor, being aware of the positives of the military can be very beneficial long-term.

College is not for everyone. Many students look at the military as a viable option, and it should be considered a great post-secondary one.