Just reading your responses, I don't think the military is the right choice for you. You don't want to be away from your family. Your career path needs a masters to really do anything (which there’s a 95% you will not achieve on active duty, at least your first enlistment) All the hear say about experience this experience that, sorry my friend but it means squat to a civilian employer. I know several guys that did 20+ years and got out with degrees and they had an extremely hard time finding a job.

The military retirement is a joke. But from the sounds you would not plan on making a career out of it, so you wouldn't have to worry with that.

In the time and state that the world is in today, you’re without a doubt going to deploy. There was a guy that said no matter where you go your family will go with you, that’s false. There are many different tours that range from 1 to 3 years that are none accompanied tours. Meaning you go without any dependants.

There are without a doubt many extremely good things you would take away from joining the military. I personally have absolutely zero regrets in doing it, and if I had to do it again I wouldn't change a thing, it just sucks to know you volunteer years to the country and in the end you get garbage in return (this isn’t the case 100% of the time but very commonly). There are alot of bad things about the military for anyone that is serious about being a family man. Simply put, the military and families are like drinking and driving. They don’t mix. The military (minus the Airforce) could careless about the quality of life for you and your family. They could also careless about your plans when you’re getting ready to depart. They care about one thing; Numbers.

Think long and hard. In the end, your going to have to makeup your mind on what’s best for you by doing alot of research and making an educated decision.

Had you been single, I'd say go for it! But the reason of paying for school and wanting to be a family man. To me thats a no go.

 

I retired from the military after two wars and 21 years. I have seen many kids like you make the same mistake. You all look at the pay and the job and the benifits of joining the service. There is only one big question you need to ask yourself.
Are you ready to die for your country?
If the answer is no then don't join the military.

 

Many good points, I wasn't talking about being deployed when I mentioned the family though, hopefully I didn't mislead you. If you are planning on becoming an officer the retirement is not a joke in my opinion, with 20 years retiring at only O-5, the retirement pay is almost 45k a year, and you're in your mid 40's. I am just telling what information I know, but there is a good chance that the military path/career is not right for you. Only you know that (and you future wife!)

 

Keep in mind as well, if you go talk to your school's program they will have some bias towards getting you in the program.

 

That is pretty much why i asked here. I had this same problem when in high school. I talked the recruiters that came to the school and while they were more than willing to tell you about the good the military brings as soon as you start asking questions pertaining to your future they kinda were reluctant to say anything.

 

At the time I thought my recruiter was a good guy, looking back he was doing his job, but also kind of a ***. Also if you are getting married it will be a BIG strain on a marriage to be active duty military, not counting deployments.

 

Three things to remember.....

1. Salesmen lie......

2. The government lies........

3. Recruiters are government salesmen......

 

That's pretty funny, remember the lowest bidder made your weapon

 

Depending on your MOS, making it to O-5 isn’t likely. There are billets and the only time those billets become available are when someone retires or lat moves (changes mos). So you could sit at major or capt for 10 years simply because your base entry pay date was 2 months short and someone else got the promotion before you. Now that one spot won’t be open until he leaves, which could be many years. It happens ALL the time. Another problem with Officers is the politics involved in their promotions. They are not done the same way that enlisted promotions are. The pay isn't the joke I am referring to. Although the enlisted retirement pay is a joke, your right the officer pay is much better. I am referring to the medical and all that. The medical is sub-pared at best. Everyone says yea your medical is covered yadda yadda yadda. The truth is the medical insurance (Tricare) is junk. They deny many claims regardless of how severely surgery is needed. Also changing your primary care physician is a HUGE pain in the butt!!! Also the vision and dental is nothing for dependants. You’re pretty much going to pay your own way on anything besides cleanings. So after 20 years of service, you still have to work to get the coverage you need for your family.

 

my opinion is .... pick a different branch of service. that is just my opinion though.

i am enlisted navy

 

That is a roller coster ride. Right now, any officer who doesn't commit lewd acts with small animals can make O-5. Times do change though.



TRICARE is better than most. Having been with it for 14 years, I think I have a good idea about it. There are problems - as with any health insurance.

There was never dental care for retirees. I am also the child of a retiree. The TRICARE Dental is ok. Have been told by HR types that there is really no good dental program. TRICARE Dental at least pays some or most for most of the things needed. Also consider that the soldier should come out of the military with prety good teeth, after 20 or more years of care.

I an the other side of the coin, in this argument. I had 24 great years. Have been retired for 12 years. The retirement check makes the house payment. Good enough.

Hal

 

It's not nearly as ez to make O-5 right now. We have many guys that are getting out as majors right now after 20-22 years of service.

I thought that you did get dental for retirees but I looked into it and your right you don’t. Although you "should" have good teeth leaving the dental care while active duty sucks! I don’t know who or where you got work done but they have screwed my teeth up. I finally gave up on having the military fix what they broke. Yea I got my wisdom teeth pulled and that’s fine. I'm more referring to like fillings and things that could reoccur.

Tricare is also crap. My wife needs to get work on her teeth and we are paying out of pocket to have it done because they denied the claim because she got a cleaning and that’s all they want to cover for the year. Hum that’s odd, 1 cleaning per year? I could have swore your supposed to get one every 6 months?

Also the vision is junk, they will pay for one eye exam for glasses only per year. If you wear anything beside glasses the exam and the prescription are on you. If you do wear glasses you are VERY limited on what ones to choose from without fronting the cash. Plus they are very reluctant to perform laser correction even though they have the means to do it at military hospitals now.

How long ago did you buy your house that your retirement is able to cover it? Also what location do you live in? In many cities now days the retirement would not cover your mortgage, insurance, taxes and fees much less other bills you have. In the end you have to get a second job in most cases. If that’s the case I'd rather get out and establish my self in a well paying job many years ahead of time that way I'm not working the way up from the bottom being 10 12 years behind everyone else.

Although the military life maybe perfect for this guys situation in the long run, there are just too many guys that join for the wrong reasons, and the reasons he listed fall into that category. Like I said before, had he been single and possibly not had anything going for him. I’d say go for it. But the situation he has presented, doesn’t sound right.

Edit: I also just looked into retirment pay for an O-5 with 20 years that includes inflation rates of 3.5%, and a base pay rase of 3.5% for the cost of inflation and after taxes you make 32,005 per year. If you ask me thats a joke. You can make alot more then that working as a civilian. Will you retire at 20 years probly not? But your going to have to work once you get out of the military more then likely any how.

 

There is a shortage os both O-4s and O-5s. A LOT are retiring or getting out. 4 back to back deployments will do that.

Are you on AD? What branch?


This is a link to TRICARE Dental http://www.tricaredentalprogram.com/...s/benefits.jsp

Will show your benefits. Also has contact information for the program. Just maybe your dentist is feeding you a line.

Don't remember TRICARE haviong a vision benefit. That is something new. Both my wife and I had laser surgery on our eyes in 2005, after my second trip to Iraq. No more exams - other than by the folks that did our eyes.


I bought my current home in 2005. Live in Killeen, Texas, just outside of Fort Hood.

I never thought that my retirement would do anything but make the house payment. I am the child of a Retiree and lived the life as a kid.

Work for the Army now as a GS employee. GS-13 is not too bad. Do have to go to Iraq each year for four months though.

I agree that the military is not for everyone.

Each has to make their own choice.

Hal

 

Yes I am currently on active duty in the Marines.

As far as the dental goes the cleaning thing is while on active duty it may change after you retire but I don’t see that happening. And me being active I don’t get the luxury of going to a dentist I have to go on base. Tricare does not pay for me to go out in town. However my wife has been battling with Tricare for months over them paying for her teeth. Every single rep she has spoken with has told her the same thing.


The vision is covered with Tricare now, not sure when they picked it up. I know that my wife goes to Wal-mart because that’s one of the only vision centers that accept Tricare for vision in this area. My wife has also been trying to get on the lasic list and they will not do anything for her. Doesn't make much sense, they say her vision isn't bad enough to correct but a friend of ours had hers done last year and my wife’s prescription is worse. Now did the other girl have other things like astigmatism? I don’t know. But I know that the actual prescription wasn't as strong as my wife’s. It just seems hit or miss. Something like that should be one way all the time. Not seasonal.

I do see living in that area a retirement being fine.( plus that GS-13 pay lol) But for those that live in say Southern California (or any part of California for that matter) or those that live in New York, that retirement will not cover your bills.

I bought a 2 bedroom 835 Square foot condo in San Diego and it was 360k. Yes prices have dropped but not much. Do the math and the payment is right around 3k a month. That’s only a 2 bedroom condo. To buy a house in areas like this you couldn’t do it. To say well move somewhere else is not right either. Just saying, for the work we do and the sacrifices we make we are not compensated enough for it. And what really eerks me is the democrats want to take some of it away. Looking at my W-2 for my taxes made me realize why after this enlistment is over I'm done. I’ve had a great time in the military but I'm not willing to work as much and as hard as we do for those sub pare benefits. I did what I signed up to do. Now its time for me to make money and live the life style and provide things for my family that I can’t afford in the military.

 

I understand about San Diago. My sister and her husband (retired Navy E-7) live there. Saw houses of less than 100sqft for 400K. You are right, retirement will not cover that - unless you are an O-10.


Active Duty Dental: You roll the dice there. I had fun this summer in TQ with a Navy Dental detachment, getting a broken tooth fixed. Took a bit of encouragement to get them to do their job - but they did.

TRICARE Dental
Try this: Wuerdeman, Paul, CIV, OASD(HA)/TMA [paul.wuerdeman@tros.tma.osd.mil]

He was able to assist me with a TRICARE issue before and can at least point you toward someone who can get you the right answer.

I think that the Lasik has been on a space available basis. Might try when the fleet is out and there is less business.

Stay safe,

Hal