Don't waste your time trying to find the recruiter near you. Let us do the work.
Step 2: Decide if you're ready
Benefits Overview
Military personnel admittedly do not earn fabulous salaries. But then the money
is not why anyone joins - if you are after money, go somewhere else!
That said, military members are rewarded with substantial tangible and intangible
benefits. Here are just a few:
Educational Benefits - GI Bill, Tuition Assistance, Servicemember Opportunity
Colleges, Education on Duty, etc.
Advanced Technical and Specialty Training
Cash Bonuses
Tax-Free Housing & Food Allowances, or Free Room & Board
30 Days of Vacation per Year
Space A Travel - Free flights between bases
Substantial discounts and deals throughout the private sector (link to
Deals center)
The pride and honor of serving your country
World travel
Health & Dental Care for your and your family
Special deals on Home Loans (VA Loans link)
Being part of a larger family with a proud history - the military tradition
Pension
Below are a few more details:
Your Cash Rewards!
Military
Pay
As an enlisted member, your pay will increase the longer you are in the military,
and as you advance in rank. You also benefit from an annual cost-of-living adjustment.
There are 9 levels of enlisted pay in the military. Most people enter the service
at E-1, which stands for Enlisted Pay Grade 1. Most people advance to E-4 within
about 3 years of service. Below is an example of the annual Regular Military
pay for a servicemember at the E-4 pay level, with three years of military service.
Example of 2008 Annual Military Pay:
Unmarried
Married with 2 children
Basic Pay
$23,389.20
$23,389.20
Cash for Meals
$3,533.16
$3,533.16
Cash or (Equivalent) for Housing
$10,932.00
$13,812.00
Cash Total
$37,854.36
$40,734.36
Federal Tax Advantage
$2,552.68
$1,826.04
Regular Military Compensation
$40,407.04
$40,560.40
For more on both enlisted and officer pay, with complete pay tables and other
information on special pays you can receive, check out the Pay Overview.
Enlistment
Bonuses
The first reward you may receive for enlisting is a payment called an enlistment
bonus. Enlistment bonuses vary from service to and change to meet the needs
of the service -- be sure to ask your recruiter about the availability of enlistment
bonuses.
Special
Pay
Depending on your job and service, you may receive Special Pay. Special Pay
is pay given on top of your base salary. Sometimes it is tax-free, as with hazardous
duty pay, and sometimes it is not. Examples of Special Pay are hazardous duty
pay, career enlisted flyer incentive pay, submarine duty pay, and medical officers
special pay. See these topics for more.
Advanced Enlistment Rank
In addition to enlistment bonuses recruiters can offer you the chance to enter
the service at a higher pay grade called an Advanced Enlistment Rank. There
are 10 enlisted pay levels called pay grades. Most people start out at E-1 (Enlisted
Pay grade 1) however qualified enlistees may enter at E-2 or E-3.
You must score high on the Armed Services Vocational Battery (ASVAB) test and
meet other criteria to qualify.
Remember: Take an ASVAB practice test as soon as you can. If you can
give your recruiter a practice test score, this helps the recruiter pinpoint
the benefits and incentives that you qualify for, and focus on the jobs you're
suited for. Check out Military.com's ASVAB
Test Center for FREE Practice Tests, study guides and tips..
Be sure to ask your recruiter about opportunities for Advanced Enlistment
Rank, Student Loan Repayment, enlistment bonuses, and many other incentive programs.
You won't know what's available until you ask.
Your Everyday Rewards!
Every day that you serve, the military rewards you by providing you with, housing,
meals, vacation, and much more. The following is a list of the major "everyday"
rewards you get for serving your country:
30 Days Paid Vacation
Unlike any other job you will find, the U.S. Armed Forces offer their members
30 Days of fully paid vacation (leave) each year, starting the first year of
your enlistment. In fact, you can take leave the day after you graduate from
basic training!
Vacation for Reserves and Guard
If you are called to temporary active duty (mobilized) as a reserve/guard servicemember
you will earn 2.5 days of paid vacation (leave) for each 30 days of Active Duty
service.
Military
Pension
If you decide to make the military your career, you will be eligible for retirement
pay, including continued health benefits and on-base shopping privileges similar
to those you enjoyed while on duty. For instance, a 20-year career in the service
will often result in retirement in your late 30's. Considering that a typical
enlisted retiree will receive over HALF-A-MILLION Dollars in retirement pay
alone, a military pension is a great deal and you pay nothing into this it is
all part of your rewards for serving!
Pension for Reserves and Guard
If you are in the Reserves you become eligible for retirement when you have
served 20 "good years," but you cannot draw your pension until age 60.
Health
Care
You and your family will have medical insurance (TRICARE) for as long as you
remain in military service. If you remain in the Military through retirement,
your medical benefits will extend throughout your lifetime and that of your
spouse.
Health Care for Reserves and Guard
As a reserve you and your family are eligible for health care whenever you are
activated, or under special circumstances you may qualify for military health
care insurance (TRICARE) at a reduced premium.
Meals
As a continuation of the military tradition of providing room and board, meals
(rations) are considered part of your pay. While on active duty you will be
eligible for free dining services or you will be given an allowance to cover
the cost of your meals when dining facilities are not available.
Housing
Housing on base is also included as a part of your compensation package. If
you are married and on-base housing is not available, or you would like to live
off base, a tax-free
monthly housing allowance will be provided. The military also pays all travel
and expenses for required moves.
Affordable
Life Insurance
As an active duty servicemember, you are eligible for $50,000 to $400,000 in life insurance coverage at a cost ranging up to $29.00 a month.
Life Insurance for Reserves and Guard
As a reserve or guard member, you may be eligible for either full-coverage or
partial-coverage depending on the type of unit you are assigned to.
Travel
Besides getting to see the world while serving your country, you will be eligible
for "space available" (or Space A) military flights to almost anywhere in the
world at no cost. In addition, you will be able to stay in lodging facilities
at any military base and at world-class resorts that are specially created for
military personnel, including the Shades of Green® near Walt Disney World and
the Hale Koa Hotel on the beach of Waikiki. And that's not even mentioning the
special military discounts and fare reductions offered by resorts and airlines
all over the world. For more on Space A travel and other military travel benefits,
visit the Military.com Travel
Center.
Veteran Benefits and Discounts
The benefits of service extend far beyond your active duty or reserve service.
The Federal Government and most states offer Veterans Programs for Education,
Home Loans, Small Business Loans, Health Care, and more. Many retailers and
businesses also offer veteran and servicemember special discounts. For a directory
of all the discounts available, check out Military.com's
Shopping Center.
The Intangible Rewards!
When you serve in today's military, you learn self-discipline, earn respect,
and demonstrate honor and a devotion to duty. The experience, training, and
leadership skills you will get in the military are exactly what today's employers
are looking for.
You will also experience great satisfaction from knowing that you have proudly
done your part in carrying on a tradition of selfless service that dates back
over 200 years. In addition you will be joining the ranks of famous veterans
who have also served their country like: Mike Anderson (NFL), David Robinson
(NBA), Fred Durst (Limp Bizkit), Gene Hackman, Chuck Norris, Road Dogg Jesse
James, Montel Williams, Shaggy, and Dennis Franz, just to name a few.
You will also find that your military experience will make you stand out above
the rest. You and your family will notice a difference in how you handle adversity,
hardship, trials, and confrontation. You will also find that people will come
to count on you for your leadership skills and ability to make wise decisions.
As you can see, the benefits of military service are enormous. Most American
citizens have no idea about the value of the opportunities and experiences you
can get for faithfully serving your country.
