<p>I know the vast majority of you are strongly anti anything military, but I am quite shocked that noone ever brings up the Air National Guard when talking about college costs. Most states cover 100% of tuition at state schools, or the average cost of all schools for private schools. Plus the GI Bill and the GI Bill kicker, can add up to a nice payday for working one weekend a month. Before someone goes on a tangent about callups to Iraq, let me tell you that I am talking about the AIR National Guard, not the ARMY National Guard, who definitely gets numerous callups to Iraq, and the recruiters even tell people this. The Air Guard rarely goes to Iraq. I have never had an involuntary activation. But let me break down the costs for a potential ANG member who wants to go to college (this is for Ohio, other states may vary)</p>
<p>100% of any state school tuition paid for (OSU, KSU, Akron, Cinncinnati, etc)
GI Bill $282 a month
GI Bill Kicker $350 a month
$200 a month for base pay (one weekend)
up tp $15,000 sign up bonus (which is taxed, and spread out over 5 years, $5300 initial bonus)
So you are basically talking $832 a month, plus the sign on bonus, plus free tuition at any state school, for one weekend a month. I paid for college this way and it is sweet. Granted you have to do your intial training, and the two weeks in the summer, and you are subject to call ups, but I think the risk reward analysis here is a no brainer. Thoughts? (please don’t rip the military, and I wouldn’t recommend the Army Guard to anyone, simply for the Iraq callups.)</p>
<p>We’re not all anti-military joev. I think programs like the one you describe are great for many people. I do have a reservation though against the idea of joining the Guard or military primarily or just for benefits like this. It causes real problems when one finds themselves called up and suddenly want to bail thinking ‘this isn’t what I signed up for’. Fortunately this isn’t the attitude of most. </p>
<p>If a person is interested in the military and serving their country in this way, then it’s a good option.</p>
<p>Never ever believe a recruiter on deployment issues. These are good folks but they are under extreme pressure to produce recruits and a few have been found to be outright lying.
I think the idea that being ant-Iraq is anti-military is a Big Fat Lie (g).
True pro-military means not throwing lives in harms way without clear cause!
It means if you send them, you send the best equiped, best trained fighters in large enough numbers to win asap. Not 45 yr old women and men who are weekend warriors, driving junk vehicles without battle armor, time there extended over and over, to a “war” started for about a zillion reasons besides what was said.</p>
<p>There are Army recruiters who basically tell people now that they will have do to a year in Iraq regardless. Obviously you shouldn’t believe a recruiter, because they will tell you anything to join. I am just letting people know about my experiences in the Air Guard, (I guess I do sound a little like a recruiting poster) but I think its pretty sweet. Then again I have never been to the desert either.</p>
<p>“Then again I have never been to the desert either.”</p>
<p>It isn’t a lot of fun. My cousin was in Kuwait for 6 months and then Iraq for a year. His care packages always included sunblock, tons of baby wipes, baggies, wrap sunglasses, etc…all to fight the sand and sun. (Oh yeah…and jerky…go figure, they love the stuff.)</p>
<p>I am TDY working the transportation section. I pick people up and drop them off. Duty down here is very sweet. Phoenix is a desert, but where I am put up at isn’t exactly roughing it. Back in the regular military world, I load plan planes and work with hazardous materials, at least that’s what my job description thing says. This can include anything from driving a fork lift, to pushing a pallet, to sitting on the computer all day.</p>
<p>I’ve lived in Phoenix and know what you mean but you can take a drive for just a few miles and get all the desert experience you want. Of course it doesn’t compare to the harsh conditions of a makeshift military camp in the desert.</p>