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<li><p>Don’t join solely for financial reasons. Or don’t do it unless you are prepared to serve-- that could mean Hawaii or it could mean Iraq. People who say “I only did it for the money; I didn’t think I would ever be deployed” don’t get a lot of sympathy.</p></li>
<li><p>There are a myriad of ways to join, and separate recruiters for each competing against each other-- the different services and reserve components of each. There isn’t one person you can go to for advices.</p></li>
<li><p>Reserve components (including National Guard) can help you bring in a little more cash each month while you are a student and until your commitment is finished. The drawback is the schedule won’t always fit neatly with your school schedule or your schedule on your first job.</p></li>
<li><p>Most college graduates will want to be officers, though many have rewarding service as enlisted people. ROTC is probably the straightest path to becoming an officer. If you are not commissioned through ROTC or a military academy, you would have to enlist and then go to an officer training school. I believe those schools are tougher than most ROTC programs. (Doctors and lawyers can get direct commissions, and maybe some other medical professionals.)</p></li>
<li><p>Know what options you when you contract and make sure you understand what happens if it doesn’t pan out. You might be able to contract for officer training OR location of first assignment OR occupational specialty, but not all three. What happens if you don’t make it through officer training or for some reason you are not qaulified for the field you signed up for?</p></li>
<li><p>If you are looking primarily for financial help, enlisted might be the way to go. Many bonus programs are available only to enlisted servicemembers, and for many of them a person forfeits the bonus if he/she accepts a commission. Read and understand the contract!</p></li>
<li><p>What I think you should do-- join ROTC and go on active duty for three years or so after graduation. The military lifestyle can be great (but do remember the chance, actually likelihood, of deployment). Try to go someplace you wouldn’t otherwise go for work, and if you end up in a less desirable place find something good about it. I think your success in the civilian workforce after leaving the military will depend a lot on how much time you spent in the military and how you write your resume.</p></li>
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