steelcharmrat12 I'm 22 years old, with a wife and two kids. I feel stuck, tangled in uncertainty. Should I join the military, at least, to secure a good future for my kids?
VelcroViking Sounds like a solid plan and it’ll give you stability. I didn’t get married and have kids until after I got out, and now that I’m 33 I’ve thought about going back in a bunch of times just to lock that stability down again.
luciferfox Military or trades. I'm not in the trades. I know they pay quickly. They avoid a school loan bill at the end.
TorayPizzashooz Pick a laid‑back Air Force office job or choose a trade you can see yourself doing down the road. Aviation mechanics is a big, well‑paying career. Jump into aircraft mechanics, rack up experience, then move on to become an airline mechanic. You’ll get benefits and all that. I was in the Marines, and it was terrible for family life and overall quality of life.
JabbaFever Best advice I can give you if you join is to pick a job in the military that can easily transfer to the civilian world what career path have you considered?
dmground45 Hi I'm a USMC veteran, now heading to the Air Force. Feel free to message me with any questions!
troyninja42 Perhaps it works best when your relationship is strong; the military can seem to strain families, and it may not be suitable for everyone.
FrozenGator I did it, and it’s not bad. I don’t have custody of my son, but I can fly him here or go to where he lives whenever it’s worthwhile. The Air Force also cares about family.
GuitarsInMars I am a 20‑year retired Army veteran. The situation will singlehandedly place more stress on your family than you might anticipate. That being said, the benefits are great, but you will not earn a substantial income until approximately ten years in, assuming sound financial decisions. Be prepared to relocate every three years. I wold do it, but ensure that you and your wife are completely certain about what you are entering. It will be extremely difficult for her to maintain a career.
SmokeyDoc42 Yes, it can absolutely improve your circumstances. However, your wife must be able to handle being away from her support system in an unfamiliar place, and you may be gone for months at a time. Choose a job that translates well to the civilian world.
RasputinKalle Yeah, just make sure to log any injuries you pick up over the course of your career. My disability covers rent and bills, so I don’t rely on my current salary, and I still have a federal job after serving as an 11B in the Army.
zenraggumm21 It seems you might need to complete two enlistments to qualify for the GI Bill, if I recall correctly.
Lyraxxide Get a trade skill. I’ve never had student debt and I make well over 6 figures a year with 6 years of experience. The military should not be your last resort. You should want to join the military because you want too not because you feel like it’s your only option. At the end of the day, you are signing your life away to another human who decides where you may end up.
realMush21 Study for the ASVAB and choose a rate with a high clearance don’t settle for just secret! If you’re AD right now, go Coast Guard or Air Force! If not, the Navy’s a great option. If that still isn’t it, go blue‑collar and crush it!
LivelyCrunch Trades are a real lifeline you get paid during your apprenticeship and pull in solid money afterward. The benefits are great, the retirement is excellent. You might buy a home a little later, but it’s fantastic for the family.
SavoyTwildz3 It’s what I did. It wasn’t all sunshine and rainbows, but it gave my family the life I only dreamed of as a kid. It’s stable and gives you time to find a direction.
