Comments on: I Almost Joined the Reserves for the Money, But That Wasn’t Enough http://thebillfold.com/2012/12/i-almost-joined-the-reserves-for-the-money-but-that-wasnt-enough/ Everything About Money You Were Too Polite To Ask Wed, 19 Jun 2013 19:55:13 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Daniel B http://thebillfold.com/2012/12/i-almost-joined-the-reserves-for-the-money-but-that-wasnt-enough/#comment-28082 Daniel B Mon, 17 Dec 2012 21:46:46 +0000 http://thebillfold.com/?p=19968#comment-28082 That said you probably would have ended up with more than 20k Student Loan Repayment. In addition to the pay there is something called Federal Tuition Assistance that would have lowered the cost (in the Guard for most States you can also get State Tuition Assistance if you are going to a state school). The day I swore in was one of the more stressful in my life. I was joining the Army Guard and also telling my realtor to send the paperwork to close on my condo (which I got and then had sit empty for almost 4 months while I went to Basic). That said you probably would have ended up with more than 20k Student Loan Repayment. In addition to the pay there is something called Federal Tuition Assistance that would have lowered the cost (in the Guard for most States you can also get State Tuition Assistance if you are going to a state school).

The day I swore in was one of the more stressful in my life. I was joining the Army Guard and also telling my realtor to send the paperwork to close on my condo (which I got and then had sit empty for almost 4 months while I went to Basic).

]]> By: awk http://thebillfold.com/2012/12/i-almost-joined-the-reserves-for-the-money-but-that-wasnt-enough/#comment-27819 awk Fri, 14 Dec 2012 14:41:01 +0000 http://thebillfold.com/?p=19968#comment-27819 $20,000 is not enough! Recruiters will say anything to get you in. My recruiter had me lie about my healthcare history to avoid processing delays. I don't think I got a finger in my butt, though. I must have been lucky? I will say that not all experiences are like this. I went into the National Guard, where they do not recruit in the same manner as they do in the big Army. The Guard recruits for specific positions and you pretty much know what you're going to be before you walk into the processing station. I played the tuba in Life, so the Guard recruiter got me into the Army Guard band! It was fantastic. The college benefits are better in the Guard, too. $20,000 is not enough! Recruiters will say anything to get you in. My recruiter had me lie about my healthcare history to avoid processing delays. I don’t think I got a finger in my butt, though. I must have been lucky?

I will say that not all experiences are like this. I went into the National Guard, where they do not recruit in the same manner as they do in the big Army. The Guard recruits for specific positions and you pretty much know what you’re going to be before you walk into the processing station. I played the tuba in Life, so the Guard recruiter got me into the Army Guard band! It was fantastic. The college benefits are better in the Guard, too.

]]> By: selenana http://thebillfold.com/2012/12/i-almost-joined-the-reserves-for-the-money-but-that-wasnt-enough/#comment-27797 selenana Fri, 14 Dec 2012 02:01:23 +0000 http://thebillfold.com/?p=19968#comment-27797 Agreed. Great piece. Agreed. Great piece.

]]> By: aeroaeroaero http://thebillfold.com/2012/12/i-almost-joined-the-reserves-for-the-money-but-that-wasnt-enough/#comment-27723 aeroaeroaero Thu, 13 Dec 2012 20:14:54 +0000 http://thebillfold.com/?p=19968#comment-27723 This was really well paced! A total nonstop thrill ride. Glad you got out when you could. This was really well paced! A total nonstop thrill ride. Glad you got out when you could.

]]> By: Marissa http://thebillfold.com/2012/12/i-almost-joined-the-reserves-for-the-money-but-that-wasnt-enough/#comment-27720 Marissa Thu, 13 Dec 2012 20:07:27 +0000 http://thebillfold.com/?p=19968#comment-27720 This will sound ridiculous, but I had a favorite Disney video as a very young child. It was called An Officer and a Duck. My dad taped it off TV. It was basically comprised of a bunch of World War II era Donald Duck cartoons which in retrospect I realize were total propaganda pieces. In the beginning, Donald goes to the recruiting office and goes through pretty much the same steps you described: awkward exam in one room on to awkward exam in another and so on, until he gets sworn in immediately after. I had no idea it actually worked that way! This will sound ridiculous, but I had a favorite Disney video as a very young child. It was called An Officer and a Duck. My dad taped it off TV. It was basically comprised of a bunch of World War II era Donald Duck cartoons which in retrospect I realize were total propaganda pieces. In the beginning, Donald goes to the recruiting office and goes through pretty much the same steps you described: awkward exam in one room on to awkward exam in another and so on, until he gets sworn in immediately after.

I had no idea it actually worked that way!

]]> By: cuminafterall http://thebillfold.com/2012/12/i-almost-joined-the-reserves-for-the-money-but-that-wasnt-enough/#comment-27708 cuminafterall Thu, 13 Dec 2012 19:09:14 +0000 http://thebillfold.com/?p=19968#comment-27708 Oh my god, it's just like in "Alice's Restaurant"! Except that was during a <i>draft</i>. I seriously breathed a sigh of relief when I got to the part where you left. It sounded like that recruiter was giving you a line about being able to "cancel." I don't think it works like that... Oh my god, it’s just like in “Alice’s Restaurant”! Except that was during a draft. I seriously breathed a sigh of relief when I got to the part where you left. It sounded like that recruiter was giving you a line about being able to “cancel.” I don’t think it works like that…

]]> By: Dancercise http://thebillfold.com/2012/12/i-almost-joined-the-reserves-for-the-money-but-that-wasnt-enough/#comment-27707 Dancercise Thu, 13 Dec 2012 19:09:03 +0000 http://thebillfold.com/?p=19968#comment-27707 This was beyond wonderful. This was beyond wonderful.

]]> By: Lauren http://thebillfold.com/2012/12/i-almost-joined-the-reserves-for-the-money-but-that-wasnt-enough/#comment-27705 Lauren Thu, 13 Dec 2012 19:00:16 +0000 http://thebillfold.com/?p=19968#comment-27705 Goosebumps. Wow. Goosebumps. Wow.

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