With over 300 schools providing more than 10,000 classes, the U.S. military offers many challenging career opportunities to those who want to join the armed forces. Still, there are a lot of myths and misconceptions about military life, so people hesitate to apply. In case you want to enlist, you should fist learn some useful facts about military careers and make your choice according to your education, skills and interests.
- Reserve Officers` Training Corps (ROTC)
ROTC is a program offered through colleges and universities that train candidates to be officers in a particular branch of the military after graduation. In exchange to this agreement, the military guarantees them a military career and pays a part or all the candidates` education expenses.
- Montgomery GI Bill
One of the most popular benefits of a military career, the Montgomery GI Bill pays for all or most of a member`s education. This way, veterans and active-duty military personnel have the right to a maximum 36-months education benefit, regardless if they go to school part time of full time. The way the 36 months is calculated vary according to your status, whether you are a veteran or an active-duty service person.
- Military Careers for Women
Even if about 15 percent of the military personnel are female, the majority of jobs the in the U.S. military forces are open to women. While they have more than 90 percent access to jobs in the Army, Marines, Navy, Air Forces, and Coast Guard, women are still excluded from tank units and infantry.
- Military Benefits
After 20 years serving the armed forces, you can receive a pension based to a percentage of your basic salary. On the other hand, if you reach 40 years of military service, you can get 100 percent of your pay. If you choose military careers, you also have many other benefits such as housing, life insurance, health care, survivors` and memorial benefits.
- Civil Service Pension
The ones who want a second career after their years of service can be integrated in the civil service retirement system known as the Federal Employees Retirement System (FERS). Still, there are various restrictions and conditions to enter this system.
