Students: Get A Second Opinion

You’ve probably seen the slick advertisements filling up those college halls and even high school break rooms. The promise of earning an above-average income simply from joining the military so that you can pay for school is one of the biggest reasons students skip college after high school and head off to the military instead.

Recruiters are trained just like sales people to share the ‘benefits’ of joining their team, but is this really the face of politics? Is the hard work of Vietnam War veterans paying off and leading this set of young and eager hopefuls in the right direction? While a quick glance at the military’s message sounds attractive and appealing to any student who may be short on funds to finish a college education on their own, the truth is that nobody should be setting themselves up to ‘die for a lie.’

Joining the Military – What You Really Get

There’s a reason an anti-war movement is in full swing as you read this; a reason why Vietnam War veterans and their friends, families and supporters are turning away from the beat of war drums.

If you decide to join the military, you’ll be enlisted in either one of two programs: the Montgomery GI Bill or the Army/Navy College Fund. Most students enter on the Montgomery GI Bill, but everyone must meet certain conditions in order to receive payment.

Educational benefits are only made available when you contribute $100 per month for an entire year, and the maximum benefit you actually qualify for under the Montgomery GI Bill is $36,144 – nothing near the $60,000+ that those advertisements claim to provide. And, if you want to make more money for your future, you’ll need to pass a battery of tests in a designated job specialty. This sounds like a great opportunity at first, but what they don’t tell you is these skills are rarely transferable to today’s job market.

When you graduate, you’ll only receive funding for an accredited four-year college if you complete all four years. No short cuts, no early graduation, or any other options are available. If you don’t attend school for four years, you won’t receive four years of funding. Plus, if you decide to attend a private school, you won’t be covered for a good portion of tuition expenses – which means you’re on your own anyway.

Speaking of being on your own, does anyone know how the young troops convicted of war crimes are doing, does anyone care? It doesn’t really matter. What’s important is that our president, vice-president, secretary of defense, and the general staff at the Pentagon still have their careers and reputations as patriots and God-fearing Christians intact. The people are responsible for the character of their Congress. If that body be ignorant, reckless and corrupt, it is because the people tolerate ignorance, recklessness and corruption. When evil men unite, good men must put aside their differences and link together; else they suffer. It will not be necessary for God to punish Americans for their apathy and impiety during the last eight years; the economy is going to do that.