Okay, heres the plan.

**beautifullyhaunted** · 07-31-2007, 02:35 PM

Don't call me crazy till I've finished explaining lol.

So as I'm sure you've read in my other threads, I'm $23,717.77 in debt. I've been working with a US Army Recruiter for quite some time now, and he's trying to get me enlisted. I'm prior USMC, so it's requiring some waivers. However, once I get past all that, I'll go pick out my job, and find out what my enlistment bonus is. Then, I'll go to basic training for 9 weeks, then AIT for 8 weeks. Then when I get to my first duty station, I'll request to deploy to Afghanistan or Iraq, and while in theater, I'll reenlist.

Between my enlistment bonus, pay from basic and AIT, pay until I deploy, pay while I'm deployed, and the tax free reenlistment bonus, I should have all of my debt paid off and some to spare afterwards. I know a lot of people think I'm crazy for that...(I've heard it all, I assure you) I want more for my life, and I think the Army is the stepping stone I need to make things happen for myself.

I need to pay all this off, and this way I'll have a steady job to make that happen.

I want a bachelors degree in History Education, and I can use tuition assistance ($2500 a year while enlisted) provided by the Army while I'm enlisted, and that includes taking online classes while I'm deployed. So I can use that to get my Bachelors while I'm enlisted, then when I get out I can use my GI Bill for my Masters in Education-History.

I want to buy a house and be financially stable and secure and completely independent, before I even consider getting married. At the rate I'm going in the economy I live in, that will never happen if I don't do something drastic to change my circumstances. The jobs here either require a LOT of schooling, or they're McDonalds level. I dont want to turn out to be one of those people that works at McDonalds for the rest of their lives (I do NOT mean to offend anyone by that statement) and I cant afford the schooling on my own to get the better jobs.

Okay, I'm done rambling........any thoughts/ideas/opinions are very welcome, you ladies make my day

**desertpir8** · 07-31-2007, 02:41 PM

If you are willing to go overseas, the military is doing a quick-deploy bonus thing right now.. $20,000 cash bonus if you sign up and are willing to ship out overseas within a month. You do get to pick your job, so there is some safety there. It may or may not be something you can do depending on your situation, but if you are thinking about enlisting, it might be an option.

hang in there!

**desertpir8** · 07-31-2007, 02:46 PM

Oops.. just as a correction to the above.. according to the goarmy forums, Its a $20000 bonus if you go straight to basic training within 2 weeks of signup and before August 27th. This does NOT mean 2 weeks to shipping out overseas.

**bumplett** · 07-31-2007, 02:49 PM

so - you're 22 years old & have already been in the Corps??

does that mean you did your 4 yrs and got out? now you want to join the Army?

I'm confused?????????????????

**Dancing Lotus** · 07-31-2007, 03:11 PM

I dont think its crazy but I would suggest the airforce before the army.
I have two friends and one dh who went army. I have a brother in the airforce and my dad was airforce. The three who went army all wish they had gone airforce and the one who went airforce is doing better financialy and has better skills for the real world.

**sdrjeolsen** · 07-31-2007, 03:12 PM

Sounds like you know what you want, good luck!

**beautifullyhaunted** · 07-31-2007, 03:12 PM

No, I was discharged before my 4 years were up, thats why I need a waiver. If I had finished my 4 years, I wouldnt have to go to Basic for the Army.

**beautifullyhaunted** · 07-31-2007, 03:13 PM

Originally Posted by AnnK

I dont think its crazy but I would suggest the airforce before the army.
I have two friends and one dh who went army. I have a brother in the airforce and my dad was airforce. The three who went army all wish they had gone airforce and the one who went airforce is doing better financialy and has better skills for the real world.

I would, but the Air Force is very strict on who they're letting in right now, so they arent taking Prior Service members. I qualify as Prior Service, so the AF is a no go.

**cheappearls** · 07-31-2007, 03:19 PM

Sounds like a plan to me. Your knee issues aren't a problem with the Army? If not, then good deal.

Have you thought about what MOS you want yet?

**Dancing Lotus** · 07-31-2007, 03:20 PM

Then I dont see any reason why you shouldnt if thats what you want.

Then the next thing is to honest with yourself about how disaplined you are actualy apply that money to the bills.

**starsapphire** · 07-31-2007, 03:21 PM

Have you thought about going over there as a civilian? My BIL works for KBR in Iraq and is making 5 figures just for driving a truck, and there's less of a chance of getting killed, especially if you work inside the green zone. Just a thought.

**beautifullyhaunted** · 07-31-2007, 03:33 PM

Originally Posted by AnnK

Then I dont see any reason why you shouldnt if thats what you want.

Then the next thing is to honest with yourself about how disaplined you are actualy apply that money to the bills.

I have to be, if I'm not, I wont be promoted.

**beautifullyhaunted** · 07-31-2007, 04:26 PM

I have looked into the KBR thing, but it's all things that requires experience and an education, none of which I have

I like the benefits that comes with the Army anyway. Not to mention the pride, discipline, and so much more.

Tammi, no, it won't be a problem, I've been released from my doctors and I'm just waiting on a MEPS waiver right now.

**beautifullyhaunted** · 07-31-2007, 04:40 PM

Oh, and Tammi, yes, I've thought about some jobs. For my initial enlistment, I'm going to go for Human Resources because it's a 9-5 job and will allow me the free time to take classes, including while I'm deployed. When I reenlist in theater, I'm going to go for Intel.