Is It Too Late?

[TBrown]

Been thinking alot about the military.

Im 26 years old with a soon to be wife and 2 children. I haven't talked to a recruiter. SHE won't let me. Scared I'll be shipped away and not be with the family. She's lived in Iowa all her life so she has no intrest in moving anytime soon. For me, Id love to travel. Thats why I'm thinking of the National Gaurd!

I have a few questions first.

Income? I live paycheck by paycheck. Buying my house...ect. Is there an income for active duty or training? If your gone for numerous days or weeks?

Thats my biggest problem. I cant efford to miss work due to a family and bills.

But thats all I think about anymore. I feel like I'm missing a big chunk out of my lifes timeline. Like I should have joined when I was done with school.

Maybe I should just go talk to a recruiter and get some information. Any answers till then would help. Thanks, Todd

[doubtfuldarhma]

If she doesn't want you to join and you go ahead and enlist - great way to start a marriage. If you really have the call to join - don't marry her. You will need to have a woman who will stand by you while you may be facing bullets in another country. Divorce is almost a given no matter how much you "love" each other because you both are starting with selfishness and not compassion. The partner who stays at home has to be the strongest one because they have the time to worry and all of lifes problems to boot. When you have to focus on staying alive all other problems cease to matter.
Most of lifes decisions that really matter are hard but they are so worth it.
(I really don't want to be a downer and I hope things work out for the best
but reality is harsh and denying it will just cause more damage in the long run-
not just to you and her but the children as well)
Best of luck

[mikeellison]

yes there is income for the active duty and training and after a couple years with the guard they will help with the house. And you get an extra for drilling and if you can get anyone to join after you already joined you can sign for a program that will give u 2 grand a person you help join

[cspafford]

Been thinking alot about the military.

Im 26 years old with a soon to be wife and 2 children. I haven't talked to a recruiter. SHE won't let me. Scared I'll be shipped away and not be with the family. She's lived in Iowa all her life so she has no intrest in moving anytime soon. For me, Id love to travel. Thats why I'm thinking of the National Gaurd!

I have a few questions first.

Income? I live paycheck by paycheck. Buying my house...ect. Is there an income for active duty or training? If your gone for numerous days or weeks?

Thats my biggest problem. I cant efford to miss work due to a family and bills.

But thats all I think about anymore. I feel like I'm missing a big chunk out of my lifes timeline. Like I should have joined when I was done with school.

Maybe I should just go talk to a recruiter and get some information. Any answers till then would help. Thanks, Todd


I can tell you my wife was very reluctant to give me her blessing to enlist. With the College First program, I was able to appease her with a non-deployable status. Also, in a time of war, there is always the possiblity of becoming a recruiter (where you won't be deployable, either). These options have given my wife the chance to digest all of my decision, and at some point down the road, I'm sure a deployment is in the cards for me. At which time, she will be accustomed to the Guard way of life and will be more apt to accept it then.

Check out http://www.mdang.net/college_first.shtml for information on the College First Program, and http://www.mdang.net/docs/college/SMOM_06-138_College_First_Program.pdf for the official memo from the National Guard Bureau.

As far as a paycheck, there are full-time opportunities in the Guard after you complete BCT and AIT. There is BAH (Basic Allowance for Housing), BAS (Basic Allowance for Substinance), and other dependent parts of your paycheck. The Montogmery G.I. Bill and G.I. Bill Kicker also pay you extra for attending college. Your employer is required under federal mandate to allow you the time to fulfill your Guard obligations, and cannot terminate your employment as a result of your committment to the Guard. Check out http://www.mdang.net/money.shtml for the 2006 Pay Tables. There is an increase for 2007, but I don't have that information handy.

You will be paid for the time you drill on weekends and the 2-week drill over the summer. You won't get rich in the Guard, but you can retire with a healthy pension.

There is also the ****** program (Guard Recruiter Assistant), as well, which will pay you $2,000 for each person you get to enlist that goes to BCT. $1,000 when they enlist, and $1,000 when they leave for BCT. Check out http://www.guardrecruitingassistant.com/ for more information.

Your enlistment bonus (depends on your MOS) will be paid as $10,000 upon completion of BCT and AIT, then the remainder spread out over 3 years, I believe. I'm going 31B (Military Police), and will score at least $20,000 as my enlistment bonus. You can get additional money dependent on your ASVAB score, as well. There is also the "quick-ship option" where you test, process, and ship to BCT all in the same day. This will get you an additional $5,000 in your bonus.

My best advice for you and your sooon to be wife, is talk to her. Don't lecture her, don't yell at her, and don't tell her what she's going to do. Believe me!! My wife is VERY stubborn and didn't want me to enlist. It took about a month of holding her when she cried and actually listening to her concerns. Gather information and be ready to counter her concerns with a realistic approach to the Guard. BE HONEST WITH HER. If you lie, she will find out and put your butt in a sling later on... :-) A military wife can make life very difficult for her military husband.

If you have any other questions, feel free to drop me an email at cspafford@mdang.net or call me at 443-730-0600. I'll do what I can to help you out.



Thanks,

Chuck Spafford

[keithdesch]

I am in the same boat, married 10 tens, 2 kids, house payment,cars etc. The wife is trilled about it...but if you joined and I follow, I will give you the sign on bonus. This wouldl be my first step in joining a team or family of brothers I believe it would help you and someday maybe I would need something for you? Life is weird that way....

[andrew.tischner]

trilled? do u me thrilled? anyways if you guys would like to talk about joining more contact me at the number provided

[cvill161990]

i am its just i need to lose alot of weight maybe about70 pounds b/c if im going to join i need to be fit and ready.
so i was wondering what do u suggest i should do to lose weight.
i mean ive been running for about 3 monthes but still no change b/c i keep eating the same so should i slow down on my eating and run more or slow down and run the same.
plz help if u can
thanks
drew from tn

[sgtblack82]

trilled? do u me thrilled? anyways if you guys would like to talk about joining more contact me at the number provided


Cause that would help him to lol. You guys need to sit down with a financial planner (there all over the net and in the phone book) they will first tell you how to consolidate. Then talk to a recruiter! But be ready know about college first program 1. 2. You will be paided for active duty status during training, but ask how you can get rank before you get in sometime its as easy as taking a pt test to get the first rank. More rank means more money in your pocket. 3. Im not going to go ricki lake on you like some posters, but you really want to talk this over with your wife, training is only like 4 months plus or minus, but if your deployed its 15 months minuim in country that alot for anyone to digest. Getting the itch is one thing making an 8 year commitment with a family and only going part time is another, but its ulitmately your call

[Greenhorn]

My advice is to do what is best for the kids, and don't consider anything else. Being away from the kids now and then, and even for a year if you were shipped overseas, wouldn't necessarily be bad, but don't do it if it negatively affects your relationship with their mother, because that would certainly be bad for them.

[CHICKENTRUCKIN]

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Well to start I will tell you a little bit about myself, I am 31 married with 3 1/2 year old twins. I do not have a college degree,but I am operations manager for a transportation company and make about $100k a year. I am overweight and I am currently working on losing it. I wanted to join the Air Force out of high school but I had no desire to lose the weight. Now I am motivated to extend my life by losing weight. I have been thinking of joining the Nat. Guard but I am not sure if it the thing to do.

If anyone could give me their opinion.

I have so much respect for people in uniform when I see them out and about, I always go up and shake their hands and tell them how much I appreciate and respect the for what they are doing. I would just like to serve my country and thought the Nat. Guard would be the way that I could do that.
Is there any other branch that I should think about? I do not want to quit my job but I would just like to be able to serve in some form or fashion.

If anyone has any suggestions or comments please let me know whether good or bad.