Military benefits ~ Civilian benefits ~ What are the Facts?

[Craig]

Lets compare a 20 year old going to college, and a 20 year old going into the Navy.

1.  Both are about 4 or 5 years long.  So as far as time is concerned, they are both a wash.  Both will have their BS or BA after this time.  

2.  After 4 years in college you will have a huge education bill.  In the Navy, if you actually do take college courses, you will leave with zero (0) education cost

3.  The Navy will pay for all education while the sailor is in,once they learns your job and have one year at your 1st command.  

4.  Once you have served her time in the Navy. the sailor can use the education benefits they earned to continue on to her advance degrees (Masters, or Doctorates degree). If they should decide not to use it, then they can pass it along to her children.

 4.  Your GI bill isn't even touch while you are on active duty.  They use the Tuition Assistance (TA) and the Navy pays for your education. 

5.  When you get out, you have the experience.  A college graduate has no experience, and must begin their path to success, which you already have.  

6.  Not only will the Navy give you the experience, but you will also become a leader.

7.  You will get BAH (Housing), my son make $3000 per month in Hawaii for housing. That's $36K per year that civilians.

8.  Medical cost most families $7K or more per year. Then they have to pay deductible.

9. Dental - You and your family are free, how much does this cost the college student?

10. BAS (Food allowance) - Yep, yet again we get paid extra for food. Do they?

11. Gym - Our gyms are state of the art. They are awesome. We don't pay for them.

12. Vision - Yep free vision

13. 30 days of vacation - Do you, or even your parents or anyone you know get 30 days vacation a year? Even someone with 30 years in a civilain company doesn't get that.

14. Career Sea Pay - More money again that people fail to take into consideration.

15. Clothing Maintenance Allowance - Do civilian companies pay for your uniforms? Nope....

16.. Government subsidized grocery store (commissary) - Our grocery stores are non-profit. We get things extremely cheap. 1 Gallon of milk in Hawaii in the economy = $11, and at the commissary $2.

17. Extremely cheap life insurance ($20 for $200K worth of coverage)

18. Legal (notaries, advise) - Free

19. Tax free shopping (Exchange)

20. Annual Cost of Living adjustments (~3.5%)

21. Moving expenses

22. You can retire at age 38.... Get paid $1800mo for life

23. Burial for life for you and spouse ($10K x 2), plus child if under 21

24. When retired, Free or near free heath benefits for life (you and spouse, and children under 21 or 23 of going to college).  As a retired guy, I pay an option coverage and pay $510 per year for my whole family.  Most civilians pay that every month.  

25. VA home loans.  Cheap interest rates, no money down.  

26. The list just goes on and on.  People just fail to realize what we (the Navy) truly get. Yes, college may seem good, but lets face it, you are much better if you join the Navy.

Man, I should be a recruiter huh?

[Alison(LS A school)]

Great info.....I shared this with my hubby. He hasn't been very supportive of my sons decision to enlist. I've said much of this to him in the past but maybe reading it from you will help. Thanks again.

[Craig]

Actually Alison, I have fought this same battle for years with parents.  I have yet to lose a fight.  Let me see if I can dig up an old post that I had to do for one of my future sailors to get her parents on the same page.  I think if I can find it, you will have your ammo to fight him.  

It's been a while, and I write for about 5 other websites besides N4M's, so I've got to figure out where I put it..... 

[Craig]

Wow, this is weird....  I just posted about the AECF program just 10 minutes ago in this group.  That girl, Kristen was the one I helped with her parents.  That is just sooooo weird.  Here is what I wrote back in April 20th, 2009 to her.

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Are your parents not supportive of you joining the Navy??? Read on...

Quote: (from Kristen)

So my mom has always said that I'm making a mistake and it's stupid to join the Navy. Now that I'm actually going to MEPS monday it seems she's even more unsupportive. Which figures I moved to Florida and she wasn't supportive of that and I moved back to Ohio 4 years later. She says I'm making a mistake and that I really need to think this through because it's not going to be an easy living. I guess I'm just really sad right now, I cried on the phone to her and she's known for the past 10 years that I've wanted to do it. Anyways I just wanted to post so I could get out my feelings.

My answer:

Obviously joining the Navy is very important to you, and once your mom sees that, she will support you whether or not she wants you to go. Now if she doesn't......

We can make all kinds of assumptions about why your mom doesn't want you to join, but you need to ask her outright and deal with all her specific objections and concerns, and I would suggest asking your recruiter to help you with this. 

So here's my advice: 

1. Talk about the Navy with your mom every day for a few days. Talk mainly about why she doesn't want you to join, and keep stressing that joining the Navy is very important to you. Try your best to convince her on your own, but don't count on it. 

2. Tell your recruiter you want to set up a "home visit" to talk to your mom, who is the main reason why you are not joining right there on the spot. Ask which recruiter is the best at using "PSS" (Professional Selling Skill) and have him or her do the home visit. It's their job to help your family understand why you want to join. 

3. Make sure you tell your mom about the home visit and if she protests, just tell her you already set it up and it would be important to you for her to just sit down and talk to the recruiter. Make sure your dad is there too if possible. I know you don't want to make her unhappy, but even though she may be unhappy that the recruiter is coming over, the intent is that she will be happy that you are joining. 

4. During the home visit with the recruiter, just be open and honest about why you want to join. The recruiter will ask your mom a lot of questions and talk to her, hopefully letting her see that joining the Navy is a good thing for you. Most of the time, a parent's concerns are based on misinformation, and if that's the case, the recruiter will identify those concerns and show your mom a more accurate picture. 

At this point, one of two things will happen: Your mom will come around and give you her blessing, or she'll throw the recruiter out of his house and stick to her opinion. Don't be afraid to have multiple meetings with your mom and recruiter. You are not in a rush! Take your time and give your mom all the information she needs to try and understand where you are coming from. 

Now, if she doesn't come around, I say join the Navy anyway. She won't like it, but when she goes to your Boot Camp graduation and sees you in your uniform, and sees how happy you are, and sees how happy and proud the hundreds of other sailors and families are, she would have to be a very cold person to not come around then. 

I hope that helps, and let us know how it goes!

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This question was written by Kristen (kforbs126). She is actually in bootcamp now (4-20-09) probably in her 5th week now.
Go Kristen!!!

http://www.navydep.com/forums/showthread.php?t=568

[Alison(LS A school)]

Thanks Craig, all good ideas. This has been the hardest part, the tension it's caused. Basically had to tell my hubby to accept it and shut up or it was divorce, lol. Once he realized our son was going with or without his support he's started to come around. I think underneath it all my hubby was realizing that once our son was gone he would not have control of him and I believe that was his issue but he would never admit that.

Never thought I would be the stable one through this process.....lol