“We must never forget why we have, and why we need our military. Our armed forces exist solely to ensure our nation is safe, so that each and every one of us can sleep soundly at night, knowing we have guardians at the gate.” (Allen West). U.S. military is one of the largest military in the world; besides, it exists to serve the American people, to defend the nation, to protect vital national interests, and to fulfill national military responsibilities. (military.com). The people who join the U.S. military earned different benefits like paid vacation, retirement, money, health care and so many other benefits. There are three main reasons why people should join the U.S. military.
The first reason that people should join the U.S. military is travelling to different places. Travelling to different places has several advantageous. One of the advantage of travelling to different places and visiting new things is refreshing our mind and feeling better. The other one is we learn other countries cultures and traditions through travelling different places. However, it is expensive to travel to different places. Conversely, joining U.S. military will solve this problem because soldiers can travel to different places without payment. Every soldiers who are serving in the U.S. military will be eligible for travelling anywhere in the world without payment. “You will be able to stay in lodging facilities at any military base and at world-class resorts that are specially created for military personnel.” (military.com). while we are serving U.S. military, we discover different places. They also have free flight between bases, and they have discount flight to different places. U.S. military have three ways to get the cheapest flights as a service member. These are Space Available Flights, Military Discount on Air tickets and Promotional Rates. Many commercial airlines offer discounted air tickets to the military community. “Space Available Flights, better known as Space A or military hops, is a unique privilege provided to service members, retirees and their families. Under the Space Available (Space A) program, eligible passengers can fill unused seats on DOD-Owned or controlled air craft once all the space-required (duty) passengers and cargo have been accommodated.” (military.com). Nevertheless, flying Space A requires a lot of flexibility and patience. Generally, joining U.S. military will help us to travel to different places.
The second reason that people should join the U.S. military is because of health insurance benefit. The government will automatically covers the health insurance if we join the U.S. military, and our family also will earn free health insurance. “You and your family will have medical insurance (TRICARE) for as long as you remain in military service. If you remain in the military through retirement, your medical benefits will extend throughout your life time and that of your spouse.” (military.com). In United States, everybody has to have health insurance. In contrast, it is hard to have health insurance because the payment for health insurance is expensive. The U.S. family health plan is available for active duty family members, retired service member and their families, family members of activated national guard, medal honor recipient and their family, qualified former spouses and retired national guard at age 60 and receiving retired pay. Active duty family members pay no enrollment fees and no out of pocket cost for any care as long as care is received from the United States. TRICARE provides a world-class pharmacy benefit to all eligible uniformed services members. There are three types of TRICARE programs. The first one is TRICARE Prime, which is a managed care option available in prime service areas worldwide. The second one is TRICARE Standard, which is the option that provides the most flexibility to eligible beneficiaries. It is the fee for service option that gives beneficiaries the opportunities to see any TRICARE authorized provider, and it is not available to active duty service. The third one is TRICARE Extra. Which is the option that requires you to choose a network, and it is not available to active duty service members. Additionally, TRICARE Extra is only available in the United States. (Tricare.mil). On the other side, all of this programs help for the military families. Accordingly, joining U.S. military gives us this health insurance benefit, and we will save more money.
The third reason that people should join the U.S. military is because of education benefit. Attending classes at college or university level is difficult at this time because the payment that colleges and universities required are expensive. Anyone who join the U.S. military will earn educational benefits like covering for college’s tuition and other benefits from the government. “The Army Reserve and Reserve Officer Training Corps (ROTS) will allow you to attend school full time, without interruption, and provide you with financial assistance to cover your tuition.” (goarmy.com). Everybody who join the U.S. military will learn how career and leadership training, internship and other valuable army experiences can help prepare you for the future. “Under the post 9/11 GI Bill, you can earn the full tuition to the college of your choice for up to 36 months, plus a monthly housing allowance and a books and supplies stipend of up to $ 1000 per year.” (goarmy.com). While we are joining U.S. military, there are different scholarship programs. “Fry scholarship provides the post 9/11 GI Bill to children of service members who have died in the line of duty after 9/10/2001. Students who are entitled to this benefit may have a significant portion of their tuition covered. Effective January 1, 2015, the law expands eligibility for the Fry Scholarship to include surviving spouses of members of the Armed Forces who died or die in the line of duty after 9/10/2001.” (argosy.edu). Therefore, joining U.S. military will helps us in different ways in our education.
However, there are also negative impacts in joining U.S. military. After we join the U.S. military, it is hard to get out. “You serve for 8 years regardless what you sign that military paper, but they did not tell you that you have to start your own life again without any benefit after 8 years. You just called up one day again, and they say that you are reactivated for the service.” (Rappenhage Garett). In contrast, we have time to decide before we sign the contract. The other negative impact of joining U.S. is they cannot guarantee or promise that you will become a citizen by serving. Even, any problem you have on your record in the military could influence a later application for naturalization outside the military naturalization process. (Thinking of Joining the Military). Conversely, if we are a non-citizen, we should talk to an immigration lawyer before we sign an enlistment contract. We have time to discuss with lawyer before we sign the contract. Yet, the reasons to join the U.S. military outweigh the disadvantage of joining U.S. military.
“It is better to live one day as a lion than a hundred years as a sheep.” (Italian Proverb). Every day, soldier lives as a hero. They are brave as a lion. U.S. military has a lot of legends who give their life for their country and flag. They always live as a legend, and we always remember them. In this world, every jobs has negative impacts. Therefore, joining U.S. military will also have negative impacts, but the advantage of joining U.S. military outweigh the disadvantage of joining U.S. military. In general, travelling to different places, health insurance benefit and education benefit are the main reasons why people should join the U.S. military.
Works Cited
Allen, West. “Military Proverb.” military-quotes.com. n.p. n.d. Web. November 15, 2015
“Education Benefits.” goarmy.com. n.p. n.d. Web. November 18, 2015
“Fry Scholarship.” argosy.edu. n.p. n.d. Web. November 18, 2015
“Health Care” military.com. Web. November18, 2015
“Italian Proverb” military-quotes.com. Web. November 30, 2015
Reppenhagen, Garett. “Military Career Lecturer” youtube.com. 2013. Web. November 12, 2015
“Thinking of Joining the Military” Print Article. November 17, 2015
“Travel Benefits” military.com. Web. November 29, 2015
“Travelling” military.com. Web. November 18, 2015
“TRICARE” Tricare.mil. Web. November 29, 2015
“What is the GI Bill” goarmy.com. Web. November 17, 2015