Originally Posted by Rochard

i disagree with you. The perks and benefits can be outstanding.

On paper, the pay sucks. However.... You don't pay for rent, medical, dental, vision, food, and transportation. You even get a clothing allowance. Anything and everything you need to buy is dirt cheap at the PX. You also get a free gym, free movie theater, free pool, and free day care. You can even get free plane flights - They were called MAC flights.

Not only do you get free training in your respective field, but also free college courses.

Of course, you get discounts on everything both on and off base.

I lived in the barracks for two years, and frankly it was fun. It was like summer camp except we got to blow things up and shoot machine guns. Eventually I moved off base, but I got a housing allowance.

For an eighteen or nineteen year old kid with limited opportunities it's perfect.

I wish I stayed in. I joined at 17, and could have retired when I was 37 - over ten years ago.