Did you know jobs are available in more than 120 military careers such as engineering, medicine, technology and aviation? In addition to the career training service personnel receive, the skills they gain are highly transferable, giving them a genuine edge once they return to the civilian world. That's why many high school students are exploring career opportunities in branches of the military.
The military offers excellent education benefits
Joining the military can open the door to some robust education benefits, including the new Post-9/11 GI Bill. This bill offers a new set of benefits for service members and veterans attending education and training programs at an accredited college or university. Post-9/11 benefit payments are tiered based on the amount of creditable active-duty service since Sept. 10, 2001, and include up to 100 percent tuition and fee coverage and up to $1,000 a year for books and supplies.
A young person interested in a medical career may be able to have it fully funded by applying for the Health Professions Scholarship Program. In it, the Armed Forces will pay for medical school in exchange for service as an active-duty and reserve Armed Forces doctor after graduation. Another option for a fully funded medical career is to attend the Uniformed Services University for Health Sciences (USUHS) School of Medicine. This is ideal for people who prefer to be trained directly in military medicine.
Andrew, a Navy Flight Surgeon chose USUHS as his path to a medical career. "It was a terrific way for me to get my initial medical education, while having it fully paid for."
The National Guard also offers up to 100 percent tuition reimbursement (nearly $20,000 over four years), plus scholarships that pay up to $10,000 per year, a housing allowance and up to $1,000 for books. Similarly, the Army Reserve helps servicemen and women go to college or finish their education. The Reserve offers a program that allows service personnel to get their education uninterrupted.
Beyond the opportunities for an education and a career, the military provides young adults the prospect of seeing the world and exploring new cultures. These are life lessons that no textbook or classroom can ever teach.