Never Mind the Giant Flat-Screen TV...

[pauldun170]

Originally Posted by Amber Lamps

So you think that being "cannon fodder" for the government is a great option? BTW a college graduate could make enough money to buy a house with the difference in pay between himself and a private in the military over four years...

Veterans benefits (health care and other benefit) for only a few years commitment far makes up the difference.

Lifetime healthcare cost can run up to 7 figure value + cost of tuition + benefits of an education and all the other stuff.....totally trumps the opportunity cost of holding off college for a couple of years.

[Amber Lamps]

Originally Posted by pauldun170

Veterans benefits (health care and other benefit) for only a few years commitment far makes up the difference.

Lifetime healthcare cost can run up to 7 figure value + cost of tuition + benefits of an education and all the other stuff.....totally trumps the opportunity cost of holding off college for a couple of years.

What? I don't get any "benefits".... I don't know what people think veterans get after service but I didn't get squat.

[pauldun170]

Originally Posted by Amber Lamps

What? I don't get any "benefits".... I don't know what people think veterans get after service but I didn't get squat.

Why aren't you eligible?

http://www.usa.gov/Federal_Employees...Benefits.shtml
http://www.military.com/benefits/veteran-benefits

[Homeslice]

The average 21 yo new college grad probably has $30-50K student loan debt........And if he is lucky/good enough to get a job that actually USES his degree, he might make $45K the first year, and MAYBE increase to 60K by his 4th year. That isn't ballin' by any stretch of the imagination. Sure, some people make more, but not every graduate is an engineer or investment banker.

So by age 25 it's very doubtful they'll have paid off their student loans, and most of them won't own a house yet either. In fact most of them blow their money on a "sweet" new car with Xenon lights, rims, and stereo, not to mention the latest cellphones, data plans, cable, video games, alcohol, brand-name clothing, etc.

So there is no way they'll be financially ahead of a guy with 4 yrs military under his belt.

[Amber Lamps]

Originally Posted by Homeslice

The average 21 yo new college grad probably has $30-50K student loan debt........And if he is lucky/good enough to get a job that actually USES his degree, he might make $40K the first year, and MAYBE increase to 55-60 by his 4th year. That isn't ballin' by any stretch of the imagination. Not everyone is an engineer or investment banker.

So by age 25 there is no way he'll have paid off his student loans, and most of them don't own a house yet either. In fact most of them blow their money on a nice new car with Xenon lights and aftermarket mods, plus tons of music, games, alcohol, brand-name clothing, etc.

So there is no way they'll be ahead financially of a guy with 4 yrs military under his belt.

What, military guys don't blow their money on crap or have loans? You've never served have you? most of the guys I served with were always broke from partying, toys and bitches! Dave, you still here? School this REMF shit when I got out I had a few hundred bucks, a duffel bag full of clothes and that's about it.... Of course that was mostly my fault but you act like everyone on the army is investing all their loot in Roth iras or some shit.

[pauldun170]

Originally Posted by Homeslice

The average 21 yo new college grad probably has $30-50K student loan debt........And if he is lucky/good enough to get a job that actually USES his degree, he might make $45K the first year, and MAYBE increase to 60K by his 4th year. That isn't ballin' by any stretch of the imagination. Sure, some people make more, but not every graduate is an engineer or investment banker.

So by age 25 it's very doubtful they'll have paid off their student loans, and most of them won't own a house yet either. In fact most of them blow their money on a "sweet" new car with Xenon lights, rims, and stereo, not to mention the latest cellphones, data plans, cable, video games, alcohol, brand-name clothing, etc.

So there is no way they'll be financially ahead of a guy with 4 yrs military under his belt.

My school has annual tuition of about 18K a year.
Lot of veterans go there and uncle sam covers everything.
tuition, fees, books...everything.
VA takes care of medical needs. Annual value of that can range from $5000 to 6 figures if they are receiving treatment for a condition.

Add on to that the ability to also work in the private sector while going to school receiving benefits.
Friend of mine hurt his ankle in an accident while stationed in Germany.
Got honorable discharge, worked a 40K a year job in the private sector while enrolled in a 18K a year school paid for by US government AND had the VA take care of long term effects of what happened with his leg (surgery, PT, etc).

[Dave]

Originally Posted by Amber Lamps

What, military guys don't blow their money on crap or have loans? You've never served have you? most of the guys I served with were always broke from partying, toys and bitches! Dave, you still here? School this REMF shit when I got out I had a few hundred bucks, a duffel bag full of clothes and that's about it.... Of course that was mostly my fault but you act like everyone on the army is investing all their loot in Roth iras or some shit.

A lot of kids do blow their cash, there's just as many who don't however. Hell we had a 1st sergeant who would bring in brokers to teach classes on ira's and other investments

[Amber Lamps]

Originally Posted by Dave

A lot of kids do blow their cash, there's just as many who don't however. Hell we had a 1st sergeant who would bring in brokers to teach classes on ira's and other investments

I didn't say all but he's acting like all college grass have huge loans and blow their money. My gf hasn't taken any loans for school and graduates this year. It's not all black and white...

[pauldun170]

Originally Posted by Amber Lamps

It's not all black and white...

Well....you are.

[Tmall]

I don't know if it's that big of a difference up here. But, the majority of the people I know in the forces have homes and savings. They even pay the closing costs and legal fees for the first two years of any posting to encourage home ownership.