Should the military be used as an "option" for youth looking to go to school?

[armyowalgreens]

This is really a question about the "questionable" recruiting tactics of the US armed forces.

As a 19 year old male, I've been harassed by the armed forces before. I use to think nothing of it, but recently I've changed my mind. I'm not sure that labeling enlistment as a viable alternative to college is such a good idea. It seems kind of deceiving to me.


So what do you guys think?

[magellan]

1. 4 & 5

This is how I wound up in the military. I was 17, wtf did I know? That's what they count on....

[ColbertWatcher]

2. The US armed forces are not using "education" as an incentive, but cash. n/t

[armyowalgreens]

3. As someone who was told that the armed forces would put me through college...

I'm going to have to disagree.

They get kids to join because they promise an education. I have one friend who joined for just that reason.

[ColbertWatcher]

5. The promise is for cash disguised as education. n/t

[armyowalgreens]

6. Please elaborate...

I'm sorry, but your statements are making no sense without a proper explanation.

[ColbertWatcher]

7. All the ads I've seen push how much cash is offered.

Any education in recruitment ads is the education that the military offers.

Civilian education is only ever hinted at and most of the time it is implied that it will be inferior to the education the military offers.

That's assuming we've been discussing education at non-military universities.

[armyowalgreens]

8. I'm talking about both civilian and military education.

[ColbertWatcher]

9. Ah. My mistake.

I thought you meant those recruitment ads where the military uses some wild number (like $35,000 I think it is) to get kids to sign up.

[michreject]

4. Yes

It's how I financed my education.

[pipoman]

10. Problem is

people should be able to have health care but many do not, people should be able to eat healthily yet many can't, there are a lot of 'should be able tos'.

When my son wanted to join, I didn't encourage or discourage, I simply tried to help him see the possibilities clearly which I believe he has. Part of his desire to join has to do with later benefits including educational benefits. He simply didn't know what sort of work/education he wants yet. Maybe by the time his first stretch is over he will have a better idea. In the mean time he is working, building character, traveling, and seeing the world more clearly. I would rather he do what he wants, including serving in the Marines, than working at Pizza Hut until he is 25, living in his mother's basement, eating Cheetos while surfing facebook, which is probably what he would be doing.