Would $20,000 guareenteed bonus or more change your mind to join the Army?

tai D

The Army currently has bonuses going as high as $40,000; I'm just nitpicking.

I can respect people who truly believe that killing a person is wrong, and therefore refuse to enlist for any amount. Living in America, a person does have the right to believe in whatever they want, for whatever reasons. Might I suggest that they join the Peace Corps instead?

On the other hand, a person who just joined for the money... well, there are better ways to make money than serving in the armed forces, honestly. Chances are, you'll be essentially making less than minimum wage, at least for the first few years. Joining for the money to support your family is another animal altogether. I could more easily respect someone who says "I joined for the bonus and the money to support my wife and kid," than "I joined for the bonus."

I've joined the Navy, and amongst the reasons I've joined, money if pretty far down the list. Yeah, I'll have a bonus once I successfully complete school, but I'd've joined whether or not I'd be getting a bonus. Mostly, because I have this certain internal pressure that I'm not doing what I'm supposed to be doing. I'm the kind of person that is happiest when I'm being of service, and the greater the recipient of my service, the happier I am. When I realized that, enlisting was a no-brainer.

so, honest reaction. There you go.

I served in the U.S. Army from 1991-95. I was never offered a bonus of any kind. It would have been nice, but I still would have enlisted.

chris s

If i was sitting on the fence and really didn't know if I wanted to pull the trigger and join....my personal feeling would be to join. 20K is a lot of money and the military is a great and satisfying career. For the last 14 years it has treated me well. To answer some of the BS on this board...if you complete your training an enlistment its yours, you don't have to pay it back. Unless you are a combat arms MOS the chances you would be a "killer" are less than 1%. I love listening to this coming from people that have no clue on how the modern Military operates.

scotty7617

I wish I had been offered a friggin 20,000 dollar enlistment bonus. All I got was four thousand which came to 2800 after taxes.

However, listen to me, do NOT join the military on account of an enlistment bonus. Join only if it is what you want to do. If you join solely for an enlistment bonus, you're not going to be happy there.

Bonecrusher, was our friend chaptered out or did he get honoraably discharged? People have to pay back their bonuses if they don't get an honorable discharge.

babygurl

Money matters it always matter. But it should not be the only reason. If it the only reason that a person probably would not make it through the vigorous training that he or she would endure. I want to join because of the life experience,the training, education, money and more importantly to save the lives of others as a combat medic.

SSGAllan

It is not the recruiter that gives the bones it goes byt he job you take and the term of service. i just reenlisted while in Iraq (not for the money) and got $15,000.00 tax free and would do it again with or with out the money. Service should not be joined just for the money you get to do it but because you have a since of responsibility and duty to your country. If not to show you love it but to show you appreciate the sacrifice soldiers have made in the name of freedom for the last 250 years to give you the free choice to join or not.

Imposter H

No. The military is a commitment which has the potential of ending your life. The only valid reason for joining is a commitment to the service of your country. I almost joined the Marines. Then I started reading the enlistment papers and found out that my recruiter basically lied to me about job assignments and pay. I went back and told him to write into my contract everything that he told me. He declined. So I did as well.

Chance20_m

If I were 18, yes. Now, I make more than they could pay me as a soldier, even with the bonus. However, I would take a civilian position with them. www.usajobs.opm.gov

Ahcho N

I signed up in the Marines for a guarantee of $15,000 for re-upping and that was 30 years ago. It sure worked to get me.

h h

No I would have still enlisted in the US Marines like I did.

Uncle John

No, but if they'd give me authority, and the job I want, and under the terms I want, and make the pay $500,00 then maybe.

Mezmarelda

As long as they put it in writing that my entire time of duty would be as a life guard on Waikiki.

thinkGREEN

No. I don't want to go to Iraq.

Baby Raptor

my mind maybe but the wife would kill me faster than a Saudi Arabian foreign fighter in Iraq ever could.
BTW my friend is in the Army and cant get his paychecks straight but you can ship a couple 19 cent washers to texas and make $998,000. So I doubt a guaranteed bonus helps.

Sky

I wouldn't join the military period. No matter how much money they pay me.

Endless tours, endless wars, and a 98% chance you'll die in your first tour of duty from an IED isn't worth my life.

And before you go on a rag about the military defending our freedoms in Iraq, let me ask you this: "When did Iraq ever attack us directly in 2002--to deserve my blood and sacrifice?"

fuzzykitty

Lets see, couldn't in this day and age buy a car for that , or a home. and I sure wouldn't sell my soul for $20,000.

Triumph

Recruiters will say anything to get you to join the army. You'd better check it out. I knew a guy who went through the same thing, only to find out after he joined that you have to PAY BACK the $20,000....its just a loan!!!

Mr. Vincent Van Jessup

Unless your grades are very bad, or the life of street crime, petty theft and meth dealing beckons, you can do better.

Agent 99

no, i dont what to die or KILL another human being. i have a degree, which will give me more than $20,000. I earned that degree, and i'm going to work, and earn my salary.

dan

wouldn't join for any amount of money. I will not be forced to kill any human being.

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