College is expensive. Duh. Everyone knows that. Finding a way to pay for it and not chaining yourself down to a career of repaying student loans is one of the most important financial moves you can make in your life. One of the best things you might want to consider is going into the Military to Pay for College. Here’s how it works.
Going into the military doesn’t mean you will have a dangerous job or be shot at.
I’m a veteran. I served in the US Army for 6 years. And one of the biggest misconceptions that I have seen about those who have served is that most people think that if you serve in the military then you are John Rambo. Most people think that if you sign up for the military then you will be shot at, have to dodge bombs, and participate in trench warfare.
But that is very far from the truth.
Most jobs in the military are non-combat jobs. Sure, someone can go into an infantry position, special forces, military police, etc. But most don’t. Most go into non-combat jobs.
Most jobs in the military are not that far from civilian jobs. There are people who are cooks, counselors, analysts, warehouse workers, electricians, wood workers, mechanics, etc.
So just because you are considering joining the military doesn’t mean that you will be put in a war-like situation like you would see in a movie. Could it happen? Yes, I suppose. But the chances are low. Less than 15% of people in the military ever see combat or are in combat jobs.
I was in a supply role. I worked in a warehouse for my entire enlistment. I have family members who are/were in mechanic roles, electricians, HR, and even the Army band (yes that is a real thing).
So if you are thinking about going into the military to pay for college, you don’t necessarily have to do something dangerous.
And if you are thinking about going into the military to pay for college, there are two main avenues in which the US government will pay for your college. Let’s go over them.
Post 9/11 GI Bill
This is the biggest way that the military will pay for your college.
The Post 9/11 GI Bill is the new version of the old GI Bill. It has some new bells and whistles that apply better to students over the past couple decades.
Here is what you need to do to qualify:
- Join the military (active duty for sure, but in some cases National Guard or Reserves)
- Serve for at least 90 days of active duty (not including basic training or job training)
A recruiter will be able to tell you if there are any other qualifications, but generally that is what you will have to do.
But remember, that when you sign a contract to go into the military, the shortest contract will likely be 4 years.
Generally servicemembers wait until after their enlistment to use the Post 9/11 GI Bill. That is because it is difficult to balance being a student as well as serving in the military. (But there is another way that you can pay for college while you are on active duty that I’ll get to in a minute.)
Here is what the Post 9/11 GI Bill will pay for:
- College
- Business, technical or vocational courses,
- Correspondence courses
- Apprenticeship/job training
- Flight training
- Licensing and testing programs
The Post 9/11 GI Bill will pay for all tuition and fees, give you a housing stipend, and a book stipend.
One other awesome thing about the Post 9/11 GI Bill is that you can transfer it to a family member or spouse as well.
Tuition Assistance
The second way that going into the military to pay for college can benefit you is through the military’s Tuition Assistance (TA) program.
The TA program will pay for up to $4,500 per year of tuition on a per-class basis.
And in most cases, you can use TA as well as the Post 9/11 GI Bill!
A lot of service members use the TA program to pay for college courses while they are on active duty or in the National Guard or Reserves.
This may not be the best way to pay for all of your college expenses, but it is a way to help out significantly.
Other Military Programs to Pay for College
There are several other programs in the military to help pay for college as well. The Post 9/11 GI Bill and the TA program are the biggest ones though.
There are other programs that are branch specific and situation specific though. And if you are considering going into the military to pay for college you should check them out.
Here is a link to several of them. But also, check each branch’s website and even talk to some recruiters.
Final Thoughts
Going into the military is a personal choice. It was one of the best decisions I ever made. However, for others it might not even be an option.
But going into the military to pay for college is not a bad thing. In fact, that is why most people go into the military. Because college is expensive and they need a way to avoid mountains of student loans later on.
Either way, give it some thought at least. If it is not for you, that’s cool. If it sounds awesome, that’s cool also. 🙂
I am here for you!
You can do this!
Until next time!
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