Not so fast there kid! An E1 makes 1491 bucks a month in 2011. That's barely over minimum wage.
If you're willing to stick it out for twenty or thirty years and get every available advancement, which ain't that hard, after about ten years you'll be doing OK but you ain't going to be driving a Mercedes!
My first week back in the world, working at GM, I made 500 bucks a week. My last week in the Navy, Sept 79 I made a little over 140 bucks.
I stand by my statement that the Military still pays like shit!
But all your exps are PAID! thats like making 3 or 4 times that. No housing, no untilitys, no food, no medical, no dental, no nothing.
for a young person, thats alot of cash.
so lets do some math.
rent $500, untilitys $50, food $200, medical ins $300, dental ins $50. that right there is a extra 1100 a month and trust me thats on the low side of things. Don't forget your uncle comes and takes a chunk as well, so that 1100 is more like 1600.
So let me ask you this, what other no skill, no exp, no education job can you start at 36000 a year?
Yeah, thats what I though, there isn't one. I won't even start on the bennies after your service. Nor will I get to the beenies during service. They can be 30k+ just for school alone, not to mention the other VA bennies and the "points" you will get on job apps.