Is that true that for poor young guys the best way to live in US is join to the army and for reach young guys go to the uni?

23 comments

1. No

2. No

3. Poor: no, not at all lol

   Rich: college is probably the best path since you can go and graduate without debt and then leverage connections to get a good job

4. The military is very effective at selling itself as a good career path especially in rural areas, but we do have lots of cheap public universities that serve as a better & quicker career route

5. Once again, foreigners will believe anything about America so long as it is BAD.

6. Not necessarily the best, but it’s certainly a good option. It can be a good way to set yourself up for improvement, but it still requires a lot of work.

7. The U.S. military has undoubtedly been a means by which men and women of all classes have been able to escape poverty. Whether that means poor places with no economic opportunity or people who feel they are poorly-prepared to face the world alone at a vulnerable time in their young lives, just as much as it has been a way for people to find adventure or as a way to give back to their country. My grandfather enlisted in the Navy to get the hell out of Nowhere, Indiana. It gave him both adventure and a better opportunity, and though he never earned a formal degree he was trained in Nuclear Engineering and earned a job in Moreopportunity, Connecticut where he raised a family. I enlisted less for the economic aspect and more as a means of civic service and pride. For all the many ways the military has failed to keep veterans off the streets, it has done much to keep people who may have been denied the same opportunities as a more fortunate individual, especially various minority groups housed, clothed, fed three square meals* and trained to do something.
   Likewise, there is much to be said about those with the means to do so benefiting from going directly to a secondary education (usually college). Education for education’s sake is noble and a civic duty in and of itself. Where you choose to get that education, be it in a University lecture hall or in a submarine exploring the seas, is less important than what you choose to do with that education later or the other life qualities you enjoy. The military is not a regular job; you cannot just quit unlike dropping out of college and it is a massive responsibility that can leave you in a position where lives are at stake. A History Major working on a PhD won’t usually have that responsibility despite the other pressure the may be under.
   Where the two paths cross comfortably would be to earn your commission as an Officer, ideally through some kind of cadet or ROTC program. This path allows someone from any economic background with the ambition to both earn a formal education, ideally on the military’s dime, and be able to serve their country in a position that is (generally) able to provide a better quality of military life and civilian opportunity.
   In short, there is no “best way” to live life for anyone from any background. The military may be the right choice for anyone for a variety of reasons, as would college/uni., as much as it would be the wrong decision for just as many people or reasons.

8. [The majority of servicemembers come from a middle class background.](https://www.cfr.org/backgrounder/demographics-us-military)

   While the armed forces provide a fantastic set of tools for upward social and economic movement, the largest indicator that someone will serve is based upon immediate family who have been in the service. That brings up a whole host of other issues (like the formation of a de facto warrior caste).

9. No. I joined the military and am from an upper middle class background. I’d say the majority of people I work with grew up somewhere on the scale of middle class.

   I do know some people who are from much lower middle class backgrounds in the military, but I know the same amount of people from those backgrounds that just went to college or a trade school anyway and are doing fine financially right now.

10. A lot of people see the military as a way to gain practical experience and have someone else pay for their college. It also has networking advantages. So you’re not way off.

    As long as the job market is decent the best thing for a poor young man is the same as for a rich young man – to get trained and get to work. Whether a university degree is part of that training might depend on a person’s means but also their goals.

11. The military is a good option for young people (not just guys). It’s not just for poor people. Some kids exit high school and don’t know what they want to do. The military gives them structure, experience and even the option to pay for college later in their life.

    And college isn’t just for rich people. We have scholarships and financial aid that are designed specifically to help poorer kids go to college.

    If you are looking for the difference, it’s probably more around whether they are ready and able to go to college or not.

12. There’s enough bad things about the US that foreigners dont need to keep making up shit like this.

13. The military is always an option since they’ll pay for schooling, but there’s other ways.

    For me, I went to a community college for my associates, and got excellent grades so I could get a scholarship to a university for my bachelors.

    The community college was about $3000 per year, so it was very affordable.

14. The military has the GI Bill, which pays for college. A poor person can serve 4 years, and then have a free full ride to college. It’s true that some people choose to go that route.

15. No, not at all.

16. There are lots of jobs that pay well and don’t require a 4-year degree. We have community colleges to provide postsecondary education outside of a traditional university setting.

17. No

18. My brother joined the military, put in 3 years, and then had his grad school paid for. Plus, he got training in his field while in the military. He would have been in debt for many many years otherwise.

19. I would say it’s geared more towards people who don’t really know what they want to do in life. The military can offer guidance, experience and structure. It’s important to remember that the military is more than just infantry. In fact, most jobs in the army aren’t combat related.

    I come from a solidly middle class family and I probably would’ve joined if my eyeballs weren’t literally falling apart. My dad had saved for all of us to go to college, but I just didn’t know what to do with my life. The military offered a lot of intriguing possibilities.

20. There are tons of options out there, but our country is frankly so pro-military that anything the military promotes as a benefit is just automatically assumed to be perfect.

21. The poor part is true. At least, that’s what they’re sold.

    – You’re sold a story of being a hero.
    – You’re sold a story about learning skills.
    – You’re sold a story of being a part of a team and sharing camaraderie.
    – When you get out, you’ll supposedly have skills.
    – When you get out, you’ll have *respect* of people and employers.

    You get SOME benefits from being a Veteran… GI Bill and a pathway to university. VA affairs. Being a veteran can open doors into careers people like me probably cannot get. Decent insurance. You essentially get to tap into Socialism that the rest of the country cannot obtain. So in a way, yes, it can work.

    SHOULD our society be structured in such a way that the poor are so desperate they must join the military to advance? No.

22. No

23. Yeah it’s common, especially since 50% leave with some kind of disability and get disability payments for the rest of their life