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There’s no escaping the fact that joining the military is more than just a career. It’s not like any 9-to-5 job you may have held in the past.

By becoming a member of the US army, you play a small but not insignificant role in the national security of the most important democracy on the planet, and the only remaining superpower.

It’s unsurprising that army recruits are enthusiastic and driven – wanting to serve their country with pride. Again, few jobs carry that sense of duty. It’s rare, and people find that to be one of the most alluring reasons to join the army.

Emotive reasons are not a bad reason to join anything. But, as with anything, you need to survive – and that means getting paid.

Thankfully, there are now solid financial reasons to join the army.

For example – new second lieutenants can expect to earn around $38,000, excluding benefits. This sum also excludes additional allowances – depending upon where you are stationed in the world. These allowances can extend into the many thousands of dollars. Re-enlistment benefits are enormous. For instance, it’s not uncommon to see nuclear trained re-enlistments receive up to $100,000.

If you have served the US army for two decades, you are entitled to a full pension.

So yes, there are enormous patriotic reasons to join the US army. The financial benefits make the choice whether to join that much easier.

The US army has stations all over the globe.

With that comes enormous travel opportunities. You can explore some of the most remote parts of the planet that you otherwise wouldn’t have had the opportunity to see. Things change, often quickly. You may find yourself jumping from one corner of the globe to another, depending on what crises emerge and what role the US decides to play.

Not only this, but you are entitled to 30 days of annual paid leave. You can use these 30 days however you please – for both you and your family.

In addition, you can enjoy military hops – taking seats on scheduled military flights. If you aren’t offered the seat for free (assuming there are any available), they often only charge a very small fee.

One of the great reasons to join the army is that they provide extensive skills and training opportunities.

The capacity for growth – from both a skills, personal perspective and professional perspective – are enormous.

Joining the army gives you that opportunity to grow and to become a leader in your field. The great thing about leadership skills is that they are transferable. Even if you decide to leave the army, you can apply those skills to your next career. Many employers find those with a military past to be an attractive option.

Think of who you may be competing with, too. Employers often end up comparing graduates with little to no real-life experience versus experienced military personnel who have learned the organization, people and planning skills necessary to lead effectively in an organization.

Without question becoming a veteran is one of the top reasons to join the army. It may sound strange, though – because becoming a veteran is something you become upon leaving the army and not something you experience by joining.

But that’s the whole point.

By investing your time, commitment and effort into the US army, you are experiencing something that few others do.

You can share stories with comrades, or even with family and friends. You find your place in the community; a respected figure that has contributed to the national goal – sometimes putting your life in grave risk in the process. And, as we have talked about, becoming a veteran even has employment advantages, too.

Joining the US army is not a small commitment. However, it’s not all risk and glory. There are many top reasons to join the army that make it a practical, professional, financial and exciting prospect. We’ve talked about these benefits at length. Now, all that stands between you and that dream is an exam – the ASVAB exam. Enlist to our program today and we’ll help you reach your dream that much faster!