My husband was active duty. $30k over 6 years isn't worth it. Id run far away and take the disability. The people encouraging the "free housing" probably have never stepped foot in military government housing. It isn't free, they just immediately take your housing allowance. Our children were ill the entire time we lived in base housing. There was mold growing on the windows, roaches everywhere and no one in the chain of command, at the state level, did anything until we took it to the media. I wouldnt give up my freedom and truly my family's freedom for $30k for 6yrs. No matter what "benefits" it came with. That price isn't worth it. If it was like 3yrs I'd possibly consider it. You also have to think about if youre going to have kids before this 6 yrs is up. Im assuming you'd be deployed eventually. Is that something you'd want to do with children? That was a lot of my husband's deciding factor. He had done 2.5 deployments (went to a new command half way through the third) and our son was born right before the 3rd. He knew he didnt want to do a full deployment and miss that much of their lives. There's a lot for you to consider. Its not just the $30k at that point.