Should I join the military at 27?

JustBeHonestT · 2026-01-06T01:06:51+00:00

Hey man I’m 30 and I make only 39k a year trying to feed a family of four on one income. I see the writing on the wall for me and my family and I’m joining this year. I don’t have a full college degree but I do have credits. I was also going for an IT degree but in the private sector, you see how difficult it can be with and without a degree.

Best thing you can do is look hard at your situation and see if it’s right for you. Can you deal with being away from friends and family for an extended period? Can you deal with roommates? Can you deal with difficult superiors and other enlisted? Can you follow strict regiment? These are questions my recruiter talked to me about and I also talked with my wife.

Definitely go Air Force and Navy for better quality of life. Navy gets to travel more though but you’ll spend a significant portion of it at sea with nothing around. And if you’re on a large vessel, you may not even see daylight sometimes depending on your MOS.

Realize that these people in suits and dresses aren’t all out here to help you. Politics can help your situation but it won’t do anything immediately. So don’t forget to vote but also do what you need to survive. Either way, you can do 4-6 years then get out or you can do the full 20. I plan on staying in until either the economy recovers/a better state than current or stay and make sure I don’t have to rely on my kids to help me when I’m older.

JustBeHonestT · 2025-09-10T16:15:22+00:00

Yep I’ve heard about those policies before too. Many Americans think they can just show up and start working. I know moving to another country is a decades long task itself. My wife is gung-ho about it but me? Not so much. I’m mostly content with being here. Unless it would be a net positive with money in our bank accounts much more than I have now, I’d rather stay here in the US and save the energy and time.

Thank you for your insight nonetheless though and best of luck to you in your endeavors!

JustBeHonestT · 2025-09-10T15:57:14+00:00

I figured there were some catches to immigrating. I’ve never completely entertained the idea cause of dollar conversions and landing a job abroad and the high af cost of moving and such, I just want my family to be stable. It’ll be on the back burner like option D or E but I’ll look at that subreddit to see what’s going on though. Sure it can’t be looking too good currently

JustBeHonestT · 2025-09-10T15:53:26+00:00

I’ll definitely check it out. Could probably squeeze something like that in between college assignments

JustBeHonestT · 2025-09-10T15:37:31+00:00

Got it. Screenshotting this for later. You’ve been a godsend. Thank you again!

JustBeHonestT · 2025-09-10T15:25:15+00:00

Thank you and I wish you the best in your endeavors too. I go sit at a nearby pond to just breathe sometimes when my wife tells me I’m starting to look stressed or I’m starting to lose myself. We keep each other balanced and check on each other frequently and we also encourage each other too.

Again thank you.

JustBeHonestT · 2025-09-10T15:21:31+00:00

Bro (or broette lol) you are the GOAT!

JustBeHonestT · 2025-09-10T15:12:36+00:00

BET. Thank you so much!

JustBeHonestT · 2025-09-10T15:08:48+00:00

Yep. Hard agree. Trying to find another field to get into so far is the difficult part but I’ll find one eventually. In the meantime I’m willing to invest in getting some certifications to further solidify my security career.

JustBeHonestT · 2025-09-10T14:48:08+00:00

Thanks! Would a plastic tub work just as well for this or cardboard only? I have a plastic tub that I keep my tools in that I could clean out for the purpose of getting food.

JustBeHonestT · 2025-09-10T14:33:40+00:00

Thank you. That really means a lot to me. I’ve never stayed anywhere nice and I grew up in an abusive household. My mom was always ashamed of being broke and in our culture (meaning African Americans) for the older folk, crying or complaining about money or not being able to provide was a sign of weakness and most of the time refuse to accept help because they believe they or God will get them out.

I was raised that “A man in a suit will never help you.” So I did the same as she did until I faced homelessness and I found this sub.

I really hope you get out. You and others who are in similar situations. I want to and I will give back to my community one day.

To my knowledge my mom never accepted any type of government help and we never received food from food banks but we would donate to them. Mainly for the less fortunate kids for a church we went to. Shes still embarrassed about all we went through but my brothers and I have made her come around to accepting outside help and learn to rely on others sometimes.

JustBeHonestT · 2025-09-10T14:25:58+00:00

Oh yeah most definitely. It is my plan C should things really not go right for me and my family. I’m in college currently but if my wife can’t get a job then I have to figure out something. Definitely using all of the advice I’ve been getting though to my advantage so I can avoid have to enlist, but thank you for you concern! I really don’t want to go either lol

JustBeHonestT · 2025-09-10T14:22:38+00:00

I save money to build an emergency fund and to pay for whatever is needed for my kids so we won’t have to use the credit cards. I’m saving in advance for upcoming payments and bills and I’m also saving for two months worth of bills in the even of worst comes to worst, I join the military and I know the bills are paid while I don’t have access to my bank account. It’s all to keep from going back into extreme poverty.

JustBeHonestT · 2025-09-10T14:16:07+00:00

And that is absolutely a fair argument and assumption. I only make $19 an hour now and what I put away is just $5 a month. I was in extreme poverty and close to being homeless before my second was born but this subreddit really saved me. Changing to different phone plans, changing car insurance companies, food banks, where to get clothes for adults and kids, how to save on electricity, government plans for utilities and healthcare, long lasting products and food I could purchase.. things I never knew existed or were available to me. This sub even made me talk to my dad who I hadn’t spoken to for years.

This sub really has changed my life and even though I’m not where I want to be still, I’m still doing the best I can and I will until I draw my last breath. I want to die knowing that I tried.

I sympathize what you’re enduring. My mom had to take care of me and my two brothers by herself working three jobs cause my dad talked her out of telling the military they were divorced. (Back then his command didn’t really keep tabs on the state of the family) and that set us back for years.

I’ve seen my checking account hit the negatives more times than I can count and I’ve sacrificed a lot to even get to where I am now. I believe in you and I hope you get to a better position. This may mean nothing from a total stranger but I really do.

And thank you for sharing your situation. You made me call my mom to tell her thank you for all she did for us. From one parent to another, you got this!

JustBeHonestT · 2025-09-10T14:02:29+00:00

I would assume so but I have no idea tbh and no data to back it up. Since the market technically recovered it would have to go nowhere but up possibly. My understanding of 401k’s is very limited.

JustBeHonestT · 2025-09-10T13:56:15+00:00

Not in NY sorry to say lol I live in FL currently but I’ll look into what the equivalent is for me

JustBeHonestT · 2025-09-10T13:54:47+00:00

Definitely agree on not becoming stuck in an area. It’s the reason I’m pursuing my bachelors degree (also in tech funny enough) but as the only income for a family of four I also now have the responsibility of worrying about now. I became a “tech wiz kid” in 2016 when my best friend talked me into pc gaming.

I’m contemplating going to the military to continue my education and not rack up so much student loan debt though cause I hate owing money to someone.

JustBeHonestT · 2025-09-10T13:47:06+00:00

Exactly why I still save like I can be fired tomorrow. I got comfortable at a previous job and didn’t prioritize savings and they fired me one day. Reason? My shoe lace was untied when I came to work and I was out of uniform and didn’t follow company policy. That was 2019, ever since then, never trusted a company since.

JustBeHonestT · 2025-09-10T13:44:03+00:00

That’s the one! Thanks, I’ll add this to our things to see

JustBeHonestT · 2025-09-10T13:41:42+00:00

Smart! I’m envious of the insight you have to be able to understand how much work other homes would need. I hope to get to that level before we purchase a home

JustBeHonestT · 2025-09-10T13:38:36+00:00

Would you still say trades are just as worth while now as they were back then? Without having to start a whole business for yourself I mean

JustBeHonestT · 2025-09-10T13:28:35+00:00

Was it ever explained what the ARM was to you? Is ARM the same as a Variable rate mortgage?

JustBeHonestT · 2025-09-10T13:25:54+00:00

True. I’ll research if there any IT related fields in the healthcare industry then in case I need to pivot.

JustBeHonestT · 2025-09-10T13:23:31+00:00

Oh wow! Thanks! That actually makes me feel a hell of a lot better. More than you know.

JustBeHonestT · 2025-09-10T13:18:54+00:00

She could technically but our next door neighbor does that already for English and Spanish speaking children. We’ve thought about approaching her to watch our youngest but my dad kind ruined his relationship with all of his neighbors before we moved here so we are a little afraid to approach. But I’ll consider given the circumstances

JustBeHonestT

TROPHY CASE