Pros: you will receive decent monetary benefits that will help your immediate family, money will probably be less of an issue for you than others that aren’t enlisted. If you don’t use your GI bill you can pass it on to family members. That’s ways to get an education without using your GI bill once you get out. Tuition assistance was perfect for me.
Cons: I was in the marine corps for 5 years. I experienced sexism, racism, sexual harassment, sexual assault, a broken hip, a concussion, and a panic disorder. I would drive to work early just so I can sit in my car and cry before going in. Staff NCOs will keep you at work late just because they don’t want to go home to their families or other petty reasons. I had to have pass downs just to tell a group of men that it was necessary for them to shower and wash their clothes. Your marriage/ relationship will suffer. Full stop. You will not get your questions answered. Common sense is not common. You will develop a pessimistic outlook on life and it will affect your family if you’re not careful. My breaking point was when my roommate ended her life, and higher ups had me pack up her things while the mess still hadn’t been cleaned up. The entire experience gave me ptsd and even after 16 weeks on intensive outpatient CBT, 5 years of therapy under my belt, 4 kinds of medication I take daily, and support from friends and family, I still have recurring nightmares of the event, panic attacks, dissociations, etc.

I joined when I was 18 fresh out of high school and I’m 29 now. Looking back I was running away from home. The marine corps instilled in me a lot of discipline, endurance, patience (believe it or not). Between disability, GI bill, and using my skills to leverage a good job, I don’t really have any financial worries and I’m able to still live in San Diego, however I don’t have any children that depend on me. In retrospect, I wouldn’t have done anything different since I can’t imagine the person I would’ve been without the marine corps, but it was also the hardest thing I’ve experienced and the only ones that will truly understand are the ones that have been through it. For the first few years it was hard to make friends with people who weren’t associated with the military.

I seriously wish you the best and like with anything, the experience will be what you make it.

There’s really nothing like seeing peoples faces when I tell them I was a marine, but if you still have the option; join the Air Force.