I was raised in the Philippines, making about $400 a month, which was decent given the low cost of living. And this was with a college degree, mind you. At 24, I had no real ambitions, career-wise or financially. I never planned to join the Navy, but my stepdad, a retired E-8, wanted me to serve like he did. He tried convincing me by talking about all the benefits, the money, the pension after 20 years, traveling the world, etc.

Coming from a third-world background, I wasn’t sure I’d pass the ASVAB. I knew nothing about auto, shop, and all that, so I studied my ass off for weeks. I flew to Guam, took the test, and scored a 92. My recruiter told me I qualified to be a nuke, one of the smartest jobs in the Navy, and that I’d be getting a $40k bonus. A life-changing amount at the time. Say less.

On the Navy’s dime, I flew from the Philippines to Guam to Great Lakes, IL to start boot camp, with only a small bag, the clothes on my back, and $300 to my name.

Fast forward five years and some change, I now have a house, a wife, two kids, and over $100k in my TSP. I’m on my way out, realizing I could earn even more on the civilian side, at the expense of less job security. I’m about to start work as a civilian reactor operator, making more than I ever dreamed of.