Do you feel that joining the military straight out of highschool is the best choice?

I was a poor kid from a trailer park and KNEW I wasn't going to be able to afford college, so I joined the Army at 17 (with my mom signing for me) on the split-option. I went to bootcamp during the summer between my junior and senior years of high school and was a drilling reservist throughout my senior year (while also being in high school AFJROTC, lol). When I graduated, I went active duty and went to Ft. Sam Houston for AIT. Unfortunately, I'm also from the San Antonio, TX area, so it REALLY didn't feel like I was actually IN the Army (going home every weekend because I could, friends stopping by in evening during the week). It was probably the worst way possible for me to try to start a career. I got injured on holdover status and finished my AIT on profile, so for some reason I couldn't go to my permanent duty station and the Army, instead, decided to process me for separation. I guess everything worked out though, because about 2 years later I joined the Navy and ended up as a Torpedoman on fast-attack submarines... (I also did the college thing after separating and hold a Masters.)

If I had it to do over again, I would have waited until AFTER I graduated to join (and I would've picked a different MOS so I didn't have AIT in my hometown). My advice to anyone wanting to go split-option is "Hell no!" but I think 18 should be fine for most people. That said, while I agree on going to college first, if someone is too immature to join the military (where they make all of your decisions for you, lol), they will probably not do well in college either.

For many individuals that I got to know while serving in the Army, joining the Army straight out of high school was an excellent option for them and served them well in the years since they joined. I can't generalize for "anyone" who may be thinking about it, but for many people considering this option I think it is reasonable to argue that it could be a strong option for them to consider.

I was 17 when I joined and went to boot camp. For me it was the best choice. I had no work ethic and looking back on it I truly believe that any other path I took would've led me towards prison or an early grave.

I was very rebellious and too smart for my own good. The Navy taught me to be an adult and gave me a strong work ethic, respect for others and a moral code that I still use as a compass in my life.

- Whether joining the military right out of high school is best is a METT-TC question/answer. METT-TC is code for "it depends". Using MDMP is key.
- What are the personal and professional goals of the individual in the near, mid and long term? Goes to mission analysis.
- How does joining the military help or hurt the attainment of an individual's personal and professional goals? Goes to COA development.
- What other options does an individual have to attain their personal and professional goals outside of the military? Goes to COA development.
- How do the various COAs compare against each other based upon criteria that an individual should develop and use? Goes to COA comparison.
- What options are available to the individual in the mid and long term and can the individual cross from one path to another? Goes to branch and sequel planning.
- What is the final decision of the individual? After decision, the issue becomes violent execution of the decision.

Joining straight out of high school was the best decision for me. I lacked any real sense of direction or confidence in myself at that age, and though I dreamed of being a veterinarian one day I had terrible grades from not applying myself in school and I wouldn't have had the money for college. I enlisted in the Marine Corps and I loved it. I matured a lot and learned to take responsibility for my actions and to work hard for what I wanted. I also took college courses whenever I could online and completed tons of MCIs, and after 8 years of service I left active duty and transferred into college. I worked my butt off and I am now 4 months away from graduating from veterinary school. The life lessons I learned in the Marine Corps have been invaluable in helping me to succeed in this transition from Sgt to Dr. It's not for everyone but for some of us it's been a life-changer.

Personally i have no regrets on my choice, so i have been steadly at it since '04 and have been to places most have not. Like everyone else back home not accomplished anything, but myself i have accomplished many things since i have been in.

That is highly dependent on the individual. When I graduated from HS, I was an honor student with an academic scholarship to attend college. In my case, no, going straight in was not a good choice. And I told the Army recruiter who was trying to get me to go straight in as much....

I think the hard part of this question is what does the person joining want to do in life? If it helps their career progression, or it allows them some padding because they are not really sure what they want to do in life; then I would say go for it. On the reverse end, if I was to do it all over again the career choice I made would have provided me a commission, and I would have to really consider doing the exact same thing the second time around; as opposed to education first.

I think the only thing that you can do when you get this question is to deflect. I know it sounds kind of pathetic, but if you redirect it towards what that person wants to do you may have a better outcome, because as most others have said, there is only a right or wrong answer in the context of yourself.

I joined right after high school. And for me it was the right decision. I always wanted to be in the military. And knew that was where I was going when I was done with high school. So when I got my girl friend (now wife 35 years) pregnant I dropped out of high school about a month before graduation. So I could take responsibility and take care of my family. So for me graduation from boot camp was a feeling of accomplishment that I missed. I also studied and got my GED when I got to my first duty station. I do not regret any of my decisions everything worked out in the end. So I believe it all depends on what your goals are. If you are planning on college then by all means college before enlisting. But if you have no plans on continuing your education enlisting my be the ticket. It may even encourage you to expand on your education.

I joined right out of high school in 65