What financial tips would you give yourself straight out of boot camp?

Well, to be fair, my advice today would not be the same as when I was an E-1. I only made $89/month, beer and cigarette money. Still, there was one piece of advice I heard back then that still applies today: "If you need a spouse, the Army'll issue you one". The E-1 or E-2 pay may look like a fortune today to someone who enlisted right out of high school, but it isn't. Our VFW post is feeding a lot of young families of E-1 to E-4 members who made that mistake. We're taking disposable diapers so they don't have to resuse them (yes, they're actually reusing disposable diapers) We're setting up households with donated furniture. My advice? Put it away and save against the future. Whether you become a "lifer" or serve just one enlistment, don't encumber yourself with a debt that you can't repay.

Don't invest with a company that primarily sells high-commission loaded mutual funds or whole life insurance

Don't get married...! Stay single, just kidding...!! :)