Subscribe to this BlogThe patriotic way to lower student debt
Strapped for cash? Want someone to pay for your way through college? These pitches made by military recruiters seem to be working, since each of the military service academies has seen a sharp rise in applications this year — ranging from a 9% increase at West Point to a 40% jump at the U.S. Naval Academy.
While I’d like to think that the sudden interest reflects a renewed pride in patriotism and interest in national defense, it’s more likely that the draw of free tuition is an increasingly powerful lure. Students at the academies receive an all-expenses-paid undergraduate education in return for the promise of serving in the military after graduation. And reducing college education expenses is high on everyone's mind these days, boosting enrollment in community colleges and spikes in applications for financial aid at four-year schools.
The military's financial support is particularly attractive at a time when the costs of higher education are skyrocketing, with no end in sight. The average college endowment — the main pool for funding financial aid at private institutions — dropped 25-30% in the last year. Although tuition fees have grown more slowly this year, the savings are still a pittance. Public colleges are no longer the affordable fallback plan either, as noted in the June issue of MONEY. As options for high education seem bleak, the newest crop of students seem willing to take risk of serving in the military in the return for the promise of some financial stability.
Even if a student's family can navigate through the expenses of an elite private or public college, after all, the prospect of economic payoff from a degree feels more at risk. Consider that the unemployment rate for new graduates, at 11%, is higher than the national average. After adding the burden of student debts to that mix, pursuing an undergraduate degree through the traditional path doesn't feel like an ideal investment.
In addition to avoiding accrued debt, graduates of military academies may have another advantage in entering the workforce after service. An undergraduate education at a military academy is comparable to an education at an elite civilian university; the leadership skills, discipline and technical skills honed in the military’s core curriculum make these veterans unique candidates. General Electric, for one, offers veteran officers a special management training program with the explanation, “Your service made you a leader and a disciplined, strategic thinker with a level of loyalty that is unmatched.”
Obviously the volatility of the labor market still make job placement uncertain for veterans. Another downside may be that the years of required active duty fall during the prime career-building period when civilian peers are creating their early job history. Returning veterans may find themselves behind in making connections that are crucial to long-term success — although they may have their own network of military colleagues to draw upon.
The financial stability provided by the government is a necessary payment for the unparalleled risks faced by members of the armed forces. Serving is no joke, but neither is managing student debt for decades after graduation.
I did my time in the green machine after I graduated college. I bounced around with no direction. I have to thank Drill Sgts Stautimere, Folks and Reed; CSM Berhain and CSM Hayden for putting a boots in my sorry a$$.
GI bill paid for additional training and the green mafia as I like to call it help me get a job. Where else can you get a clearance by an organization who is willing to pay for it ;o). Most civilian outfits don;t want to unless they absolutely have to have too.
Out of high school in 1990, I struggled to find my way. Two mediocre terms at a community college didn't give my future a very bright perspective. I was the typical 18 year old small town guy…partying most of the week and sleeping off a hangover the rest, while I tried to make it to class or my part-time job. Then I made the decision to enlist in the USAF, and it was the best decision of my life. They taught me responsibility & independence, which a lot of the younger generation today lacks. With the help of GI Bill, I'm now a CPA with a Masters degree. I cannot thank the Air Force enough for their educational programs offered. I went in the USAF a confused lost boy, but came out a determined focused successful man.
"You travel, you see how the rest of the world lives, you learn about other cultures, you learn loyalty and experience comeraderie that is only experienced by those who serve, you earn friends for life, you don’t take your freedoms and civil liberties for granted, and so on."
Exposure to the virtues that you mention are irrelevant to the argument at hand. You need only consider two questions. Is it servitude and is it involuntary? If the answer to both questions is yes, then it is 'involuntary servitude'. Asking somebody to lay down their life against their will without voluntary contract is slavery. That the slavery is to the state and that it may (or may not) improve the character of said slave, is irrelevant. To force such service is a clear and distinct violation of a specfic individual right, that we are allowed to choose or way in life. If we openly allows such a violation, the freedom and liberty that we fight so dearly for mean absolutely nothing. They become just hollow words. No modern, liberal society should ever allow such a violation of individual rights.
"I can understand that a person may object to military service on a fundamental and philosophical basis. That’s why young people should have the option to serve their country in the Military or non-military organization like the Peace Corps. Stop acting entitled."
I do not object to military service on a fundamental, philiosophical or practical basis. I only object to forced service without any kind of due process or voluntary contractual agreement. I am not simply 'acting entitled'. Myself and every other member of society are, in fact, entitled to life and liberty. Forced military service exactly violates that fundamental human and individual right in the most egregious of ways.
"‘Institutional slavery’ Difficult to ascribe to an all volunteer force."
"I challenge you to show me a more professional, dedicated group on this marble we call home."
I would be hard-pressed to find one. I have nothing but respect for our military men and women. I was responding to the notion of mandatory military service by an earlier commentor. I have no problems with an all-volunteer force. But involuntary servitude such as the proposed "mandatory military service" can be described as nothing but slavery which is institutionalized by the government. I have an even larger issue with proposing such a scheme in order to promote "equality" within our society.
Please read the commentors suggestion before judging my own comment.
'Institutional slavery' Difficult to ascribe to an all volunteer force. I, like many others, chose to serve for patriotic reasons and to pay for school. I was from a wealthy family and the USAF was gracious enough to finance my medical education. More importantly, it taught me who I was and what I could be. I only served 6 years but will continue on as an educator in Texas. I will never be able to repay the experience, knowledge and friends I gained in the military. Race, background, and sex were never an issue. Service before self still means something to some. Yes, the military has its issues, but have you ever worked anywhere that didn't? At least its stated purpose is to protect us and our liberty. I challenge you to show me a more professional, dedicated group on this marble we call home.
I am an Army Veteran and find it a little disconcerting to see some of the opinions expressed here. I come from an affluent family, rich with military tradition. I am the fourth straight generation to serve, and serve PROUDLY. As for those who say that the college payment options after you get out don't work and that the Army doesn't pay, that's the first I am hearing of it. I used my Montgomery GI Bill and between the GI Bill and PA State Grants had every penny of my school costs covered. Lastly, the concept of required service does not equate to slavery. Not even close. The idea behind it is thus: You travel, you see how the rest of the world lives, you learn about other cultures, you learn loyalty and experience comeraderie that is only experienced by those who serve, you earn friends for life, you don't take your freedoms and civil liberties for granted, and so on. I can understand that a person may object to military service on a fundamental and philosophical basis. That's why young people should have the option to serve their country in the Military or non-military organization like the Peace Corps. Stop acting entitled. Young patriots die every day to protect your right to be that way. Maybe you should consider how much more mature a young person would be if mommy and daddy cut the purse strings and they had to take care of themselves before the age of 30.
I served 7 years in the Army following college during the early 80's recession. I was 22 and graduated with my BA degree and served for 3 years under a program the Army put in place to recruit for under-staffed MOS' (Infantry, Artillery, Armor); the Army would pay-off my college loans of 1/3 (33%) per year for every year of good service — It was an excellent program. Moreover, I enjoyed the Army and decided to stay another 4 years beyond my obligation. I'm not saying this is for everyone, but it was an excellent "win-win" for me, the Army and the United States. I learned more about myself in my first 6 months of Infantry training than any college professor taught me in 4 years of undergraduate education. It made me a better person and an even more responsible adult. Thank you LTC (retired) John H. Damewood and MG (then Captain) Salvatore Cambria for showing me a better path in life.
Mandatory military service is ridiculous. While I would not go as far as other posts to this forum and call it 'slavery', they are not far from the mark. I resented being required to sign up for selective service to receive the academic scholarship I had earned, but my female peers did not.
The modern military has a notorious reputation for refusing to support young people who have completed their service with the anticipated educational support. Coming from a military family, I was repeatedly urged to avoid their recruiting lies by family who pointed out how few modern servers ever receive any college assistance. My local high school counsellors are careful to talk to any/all young people who attend a recruiting session to give them contact information for the many alumni from our district that never saw a dime in college money. There was always some special piece of paperwork that had to be submitted in triplicate to a particular office before taking the oath but after submitting some other obscure form that no office ever offers to volunteers.
"Every person upon completion of highschool should have to do military service for 3 years or at the very least serve in the the peace corp."
I'm not sure how an intelligent person in a liberal society can support the institutionalization of slavery, especially under the auspice of "equality".
As a Naval Academy graduate I resent the comments sent by Mr. Harper in the post below. Most all graduates come from modest middle class backgrounds, with some outliers on either end of the spectrum. You have to understand the academy's selection process is much different than any other school. Out of the typical 11000 people that apply, 6600 are physically, medically and academically qualified. Of those 6600, only 2200 get a nomination from a nominating source(congressman, senator, etc.) Only 1200 enter, making it one of the most selective institutions in the US today. Of the past few years, USNA has been in the top 3 institutions as far as selectivity is concerned. My heart goes out to you, sir, as you are jaded by people who want nothing more than money for college, or payments from the government. The people I know who went there more often want to serve their country and serve the people underneath them, especially in a time of war.
That to me is an honorable cause.
Personally, joining the Army in 2000 was the best thing that I ever did. My student loans were paid off, I received real, usuable training (unlike college where I didn't learn anything I couldn't have learned at the library), and got real experience doing hard work that few are willing to do. I served 6 years enlisted, and got out a more skilled and confident individual. Yes, I had to go to Iraq, and yes I had to spend substantial amount of time away from my family, and no I didn't like either one. But I served my country with pride, and it shows in everything that I do now. I recommend it to anyone, including my 12 year old daughter.
As a veteran recently returned from Iraq I'll point out that very few of the officer corps either from ROTC or the military academies are what anyone would call from 'poor' or even working class families.
Most officers–not all of course–are from middle and upper-middle class homes. It's in the enlisted ranks where one finds the guys and gals from the poor parts of cities and the rural areas.
Although this article points out that the military is an excellent way to pay for college I think there are countless reasons people join the armed forces. It's not a poor vs. rich issue. I admit that sometimes it is, but i served in the USAF for nine years and only and handful of times did i hear anyone say it was because they came from poor families and couldn't afford a college education. People from rich families join the military too. No one is forcing anyone to join because they're poor. The majority join because it's a higher calling. You'd have to have served to understand what the military is about. If you honestly believe that serving in the military is a bad option or somehow a last ditch effort to avoid debt or away pay for college than you are sadly mistaken. Yes, those are benefits, but it's so much more than that. I think most people can learn more from a tour in the military than in any college or university. It shouldn't be seen as a bad think to have to join up. It's one of the greatest experiences a person can have.
I went to West Point and I was neither poor nor desperate. My father is a senior executive at a Fortune 100 company and my mother is the dean of an Ivy League grad school. Don't project your own narrow-minded biases on to this page without doing your homework. Most academy grads have plenty of options in life be they rich, poor, or middle class. They are smart, capable, and patriotic. None of them needs your sympathy, but they are all worthy of your respect. More American teenagers should explore this unique way to serve.
I work in higher education, and find it wrong to write such an article without pointing out that while this is a good deal for people, it also has turned into yet another way to make sure the military is filled with the poorest of Americans who are not having their individual, family, or community needs served by the government in more important ways, leaving the military as the only choice to avoid massive debt and to work their way up the class ladder.
This is the main reason why the rich can fill government positions and send the poor off to war to die, while their own kids sit in posh finance and consulting jobs back home without a care in the world.
I love how we are still forcing the poor to die for their country just to give them any shot at a level playing field.
That same playing field that is dominated by those that were born lucky enough into families that have the means to provide a service free future, a future that does not lead to debt slavery or a painful death.
Military service should be made mandatory for all citizens regardless of economic modality. Every person upon completion of highschool should have to do military service for 3 years or at the very least serve in the the peace corp.
Under no circumstances should duty to this country be limited to those who were not fortunate enough to be born with a silver spoon in mouth.
The service academies are one option but Army ROTC is another. The Army ROTC scholarship now pays full tuition at almost any college in the country, regardless of cost. The scholarship is far more accessible than entry into a service academy and military service may be accomplished by membership in the Nation Guard or Reserves. The service academies don't have this option and academy graduates must spend 5-years on active duty following graduation. Additionally, the ROTC scholarship may be used to pay for graduate school.
It seems that every consideration is given to individual liberties and none is given for the greater good or for the overall welfare of our great nation. In recent years, I believe that we have inculcated a belief that squeezing every ounce of champagne out of a beer budget is a good thing. That and "How can I get ahead…who cares about everyone else". It has led to enfettered greed and self-aggrandizement. Just look at Wall Street. I am firmly in favor of centering values on the family, service to others, and living within your means. If that means giving a few years of your life to learn valuable lessons, that will redirect people's focus to what really matters, I am all for it.