re: Regret not joining the military

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I have a condition that doesn't allow for me to be in the military. I wanted to fly airplanes for the navy or choppers for the Army. :(

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I would LOVE to have gone that route you've outlined. But I wouldn't have a prayer making it through the physical with my horrible eyesight being what it is.

I could probably fly commercially though. But those guys don't get paid very much in the early part of their career.

Sometimes.

I grew up during the Vietnam Era. Got drafted when I turned 18, but got put in a 1H status. Everyone had to register back in the day.

That was a very unpopular war obviously. Went on to college. Some friends went. Know some from our town on the wall. It was a horrific time.

These "proxy type wars" in recent years really ended up doing virtually nothing in terms of the original objectives. Thousands of lives lost and injured for what.

I feel a tremendous amount of appreciation and support for those that have had to go through these wars that devolved from stated patriotic missions to political upheaval. I wouldn't want my kids in those kinds of wars.

But yes, sometimes you feel like you're not "a real man" because you didn't serve. Like a right of passage.

Good thread BTW. Following.

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Except when that car note and insurance is for a Mustang GT at 28% interest owned by a 19 year old.

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Saw it plenty of times. Had a guy re-enlist and put his entire $12k bonus on a Ford Mustang Cobra and was still paying close to $500/month.

Yeah the government employees are the only ones going to make it. Plus nobody is allowed to say a bad thing about your performance even if lousy.

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I remember they were actually teaching car buying and financing classes to boots when they first came on deck. It never helped lol.

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Never helped. The first car I went look at was $5k. I had the cash to buy it outright but was looking into financing. Freaking 20%. Said hell no and paid cash. Ended up getting one credit card and bought a few things per month and paid it off accordingly. My next truck was financed at 4.5% through the credit union.

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I would if I could pick the president I served. Reagan or Trump

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Probably not going to be a popular statement here, but Trump was no friend to the military.

I have to agree, not many masterminds, but some of us completed our MS. My son will get his BS for free, and with the kicker, his MS is going to be free. While it wasn't always the greatest, if you planned right, you could be set.