Anyone out there know if it's possible to serve in the military and begin your college career on the side? If anyone could explain how this works, it would really help clear up some of the confusion for me.
Absolutely, it is actually quite common for individuals to both serve in the military and pursue higher education concurrently. A notable way for individuals to do this is by joining the Reserve Officers' Training Corps (ROTC), which is present in many colleges across the country. Through this program, students can serve in the military (typically in the reserves) while studying. After graduation, they often have commitments to active-duty service. Another option is through enlisted reserve or National Guard duties, where one typically has a commitment of one weekend a month and two weeks a year. This option provides flexibility to continue with courses during the rest of the month. In addition, the military has a number of Financial Assistance Programs designed specifically to help servicemen and servicewomen pay for education costs. Examples of these are the Post-9/11 GI Bill and the Yellow Ribbon Program which can pay for a significant portion of your tuition and housing costs.
It is worth mentioning that balancing military service and college can be challenging as both require significant commitments. Unpredictable deployments or training could interfere with class schedules and studying. Certainly reach out to a military recruiter or ROTC program at a local university to have a deeper understanding of what options might fit well with your particular goals and circumstances.
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