I have am having trouble deciding between the National Guard and the Navy, can anyone help?

Question

I am 17, soon to be 18 in a month. I have a GED and i regret dropping out. I am not stupid, i make great scores on all my test. I just got lazy and made a stupid decision. I would like to fix this and somehow further my education. The problem is I have no job, no money, no car, and i cannot support myself at all. I have been looking for a job for months now and have found nothing. I live with my grandmother and i am sick of her having to take care of me, i want to better myself and my life.

I have looked into the Navy and found it really interesting and have already been in contact with a recruiter for a while now. I have even signed many papers and will be swearing in later this week. Today i got a call from the National Guard, he came to my house and what he told me makes me think i should maybe change my mind and go with the Guard instead. He said that after basic training i can come back and work near my home part time, make 1000 to 1200 a month to start out and at the same time be a full time student at a local college. There will also be a 20,000 sign in bonus GUARANTEED no questions asked.

He also said that for two years i will NOT be shipped out, and there is only a chance that i may be shipped out after that.

I am under alot of stress right now, i am not sure if i am being fed bullshit or if its the real deal. I have no idea what to do.

If anyone knows anything that may help my decision, please let me know. I am running out of time and may only have a few days to make my decision before i am sworn into the Navy.

Any help will be much appreciated. Thank you.

Answer 1

The NAVY in my opinion is a better choice for your situation!

Answer 2

If you join the navy  there is a big possability that you will be out at sea for long periods of time, now if collge is the avenue you want to persue right now then read my post here.   Now I am Joining the National Guard at the end of september,  and Ive done lots of research on pay, bonuses, and educational benefits especially.  and this is what ive learned.

From what I understand everyone enlisting is being offered a $20,000 enlistment bonus, which can be paid in two ways 1) a lump sum only if you take an Critcal Unit MOS(military occupation specialy...ur job) or 2) get a 50/50 which is 50% after completing basic training and 50% after 3yrs.

Sounds like the program being offered is College First - in this program you are garunteed 2yrs of college without being deployed, while going to college you will do your once a month weekend drills and your 2wks a year.  For the time your spend during drills you will only get the part time pay, not $1000, and depending on what pay level you are going in at it could be anywhere from $166+ a month.  Now if you are going to college you can also qualify to get the GI bill which pays about 300+ a month and if you score high enough on the ASVAB and go to a "Kicker" unit you can also get a monthly kicker of about $200.  

You will be making about $1000- $1200 ONLY during basic training and MOS training also call AIT (Advanced individual training)  Once you get back from basic and AIT and you start school, your paid only for the time you spend at drills and your two wk drills.

Like I said i was sceptical and hoped not to be fed a bunch of Bull **** either, but i did my research and am happy with my choic to join the ARNG at the end of this month.  Hope the info helps.  Email me if you got mor questions ill be happy to try and help