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Benefits of Being a Military Officer

Even if you're not too keen on basic training, the benefits of being a military officer would make anyone think of enlisting.

By Rowan MarleyPublished 6 years ago 5 min read
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Most people are very well-aware of the fact that Navy SEALs get paid well, and that military members all get great health benefits. The military is very good to its members and is pretty notorious for acting like a brotherhood.

Among civilians, though, there's this idea that you will have to be a high-ranking military official in order to fully gain all the benefits you're entitled to. However, that's a total myth.

Even being an officer can have a huge amount of perks that would make most civilians turn green with envy. Don't believe it? Check out the following benefits of being a military officer below.

First, you get free healthcare and insurance.

Everyone who is a member of the military gets Tricare and free healthcare as a result of their service. This means fewer insurance problems, reduced living costs, free healthcare, and of course free health care for family members as well.

Better still, the free healthcare still continues on after your two to four years of service are up. Since officers are members of the military, it's safe to say that this is included as one of the benefits of being a military officer.

The paycheck is not too bad, either.

Since all branches of the US Armed Forces have different paycheck scales, it's hard to generalize on paychecks. Regardless of which branch you choose, the pay scale will be much higher than a regular E-9.

For example, if you enlist in the US Army as a Lieutenant, you can expect a starting salary of $35,000. One of the better benefits of being a military officer, though, is the fact that pay increases drastically with every passing year.

Going to college will not be an issue, either.

Did you know that the United States Armed Forces is the largest donor of scholarships in the country? More people get free rides to the college of their choice through enlistment than any other kind of scholarship available.

If you're looking for a civilian career after service, one of the top benefits of being a military officer will be a free ride into the school of your choice. Trust me when I say that a lot of people will be very jealous of knowing that you'll never have to work with Navient.

That Post-9/11 GI bill really does pack a powerful punch, and if you are looking to get a free Master's degree or Doctorate, this might be it. Many officers already have a four-year degree, but if you don't, you can also earn your Bachelor's too!

Since you're a military member, you also get all the military discounts you could want.

Admittedly, this isn't one of the government-provided benefits of being a military officer—but it's still good enough to make this list. Tons of businesses offer military discounts to all members. Military discounts make life a lot cheaper, even when it comes to something as simple as buying soda.

Military officers also have housing options available to them and their families.

Free housing, or deeply discounted housing, is one of the best benefits of being a military officer. Most officers get substantial allowances to cover the basic costs of living if they aren't living on base. The allowances also cover family member goods, food, clothing, and moving expenses.

All things considered, you'll have a lot of extra money with a lot of subsidies. When you're a military member, life is a lot more affordable regardless of where you are.

It's also worth noting that a lot of military officers have an active dating life because they can afford to wine and dine the girls of their dream. No wonder so many ladies love the military wife life!

After your years are up, you also can access U.S. Army Partnership for Youth Success for a new career.

If you're an Army officer, then one of the cooler benefits of being a military officer will be that you have government-sponsored ways to transition to civilian life.

The Army PaYS program, for example, will connect veterans who feel like taking a civilian's role with companies that prefer to hire veterans. Similar programs are established with almost every branch of the military.

There's a lot of career flexibility in the military, especially if you're an officer.

One of the bigger benefits of being a military officer is the fact that you'll have a lot more jobs open to you than if you were enlisted as a private. Many military roles are almost entirely exclusive to officers, and plenty of those jobs are fairly cushy.

Officers can be doctors, lawyers, musicians, or just about anything else, really. Being an officer means you can definitely do a lot more in terms of a career.

Free legal representation is also a major perk.

Going through a divorce? Had a mild mixup? Depending on what kind of legal trouble you've been dealing with, the US Armed Forces may offer you free legal representation for both civil and military matters. No lawyer fees might sound like a small perk, but when you're in trouble, it's one of the best benefits of being a military officer—or any enlistee, really.

There's also way more respect for military officers, both on-base and off-base.

Whether you're in the Air Force, Navy, Army, or National Guard, this remains one of the best benefits of being a military officer. People really, truly respect you. It's one of the intangible benefits that can make a huge difference in life.

The moment people hear that you're an officer, they understand how hard you had to work to get those perks. As a result, most officers typically experience a nice amount of preferential treatment.

Finally, there's the camaraderie of military life.

Perhaps we're just being a bit over-the-top, but you really can't beat the kind of brotherhood military life offers. Being a service member means that you'll find new friends among your coworkers, great bonding experiences, and the kind of network that lasts a lifetime.

All things considered, the benefits of a military officer really make all the hard work worth it—especially when you finally get to meet your fellow service members.

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About the Creator

Rowan Marley

Rowan Marley is a 20-year-old sports enthusiast who hails from Brooklyn. When he's not hitting up a local Zumba class, he's drinking organic smoothies. That's just how he rolls.

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