okay i've recently been hit with an $18,000 debt from the social security administration due to an error on their part. basically after my father died we started getting social security payments each month based on his last years salary. buuuuuut turns out they fucked up somehow with the W2 information so they were overpaying us by a few thousand dollars each year. this money was vital to my family's income. so a few months ago we got a letter from the social security admin. saying that they had overpaid us about approx. $18,000 the last few years. now my family is getting considerably less money from social security while also being forced to pay back this pretty large debt. we have to make regular payments on this debt or we risk being denied government services (such as student loans, etc)

i've been thinking a lot about WHAT I WANT TO DO IN MY LIFE lately. music school really isn't realistic anymore (i'm not good enough to really do any of the lucrative music related jobs) and is quite expensive. i've always wanted to travel and get out of fucking virginia and now with this debt plus my student loans i will be looking at quite a large debt. i'm not really a big fan of enlisting the military but it really seems like the easiest way to not be completely fucked. i figured the navy would be the least offensive with also the most opportunities to travel around and see shit. i also heard they have a debt repayment incentive and would also obviously help with schooling if i decided to go to grad school or whatever. if i do enlist (i haven't fully decided one way or the other) it would be after i finished a 4 year college.

basically if any of you guys have any information on the military and how much it sucks/rules and more importantly how much money and assistance i would be getting this would be swell. politically and morally i'm not really that gung ho about any military service but C.R.E.A.M ya know?? i would rather be doing some shit job off the coast of southeast asia than doing some shit job in lynchburg virginia.

also i've googled shit quite extensively but it's full of enlisted guys talking about SERVING YOUR COUNTRY and shit so i'd rather not take anything they say seriously

What branch are you interested in?  I know mostly about the Army since my father was a soldier until I was 16.  I would strongly recommend against the Army because the pay sucks and they will eat your soul.  

My dad's advice to me about the military was this: if you have to enlist, join either the Coast Guard or Air Force.  They provide the best services to the enlistees out of all the branches.

i said the navy!

i said the navy!

Ah sorry, I didn't read that closely.

I've heard Navy is the worst. 

Buuuuut, if you feel it is your calling, please don't let me dissuade you.

did you read my post at all man? it is by no means a CALLING.

i'm getting out of the army soon but there's no place i know with better benefits (read: the greater military in general).  just be prepared to deal with a whole lot of bullshit.

What branch are you interested in?  I know mostly about the Army since my father was a soldier until I was 16.  I would strongly recommend against the Army because the pay sucks and they will eat your soul.  

the base pay is actually the same across all five branches.  but they'll eat your soul.

did you read my post at all man? it is by no means a CALLING.

Yes, I read it... I just read it quickly.

It sounds like you're very low on options though, and the Navy seems to be the lesser of all evils for you.  The experience you get will be very helpful later in life, and job security is pretty great.  It would open up a lot of opportunities the further you go.

A lot of good could come out of it for you, so if you can, talk with a recruiter.  Just keep in mind that he needs to recruit X number of people, so they will practically beg you to join.

A lot of good could come out of it for you, so if you can, talk with a recruiter.  Just keep in mind that he needs to recruit X number of people, so they will practically beg you to join.

they are actually cutting mission by a lot.  the way it sounds is that they're getting ready for a drawdown.  army recruiters will even shut down people with college degrees because they just don't have the slots.  if you're going to do it, do it after october.

also the reason job security is great is because they don't fucking let you leave.  just in case that isn't clear.  i know you probably know but just putting that out there in general

they are actually cutting mission by a lot.  the way it sounds is that they're getting ready for a drawdown.  army recruiters will even shut down people with college degrees because they just don't have the slots.  if you're going to do it, do it after october.

shit.  I was planning to join the Air Force if I end up not being able to get a job in the next five months. 

you live in virginia you fucking dumbass, go to seaschool with the money you were gonna use for college or save up a grand or two, go to maryland and train like I did then go to norfolk and ship out of there, you'll make lots of money and not be a government slave.

Edit: how close are you to norfolk because it is literally the best shipping area in the entire country and you'd be pretty much set after a year and a half of schooling or so.

lol i have maybe enough money left in my COLLEGE FUND to finish community college. i make minimum wage working at mcdonalds saving up a grand is pretty hard dude. especially when i have to help with a lot of bills and pay social security.

I'd honestly lend you the money if I had it and knew you'd go through with it and pay me back later. You should atleast visit the hall there and see if you might be interested. I'm sure you could get a loan or something and I might be off on the grand thing but I know its over 500$ but as long as you finish the school its a very very good investment specially if you live in or around norfolk.

i live several hours away from norfolk

also man i'm definitely finishing college before i do anything.

yes my mom works for a lawyer we checked to see if there were any way we could not repay.

why are you paying it? You're the son right? its not your responsibility?

I know you prolly don't want to leave your mom hanging and alot of it went to you and your siblings but you're just fucking kids. this seems like total bullshit with you being what 20? and having to deal with this stupid shit.

That's not really true though, I haven't really changed my thoughts since I joined the Air Force, but the military is a difficult life in general if you can't deal with the bullshit they want from you, but if you can, it really isn't a bad life, hell I get to live Germany for free because I'm stationed over here.

I don't know much about the Navy, my brother is in it though, so if you have any questions I'll try and get a hold of him and ask him.  But otherwise, talk to a recruiter to see what they have to say, if you finish college first you could go in as an officer, and that's a lot more money there than just enlisting, like a thousand dollars more than I make now after being in for a year just when you would be starting out in basic, so I'd defiantly encourage that.