Do you regret not going to college first out of high school instead of enlisting in the military?

This question is intended for the enlisted military.

I have been in the United States Navy for 2 years now.



I am first generation of Salvadorian decent, born in the United States. When my parents came to the United States one of their dreams was to raise their kids in a better educational environment that they never had in El Salvador. I am the oldest child out of 3 so graduating with a high school diploma was something my parents were really happy about. But, when it came to the next step out of high school that was when I got really confused about my future. I wanted to go to college but, I had no way of figuring out how to pay for it. I took a break for a year after graduation to figure out what I want to do with my life.



So I went in the direction of the military so I can get some leadership skills and a way for the government to pay for my college education. At first my parents didn't agree with my decision. Especially my father he didn't want me to risk my life working for the government, and he even told me one time that %26quot;I rather work in a factory for 20 years then to join the military%26quot;. My family wanted me to continue my education right out of high school and they were expecting more out of me. But, I didn't listen to them and I went in the Navy anyway. I figure I try to make my family proud since I am the very first person in my entire family history to join the military.



In the beginning everything went alright for me. But, as time came by it got to the point that maybe the military wasn't the best decision for me. Don't get me wrong. I don't regret enlisting in and I'm not saying that the military is a wrong path to follow. Sometimes I just feel like this isn't my full potential of what I want to be as an adult. Maybe not even that but, my ship (USS Carl Vinson) has been in the shipyards since 2005 and won't be making a port change to San Diego until 2010. By that time I'll be on my last year in the Navy if I decide to get out.



So I haven't really worked on my real job or done some traveling just because I will spend most of my first enlistment in the shipyards sweeping, swabing the decks and painting around the ship. Which most likely demotivates me from staying in the Navy. But, I am half way done so I will see how this second half of my enlistment goes. My parents eventually accepted the fact that I am in the military and are proud of me for it. But, I feel that this is not enough for me. I think college would have had better preparation for me. I remember I was reading an article by a military veteran saying that %26quot;military experience is nothing compared to a college degree%26quot;. But, then again maybe I wouldn't have taken college seriously because I didn't take high school that seriously either. Perhaps I would have just dropped out of college.



I have a few college courses here in the Navy. But, it's not the same as going to college full time without having work following you all the time 24/7. It's a good thing I fully paid off my GI Bill. But, I think it's just going to suck that I will be gradutating at an older age then if I were to just go to college right out of high school. Perhaps this kind of mentality will help me mature better and do better in college then just the immature kid that I was before I joined the Navy. I used to take advantage of things and took things for granted without even saying thank you before I joined the Navy. But, now that I don't have the same freedom as I used to have as a civilian. I realize just how important it is to appreciate things in life even in the small things.



I just want to know if there is anyone out there that's either in the military or prior military that can tell me if they ever regretted not going to college first and give an explanation of why or why not. I would also appreciate any motivational advise that you can give me. I would greatly appreciate your answer.Do you regret not going to college first out of high school instead of enlisting in the military?
Having a college degree is no guarantee of having a job. If one is going to go to any school, a trade school (electrical, plumbing, etc) is the best bet. However, you can get job experience in the military that no civilian school can offer. Besides the military schools, there's hands on training. Where else can you go to school, get paid, free food, free boarding, free text books, free tutoring and pay raises?

I took college courses while on active duty (on shore and at sea) and used those credits toward my degree, which actually means squat right now. It meant squat when I got it because my job/jobs didn't require one...where I wanted to work. I just enjoyed learning.

My son went to plumbing school, apprenticed and is now 3 in a new construction plumbing company (at 38 years old) and will most likely take over the company in a couple of years when the owner retires...if he doesn't come back to the east coast and start his own business.

(USN retired 1965 - 85)Do you regret not going to college first out of high school instead of enlisting in the military?
I seriously and sincerely regret not having joined the military right out of high school.Do you regret not going to college first out of high school instead of enlisting in the military?
I got one degree on active duty. Then went to college full time when I retired. It's all good.Do you regret not going to college first out of high school instead of enlisting in the military?
I'm glad I went into the military first. I grew up, became more mature, learned responsibility, appreciation, etc...



I wouldn't have appreciated college right out of HS. I see so many kids dropping out, or failing because they really don't understand how much is paid into schooling, or how important their grades are.Do you regret not going to college first out of high school instead of enlisting in the military?
Yes.



Life would have been so different having gone to college first. One thing most of the other people responding failed to point out would be that being a college graduate would probably made them an Officer.



Military life is different for enlisted and officers. No doubt.



I did my job well, got out and went to college. I can only imagine where I might be today if I had done it the other way around and come out of the Navy with rank rather than rating.







g-day!Do you regret not going to college first out of high school instead of enlisting in the military?
I am glad that I joined while in high school. If I was going to go to college why not have them help pay? I'm not planning on having a civilian job anyway. I know that having a degree is always good but I will cross that road when I get to it.Do you regret not going to college first out of high school instead of enlisting in the military?
I joined the USMC as a college freshmen at 19, missed school for about a year and a half then after it's over, I went back to school and served as a reservist. No regrets.Do you regret not going to college first out of high school instead of enlisting in the military?
Never is late to go back to school and i really think that u will have the opportunity again and do what u really want to do in ur life. I'm 100% sure that u are going to do better than if u had gone from high school because u are more mature and u see the things different now. Keep going on and fight for your dreams. Don't give up!!!!!