Joining the military can offer great benefits, knowledge and a chance to make some of the best friends you will ever meet. There are many incentives that the military offers soldiers, as well as assistance that can help years after enlistment. Here are just a few of the military benefits that are well known, and can provide security for the future:

Enlistment Bonus
• Offers bonuses to recruits who fill jobs that are needed by the service
• Depending on the branch, the maximum bonus may vary
• Some services will also give an additional bonus for joining boot camp within a certain time
• Most often bonus is paid in lump sum, but can also be paid in annual payments
College Fund
• Some services offer a college fund to soldier who fill spots within jobs that are hard to fill
• This fund is in addition to the Montgomery G.I. Bill
College Loan Repayment Program
• Basically repays all or part of a college loan in return for enlistment
• Loans that can be paid include: Stafford Student Loan, Perkins Loan and Federally Insured Student Loans, among others

Buddy Program
• Allows 2 or more individuals of the same sex to enlist together, and also go through basic training together. If the soldiers have the same job, they are also able to go through that respective training together, and in some cases can even assure the soldiers that they will be assigned to their first station together.

The United States Navy can help with a variety of incentives or bonuses, no matter where you are in life. There are many educational benefits that can be taken advantage of including:
• Earning money for college
• Getting a degree in the Navy
• Paying off student loans
• Learning valuable life and career skills
• Earning advanced degrees

The Navy places importance on education, and expects all recruits to have at least a high school diploma and all Officers to have a college degree. Since they Navy encourages all recruits to get a higher education, they are willing to provide money for advanced schooling and help pay off existing loans.