Was joining the military worth the experience even without any college financial aid?

I'll just say (probably with some small controversy) that ROTC is NOT the military.  It is a training program to help prepare a civilian for more training to become an officer.  If you wish to become an officer in the Air Force, it's a good start - as preparation for the basics you will be learning at the beginning of OCS.  Also, if you're interested in another branch, you can still take SOME of the Air Force ROTC courses offered at your university, then apply for OCS in that branch.  The Professional Officer's Course is only for those going into the Air Force (scholarship students are also committed, but you indicated you weren't going for the scholarship). 

Yes. It formed who I am now and gave me life lessons that would take writing a book to convey. Let me sum it up this way: After doing tours on three submarines (me personally) or tours in a war zone (not me but multiple friends) day to day things that really confound other people just don't ruin my day. Every day the sky is blue and I see a sunrise or sunset I smile inside and remember the 72 days straight I didn't. Jules

I did not have the financial means to go to college after high school. College wasn't something my family did. We were lower working class. I did well in school but college was for others.I joined the Army because I was patriotic and I wanted to be a soldier. I served seven years in the Army as an enlisted man and did very well.I got out and went to Georgia Tech, graduating as a civil engineer. And I've done very well since then.I met three of the finest men I've been privileged to know while in the Army. I learned how to endure against some incredible challenges.  I had a ton of adventures, because I volunteered and I sought them out.To be sure, I met some incredible dunes in the Army, some as bad as is common in civilian life (smiling). I wouldn't take anything for it.

I might not be able to answer your question like you would want but I am a cadet from Texas A&M University. The way our system works is that anyone can join the Corps (assuming good grades and in decent physical abilities). The first two years in the Corps you have to take ROTC courses. At the end of the second year you can either contract with the military (you can actually do this any time before that second year as well) and remain in ROTC for the next two years or you can choose not to contract. If you choose not to contract you will still be a cadet who remains for the leadership training for the civilian sector. All I know that might be useful for you is that we give two years for you to figure out if you want to commission or not. I can give you more details on our system if you ask me. I try to recruit for our university and I'd love to share information with you. And do keep in mind importance of school. You will learn a lot while in the military but if you decide on retiring, it would be nice to have a degree you can fall back on (in addition to your skill training from the military).

Here is something you should know.  You educational benefits can transfer.  You can transfer your benefits to your children, that's what I did.  I completed my degree while I was on active duty.  I didn't use the GI Bill at all.  The post 9/11 GI Bill was transferred to my kids.  In addition you have a preference when applying for GS positions that''s based on your service only, not your education.  If you ever look at USA Jobs you will find lot of jobs that are only open to veterans.  And, like so many have pointed out, service to your country is it's own benefit.

I joined the AF out of high school in 1954 for two reasons. One was the GI bill for college and the other was to keep from having to go to work in a Pittsburgh area steel mill. The experience in the AF led me to realize what I wanted in the way of an education (Electrical Engineering), but more important than anything was the friendship with those I served with. After going thru grade and hi school with the same people for twelve years, and for three years in college, I haven't had any communications with any of those people (can't even remember anyone from college). However I'm still in communications with the friends I made in the AF. We have yearly reunions just to reminisce about the times we spent together. If I hadn't made it thru college, I would have reenlisted in the AF.

Yes. I am a better man, a better leader, a better person, all as a direct result of my 8 years service.

I received my commission via OTS after graduating from college.  I don't regret my decision to go into the military one bit.  It was the most fulfilling experience of my life.  I met wonderful people from every part of the country and shared experiences with them that you can't get anywhere else.  Received great training, traveled to wonderful places that will provide a lifetime of memories.  And ended up in a career that I could only have dreamed of directly as a result of my military service.

Ask me in 10 years and I might say yes.  Having the military on my resume along with my security clearance has opened some doors for me and will make it easier for me to get a federal job down the road.  But, and this is a big one, aside from the preference I get at some jobs and the impressive resume billets I get from having been in the service I didn't get much out of my time in the military.  I only stayed in a long as I did to give my wife and I time to finish college.  I came in to be an IT, a choice that my recruiter assured me would lead me to becoming a highly trained professional in the Information Technology field.  The only thing he didn't tell me was that when I got out I would also need a time machine to go back to 1980 so that I could put my experience to use because that was when most of the technology I would be working with was built.  My first enlistment I spent most of my time trying to keep equipment that was older then I was operational.  Sure there are some select  bullets that you can get if you are extremely lucky where you get to work with cutting edge technology but in most cases military networks are laughably dated.  Not to mention that there is a very good chance that you can wind up working a job that has nothing to do with the rate you signed up for.  The only thing that is certain is that by the time you get out of the Navy you will be a kick ass janitor.When I got out after my first enlistment I couldn't get the kind of jobs that I wanted.  The best I could do was insurance.  Then the economy crashed right after I had gotten married and just before my wife was to have our first child.  I knew that my job wasn't going to last long so went down to the recruiters office and told the Devil, "double or nothing."  A few months later I was back in the Navy only this time I had no expectations that my military training would count for anything when I got out.I went to school in my own time and pursued my certifications.  Not an easy thing to do when you are getting sent out to sea every other month (carrier life).  It may have taken me longer then it would have if I hadn't been in the Navy but the Navy did provide a good security blanket for my family while I got it done.  That is the best that I can say for it.If I had it all to do over again though, I never would have joined the military to begin with.  I think its fine for people who want to make it a career but if you are just looking for a way to improve your station in life then I think there are much better ways to go about it.  Going to college for example even if I had to take loans would have been better in the long run.  I would be mid career by now instead of just starting out.  If you do decide to go into the military then I say you should make sure you know what you are wanting to get out of it before you sign.  If you aren't not in it for a career then don't screw around, get your school done while you are in so you can hit the ground running when you get out.