Army Benefits

Everyone's probably heard of the Army's Money for College program, but the Army offers much more than that. The list below is what I can think of right off the top of my head; expect to see more information added frequently.

Army College Fund and Montgomery GI Bill
College Loan Repayment
Tuition Assistance
Job Training
Pay and Promotions
Travel Opportunities
Retirement Income
Thrift Savings Plan
Other Benefits

Army College Fund and Montgomery GI Bill

The Army offers a maximum of $70,000 for college through the Army College Fund. The ACF supplements the basic Montgomery GI Bill entitlement, which means you must participate in the basic MGIB to receive the ACF. To learn more about both the ACF and MGIB, visit GoArmy.com. For a summary of the Montgomery GI Bill, visit the MGIB website.

College Loan Repayment

Under the college loan repayment program, the Army will repay up to $65,000 of a soldier's qualifying student loans. To learn more about this program, visit GoArmy.com.

Tuition Assistance

The Tuition Assistance (TA) Program provides financial assistance for voluntary off-duty education programs in support of a soldier's professional and personal self-development goals. To learn more about this program, visit the US Army Education website. To see the statement of understanding for Army tuition assistance, visit Fort Leavenworth's education center.

Job Training

The Army offers over 200 jobs(complete list). Many of these jobs will provide you with valuable work experience that will help you in the civilian world. Employers know the value of Army training and the dedicated service experiences of young men and women.

Pay and Promotions

According to a report released by the Navy Times, Army promotions are faster than any other service. The Navy is second, the Marines are third, followed by the Air Force, and finally the Coast Guard. Though all services are paid the same for their rank, since promotions are faster in the Army, it is possible you could make more money in the Army. To see the pay differences between ranks, visit our ranks page.

Travel Opportunities

Just like the other services, the Army gives you wonderful opportunities to see the world. Visit army.mil to see a map of all the US military installations around the globe.

Retirement Income

Serving 20 years in the military entitles you to a monthly retirement income of half the base pay for the pay grade you held at the time of your retirement. For instance, if you retired after 20 years as an E-8, you would receive a monthly payment of half the amount you would normally receive if you were still in the military.

Thrift Savings Plan(TSP)

The Thrift Savings Plan is a federal government sponsored retirement savings and investment plan similiar to a 401K. It gives you several different investment options ranging from fixed income funds(safe with low returns) to stock options, which can give you high returns on your investment, but also present higher risks. For in depth information, visit the official Thrift Savings Plan web site.

Other Benefits

The Army provides housing, food, medical, dental, and relocation/transportation costs for you and your family. You also receive 30 days paid leave(2.5 a month) each year and a $250,000 life insurance policy when you enlist.