Thanks for the help everybody, but I will be joining the military soon, and I was wondering if there are any mustachians like me doing it in the service. I was curious about how your experiences with it are, what techniques you use to maximize benefits, reduce costs, etc. Thank you all in advance!
Quite a few of us-- at least a dozen, and probably a few dozen more lurkers.
The military will teach you where the line exists between frugality & deprivation. You may decide that you can be more frugal than you currently realize.
Go figure out your pay here:
http://www.dfas.mil/dms/dfas/militarymembers/pdf/MilPayTable2014.pdfand ask us your questions. Your spouse is the one who'll really have to understand what's coming in and how much can be spent, and it's quite possible that your spouse will end up managing most of the money while you're seeing the world. Your first few months in uniform are a terrible time to figure out your pay and insurance.
Keep tracking your spending and try to figure out a budget. You may not be able to maximize your contributions to the Roth TSP (yet), but put in as much as you can and keep investing aggressively in the TSP's C, S, & I funds.
http://the-military-guide.com/2010/12/27/where-to-put-your-savings-in-the-militar/http://the-military-guide.com/2012/03/19/is-the-roth-thrift-savings-plan-right-for-you/http://the-military-guide.com/2012/08/01/ask-your-dad-if-you-should-contribute-to-the-roth-tsp/Whether or not you already have a college degree, the military will encourage you to get (another) one. You don't need to care about the GI Bill right at this very moment, but be aware that it's a good deal.
When (not "if") you deploy to a combat zone, you can contribute more money to special programs. For now, just be aware that you can put a lot of money away on deployment and make huge strides toward FI. Or you can spend that same money to enjoy epic liberty and have fantastic memories-- while you're working for the rest of your life.
Take your military service one obligation at a time. When the fun stops, that's a signal to leave active duty for the Reserves/National Guard. Your spouse probably has a 51% vote on helping you decide when the fun stops.
You will learn technical & leadership skills. You'll also acquire a huge portfolio of squishier skills in motivation, discipline, perseverance, staying calm under pressure, taking charge in emergencies, crisis management, risk management, and telling sea stories. Surprisingly, civilian employers seem to feel that these skills are in short supply and they'll pay good money for them. Do not let yourself fall prey to the "military inferiority complex" of thinking that you have to stay in uniform and tough it out to 20.
This next bit of advice will seem pretty stupid, but I've seen it happen to a lot of servicemembers: don't smoke. (If you're smoking now, then quit today before a recruit instructor decides to "help" you quit.) If you must acquire a nicotine habit, then get Nicorette chewing gum or a patch. It's not cheap, but it's a lot cheaper than tobacco or e-cigarettes. Coffee and "energy drinks", of course, are still widely accepted.
As for being in great physical condition before you start recruit training: you don't have to worry about that. I'm sure that the recruit instructors will take an intense personal interest in helping you and your new shipmates reach peak performance...
