To Utah’s youth, especially 17 to 24-year- olds, service in the Army is awesome. There are so many benefits today’s youth can get before, during and after service. For example, new recruits can combine several bonuses for an enlistment package of up to $50,000. These bonuses can include active Army or reserve enlistment bonus, quick ship bonus, job signing bonus and civilian acquired skills bonus; that’s a lot of bonuses for today’s youth in Utah!
Beyond a guaranteed base salary, the Army offers immediate benefits such as a super high quality, low or no cost health and dental care, better rates on home loans and excellent retirement and pension plan options.
During service, the total Army benefits continue for both individuals and their families, along with work-life balance and career development opportunities. Work-life balance, in the Army, is better than expected and includes 30 days paid time off yearly for all full-time Soldiers, family benefits like paid parental leave for both new Moms and Dads and perks/incentives for travel discounts.
Families of Soldiers have access to TRICARE health care plans – the same ones offered to Soldiers – to ensure all members of the Army community can stay healthy and build strong futures. The Army offers a New Parent Support Program that is staffed by nurses, social workers and home visitation specialists to support expectant and current parents with home visits, prenatal and parenting classes, play groups and so much more. Additionally, the Exceptional Family Members Program (EFMP) works with other military and civilian agencies to provide excellent support to families with special needs. For those Soldiers who already have children, no worries! Full-time, part-time, before and after school care, camps during vacations and hourly care is available to families with children from four weeks to school-age for in-home and day care services.
Looking for education and career training at little to no cost? The Army can help pay for school and help Utah’s youth achieve their career goals with education and training benefits. Imagine up to full college tuition covered with the GI Bill, or over 1,500 advanced training certifications and credentials and even tuition assistance and loan repayment assistance: that’s amazing!
“For those considering joining the military, you will not regret it. If you do it right and go in with a plan. The military has given me a degree and certifications for free. I’ve had seven children and have no medical debt. My resume looks better than most of my peers my age who didn’t join,” writes Shana Hutchins, Public Affairs Officer at Tooele Army Depot.
Soldiers can keep their retirement plan even after service. Similar to a 401(k) plan, the Thrift Savings Plan (TSP), puts a percentage of every paycheck into a Soldier’s retirement fund. After leaving the Army, those accounts stay open, funds will continue to build and money can be added for other qualifying retirement programs.
Not to mention the awesome places that 17 to 24-year-olds get a chance to travel to, places outside of the great state of Utah, such as: South Korea, Kuwait, Iraq, discrete locations in Africa and most recently, places in Eastern Europe, like Poland, Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia.
Tooele Army Depot’s Chief of Staff, Ryan Welch states, “As a U.S. Army vet, I feel the skills and knowledge, gained from the core values the Army instilled, has helped in the current world environment. The ability to plan, adapt and stay resilient in any situation has served me well in my personal and professional life.”
What about after Army service is complete? The Army has benefits for veterans, including a lifetime of benefits such as; exclusive employment resources, pension plans, health care and much more. Beginning up to two years before the end of service, the Transition Assistance Program (TAP), helps Soldiers prepare to leave the Army and create an action plan for what’s next in their lives. Career counseling and assistance with resume, job application preparation and computer-related skills is available to veterans. Additionally, the GI Bill benefits can be used up to 15 years after leaving service, if Utah’s youth decide to go back to school later in life.
“I have Actual job skills and connections that help me network on an international level. The Army has given me structure and a lot of great qualities. Mostly, the Army has given me belief in myself, I know what I can accomplish now and it’s all thanks to the military,” said Hutchins.
The Army experience can help you get hired after your service is complete. Regardless of the path chosen in the Army, that experience will be in high demand. The leadership and other technical skills acquired in the Army will help individuals succeed in various roles throughout civilian businesses and industries. For example, the Army provides real world experience and hands-on training applicable for in-demand jobs, the Army teaches essential problem-solving skills for running a successful business, and Soldiers in the Army learn personal discipline to handle pressure and overcome challenges.
“Two of the bigger skills I gained from my military experience that has helped in my current career is flexibility and team work. It doesn't matter what your job is, you have to be willing to work with others and remain flexible in our ever changing environment,” says Jennifer Fischer, a Production Controller at Tooele Army Depot and retired U.S. Army Veteran of 23 years. “We are all here to support the Warfighter and we all play a role in the success of our Nation's Military.”
These are just some of the amazing benefits the Army provides. So if today’s youth from Utah want to join the greatest team ever, experience Army service and see the world, they can always come back to Utah and find jobs as Army civilians at numerous local military installations such as Tooele Army Depot.
*https://www.goarmy.com/benefits.html
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