I've been told a few times that I seem bitter with the Army - that I have a chip on my shoulder.  That's not the case whatsoever, and it's unfortunate I come across that way at times.  My objective with this site has been simply to give friends and family back home a taste of the reality of Army life.  That means the reality that the recruiters don't tell kids, for better or for worse, and the reality that isn't glamorous enough for Hollywood to package and sell.

 

Like any job, there are good days and bad days; good months and bad months; good bosses and bad bosses; good assignments and bad assignments.  So, in an effort to dispel some of the notions that I'm a broken, bitter grunt, I'm going to outline 10 reasons why this is the Greatest Job in the World.

 

1. I get paid to work out.  Sure, there are days when you want to sleep in, but the Army will never let me get fat.

 

2. I get paid to put rounds downrange.  What red-blooded American doesn't enjoy firing 200-rounds at targets?

 

3. The holidays.  This Christmas season, I will work 7 half-days over a three-week span.

 

4. The vacation.  What other job gives you 30-days paid vacation a year?

 

5. I get paid to study abroad.  Not only does the Army pay 90% of the price for my Masters Degree pursuit with the reputable Troy University, but "I'm studying for class" is always a valid excuse not to be doing real work.

 

6. "I wanted to travel to distant lands, meet ancient and unique cultures, and kill them."  Well, I'm not killing anybody, but can a 24-year old bachelor really complain about being paid to spend a year in a foreign country?

 

7. The training.  Civilians pay hundreds of dollars for a week of mini-boot-camp.  I get paid hundreds of dollars to embark on some of the best training in the world.

 

8. I get to wake up every morning and put on a uniform with the American flag on my shoulder.  "Patriotism" is pretty bullshit when it comes to people deciding whether or not to join, but it's definately a perk.

 

9. The adventure.  I'm getting paid to experience things that people pay $7 to go see at a movie theatre, and watch as an escape from their monotonous 9-5 grind.

 

10. The job security.  Face it, Americans would never allow my job to be outsourced to Pakistani's.

 

I could go on and probably come up with 25 good reasons why this is the Greatest Job in the World, but those are the top ten.  And I think if you asked any given Joe, they'd share at least 5 of these top 10.