Need to finish my Bachelor's. But will I have time to in the Military?

Is suggest taking a long look at this website: http://www.military.com/Recruiting/Content/0,13898...

You'll find a,lot of answers to your questions.

Good luck.

BTW, don't ask here "what branch should I join"....the answers will be what is best for the answerer.

Joining the reserves will provide you with time to finish. However, which branch you join will determine how much your education benefits are worth. The Navy has tuition assistance for the reserves but it is only around $4500 per year and that is not a lot of money. The same holds true for the Marine Corps and the Air Force. The Army reserves sometimes offer what is called a kicker for soldiers who hold a mos (job specialty) that is in high demand or a soldier who is in a unit that is undermanned. The kicker is not bad. The best deal tends to come from the National Guard both Air and Army. In many states, the guard will pay tuition for guard members who attend a state university. This is usually more than the $4500 amount. In terms of having time, no matter what the branch you will first have to complete basic and your tech school (army calls it AIT). In the Army reserves or guard you can do split option. This means that you go to basic one summer and then ait the next. The problem is that you do not qualify for your educational benefits until you finish ait so if you are joining for college money it makes more sense to just go straight through basic and ait. I believe that the other branches require going straight through basic and tech school.

Once you finish your initial training. You return home and drill with your assigned unit once a month and for your two week annual training. Most drill weekends are all day Saturday and all day Sunday. However, if you are going to the field for a training exercise or for weapons qualification, you may have to report on Friday night and then are released on Sunday. Usually the December drill is only one day Saturday your units family readiness program and holiday party. Your two week annual training can be scheduled any time throughout the year. If it occurs while you are in school, you have to make arrangements with your professors to complete work on time. If you are employed, you also have to let your employer have a copy of your drill schedule so that he can plan accordingly. Legally, you cannot be fired for being a reserve or guard but you must make sure that you keep your employer informed about your training dates.

However, before you sign any papers for the guard make sure that your state actually pays the tuition. You do not want to do something thinking that your school will be paid for and then end up where you started from. You also have to understand that while you are in any branch of the reserves or guard, you can be deployed while in school. You become deployable the minute you finish your tech school. Deployment depends on the needs of the military and your unit's mission. Some reserve units deploy frequently and some deploy but not as much. A reservist can count on being deployed at least once for every 5 years served. If you join the guard, you can be called up for state emergencies and disasters as well. Lets say you live in Pittsburgh, if there is a disaster in the middle of the state that requires massive assistance, you can be sent to the area that needs help. This happened during hurricane Katrina as soldiers were mobilized from all over LA and Mississippi.

It really depends on your age. Look up on the different websites for each branch and find the qualifications page. It should tell you there. Also, you may be able to become an officer with that degree of yours (when you get it). So I say depending on what you want to do (or whatever your degree is) find the branch that may have that and look there. Example: the Navy you can join active no later than 34 and reserves no later I believe 37.

Now, joining and then finishing the degree.... i am not sure about that but really just talk to a recruiter of the branch you want and that you qualify for.

Hope this give you some help. I was looking at this same issue but decided to finish college and then go in.