What are the benefits of being in the Marines?

The benefits of being in the Marines are free housing, free education, and others. Marines dedicate their lives to help protect the United States and its interests, and because of this, the compensation to be a Marine can be extremely beneficial.

• Free Housing. If you are a working Marine, you can receive free housing benefits at whichever base you live. These are not just barracks but can be condos or homes. If you decide to live off base, you do receive a stipend on top of your monthly payments.

• Free Education. The GI bill, which passed in 1944, provided a way for members of the military, including the Marines, to have a large portion of their educational costs covered by the military. This can be extremely beneficial if you plan on entering college, but don't want to go into student loan debt.

• Healthcare and Insurance. While healthcare costs rise throughout the United States, the cost of military healthcare stays at $0, as all Marines have health insurance through the Marines. This is a great way to have insurance and not have to pay extensive amounts for it.

• Pay and Retirement. If you are planning on a career as a Marine, there is a wonderful retirement plan available. Even if not, Marines can be paid well, especially when you factor in that they will not need to pay for housing, insurance, or education.

• Marketable Skills. There are many programs through the Marines that are extremely helpful in teaching skills that will be marketable after you leave the service. People who work as mechanics can learn those skills in the military and then easily transfer them to post-military life.