I have done plenty of research on this sub and others. Earnestly seeking some advice. Someone please, talk me out of this or fully convince me. Thank you kindly in advance.
TLDR: Signing as 37F next week and looking for any last minute advice.
I have a slot reserved as a 37F out of California. I have a week to decide. Full candor-- I am primarily seeking the added benefits (though sincerely appreciate and respect all who serve and what you folks do, and see it as something to be proud of). I am married with a young child and am in my late 20's. I don't want to sign up and regret, or forgo this opportunity and rue that in the years to come. I'm not going to join later when I'm less phsycially capable and have more children or obligations to deal with. Now or never.
Pros: VA home loan (no other possible path to home buying in California). Cheap health insurance in case of future children, futue health scares, anything (cost me almost 10 grand when my child was born and wiped out our savings and got me started on this path of reserves). Transferring GI bill to child in future (if I stay in long enough). Major chunk out of student loans via enlistment bonus (I owe quite a bit, my bad on that). Cheaper car insurance through USAA (never been in an accident but shout out California). Potential breaks on future costs like home insurance, veterans discounts, etc. Potential new skills and/or career pathways/resume addition.
Cons: Could find that I don't love it (have advanced degrees and a strong position in my career, might not love going in as a specialist-- not intending to go the officer route straight up, but potentially later.) I do not work in a field totally correlated to 37F, though I am in communications/broadcasting. Maybe everything is propaganda, I can't call it. More importantly-- leaving wife at home for 6 months alone with baby (family is close and here to help, but still, she didn't marry into this. She sees the benefits but is worried about the toll). Leaving my career for 6 months...more on that: I have a job I love, that I would never want to trade, even it meant more money. It pays me well enough to surive and I can hold my head up doing good work for a good cause. My boss understands my situation and has said he'll support this. However, and this would apply to family too, 6 months now could be longer in the future. Frequent (or near-future) deployments could strain both my family and standing with my employer. I am doing this to sustain my career and support my family-- not upend them both.
I am worried I may sign up and be resented by my family and workplace, hate what I do, and potentially find myself on a dangerous deployment. Conversely, I am worried I forgo an amazing opportunity and find myself uncertain how to support my family in an expensive area, potentially buried in medical bills with future children, renting forever, and forced to either: a.) move away from family or b.) find a high paying, better benefits type of career, to stay in my area, doing something I don't love the way I do my current job. Either choice is a gamble.
Also curious what the hell 37F gets up to. Seen a lot of different versions online about what it's like. Not sure how frequent or how sketchy deployments are. Not sure what exactly they do on a drill weekend.
Your feedback is truly appreciated. I know this is my decision to make but want to get as much info as possible. Thank you so much.