If you're really serious, ask yourself some honest questions - What kind of life do you want? What do you want to accomplish? Can these be accomplished in the military?
Mostly, we cannot have everything we want, but if we can fulfil some, that's good enough, make sure it's the important ones.
If it is just big $$$$ - then you got to take big risks.
Many of us didn't choose military because of the regimentation. And admittedly, many of us are softies. I have two school friends who signed on and today, they are high-ranking officers with responsibilities and well-balanced familiy lives (at least that is what's apparent to us.)
The others in the private sectors - its a mix, the materially comfortable, and the not-so. Most carry on as average dudes.
The army isn't as bad as many make it out to be - you judge yourself.
3k or 7k or 10k - it's the lifestyle you choose. Some people can be happy with that, others can't make it even if they earned ten times that sum.
Cheers!
