about.

Thanks for the complement.

But I would  have done it even without the benifits...which are grossly overstated by the way. 

There is nothing remotely cradle to grave about it.

I only lived in Govt housing once...and they forced me to do that. At the time the civilian overbuilt in that particular town...houses were cheap.  When you do, you forfeit your housing allowance...basically rent.

I had health care...but you cant expect a fighting force to be effective without that capability.

My family had what amounted to work provided health insurance. After 1972 they never saw another military doctor.The difference is that your work provided health insurance was much better. Ours paid at the the Medicare rate and only to approved doctors. We had to carry supplemental coverage.

I don't get free health care as a retiree contrary to popular belief. I pay about 3500 a year now...still not as high as some...but not free.

If you think there is job security in the military...think again.  Officers and enlisted men are forced out at the tune of about 1/4 of the force very year due to tenure and promotion policies, that can be changed by decree of the force Secretaries.

On the up side, I had big, complicated machines to play with. Cant beat that. Nothing better than watching  a 1 billion dollar ship head down the channel based on your work.

Back to the subject. I am amused when I hear a citizen grouse about how the 'government " controls his or her life. When I ask , exactly how the "government" controls their life I usually get some nebulous description of what the founders said...overwrought descriptions of "freedom", quotes from Braveheart and other stuff.

So Ken If you please, tell me how the goverment controls your life.