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in fact, they really get after you to get your annual check-ups. Think about it: you'll never have to pay for a new pair of glasses or a filling while you're serving your time in the Army! These benefits are also available to family members for a small fee that comes right out of your paycheck (but it's optional).

LONG WEEKENDS AND VACATIONS
One of the most beautiful parts of Army service is the fact that they recognize that you work hard all week, so they cut you a break every now and then. Most GI's get every holiday off (depending on their job), and each month there's a reason to give Soldiers a 3- or 4-day weekend. On Schofield Barracks, where I'm stationed now, we get a 3-day weekend every time we make it 100 days without a fatal car crash involving a Soldier - there's even a sign at the gate telling us how many days it's been since the last one (we're up to 400 and some days right now).

As a Soldier, you'll earn 2.5 days of paid vacation time every month. We call it "leave," and you can use it whenever you need it (although it does have to be approved by your higher-ups). You can save it all up and take a month-long paid vacation every year, or use a little bit here and there - it's totally up to you.

RETIREMENT
If you choose to retire from military service, you can. Twenty years of service to your country nets you part of the pay you were getting while you were working each month - and the longer you serve, the more you get when you retire.

I'm not saying that a career in the Army is for everyone; in fact, it's only perfect for a small percentage of people - but if you think it doesn't sound all bad, give it a chance by talking to a recruiter. The worst that can happen is that you'll have a guy in uniform standing on your doorstep who's trying to convince you that you can't afford to miss this opportunity!

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