Military Service

[Jonaleth Irenicus]

They have mailed my "last call" to military service to my home back in Istanbul. Another problem to be dealt with. I'll have to get some papers to the military to tell them that I am attending university here and that I can't serve my country right now.

This leads me to think, what is the military service in your country? Here it is 18 months (yes, eighteen...)

[Pispotje]

None, only on free will

[Elessar]

Only on free will here, plus we get perks, like our military will pay for our college(university) education if we sign on for so many years, and they give a sign-on bonus

Elessar

[Jonaleth Irenicus]

Do people sign on military and then go to college with the funding? Is there any limit to that funding by the way? How many years do you have to serve?

I wasn't surprised by the answers, since I know mostly military is more like a "job" in other countries. It is also a "job" here too, but we don't have college funding (state universities are very cheap here) or sign on bonus (or that monthly payment when you serve the military for a certain amount of time).

It always looks like Turkey can never have enough soldiers to arm the country, so we have military sorvice for every men of age. And they nail you the instant you graduate from high school unless you attend university

[Khan]

Sounds like it is here in germany only that our service currently is 9-12 months. The army actually is desperate to not aquire too many men for military duty cause they need to save money.

You can choose here if you want to do 9 months military service or 12 months civil work (you know hospitals, charity organizations etc.)

so you are just postponing it? well I guess the sooner you get through with it the better.

[taurendil]

[quote=Khan";p="130906"] well I guess the sooner you get through with it the better.[/quote]

Not quite. If you enlist after med school, you'll get a nice and easy term as a doctor, compared to what you would have to go trough as a fresh 20 year old boy.
Forced military service was abolished in Belgium about 12 years ago btw.

[Jonaleth Irenicus]

Yep, I think I have to go to another city where all med school graduates are sent for two months, learn how to handle a gun, and then serve at a military hospital (with a good pay I figure).

I have known some doctors that actually continued serving in the military hospital (or the city the military sent them) well after their service was over.

I think our army doesn't need to save money, my guess is (I don't think you could get official values on this) that the Turkish army is the wealthiest organisation in Turkey (yes, including the government).

I guess it's all about the fact that Turkey is in a "difficult" area on the world map.

[Elessar]

[quote=Jonaleth Irenicus";p="130851"]Do people sign on military and then go to college with the funding? Is there any limit to that funding by the way? How many years do you have to serve?

I wasn't surprised by the answers, since I know mostly military is more like a "job" in other countries. It is also a "job" here too, but we don't have college funding (state universities are very cheap here) or sign on bonus (or that monthly payment when you serve the military for a certain amount of time).[/quote]

Yes, we have several people who do it that way because most universities are quite expensive (starting in my area around $220 US per semester hour and going up from there, not including books or fees. Multiply that by an average course load of 12-15 semester hours...) They're required to give somewhere around 4-6 years (not sure about the actual number right now) and I think the limit is somewhere around $38,000 depending on branch of the service. You get to choose pretty much whichever university you want to go to (assuming you meet the admission requirements I'm sure). I think you do basic training first, then get stationed whereever you want to go to university.(since I'm not doing it, I'm not 100% sure how that part works ). Promotions usually tack another couple of years onto the required term of service.

Take care
Elessar

[Éowyn]

Lucky me (:
I don't have to do anything, but I can if I want

[Jonaleth Irenicus]

Doesn't that cause problems? Like leaving education for 4-6 years and returning to it after so much time?

I'm not sure, but SAT and AP scores are only valid for a certain time, so if you do military service, you have to take the exams again, right?




Hmmm. Eowyn in camoufladge and with a machine gun... May I say that "feels" sexy

[Elessar]

Well, you go to college/university, then you serve your term in the military. This will also determine what field you are in while serving this term. After all, if the military pays for your education, it should get to make use of it, no?

Of course, this benefits the person as well, since by the time he/she gets out, he/she has not only the degree, but a few years of practical experience under his/her belt.

Take care
Elessar