While I wouldn't want to go the mercenary route with the USM, I can see doing that in a military branch where you're less likely to die (or get maimed), such as the US Navy or USAF.

My state university tuition amounted to approx $8000 a year. That is with zero scholarships. I paid for it with 100% loans; my parents paid zip. Once I started working, I paid off that part of my loans easily (no I didn't earn that much in the beginning; they paid me crap). I don't understand the big cry over tuition. Just go to your state university.

Castle Pokemetroid
I have a novel that I'm writing. I need like two chapters, and it's done. If I get it published (which I have no idea how to get something published, then have it sold) would that be enough to get me through a community college?

Unless it is a major hit, no. Writing is an art. Most artists are poor. Getting something published can also take quite a while, I'm not sure with novels but the fastest turnaround for poems and short stories I've seen is two months. I'd imagine a novel would take significantly longer. Then, you have to go through the editing process which typically takes another one to two months. I'm assuming you're a high school senior hoping to go to college next semester, so I doubt that even if you do get it published you'll see any money from sales before college starts.

As for the military, if you do go it sounds like the air force would be the best for you. You're less likely to see action, they pay for 100% of your schooling and you're less likely to have to be around water. But honestly, if you're a pacifist you really shouldn't join the military at all.

As others have said, look in to scholarships and grants. Look online. Talk to the colleges financial aid people. You might not be able to pay for everything that way but you should be able get a big chunk of it paid for. With a pell grant and scholarships through my school alone I have everything paid for and more. Factor in an extra scholarship I got online and I'm actually making money going to college.

shirkersama
But honestly, if you're a pacifist you really shouldn't join the military at all.

I would like to take the time to point out (again) that there are a ton of pacifists in the military.
There are the medical and religious career fields which are expressly forbidden from taking up arms, except in extreme cases where they will die, if they don't defend themselves. and even then, no one can order them to.
many pacifists join, because they realize there's no way to stop war, but in a medical career field, they can make a difference. because you not only treat your side, but the other side as well.

Maybe it's just because I've read and heard too many horror stories from Vietnam vets, but I find it difficult to believe you can stick to being a pacifist during a war.

If you consider running through a hail of enemy gunfire to rescue that wounded Marine out there in the field as pacifism, yeah more power to you, join the military medics.

I don't care about being a pacifist, I care about dying in some foreign place you never had any business being in, except for the political machinations of people who don't care about you or the USA even while they're waving the flag.

It goes to “what is your definition of the USA?” Is it the people? The Constitution? The government and its campaign contributors?

Yes, someone already said that you don't fight for Uncle Sam, you fight for the guy next to you… But I can't shut the big picture out of my head like a lemming.

mlai
If you consider running through a hail of enemy gunfire to rescue that wounded Marine out there in the field as pacifism, yeah more power to you, join the military medics.

That sort of thing is not what their job is about. If they did that they'd get a medal or two because it's above and beyond the call of duty.

mlai
I don't care about being a pacifist, I care about dying in some foreign place you never had any business being in, except for the political machinations of people who don't care about you or the USA even while they're waving the flag.

That used to be called a “Contentious objector”.

War is a very problematic area overall.

Whatever their job is about, they WILL be situated in an active combat zone.

I don't go into bad neighborhoods at night. Why would I want to go into a country where people shoot AK-47s and RPGs at you? You can't even get shot by those things in Harlem. Yeah, no thanks.

War is stupid overall, unless you're the armchair general who gets to order stupid young people to go die for you. All for $12,000-per-year college tuition. That's how much lower-income people's lives are worth.

People like me and you, in first-world countries, with an “enlightened” mindset… we're lucky, Ozone. We have freed ourselves from the trap of a common source of human misery since Time Immemorial. 1 of the Four Horsemen, War. Not because we live in a country/world with no wars. But because we're smart enough and economically privileged enough to avoid it.

That may seem common, and not lucky. Until you think about how many people in history and today are trapped by or killed by that human misery.

I've known quite a few people that have been in active service.

My dad's cousin was in the navy. Said he used to be in that sub months at a time.
Showed us some of a his tattoos when we were kids. Ended up having to cover some of them up when they docked in Saudi because of their whole “anti-naked people” laws.

I don't think there's any such benefits to those serving in the UK. Even if there were I would fail the medical tests outright. I can't even give blood because I need every drop I have and it wouldn't benefit anyone else that really needs it.

Then again, the gvernment is CUTTING army, navy and ai force jobs here. So I don't think they should really continue recruiting anyway.