The Military Millionaire Podcast

The REAL Sacrifices You Make by Joining the Military

Episode Summary

Joining the military comes with more sacrifices than most people realize. Beyond the obvious risks of injury or death, service members give up many aspects of daily life, from personal freedom to family time, and even long-term health. In this episode, I break down the real costs of military service—physical, mental, emotional, and career-related. Whether you’re considering enlisting, are a veteran, or simply want to understand what service members go through, this episode is for you.

I’ll also be sharing my personal experiences from 13 years in the Marine Corps, including deployments, injuries, relationships, and the transition to civilian life. Some sacrifices are tough, but others come with hidden benefits. Stick around to the end to hear my thoughts on whether joining the military is still worth it.

Key Topics Covered:
✅ The immediate sacrifices of joining (cell phones, haircuts, discipline, etc.)
✅ The ultimate sacrifice: injury, death, or being MIA/POW
✅ The physical toll on your body (injuries, disabilities, VA benefits)
✅ Adapting to new cultures, environments, and unpredictable conditions
✅ Sleep deprivation and extreme work schedules
✅ Medical requirements: vaccines, medications, and health risks
✅ The emotional and mental toll of military service
✅ The challenge of maintaining relationships and family life
✅ Career and educational sacrifices
✅ The difficulty of transitioning back to civilian life
✅ My final thoughts: Is joining the military worth it?

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Resources & Mentions

🔗 VA Disability Claims Explained – https://youtu.be/pE5hMMvV88g 
🔗 How to Prepare for Transitioning Out of the Military – https://youtu.be/eHCow5esfCQ 
🔗 House Hacking with the VA Loan – https://youtu.be/0lkdU90PnPg 

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Listener Engagement

💬 Join the Conversation: What’s the biggest sacrifice you made (or would be willing to make) for military service? Drop a comment or share your thoughts!

📩 Got questions or a topic you want me to cover? Email me at david@frommilitarytomillionaire.com or DM me on Instagram @frommilitarytomillionaire

🎙️ Subscribe & Review
If you found this episode valuable, please take a moment to rate and review the show. Your support helps us reach more listeners who need this information!

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Thanks for tuning in! Stay motivated, stay informed, and as always—keep pushing forward. 🇺🇸🔥

How Military Recruiters Lie to Recruits – What You Need to Know

Episode Summary:

Military recruiters lying is one of the biggest concerns potential recruits have when considering enlistment. But is it really lying, or is it a mix of miscommunication, half-truths, and misunderstood expectations?

In this episode, we break down the most common “lies” recruiters tell, how some of them stem from misunderstanding rather than deception, and how you can protect yourself by getting everything in writing. Whether you’re thinking about joining the military or just curious about the recruiting process, this episode will give you a brutally honest look at how it all works.

What You’ll Learn in This Episode:

✔️ The most common promises recruiters make – and why they sometimes don’t pan out.
✔️ How duty station assignments and job placements really work.
✔️ The truth about military benefits, bonuses, and enlistment contracts.
✔️ Why some branches of service are more aggressive with their recruiting tactics.
✔️ How to avoid getting misled by recruiters and take control of your enlistment.
✔️ A recruiter’s perspective on the process and why not all recruiters are dishonest.

Key Takeaways:

📌 Get it in writing – If it’s not in your contract, it’s not guaranteed.
📌 Do your homework – Research jobs, benefits, and bonus structures before enlisting.
📌 Know the limitations of recruiters – They can’t control everything about your career.
📌 Understand incentives – Why some bonuses and jobs come with higher risks.
📌 Don’t be a victim – Take responsibility for your choices and avoid blaming others.

Notable Quotes from This Episode:

🗣️ "If it's not in writing, it's not guaranteed. Period."
🗣️ "Recruiters don’t get paid per recruit, but their job is to sell you on the military."
🗣️ "Some of the ‘lies’ are just recruits hearing what they want to hear."
🗣️ "The best way to avoid problems? Read your contract and ask questions."

Resources Mentioned:

📖 The No B.S. Guide to Military Life – Download Your Free Copy Here
📌 Military Entrance Processing Station (MEPS) Guide – https://youtu.be/wfx75Z3OVaE 

Connect with David Pere:

🌎 Website: From Military to Millionaire
📲 Instagram: @frommilitarytomillionaire
🎥 YouTube: From Military to Millionaire
💬 Facebook Group: Join Here

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📩 Got a Question or Want to Share Your Story?
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Top 5 Benefits for Veterans With 100% P&T Disability Revealed

Discover the Top 5 Benefits for Veterans With 100% T&P Disability and how they can positively impact your life. If you're a veteran with Total and Permanent (T&P) Disability, these benefits are life-changing opportunities you need to know. From financial advantages to healthcare coverage and beyond, this video dives deep into the resources available for veterans to improve their quality of life. Learn insider tips and hidden perks that many veterans miss out on! Don’t forget to subscribe and share this video to help more veterans take advantage of these incredible benefits.

#VeteransBenefits #DisabilityBenefits #militarymillionaire

Snag a FREE copy of my book, and get connected to the Military Millionaire community on all of your favorite platforms: https://www.frommilitarytomillionaire.com/free-book

Join The War Room Mastermind, the only mastermind exclusively for service members and veterans striving to achieve financial freedom: https://www.frommilitarytomillionaire.com/mastermind-application

 

Why Filing Your VA Disability Claim is Important, and How to File!

Filing your VA Claim is one of the most important things you can do when leaving the military. It's also a great way to generate some passive income for your life, and ensure you won't struggle too much financially post-service.

Yet, most veterans don't understand this process, or they allow their ego and pride to get in the way of filing and asking for help. Please watch this video, and share it with somebody who would benefit from this information!

Filing your VA Claim is incredibly important when leaving the military. There's not a better way to ease your transition, than to successfully file your claim, and begin getting medical treatment (and compensation) for the injuries you sustained while serving!

#militarymillionaire #vadisability #disabilitybenefits

Snag a FREE copy of my book, and get connected to the Military Millionaire community on all of your favorite platforms: https://www.frommilitarytomillionaire.com/free-book 

 

Leaving the Military? Do these 8 Things First!!

Leaving the Military? DO THESE EIGHT THINGS FIRST!! These are all the things I wish I'd known when I transitioned out of the military. Leaving the military is not an easy process, and most people have no idea what to expect, and are completely unprepared for the hardships that transition can bring!

#militarymillionaire #transition #leavingthemilitary

Transitioning out of the military is never as easy as it seems. For more detailed information, download a FREE copy of my book: https://www.frommilitarytomillionaire.com/free-book 

The 5 Most Effective VA Loan Strategies for Building Wealth in 2025

Join us in February to learn everything you need to jump into real estate this year: https://opportunities.frommilitarytomillionaire.com/fmtm-con 

My $2.1 Million TSP Investment Strategy in 2025

Welcome to my latest video, where I break down my $2.1 million Thrift Savings Plan (TSP) investment strategy for 2025! 🚀 Whether you're a service member, veteran, or federal employee, this video is packed with actionable insights to help you maximize your TSP and build long-term wealth.

I'll cover:

✔️ My current TSP allocation and why I chose it

✔️ How to navigate market trends in 2025

✔️ The importance of consistent contributions

✔️ Tips for leveraging the G, F, C, S, and I funds effectively

✔️ Lessons I've learned from growing my TSP 

Don't leave your retirement savings to chance! Take control of your financial future with a proven strategy that works. 💼✨

📈 Ready to achieve financial freedom? Make sure to hit that like button 👍, subscribe 🔔, and drop your questions in the comments below! Let's crush those financial goals together.

🔗 Resources Mentioned in the Video:

TSP.gov official site

#TSP #FinancialFreedom #InvestingIn2025 #MilitaryFinance #ThriftSavingsPlan

 

Download a free copy of my book, which contains everything I wish I'd known before joining the military: https://www.frommilitarytomillionaire.com/free-book 

 

If you're ready to take your financial freedom journey to the next level, book a free strategy call with my team: https://www.frommilitarytomillionaire.com/mastermind-application 

7 Things YOU Should NOT tell YOUR Recruiter.

I completed a successful tour as a Marine Corps recruiter, and even won some awards while doing it.

- Recruiter of the month

- SNCOIC of the year

- Recruiting Station of the Year (FY 16) - oh, and I was the only Sergeant (lowest rank) running a station in our entire district (9 states).

There are things you need to be honest with your recruiter about, and things you shouldn't bring up in the process. This video will help your enlistment process go as smoothly as possible!

Join The War Room Mastermind, the only mastermind exclusively for service members and veterans striving to achieve financial freedom: https://www.frommilitarytomillionaire.com/mastermind-application

#militarymillionaire

The Best Conference for Service Members and Veterans that Want to Achieve Financial Freedom in 2025!

https://opportunities.frommilitarytomillionaire.com/fmtm-con 

We would love to have you join us at FMTM-CON, the first conference we have opened to the public! It's going to be amazing!!

Top 8 Military Benefits to Build Wealth

The Top 8 Military Benefits to Build Wealth you’re probably ignoring could transform your financial future! In this video, we break down these life-changing benefits step by step, showing you how to maximize your military service advantages.

Whether it’s VA loans, education opportunities, or tax benefits, we reveal how to turn these perks into powerful wealth-building tools. Don’t leave money on the table—learn how to secure financial freedom for yourself and your family.

Listen now and start leveraging your military benefits like a pro. Your journey to financial success begins here!

#militarymillionaire #militarybenefits #wealthbuilding

 

Download a free copy of my book, which contains everything I wish I'd known before joining the military: https://www.frommilitarytomillionaire.com/free-book 

 

If you're ready to take your financial freedom journey to the next level, book a free strategy call with my team: https://www.frommilitarytomillionaire.com/mastermind-application