1. How long is my enlistment actually for?

8 years.

The recruiter may only be telling you the length of the active component, but the remaining years will be on reserve duty including the Individual Ready Reserves.

2. Can the military make me stay longer than what I have contracted for?

Yes.

The military has the right to change your contract at any time and extend your service longer than you agreed to. 

3. Do I have any say in where I go and how long I'm there for?

No.

The military determines where you go and for how long. You have the right to request a transfer to another unit but it's never guaranteed. The needs of the ilitary always come before the needs of the servicemember. x

4. Am I guaranteed the opportunity to go to college?

No.

Your commanding officer must give their permission. If you're deployed, even online courses may be tough to complete. 

5. Can I choose the job I want to do, or am I assigned one?

No.

Your job assignment is based on your ASVAB score. If your score is too low or you fail out of your job training, you will not get that job and could be reclassed to a job you really do not want.

6. What will happen to me if I decide I no longer want to serve in the military after I enlist?

You risk punishment.

You must serve your time or face harsh penalties such as arrest, court-martial, a less than honorable discharge, demotion, loss of pay, loss of benefits, or even jail. Even after you leave, a bad discharge could compromise your eligibility for jobs that require a security clearance.

7. Will the skills that I learn in the military be useful in my civilian life?

Depends on the Job.

Much of what you learn to do in the military will be very specific to your military job and will not transfer to a civilian job without retraining.

8. what are some of the negative aspects of my training?

Possible Injury.

Studies have shown that those who are trained to kill and cope with the stress of war have a tendency to develop emotional and psychological health problems such as PTSD and Moral Injury.  Roughly  25% of recruits sustain at least one injury during their initial training.  An estimated 40 servicemembers lose their lives during training incidents every year.

9. What do I do if an officer gives me a command I think is illegal?

Questioning Orders is Difficult.

Military training is meant to instill instant obedience which doesn't create time for careful reasoning. The line is rarely clear and refusing an order in the moment is a very tough choice; most will just obey. Refusal could result in penalties even if the order really is illegal.

10. What can you tell me about Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)?

It has many negative effects.

PTSD develops when one experiences or witnesses a traumatic event such as combat, the effects of combat, or military sexual assault (MST). Effects may include depression, lifelong neightmares, trouble thinking, drug and alcohol addictions, suicide, anger management issues, domestic violence, and general violence. PTSD has reached epidemic levels within military and veteran populations. 

A veteran commits suicide every 80 minutes.

11. Will I receive any financial support if I am hurt or permanently disabled while in the military?

Yes, depending on your disability rating.

The payment will be based on the percentage assigned to your particular disabilities. Some veterans spend years fighting for an accurate disability rating. The military disability rating system has often been considered arbitrary and unfair. For example, someone who has been blinded may only receive a 50% disability rating.

12. Have you ever seen combat and what impact would exposure to combat have on me? 

Combat has a lifelong impact.

Studies have shown that almost every servicemember (including your recruiter) who experiences combat will have lifelong after-effects and will never be the same as they were before they witnessed combat.

The US has been actively at war for almost three decades. Even Reserves and National Guard units are deployed. When forces are stretched thin, new recruits often deploy rapidly.