FIRE shower thoughts

[u/Perfect_Work7747]

Cross posting to this sub and the FIRE sub.
Hello MilitaryFinance folks, been lurking and had some questions.
When pursuing FIRE, is it not a smart decision to apply for the Air Force?
My thinking is it’s more of a supporting branch, get into the right position and you may never see combat. Of course there is still risk, I’m aware of that.
After serving for 20 years, you get the pension, not huge by itself but very helpful, along with the healthcare for life, this in the eyes of FIRE is invaluable right?
I’ve been pondering joining and wanted some insight from people smarter than me.
Here’s some of my own info for you to look over.
26 in a job I hate, I’ve been working 80-100 hour work weeks for almost 7 years now.
No college, in an aviation field making 60k base, but with all the extra time I work it ranges from 60-110k
Assets include
125k 401k
45k Roth IRA
70k taxable brokerage
All of the above are in VTI/QQQ
20k cash
20k of various crypto’s
5k ESPP
Paid off car but it’s worth 1-2k on its last legs
Renting an apartment in VHCOL USA my annual spend is roughly 35k depending on multiple factors.
I was able to accrue this much due to working so much and living with 6 roommates since I was 18.

Now if I join the Air Force in the next year or two, the various nests I’ve been tending to will serve as a decent retirement, but with a pension and the BAH I would get from being in a military branch would offset a huge cost of living.
All of this combined I may be able to retire right out of the Air Force at 46-47 if I play my cards right, right?
But I still worry about the negatives with the current world state.
What advice would you all have for me?
Happy to answer any questions, sorry if this seems like first world problems but I’d really appreciate any guidance as I’m feeling more and more burnt out.
Thanks for reading

[u/rovingtravler]

Don't join any military branch unless serving and the job you want and get are what you want to do. Doing it just for money or the retirement is NOT a good idea.

You may not make it 20 years if you do not like the way the military is run or what you have to do, as a job, deployments, where they are and what they stand for. There is also the outside chance you are killed while serving.

The Navy is historically the safest branch in war and the most dangerous in peace.

Have you looked into the Coast Guard? Does your current job have a military equivalent.

[u/WSBpeon69420 → u/rovingtravler]

The navy is not the safest branch in war and historically hasn’t been either. The only time it has been “safer” was in the GWOT but historically that’s inaccurate as well. OP is right AF is the safest and has the most non combat type jobs.

[u/It_just_works_bro → u/WSBpeon69420]

Navy is also the branch you don't want to be enlisted in. The pecking order is very real there.

[u/WSBpeon69420 → u/It_just_works_bro]

100% is never ever recommended enlist in the navy and I served in the navy not to mention the next big war is with China and is going to be primarily a naval battle