Non-Military Options

Program: National Health Service Corps
How Much: For students, the scholarships cover tuition, books and other school-related expenses, plus a monthly stipend. For graduates, their loan repayment program can earn you up to $35,000 a year to pay off college loans.
Details: This is an ideal program for students interested in pursuing a career in health care. You'll get hands-on experience for your résumé, and the personal satisfaction of helping keep people healthy in underprivileged communities. And if you're fresh out of medical school and looking for a job, NHSC offers you salary and certain tax benefits, in addition to their already generous loan-repayment program.
The Catch: You won't be working in the most glamorous or high-tech medical environments; underprivileged communities have limited medical resources. Also note that this is a program for students pursuing careers in health care and health care professionals only.

Program: AmeriCorps
How Much: An education voucher worth $4,725 that you can use to pay for college expenses or to pay back college loans.
Details: With more than 25,000 volunteers serving in more than 430 programs across the country, Americorps is one the nation's most important service organizations. They offer a wide variety of service opportunities from working with children to building houses; so you're virtually guaranteed to find a way you can share your time and skills. Also, if you choose to volunteer in an area related to your career-goals, it can be an excellent résumé builder.
The Catch: You have to sign on for a 10- to 12-month "tour of duty" with Americorps. If the full-time commitment is too much, you could sign up for part-time service, but in that case you receive less money in your educational voucher. Some service opportunities require you to travel or take time off school, as well.