Explain this marines/army stuff to me?

[Nichole]

My boyfriend wants to join marines or the navy. He's 17 becoming a senior, I'm 15 becoming a sophomore. I know we're young and it might not work out, but bear with me; that's not the point here. He says he's not going to be active, and he'll get $10,000 for signing up, and $20,000 each month after he retires at 32. But to me that doesn't make sense. If he's going, but not being active, wouldn't he get paid less? And doesn't this money have to be paid back eventually? He says we'll be fine and he wouldn't need a job because he'll be getting that 20 grand each month until he dies. It just seems too easy to me. Is he right, or does he not know what he's really talking about? Plus, I'm worried I'd never get to see him as well. And 10 grand isn't enough to live on for a long time, so in the meantime when I go to college or in high school still, we'll need more money. He says he can get a job during basic training, then he'll come home, and be home about 46 weeks out of 52 a year. Is this right? Please answer each question. Thanks.