Considering A Military Career - Page 3

**Ferris Bueller** · 09-20-2006, 12:27 PM

Radooh, you can enlist and then go through the enlisted comissioning program or through officer candidate school and become an officer without having to wait 20 years, but selection is extremely rigorous and a lot of time theres a waiting list a mile long because thats exactly what everyone else wants to do too...or at least a lot of people. you know what i mean.

xTYBALTx · 09-20-2006, 12:32 PM

I have several friends who went to college, joined the Marines and are infantry officers. They love it.

**CingularDuality** · 09-20-2006, 07:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Radooh

Hmm wait so can I enlist first and then become an officer later without having to wait 20+ years?

Absolutely. You can enlist, take some night classes (free tuition) during your four or five year contract, then get out, get your bachelor's degree in another two or three years (GI Bill and other programs pay for this, plus you can stay in the reserves if you want), and go back as an officer.

And let me tell you that mustangs (prior enlisted officers) are absolutely the most respected officers in any branch of service. It's for a reason. You shouldn't ask your men to do something that you wouldn't do, and having "been there, done that" is invaluable experience.

Oh, yeah, and there are also enlisted commissioning programs available, but they're highly competitive.

**TheBigC** · 09-20-2006, 07:49 PM

How bad can joining really be?? I have been in 17 years now and I am paid very decent wages and I get to still game 7 days a week here?
BTW, I retire in 3 years and will be collecting a paycheck from that day forward for the rest of my life! Not many in the cooperate world can say they retired at 37. Than after my 1st retirement, I can look forward to a well paid job that my work experience has leveraged for me over the years, if I even choose to go that route. I am thinking more along the lines of being a street sweeper somewhere- a low stress job.

As for the college, I now am working on my Masters Degree and have yet to pay a penny for any of my education. If you were to choose to come in as an enlisted member, specifically in the Army, your classes are free while you are serving. The other services have similar programs. I have one soldier that works for me that has a PHD and another that has a masters; both still enlisted. They are using the military as either a stepping stone to becoming an officer or simply doing it to figure out what they really want to do in life when they grow up. Being enlisted offers numerous opportunities to get bonuses to repay already existing college loans, something not offered to officers. The basic jist of it all is this, come in enlisted and get your degree free, come in enlisted after you go to college to pay it off, or come in as an officer after college for better pay but usually no loan repayment or free college (there are minor exceptions). Each one has their advantages and disadvantages.

The military lifestyle is not for everyone, but the people who adapt (hell if I can do it anybody can) will go far in their career and have some enjoyable times for years to come. You just have to figure out if that is for you and than you have to define what your goals are in the short term than the long term. The military may or may not fit into those plans, but you have to figure that out for yourself.

aculle01 · 09-20-2006, 08:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CingularDuality

And that's why I recommend enlisting first. It will help ensure you know how things REALLY are before you start making the big decisions that will impact your men's lives.

(and I'm only half joking here!)

I dont think this is necessary to be a good officer. As an O-1(O-2/3 for pilots) at your first command you need to approach your job knowing that you actual dont know a whole lot about the military. You certainly will have to fall back on your training but you need to trust your senior NCO's to get the job done. As an officer you are their for the overall picture, what you want to get done and when. NCO's will figure out how to get it done. NCO's are the lifeline between Officers and Enlisted.

As far as prior enlisted officers being better officers, from what I have heard, it is not necessarily true. Sure a prior enlisted knows what it is like to be an E-2, E-4, etc. and in the field may have more experience but what you do get is someone who might know too much about the enlisted job and will try to the job of the NCO's.

In the end it really just comes down to the officer being a good leader.

**CingularDuality** · 09-20-2006, 08:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by aculle01

I dont think this is necessary to be a good officer....As far as prior enlisted officers being better officers, from what I have heard, it is not necessarily true.

Obviously not, but, in general, mustangs are better leaders than fresh out of college boys. Of course there are officers that have never been enlisted that are great leaders, and of course there are mustangs that are crappy leaders, but, in general, my statements are correct.

Quote:

In the end it really just comes down to the officer being a good leader.

Absolutely.

Radooh · 09-20-2006, 08:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CingularDuality

Absolutely. You can enlist, take some night classes (free tuition) during your four or five year contract, then get out, get your bachelor's degree in another two or three years (GI Bill and other programs pay for this, plus you can stay in the reserves if you want), and go back as an officer.

And let me tell you that mustangs (prior enlisted officers) are absolutely the most respected officers in any branch of service. It's for a reason. You shouldn't ask your men to do something that you wouldn't do, and having "been there, done that" is invaluable experience.

Oh, yeah, and there are also enlisted commissioning programs available, but they're highly competitive.

This sounds good to me although I'm not sure if I'll enjoy the military so if I sign a contract for the military to pay for my college in return for years of service then I'll be stuck there so I'm not sure.

**TheBigC** · 09-20-2006, 08:50 PM

I just looked up what you get for joining up as an enlisted person: $71,124 for your GI Bill - to pay for classes after you enlist, even though most classes are free while in. The loan repayment is another $65,000 to pay for classes you took before you enlisted. Benifits Link Neither one are offered to Officers.

As for you don’t want to get stuck, you can normally pick how long you enlist. Some jobs are as short as a year and a half now. There are also these crazy formulas they use to determine if you are entitled to an additional enlistment bonuses, depends on the job, the years you enlist and post that you go to. I have seen this go over $35,000 cash, for some specialties.

Cing had a good plan for what you can do as far as trying it out. You can take classes after work or at night, that is how I did it and it was not that hard. As far as the loan repayment, yes that usually requires some commitment by you (normally a minimum of 4-6 years to qualify).

You are starting to ask the right questions about what there is out there for you, but in the end it cannot be about the money or the college. It simply just has to be something you want to do. If not, it may not be worth the money if you do it for the wrong reasons.

**CingularDuality** · 09-20-2006, 10:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TheBigC

You are starting to ask the right questions about what there is out there for you, but in the end it cannot be about the money or the college. It simply just has to be something you want to do. If not, it may not be worth the money if you do it for the wrong reasons.

Oh, yeah, this is so true. Do NOT join the military just for the college money. If you're not interested in sacrificing for your country for a few years, then just forget about it right now.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Radooh

This sounds good to me although I'm not sure if I'll enjoy the military so if I sign a contract for the military to pay for my college in return for years of service then I'll be stuck there so I'm not sure.

You sign a contract regardless of whether or not you take any college. The free tuition is just one of many perks that active duty service folks get. Did you know that you don't pay sales tax on the stuff you buy in stores on base? Free state of the art gyms. Free medical for you and your family. Free dental. Cheap life insurance. Regular retirement and now the Federal Thrift Savings Plan. Access to the Commissary, which is a grocery store where everything is sold at cost. Free legal service. Free place to live. Free meals. Discounts for active duty just about everywhere you go...

For a single guy or gal intent on education, the military will take care of you. No need to worry about rent, groceries or any but the smallest of necessities. You could knock out two or three classes a semester if you wanted to...

The downside, of course, is that you have to be prepared to, well, go to war. You don't get all those perks for nothing...

**TheBigC** · 09-20-2006, 11:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CingularDuality

You sign a contract regardless of whether or not you take any college. The free tuition is just one of many perks that active duty service folks get. Did you know that you don't pay sales tax on the stuff you buy in stores on base? Free state of the art gyms. Free medical for you and your family. Free dental. Cheap life insurance. Regular retirement and now the Federal Thrift Savings Plan. Access to the Commissary, which is a grocery store where everything is sold at cost. Free legal service. Free place to live. Free meals. Discounts for active duty just about everywhere you go...

You think if they added free beer they would get more recruits?!!

**CingularDuality** · 09-21-2006, 04:22 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TheBigC

You think if they added free beer they would get more recruits?!!

Man, when I was in Okinawa, between my command and MWR, we had free keg parties at least once a month. We had a great company commander and an awesome battalion commander. We'd get off at noon on Friday, go to the softball field, tap the kegs, fire up the BBQ and party all night long. If there was any beer left when we woke up the next afternoon, we just started it all over again. And the BEST thing about it was that the zeros would show up for the BBQ, make their appearance, then quietly disappear before we started making asses of ourselves.

**Barracuda_Magoo** · 09-21-2006, 05:04 AM

I'm in the reserves, and, overall, I enjoy it and I'm glad I didn't go active. I don't think I could have taken garrison life for long. I enjoy AT's and my deployment, but I hate drills and the mob stations. I guess I'd rather sleep on the back of my truck than sit in a garage watching the clock.

Once you make a decision, make sure everything the recruiter promises is put in writing! That's the best advice I can think of. I got screwed because mine forgot to forward my promotion paperwork to my basic training base.

**leejo** · 09-21-2006, 10:47 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CingularDuality

And the BEST thing about it was that the zeros would show up for the BBQ, make their appearance, then quietly disappear before we started making asses of ourselves.

I assume "the zeros" would do their drinking at the O club?

**leejo** · 09-21-2006, 10:48 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Barracuda_Magoo

Once you make a decision, make sure everything the recruiter promises is put in writing! That's the best advice I can think of. I got screwed because mine forgot to forward my promotion paperwork to my basic training base.

Good advice with any job and any promise.

Radooh · 09-21-2006, 11:23 AM

Hmm now I'm wondering how much of a chance there is of me dying in Iraq 2 years from now...

09-20-2006, 12:27 PM	#31 (permalink)
Ferris Bueller Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Orlando, FL Age: 26 Posts: 5,159	Re: Considering A Military Career Radooh, you can enlist and then go through the enlisted comissioning program or through officer candidate school and become an officer without having to wait 20 years, but selection is extremely rigorous and a lot of time theres a waiting list a mile long because thats exactly what everyone else wants to do too...or at least a lot of people. you know what i mean. __________________ \|TG-6th\|Ferris Bueller Important TG Reading \| Support TG - Become a Supporting Member \| TacticalWiki - Your TG Guide Kicked/Banned? READ THIS FIRST! \| Complete list of TG Admins \| Think Someone Did A Good Job? Nominate Them For a Ribbon! Report Problem Players/Appeal Your Ban \| Learn TG - The TG Mentoring Program __________________ "Never underestimate the power of human stupidity." -Lazarus Long

09-20-2006, 12:32 PM	#32 (permalink)
xTYBALTx Join Date: Aug 2005 Posts: 3,919	Re: Considering A Military Career I have several friends who went to college, joined the Marines and are infantry officers. They love it. __________________ A policy of freedom for the individual is the only truly progressive policy. -F.A. Hayek "$250,000 a year won't get me to Central Park West."

09-20-2006, 07:49 PM	#34 (permalink)
TheBigC Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Around Age: 36 Posts: 3,091	Re: Considering A Military Career How bad can joining really be?? I have been in 17 years now and I am paid very decent wages and I get to still game 7 days a week here? BTW, I retire in 3 years and will be collecting a paycheck from that day forward for the rest of my life! Not many in the cooperate world can say they retired at 37. Than after my 1st retirement, I can look forward to a well paid job that my work experience has leveraged for me over the years, if I even choose to go that route. I am thinking more along the lines of being a street sweeper somewhere- a low stress job. As for the college, I now am working on my Masters Degree and have yet to pay a penny for any of my education. If you were to choose to come in as an enlisted member, specifically in the Army, your classes are free while you are serving. The other services have similar programs. I have one soldier that works for me that has a PHD and another that has a masters; both still enlisted. They are using the military as either a stepping stone to becoming an officer or simply doing it to figure out what they really want to do in life when they grow up. Being enlisted offers numerous opportunities to get bonuses to repay already existing college loans, something not offered to officers. The basic jist of it all is this, come in enlisted and get your degree free, come in enlisted after you go to college to pay it off, or come in as an officer after college for better pay but usually no loan repayment or free college (there are minor exceptions). Each one has their advantages and disadvantages. The military lifestyle is not for everyone, but the people who adapt (hell if I can do it anybody can) will go far in their career and have some enjoyable times for years to come. You just have to figure out if that is for you and than you have to define what your goals are in the short term than the long term. The military may or may not fit into those plans, but you have to figure that out for yourself. __________________ The Meek shall inherit the earth..... after we're through with it! The Wounded Warrior Project, help support my friends

09-20-2006, 08:50 PM	#38 (permalink)
TheBigC Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Around Age: 36 Posts: 3,091	Re: Considering A Military Career I just looked up what you get for joining up as an enlisted person: $71,124 for your GI Bill - to pay for classes after you enlist, even though most classes are free while in. The loan repayment is another $65,000 to pay for classes you took before you enlisted. Benifits Link Neither one are offered to Officers. As for you don’t want to get stuck, you can normally pick how long you enlist. Some jobs are as short as a year and a half now. There are also these crazy formulas they use to determine if you are entitled to an additional enlistment bonuses, depends on the job, the years you enlist and post that you go to. I have seen this go over $35,000 cash, for some specialties. Cing had a good plan for what you can do as far as trying it out. You can take classes after work or at night, that is how I did it and it was not that hard. As far as the loan repayment, yes that usually requires some commitment by you (normally a minimum of 4-6 years to qualify). You are starting to ask the right questions about what there is out there for you, but in the end it cannot be about the money or the college. It simply just has to be something you want to do. If not, it may not be worth the money if you do it for the wrong reasons. __________________ The Meek shall inherit the earth..... after we're through with it! The Wounded Warrior Project, help support my friends

09-21-2006, 05:04 AM	#42 (permalink)
Barracuda_Magoo Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Michigan Age: 23 Posts: 384	Re: Considering A Military Career I'm in the reserves, and, overall, I enjoy it and I'm glad I didn't go active. I don't think I could have taken garrison life for long. I enjoy AT's and my deployment, but I hate drills and the mob stations. I guess I'd rather sleep on the back of my truck than sit in a garage watching the clock. Once you make a decision, make sure everything the recruiter promises is put in writing! That's the best advice I can think of. I got screwed because mine forgot to forward my promotion paperwork to my basic training base. __________________

09-21-2006, 11:23 AM	#45 (permalink)
Radooh Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Oceanside, CA Age: 18 Posts: 113	Re: Considering A Military Career Hmm now I'm wondering how much of a chance there is of me dying in Iraq 2 years from now... __________________

Currently Active Users Viewing This Thread: 1 (0 members and 1 guests)

Sponsored links

Sponsored links

Sponsored links

Sponsored links