<p>Any parents have a take on joining the military after college? Anyone done it? I'm transfering as a junior this year so I can't do ROTC but I heard about some program where they pay for 2 years if you agree to join after graduation. If anyone knows anything about it I would appreciate some input as I'm in the early stages of research. How long is the commitment? That would be handy to know.</p>
<p>When I was little I thought about being in the Navy (Im from Annapolis after all) but havent given it too much thought since. I'm trying to picture it to see if I would be a good fit. I don't want to take out 50k in loans for cornell and I'm not really looking at the military as a career either. So basically just any comments/ideas/personal experiences? Sorry if this is totally incoherent, I had a long day at work :P.
Thanks</p>
<p>You should be able to find out the answers to all of your specific questions on their website or by calling them. I'm sure they'll be happy to talk to you.</p>
<p>I just want to say that I worry that you are looking at the military primarily because of the money due to the enormous risks to your health and life you will be taking by enlisting. I have friends who have fought or are fighting for their countries, and even without serious injury serving often has a large effect on physical and mental health.</p>
<p>What a terrific person! This country needs more people like you. The military needs more like you. Is it scary to us? You bet! But a military with more educated people can only improve. Thank God for all those willing to risk themselves for the rest of us. You truly are our heroes. And you would be an officer - way to go! God bless you!</p>
<p>Look into OTS/OCS (can't remember which acronym the Navy uses). It is the officer training program for college grads. Commitment would be somewhere in the 3-5 year range for active duty, plus a couple years of inactive reserve.</p>
<p>I don't know the details, but I have an acquaintance whose son joined the military after graduating from college a year or two ago.</p>
<p>He is interested in languages, and is in military intelligence. He has been in intensive language training for Arabic, and has not yet spent any time outside the US.</p>
<p>Recall that there are two kinds of people in the military: officers and enlisted. Shoot for an officer training program.</p>
<p>If you want to become an officer, do not "enlist" with the belief that they will make you an officer from the enlisted ranks - it is incredibly competitive (think Harvard-full-ride competitive). Do not believe them when they tell you that it's easy to switch from enlisted to officer, it is not. Yes, they have programs to do this, but it is really, really difficult to get into them once you're enlisted. There are literally thousands of applicants for a handful of slots (one year in my branch it was 4 openings, service-wide).</p>
<p>Military life can be incredibly enriching and ennobling, but go into it with your eyes open, it will make for a better experience.</p>
<p>twald,
Good on you! You might find the military a perfect fit for you. I did! Even though you are a transferring junior, you may still qualify for ROTC. If your college has a ROTC detachment, go over and talk to them to see what options you might have. If your school does not have a Detachment, they might have a crosstown agreement with another college/University in the local area. If that turns into a dead end, then take Ramius's advice and look into OTS/OCS for Officer job career options. Be careful here, as a college graduate, you should be qualified to enter the military as an Officer as well as enter as an enlisted man. There is a HUGE difference. If you wander into a recruiter's office, realize they are salesmen and want you to sign up. Know what you want and don't want. There are recruiters whose only job is to recruit Officers, try them first. The AF and Navy are having little or no problems filling slots and it might be more difficult to get into either of those services in a career field that you are interested. The Army and Marines are expanding and have more options/openings. The educational incentives/bonus's are more generous with the Army and Marines as well. Supply vs Demand. Good luck! Making the military a career is an excellent choice if you think the fit is good. However, don't join up simply because you need to pay off college bills. Join because you want to. Like any jobs/careers, don't chase the money. Chase the opportunities and job satisfaction.</p>
<p>My #1 son is in the Navy now after receiving his EE degree last December. He decided to enlist, and did not participate in any of the programs available while in school. There is ROTC and another degree completion program for certain in-demand majors, but he did not decide on the military until it was too late to go either of those ways. Nonetheless, he is receiving a $28,000 enlistment bonus and having his $26,000 in college loans paid by the military. Plus free haircuts. And he does not have to worry about deciding what to wear each day.</p>
<p>Seriously, the military is a great way to serve your country, stay in terrific physical condition, and enter the work force after service with a skill and attitude set that employers value. The questions you have to answer are do you like being told what to do, can you control your recreational activities, and would you mind participating in the delivery of unbelievably destructive force?</p>
<p>The enlistment bonuses and college tuition are quite enticing, but I would certainly think very carefully about the reasons behind your decisions (just for the money???? BAAAADDDD decision). </p>
<p>The reality on the ground is such that anyone who enlists should enlist with eyes wide open...not just thinking of a way to have college loans forgiven or tuition paid.</p>
Agreed. Military service is a wonderful way to serve your country, and there are many benefits, not just financial ones, for serving. But I don't think the big decisions in life should be based on only financial considerations.</p>
<p>The military enlistment contract is for 8 years, although this is typically split between active (say, 3-5 years) and the remainder Reserve.</p>
<p>With regard to transferable civilian skills, that's a tough one. I was in a field that directly transfers to civilian life - not one bit of difference - and employers simply did not count my military experience for anything, and have not since. Usually you get a condescending "that's great" but no job.</p>
<p>I have heard that mechanical and medical transfer well, though.</p>
<p>You CAN join Army ROTC in the summer before your junior year. Time is running out, though, because you will have to go away to camp this summer. There is a big difference between officer ranks and enlisted ranks. Lots of enlisted people have college degrees. A college degree by itself does NOT qualify you to serve as an officer. You have to go through an officer training program. </p>
<p>Speak to an ROTC enrollment officer ASAP to learn of your options. You can go into ANY Army ROTC office, at any college, and they will point you in the right direction.</p>
<p>With regard to transferable civilian skills, that's a tough one. I was in a field that directly transfers to civilian life - not one bit of difference - and employers simply did not count my military experience for anything, and have not since. Usually you get a condescending "that's great" but no job.</p>
<p>Thats also what my brother found. However, he was in the military long enough to finish college and to retire, so he is able to collect retirement at the same time he is earning a salary. ( he didn't finish college young enough to become an officer- )</p>
<p>OP, Do you have a particular branch of the service you are interested in?<br>
My S is a rising Jr. on NROTC scholarship. I can tell you it takes a lot of time and committment while in college. The scholarship money is great but it is not "free". I wouldn't advise going that route unless you are truly interested in being a military officer.</p>
<p>Remember....talk to a recruiter if you want to enlist...talk to someone in the ROTC department if you want to be an officer. Recruiters are high pressure salespeople, as noted before. They won't outright lie to you, but if you don't know the right questions to ask, they aren't going to volunteer any information that would sway you against enlisting. Be sure to get in writing any assurances that you won't be deployed before completing your degree. Get that in writing <em>before</em> you sign on the dotted line.</p>
<p>About the length of obligation....my S is on an AF ROTC scholarship, and his obligation will be 4 years of active duty. If he goes to flight school,%2</p>
<p>Obviously some skills are directly transferable, others not. There is not much call for artillery skills in the civilian world. Air traffic control, medical, truck repair, etc., directly transferable. Leading groups of professionals in executing team projects, directly transferable. Respecting chains of authority and codes of conduct, directly transferable.</p>
<ol>
<li><p>Don't join solely for financial reasons. Or don't do it unless you are prepared to serve-- that could mean Hawaii or it could mean Iraq. People who say "I only did it for the money; I didn't think I would ever be deployed" don't get a lot of sympathy.</p></li>
<li><p>There are a myriad of ways to join, and separate recruiters for each competing against each other-- the different services and reserve components of each. There isn't one person you can go to for advices.</p></li>
<li><p>Reserve components (including National Guard) can help you bring in a little more cash each month while you are a student and until your commitment is finished. The drawback is the schedule won't always fit neatly with your school schedule or your schedule on your first job.</p></li>
<li><p>Most college graduates will want to be officers, though many have rewarding service as enlisted people. ROTC is probably the straightest path to becoming an officer. If you are not commissioned through ROTC or a military academy, you would have to enlist and then go to an officer training school. I believe those schools are tougher than most ROTC programs. (Doctors and lawyers can get direct commissions, and maybe some other medical professionals.)</p></li>
<li><p>Know what options you when you contract and make sure you understand what happens if it doesn't pan out. You might be able to contract for officer training OR location of first assignment OR occupational specialty, but not all three. What happens if you don't make it through officer training or for some reason you are not qaulified for the field you signed up for?</p></li>
<li><p>If you are looking primarily for financial help, enlisted might be the way to go. Many bonus programs are available only to enlisted servicemembers, and for many of them a person forfeits the bonus if he/she accepts a commission. Read and understand the contract!</p></li>
<li><p>What I think you should do-- join ROTC and go on active duty for three years or so after graduation. The military lifestyle can be great (but do remember the chance, actually likelihood, of deployment). Try to go someplace you wouldn't otherwise go for work, and if you end up in a less desirable place find something good about it. I think your success in the civilian workforce after leaving the military will depend a lot on how much time you spent in the military and how you write your resume.</p></li>
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