College Grads! Are you going into the military?

[AntMan530]

He has a degree in sociology. Is this a bad idea or what?

 

[EyeMNathan]

I'm currently a Computer Science major. I occasionally think about signing on when I am out. But I'm not really sure to be honest. Going _after_ college generally means you want to make a career out of it.

It's got great job security, and travel, and so on. But *shrug*

 

[Farmer]

I've always wanted to try ROTC during or after undergrad, and then try to become a non-Academy selection for active AF.

As for after college, not necessarily. Consider it as additional experience. If you goto a military academy, then I guess you're considering it as a career.

 

[Some1ne]

I would generally say that whenever there's a war going on (or looks like there's about to be a war going on) it's a pretty terrible idea...but then, I'm just not too fond of the idea of getting myself killed over somebody else's squabble.

Generally, if you have a college degree or other higher education though, I think that makes it very easy to enlist as/become an officer, and my understanding is that officers get better pay, more perks, and are less likely to be exposed to extremely dangerous conditions than non-officers, so if he's really passionate about the army, it is good that at least he waited until after completing college.

 

[Chaotic42]

I tried to join up four times, including the Army after 9/11. They wouldn't let me in.

So no.

 

[Farmer]

Chaotic42:

Huh. That's strange. What were you signing up for?

 

[Anubis]

fvck no

 

[Xyclone]

I'm not trying to be negative, but war isn't too enjoyable, and your chances of death are greatly increased while in the military.

Don't go. 🙁

 

[ironcrotch]

I think about it now and then. But when it crosses my mind I think I should have tried to go to West Point or the Air Force Academy instead.

 

[acemcmac]

Originally posted by: Anubis
fvck no

Amen.

The most help I'll ever be towards the "cause of freedom" is raising awarness at home.

 

[Kalbi]

I think the Sociology major was a bad idea. Enlisting is probably a good idea.

 

[mercanucaribe]

He shouldn't "enlist". That means going in as a private, as if he were starting from scratch.

 

[b0mbrman]

Originally posted by: AntMan530
He has a degree in sociology. Is this a bad idea or what?

Why wouldn't he try going through OCS to become an officer rather than simply enlisting?

As for joining the military in general, it's a different sort of life and I would estimate that it's a bad fit for...95% of people.

He should talk to as many current military men as possible so he knows exactly what he'd be getting into. Ensure that their experience is as current as possible because the structure and mission of the military has been changing very rapidly over the past several years.

Originally posted by: mercanucaribe
He shouldn't "enlist". That means going in as a private, as if he were starting from scratch.

Specialist...

 

[Fenixgoon]

i heard that, statistically speaking, you have a better chance of survival in baghdad right now than you do within a 100 mile radius of washington dc. if its true, that's pretty funny/sad

 

[jpeyton]

Had a full scholarship, so there was no incentive for me to join that path.

 

[b0mbrman]

Originally posted by: Fenixgoon
i heard that, statistically speaking, you have a better chance of survival in baghdad right now than you do within a 100 mile radius of washington dc. if its true, that's pretty funny/sad

Could be...

As funny/sad as it is, the rate of death for soldiers in Iraq isn't much higher than the rate of death for soldiers otherwise who are dying from motorcycle wrecks, car accidents, heart attacks, and the like 🙁

 

[b0mbrman]

Originally posted by: jpeyton
Had a full scholarship, so there was no incentive for me to join that path.

I had a near-full scholarship...at a $4k-a-year public school...and did...

I can't imagine anyone joining the Army for purely financial reasons...

 

[xSauronx]

Originally posted by: b0mbrman

Originally posted by: jpeyton
Had a full scholarship, so there was no incentive for me to join that path.

I had a near-full scholarship...at a $4k-a-year public school...and did...

I can't imagine anyone joining the Army for purely financial reasons...

i know a couple who did

both got shipped overseas for a time. tried to tell em...

 

[ruffilb]

bad idea.

POLL.

 

[jpeyton]

Originally posted by: b0mbrman

Originally posted by: jpeyton
Had a full scholarship, so there was no incentive for me to join that path.

I had a near-full scholarship...at a $4k-a-year public school...and did...

I can't imagine anyone joining the Army for purely financial reasons...

Well that is the overwhelming reason for joining up for a lot of people. I can't remember if it was 20/20 or Dateline, but they went to a high school and interviewed a lot of the people who signed up for the military right after graduation. If money for college wasn't the #1 reason (which was rare), it would be #2.

It's not surprising at all, seeing as how tuition is skyrocketing everywhere you look. My state raised tuition another 4% this year; it's gone up a lot more than that since 2000 when I enrolled in college.