Well, probably. I work in the Pentagon, and my office is staffed with 8 Lt. Colonels, 3 Colonels, and 1 Major. They all went to West Point, and they assert that the higher ranking positions within the army are/will be filled with West Point grads.
Well, probably. I work in the Pentagon, and my office is staffed with 8 Lt. Colonels, 3 Colonels, and 1 Major. They all went to West Point, and they assert that the higher ranking positions within the army are/will be filled with West Point grads.
Well if the OP wanted to work in the Pentagon and make high rank he would be asking about the active military. The reserves seem like a good way to get the military experience without having to worry about all the gung ho lifers and ring knockers.
If you are getting into this only for the college money and the chance to shoot full auto firearms, dont do it. Join if you are willing to accept an overseas deployment to a warzone. Chances are actually fairly good that you wont. But you should make sure you are OK with the fact that you have a good chance of getting shot at. On occasion, even REMFs get shot.
I'm not saying this to discourage you from joining. Anyone who wants to serve their country has my support. But, as my cousin Ben put it: "We marines get paid, basically, to take bullets for civilians". That applies to pretty much every branch. Nothing pissed me off quite the same way as when I heard about that Marine who refused to get shipped to Iraqi, because "he only joined for the college money, and no one told him he might have to shoot someone". I guess he thought he joined the Peace Corps, not the Marine Corps, and all that bayonet practice was practice for... hell, I cant even make something up for this.
Oh, yeah, regarding recruiters: anything they tell you should probably be checked out with someone you know that is currently in the military. Sometimes they can, indeed, guarantee you a certain MOSS, or deployment. But get it in writing.
As I read over the above I realize it might sound like I'm discouraging you, and that is not my intent. All I'm saying it to enter into this with your eyes open. Like I said, I support anyone who wants to join the service. I just think that too many of them join for the college money and then get pissy when they get shipped off to war.
I'm not saying this to discourage you from joining. Anyone who wants to serve their country has my support. But, as my cousin Ben put it: "We marines get paid, basically, to take bullets for civilians". That applies to pretty much every branch. Nothing pissed me off quite the same way as when I heard about that Marine who refused to get shipped to Iraqi, because "he only joined for the college money, and no one told him he might have to shoot someone". I guess he thought he joined the Peace Corps, not the Marine Corps, and all that bayonet practice was practice for... hell, I cant even make something up for this.
Oh, yeah, regarding recruiters: anything they tell you should probably be checked out with someone you know that is currently in the military. Sometimes they can, indeed, guarantee you a certain MOSS, or deployment. But get it in writing.
As I read over the above I realize it might sound like I'm discouraging you, and that is not my intent. All I'm saying it to enter into this with your eyes open. Like I said, I support anyone who wants to join the service. I just think that too many of them join for the college money and then get pissy when they get shipped off to war.
I can't comment on that aspect of it... but I can say from experience that most enlisted soldiers prefer ROTC officers over West Point grads, because they say the West Point grads are often somewhat 'seperated' from the common soldier.
yeah, that guy kinda pissed me off too. I mean really...if you aren't willing to shoot someone, DON'T JOIN THE ARMY.
And then everyone was talking about how he was a "concienscious objector" and shouldn't have to fight....yeah, so DON'T JOIN THE ARMY.
Grr...I forget how that whole thing worked out now...I hope they made him go.
At one point I had the grades and recommendations, etc., for West Point as an undergraduate, I am certain I could have gotten at least a glance from them; but it wasn't in my plans at that point. Now I'm considering a career in the Air Force, but that would be after law school (would try for their graduate law program); too bad to hear that even with a lifetime of service the much higher ranks would most likely be closed.
Always curious to see what I could have done differently or what I could do differently in terms of a path.
Always curious to see what I could have done differently or what I could do differently in terms of a path.
dquan97:
How do you like the AF reserves? What made you decide to join and what is your job? Good luck overseas.
How do you like the AF reserves? What made you decide to join and what is your job? Good luck overseas.
i beg to differ. It's very easy to get into OCS (officer candiate school). The hard part is graduating. To the OP, i'd love to talk to you about the Army National Guard. They are able to financially offer you more than any other branch of service b/c of the fact that they are federal AND state funded. PM me if you'd like to talk.
-=bmacd=-
11b, infantry
ARNG
125th Alpha Company, Detroit, MI
- Oct 30, 2000
- 42,589
- 5
- 0
Most Guard slots are the same.
To be commissioned in the REserves, you go through the same training OCS/ROTC as those going active duty. You need to already have a slot reserved for you in you unit.
I went through OCS with 2 people that were slated for guard duty - both flying C141s
Best bet is to talk to each branch of the service tofind out what is available and how badly they can use you.
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