Officer or Enlisted

[Mookow]

I'm considering enlisting now. I have been since before the bullets starting flying in Iraq. Basically, I'm in college for a CIS degree, and I dont know if I even want that. I'm paying a lot of money to be somewhere that I dont like. I do know that I am sitting here in America, relatively safe and free, because of the men and women in the armed forces. I've been lifting and cutting my weight down for the past three months while I was uncertain. I'm going to talk to the recruiter next week. I've talked to my uncle (ex-USMC), and he thinks I should go to CSU (Cleveland State, my dad works there and it would be free for me), get a degree in anything, then join as an officer. I've always considered joining the armed services, but I was thinking of it in an abstract, maybe-after-college way. Now its more of a 90% chance I'm going to do it, one way or another (unless I have a heart murmur or something along those lines that would DQ me)

So, the choices are:
Enlist. Now. Yes, there is a war on, but that doesnt affect my decision, as that is what you are getting paid for.
Go to CSU, get a degree in whatever is both easy and relatively useful (I can go back to college afterward under the G.I. bill), and join either the Army, Navy, or USMC as an officer.

I'm not making a poll for this because I want serious responses, preferably from people that have been in the armed forces already. If I enlist I am not certain which service I would enter, will see about that after talking to the recruiters from each branch

 

[StageLeft]

Hmm, I think you should get the degree first. Not only will that give you additional time to think on this course of action for your life, but going in as an officer is _much_ better than going in as a "grunt". More pay, better opportunities.

What about joining the reserves or national guard or something in the meantime and then getting your degree immediately? Then once you're done go into officer training?

 

[Looney]

I say go in as an officer.

 

[Queasy]

Officer all the way. You'll have a lot more options with a college degree as well.

 

[JeffreyLebowski]

only way i'd go in is if i was a a full bird colonel or general.

 

[Demon-Xanth]

"Officer or Enlisted" is like deciding "Caddilac of Yugo". Not really too much of a decision. Go for Officer.

 

[Mookow]

Originally posted by: Demon-Xanth
"Officer or Enlisted" is like deciding "Caddilac of Yugo". Not really too much of a decision. Go for Officer.

Yeah, but one requires an extra couple of years of work....

 

[StageLeft]

Originally posted by: Mookow

Originally posted by: Demon-Xanth
"Officer or Enlisted" is like deciding "Caddilac of Yugo". Not really too much of a decision. Go for Officer.

Yeah, but one requires an extra couple of years of work....

It's a worthy investment. It's like who would you rather be? The guy who leaves highschool to work at the factory and make $10, or the guy who goes to university for a few years, works up a little debt, but then starts at a higher pay and in 10 years has not only overtaken the first guy but now has more skills and better earning power.

You are going to live until the age of 80 give or take. Two years is nothing for something so important.

 

[Demon-Xanth]

I have family and good friends in the military. From what they've said... Not really too much of a decision. Go for Officer.

 

[ThaGrandCow]

You are in 100% the exact same position I'm in right now, except I'm at Virginia Tech instead of where you are taking classes. How close are you to your degree? In my position, I've already gone the enlisted route and love every minute of it. Obviously, I am a reservist and have not been activated, but your choice will depend on you. My obvious, biased opinion, would be the Marine Corps. I talked to recruiters from every branch, and also enlisted people from each branch, and the Marine Corps was the best decision I could make.

If you're smart enough to get into and succeed in college as I was, you should sign up as an enlisted in the reserves and finish college. Then you can get a waiver for the rest of your obligation to your reserve station and go active duty and become an officer. In the end, most branches are hurting for officers right now, and you'll be doing more in the end. Plus, if it is your kind of thing, going the officer route will enable you to go into the flight program, if you want to fly.

Any questions you might have, feel free to post them here and I'll answer as best as I can, or PM me and I'll get back to you.

 

[Mookow]

Originally posted by: ThaGrandCow
You are in 100% the exact same position I'm in right now, except I'm at Virginia Tech instead of where you are taking classes. How close are you to your degree? In my position, I've already gone the enlisted route and love every minute of it. Obviously, I am a reservist and have not been activated, but your choice will depend on you. My obvious, biased opinion, would be the Marine Corps. I talked to recruiters from every branch, and also enlisted people from each branch, and the Marine Corps was the best decision I could make.

If you're smart enough to get into and succeed in college as I was, you should sign up as an enlisted in the reserves and finish college. Then you can get a waiver for the rest of your obligation to your reserve station and go active duty and become an officer. In the end, most branches are hurting for officers right now, and you'll be doing more in the end. Plus, if it is your kind of thing, going the officer route will enable you to go into the flight program, if you want to fly.

Any questions you might have, feel free to post them here and I'll answer as best as I can, or PM me and I'll get back to you.

Thanks for the response. Its not a question about intelligence, I've always had the brians to do anything I wanted to do. That's the thing though... I dont know if I want to be a programmer or network admin, and anyways, right now the CS field is down pretty bad. I'm being pushed (lightly, the its definitely there) towards the USMC by my uncle and grandfather who were both in it. I'm somewhat leaning that way, too, but I am also concerned about what I am going to be able to do with my experience after I get out, thus I plan to look at all branches, more or less. The same uncle also suggested I see what the navy is offering.

The thing against the reserves is the chance that I would get called up before I complete a degree. One of the big plusses for that route is that you get your college paid for (in part), but I already have that if I go to CSU. Is the waiver to get out of your enlistment and become an officer a sure thing, or just something that you have a chance at? Speaking of the flight program, what are the uncorrected requirements for your eyes? I dont think that I would qualify. It would be cool, but I got my dad's side when it came to eyes, and thus was screwed (on my mothers side everyone tends to be 20/10 to 20/20). Last I heard if you get LASIK you cant fly, either, but I have heard (from one person) that they have now reversed that.

 

[StageLeft]

If you're that smart you must realize that you'd serve the armed forces better if you did your degree first and became an officer!

 

[thraxes]

Have a few friends in the US army both enlisted and officer. From what I hear the choice is obvious: if you have the possibility, go for officer! The long-term benefits from an officer career far outweigh any short-term perks as an enlisted man.

 

[dquan97]

Go be an officer...but then again, officer recruitment depends on their needs at the time.

 

[LordRaiden]

Go officer. You'll thank yourself later.

 

[illusion88]

I would go in as an officer. My Gradfather was a Colonel in WWII and I know his experiences about beign an officer rather then a grunt. My cousin is in the Navy right now. I forget his rank, something low. He is a sonar tech. Anyways, the officers get better cabins and privilages and what not. Not to mention the pay and the benefits afterwards. I would go the officer route.

 

[Mookow]

Originally posted by: Skoorb
If you're that smart you must realize that you'd serve the armed forces better if you did your degree first and became an officer!

Yeah, I know... I know... I'm just not looking forward to moving back with the parents while I'm there at CSU

 

[illusion88]

Originally posted by: thraxes
Have a few friends in the US army both enlisted and officer. From what I hear the choice is obvious: if you have the possibility, go for officer! The long-term benefits from an officer career far outweigh any short-term perks as an enlisted man.

Just a question. What are the short-term perks of enlisted?

 

[Looney]

Just a question. What are the short-term perks of enlisted?

You do'nt need a degree.

 

[sniperbob]

Originally posted by: Moralpanic

Just a question. What are the short-term perks of enlisted?

You do'nt need a degree.

And as enlisted, you can get into most of the MOS a lot easier compare to officers, they only need so many 2nd Lts in say inflight missile repair, but they need a lot more privates, spc, and sgts for that field.

 

[illusion88]

Originally posted by: sniperbob

Originally posted by: Moralpanic

Just a question. What are the short-term perks of enlisted?

You do'nt need a degree.

And as enlisted, you can get into most of the MOS a lot easier compare to officers, they only need so many 2nd Lts in say inflight missile repair, but they need a lot more privates, spc, and sgts for that field.

Ah I see. Didn't really think about that.

 

[woowoo]

An enlisted man will come out of the service with a trade
An officer will be perfect for middle managenent. (no skills)
and remember........
Sailors have more fun

 

[mastertech01]

Take the officer route. If you start enlisted and then go officer you will be discriminated against for the remainder of your carreer by the high and mighty snooty officer corps who look upon you as a black sheep because you were once enlisted. I have known several officers who started as enlisted and all give the same story.

 

[jlee]

Originally posted by: woowoo
An enlisted man will come out of the service with a trade
An officer will be perfect for middle managenent. (no skills)
and remember........
Sailors have more fun

Maybe (debatable)..but if you stay in (as an officer) long enough, retire..

 

[RgrPark]

I think enlisted is the way to go. I joined the army as an enlisted soldier after getting my BA from the Univ of Chicago. I got a Ranger contract, passed all the try-outs and was assigned to one of the Ranger Bns, where i learned to be a teamleader. After almost 4 years there, I reclassed to Military Intelligence as a Korean Voice Interceptor and will be leaving the Army after being in MI for over 2 years... If I were to stay in, I would definitely go be an officer, but if you just want to try-out the military life, i would say go enlisted. If you go in as an officer, you will not get any respect from the non-commissioned officers until you at least make captain. The sergeants are gonna be talking behind your back and laughing because you've been in the military for less than a year (same as a private) and are in charge of a platoon which includes several staff sergeants and a sergeant first class. Basically, when you're a butterbar, you won't know what the heck you're doing but you'll be in charge of a platoon with people that have been in the army way longer than you. However, if you get out of the Army as a non-commissioned officer, and you do it right (i have no regrets), you can get out with leadership experience in a special ops unit, get a top secret clearance, get a foreign language, and people in the know will know that you actually worked for a living. It'll look good on your resume.

Oh yeah, if you're all about "pay", don't even bother joining the service. You join to serve your country and to be a man. Try sucking it up for a while, it'll make you a better and stronger person.