[[This is in reference to my thread about not being able to find a job after college]] I went to a military baording school for my HS years. In a nutshell, I loved the environment and I really excelled there. It also awakened a desire in me to serve my country that I didn't know I had. I don't want this to sound like a last-ditch effort to get a paycheck. Its something I've always wanted to do, so I thought I'd ask you guys for any thoughts or experience. If I go, it'll be either the Army (most likely) or the Marine Corps, and it will be active duty, not the Reserves or National Guard. The main decision I'll have to make is either enlisting or going to Officer Candidate School (OCS). If I enlist in the Army: 1) I could get a rather large sign-on bonus. 2) I (think) I would have greater choices for my MOS (Military Occupational Specialty). This is a great concern for me. I could go into programming, for example, and land an excellent job after I get out. Employers love military experience. 3) I could get my college loans payed off. This, for me, is the best reason to enlist, as I am in a good deal of debt after college. 4) Station of Choice. I could be stationed wherever I wanted to be, provided the Army needed me there. If I go through OCS: 1) I lose all of the above stuff, but... 2) I'll have the prestige and higher pay of being an officer. I don't know really how being an officer and the higher status and pay compares with the sign-on bonus and loan payoff of being enlisted. I'm meeting with my recruiter tomorrow (6/5/01) to find out more details. As for the USMC, I'll look into meeting with a recruiter for them as well. I assume their offers are more or less the same, but I'm not sure about any particulars. I have spent a lot of time looking at their respective websites, and now I'd just like some personal experience and knowledge from anyone who has any. Any thoughts? Thanks guys. ------------------ "I have no regrets except that I wasn't up to keep Randy from getting on that plane." --Ozzy Osbourne on guitarist Randy Rhodes [This message has been edited by Lynus302 (edited June 04, 2001).]
I've got little to offer you, but my dad was in the AirForce. Sometimes he loved it and sometimes he hated it. I think he hated it more than he loved it, but the way he tells those old military stories over and over again makes you wonder. And deep down, I don't think he ever had as good a group of friends as he had in the conflicts. It's almost as if they have a bond that you can't get anywhere else. I would never do it. That's all I'm sayin. As a child of the military I hated moving all the time, but it did give me the ability to move later on in life. I don't regret my dad moving us all the time. I was glad for the experience now that it's all said and done. But it does impact your kids and family a great deal. So be prepared for that part of it. ------------------ humble, but hungry.
I haven't done it, nor have I considered it, but that's because I fortunately have a job. You have some pretty good positives in there. Good luck in whatever you choose. ------------------ www.swirve.com "Pre-born, you're fine, pre-school, you're f*****."-George Carlin
What about the intiations, surely the appeal of sump oil and getting naked is high ------------------ "The things I enjoy most, I suck at: 1) Sex: everything's fine until she makes noises." - Achebe Smegs Mock Draft
Thanks for the thoughts. As for family matters: I'm 25 and single with no kids. I do have a girlfriend who I'm just crazy about and at this point, I do want to marry her. Thing is though, she is still in college and I could be done with my obligation just about the time she is done with school. I have no idea whether I'd stay in for a whole career or not. She's cool with it though, and we both think our relationship is strong enough to last. I've known quite a few militray kids in my day. They all were happy to have lived the way they did, because they got to live in places like Hawaii, Germany, and Japan. They did say that it sucked having to move, as I would expect, but they were all thankful for it. As for a family of my own and staying in the military: There are some great benefits for doing that. Your entire family is covered for medical insurance purposes and other stuff that I can't think of right now. The negative there is having to move, but I could very well be out when I decide to start a family. Again, thanks for the thoughts. Anyone have any more? ------------------ "I have no regrets except that I wasn't up to keep Randy from getting on that plane." --Ozzy Osbourne on guitarist Randy Rhodes [This message has been edited by Lynus302 (edited June 04, 2001).]
My father joined the Air Force after Medical School. Turns out that doing his internship and residency in teh Air Force had far better benefits (including higher pay and, believe it or not, shorter shifts) than going the more traditional route. (The only downside was that during water rescue training, he sustained inner ear damage and was deaf in one ear until a recent surgery restored his hearing in that ear). He went through OCS and ended up stationed close to home (at Lackland AFB in San Antonio. He came from Houston and went to Baylor Med). I believe he was a Major by the time he left the service. If I was going to go into the military, I'd rather go the OCS route. As I understand it, the overall benefits end up being better. But that may not be the actual case (I've never looked into joining the military myself. It just doesn't appear to be my thing). A friend of mine served in the Army and was stationed in Germany (actually it was still West Germany at the time), and he liked it well enough. It sounds to me like you'd probably do well in the military. If it was simply a matter of not being able to find a job right now in the private sector, I'd say you need to think a little harder about it. But that doesn't seem to be the case with you. ------------------ Houston Sports Board Film Dallas.com AntiBud.com
I was in the military for 6 months, and one of my regrets was quitting it. But, I love civilian life and wouldn't go back. ------------------ "norm, would you like to buy an indian scalp ? This deal isn't gonna make or break me Norm, so don't jerk me around." Harry Carey "Norm, if I had a mohawk scalp, I wouldn't be sitting here talking to you."
Lynus, commit to her first! Get engaged, then go on to the military. I've always wanted to join the military, but have never had the guts. If you do, go for it. ------------------ RKMAN Proud believer of the 2001 World Champion Houston Astros.
how is the social life in the military? i mean ive considered joining but i am ignorant to the amount of time i would be able to engage in a conversation with the opposite sex... ------------------ Paranoid, trying to stuff the void.
You seem like a pretty intelligent guy. If you want to be a leader and you can handle getting ass kicked and being mentally destroyed, I'll say OCS. And since you've already done college, you won't have to take the millitary loan route. Also, be careful, because all the recruiters will give you bull****, a lot of bull****. To get accurate info you must visit bases, talk to friends, talk to people involved, but don't take your recruiter's word as the truth. The recruiter has a lot of good info, but also tons of bull****. Now back to OCS vs enlistment. Dude, you've graduated college, right. Do not enlist. I could be wrong, but chances are you will be bored out of your mind, and taking crap from officers that you know you have the potential to be their superiors. Trust me on this. I have many friends in the army who are not college material and essentially after getting your asses kicked in boot camp and after basic, there's a lot of down time. If you do OCS, which is the freakin hardest thing in the world (you get paid too), you'll feel invincable, like bullets can't stop you. You'll also have a big choice of job during basic. Ideally they want to match you with what you studied in college. You can also take the pilot option or the law school option. I really can't give you 100% advice though, because you know yourself better than anyone else on this board. And to use a similar analogy to Barkley: the army is like the eastern conference and OCS is like the Western conference. You will be able to adapt to the army(unless you're extremely obese, and I mean extremely). If you want OCS, you better be ready. There is a 30% drop out rate for the first term and only 40% of those who made it return for the second. These guys aren't chumps either. Many just break legs and stuff. That **** doesn't happen as frequent with army enlistees. ------------------ "I've been on a calendar, but I've never been on time." -Marilyn Monroe
Personally, I would never do it. It just isn't in my nature. Also, I couldn't because of a chronic back problem. However, I know people who have had good and bad experiences in the military. Whatever you feel is best for you probably is and it is an honorable thing to serve your country. ------------------ The internet is about the free exchange and sale of other people's ideas. - Futurama [This message has been edited by Jeff (edited June 05, 2001).]
OCS vs Enlisted man.... Come on....you have an education, do you really need us to tell you which is better? OCS !!!! I don't want some dumb ass pencil thin redneck who barely graduated high school telling me what to do in basic. Go OCS my man....you will not regret it. DaDakota ------------------ If you like RTS games, check out this one. www.frontierwars.com coming soon to a PC near you.
