OT: Military & College?
02-24-2003, 09:56 AM
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OT: Military & College?
Hey to all you military buffs who have dealt with military and college at the same time. As of right now I'm about to be finishing my first year of college this semester and just recently I've had thoughts of joining the marines (with full intent on finishing college and majoring in Biology still) but I was wondering if anyone has done anything similar around here. I know that there are many military men on this board so I figured that this might be a good place to ask around.
I'm really just looking for any info or stories anyone has to offer <img border="0" title="" alt="[Wink]" src="wink.gif" /> . This certainly isn't a cop out or anything academically it's just the more I think about it the more it seems like a good idea. I'm just wondering if I should wait or go have a talk with a recruiter now and try to find out more information there.
Thanks for listening guys. <img border="0" alt="[cheers]" title="" src="graemlins/beerchug.gif" />
I'm really just looking for any info or stories anyone has to offer <img border="0" title="" alt="[Wink]" src="wink.gif" /> . This certainly isn't a cop out or anything academically it's just the more I think about it the more it seems like a good idea. I'm just wondering if I should wait or go have a talk with a recruiter now and try to find out more information there.
Thanks for listening guys. <img border="0" alt="[cheers]" title="" src="graemlins/beerchug.gif" />
02-24-2003, 10:14 AM
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It all depends on what type of job you have in the military as to whether college will be a viable option or not. I spent 22 years in the military and took very few classes. This was mostly because of my schedule and I spent a lot of time travelling. In the last 8 years of my career I spent on average 130 days a year on the road. Not the best conditions for college. I can't speak for the Marines but I know in the Air Force you're going to have to put college on hold for awhile. Again this depends on what field you get into. For instance my military technical school was 11 months long and it's about another year from that to get a skill level upgrade. During which time college is not an option. Don't get me wrong there will be time for college eventually, but just not right away. If there's a will, there's a way. Another good option would be to finish your college before joining and come in as an officer.
02-24-2003, 10:20 AM
#3
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I am in my 17th year with the Navy. Since you are in college already, why not look into ROTC? You could stay in school, and when you graduate have a job and serve. I started college without a scholarship, joined ROTC, and before I graduated had a 2.5 year scholarship.
I think it would be difficult to continue school and serve. I haven't seen it work too well, particularly if you are in a deploying unit.
That being said, the Navy is trying to ensure that all who enlist finish their initial enlistment with at least an associates degree. They are trying to do this by partnering with educational institutions and by getting some Navy training to qualify for college credits.
Good Luck.
I think it would be difficult to continue school and serve. I haven't seen it work too well, particularly if you are in a deploying unit.
That being said, the Navy is trying to ensure that all who enlist finish their initial enlistment with at least an associates degree. They are trying to do this by partnering with educational institutions and by getting some Navy training to qualify for college credits.
Good Luck.
02-24-2003, 10:29 AM
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Big thirst, Sore Thumbs
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Napoleon
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Or Join the reserves. You'll still have to put college on hold for a while (Basic, and then MOS school) But then you'll have time to go to school, plus extra money.
Then you can become a mustang officer. The only type the enlisted pay attention too, and the other college boy officers don't.
Then you can become a mustang officer. The only type the enlisted pay attention too, and the other college boy officers don't.
02-24-2003, 11:08 AM
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</font><blockquote><font size="1" face="Verdana,Tahoma,Arial,Helvetica,Geneva">quote:</font><hr /><font size="2" face="Verdana,Tahoma,Arial,Helvetica,Geneva">Originally posted by SidViscous:
<strong>Or Join the reserves. You'll still have to put college on hold for a while (Basic, and then MOS school) But then you'll have time to go to school, plus extra money.</strong></font><hr /></blockquote><font size="2" face="Verdana,Tahoma,Arial,Helvetica,Geneva">Good point, and some states still have education benefits for National Guard folks. Look into both as Reserves and National Guard are not the same. However, also bear in mind current world events. The odds of you being activated are rather high at the moment and conscientious objectors are not cool. Don't join if you're not prepared to play.
<strong>Or Join the reserves. You'll still have to put college on hold for a while (Basic, and then MOS school) But then you'll have time to go to school, plus extra money.</strong></font><hr /></blockquote><font size="2" face="Verdana,Tahoma,Arial,Helvetica,Geneva">Good point, and some states still have education benefits for National Guard folks. Look into both as Reserves and National Guard are not the same. However, also bear in mind current world events. The odds of you being activated are rather high at the moment and conscientious objectors are not cool. Don't join if you're not prepared to play.
02-24-2003, 11:41 AM
#6
Big thirst, Sore Thumbs
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He said Marines. Those of us who aspire to the Red and Gold, or spent our time in PI like I did, aint going to join no Fricking National Guard unit.
<img border="0" title="" alt="[Wink]" src="wink.gif" />
<img border="0" title="" alt="[Wink]" src="wink.gif" />
02-24-2003, 11:43 AM
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Oh I'm not afraid of being shipped off if I were activated. Well I'd be scared but I think I'd be up for the challenge. They do have classes on bases though am I correct? I don't necessarily have to stay at the college that I'm at, staying there is most likely not even a possibility. I just think that if I wait unil I graduate (I'm looking at another 4 years at least right now for my major) there's a chance that my interest in the military will have been dissolved.
Also I really feel that joining will put some motivation in my life, as lately I've been pretty lazy and partying way too much hehe. I guess if I did do it though it'd have to be the marines. Just something about what they do is appealing to me, not to mention I have a few high school buddies that are now in the Corps. I need to get in shape though so i don't die during boot camp though haha. Over 3 months of training, ouch. I think if I start running a few miles a day again and lifting more (like i said I've been lazy) I'd be ready by summer if I were to enlist.
Also I really feel that joining will put some motivation in my life, as lately I've been pretty lazy and partying way too much hehe. I guess if I did do it though it'd have to be the marines. Just something about what they do is appealing to me, not to mention I have a few high school buddies that are now in the Corps. I need to get in shape though so i don't die during boot camp though haha. Over 3 months of training, ouch. I think if I start running a few miles a day again and lifting more (like i said I've been lazy) I'd be ready by summer if I were to enlist.
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02-24-2003, 11:46 AM
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Oh yeah, my wrestling coach from high school was a sniper in the marines <img border="0" title="" alt="[Wink]" src="wink.gif" /> He was in Somalia about a week before the events that occured in the movie black hawk down.
02-24-2003, 01:08 PM
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As a Format Marine I can agree with the comments as to depending on your MOS(field) I was an avionics tech and after 1 year, including bootcamp I spent the next 3 years at Cherry point ,NC. Only one 3 month detachment in Okinawa.
If your goal is to be somewhere to continue your education, then consider that when selecting an MOS. If not, then do what you want and do school later.
Semper Fi
If your goal is to be somewhere to continue your education, then consider that when selecting an MOS. If not, then do what you want and do school later.
Semper Fi
02-24-2003, 03:06 PM
#11
Three Wheelin'
Okay,
At many universities, the Marines have an officer program that takes place in the form of two 12 week sessions over the summer between semesters.
You will need to be in shape for this. It's not like a basic environment so much as it is a weeding out environment. Likewise, you need to decide if you want to be enlisted or officer. The paths you take to reach these two goals can be very, very different, and it's important that you understand what they deal with.
If the military is a business, then the officers are the mid-level managers. The enlisted troops work for them. Officers generally are required to hold at least BA or BS degrees(there are exceptions to this rule; we can discuss it off the boards if you'd like.) Officers get paid considerably more than enlisted. They have much greater individual responsibilities, etc.
It's more difficult to become an officer to become enlisted. In addition to the education requirements, the process is considerably more selective, no matter what the branch. Again, let me know if you want details.
If you're wanting to go into the aviation world (which a lot of Porsche people do for some reason <img border="0" title="" alt="[Wink]" src="wink.gif" /> ) then you have to be an officer for fixed-wing aircraft. There are exceptions for rotorcraft, but now I'm getting into the details again.
The Marines have the lowest retention rate for all categories of soldiers.
Let me know if you have any specific questions; I've had friends who went through this. Right now, ROTC is a strange ball-game, because the numbers have swollen in the past 2 years, and sometimes getting into the program and receiving and officer allocation can be a bit difficult. Your major has a lot to do with it.
There are several people on this board who are currently in college and in the military. There are also several of us who are in officer training. Matt Olde, Matt Ritenour and myself are all in different stages of receiving our commissions in the USAF. We'd all be happy to answer any further questions you may have.
Micah
At many universities, the Marines have an officer program that takes place in the form of two 12 week sessions over the summer between semesters.
You will need to be in shape for this. It's not like a basic environment so much as it is a weeding out environment. Likewise, you need to decide if you want to be enlisted or officer. The paths you take to reach these two goals can be very, very different, and it's important that you understand what they deal with.
If the military is a business, then the officers are the mid-level managers. The enlisted troops work for them. Officers generally are required to hold at least BA or BS degrees(there are exceptions to this rule; we can discuss it off the boards if you'd like.) Officers get paid considerably more than enlisted. They have much greater individual responsibilities, etc.
It's more difficult to become an officer to become enlisted. In addition to the education requirements, the process is considerably more selective, no matter what the branch. Again, let me know if you want details.
If you're wanting to go into the aviation world (which a lot of Porsche people do for some reason <img border="0" title="" alt="[Wink]" src="wink.gif" /> ) then you have to be an officer for fixed-wing aircraft. There are exceptions for rotorcraft, but now I'm getting into the details again.
The Marines have the lowest retention rate for all categories of soldiers.
Let me know if you have any specific questions; I've had friends who went through this. Right now, ROTC is a strange ball-game, because the numbers have swollen in the past 2 years, and sometimes getting into the program and receiving and officer allocation can be a bit difficult. Your major has a lot to do with it.
There are several people on this board who are currently in college and in the military. There are also several of us who are in officer training. Matt Olde, Matt Ritenour and myself are all in different stages of receiving our commissions in the USAF. We'd all be happy to answer any further questions you may have.
Micah
02-24-2003, 03:30 PM
#12
Big thirst, Sore Thumbs
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Napoleon
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"The Marines have the lowest retention rate for all categories of soldiers."
Just to make a point. Marines are not soldiers. Soldiers wear baseball caps, diddy bop with thier hands in thier pocket, usually only fire from full cover and have a tendency to give up hilltops that good Marines captured.
They also call thier rifle a gun.
Pedantic I know, but it is an important point.
Just to make a point. Marines are not soldiers. Soldiers wear baseball caps, diddy bop with thier hands in thier pocket, usually only fire from full cover and have a tendency to give up hilltops that good Marines captured.
They also call thier rifle a gun.
Pedantic I know, but it is an important point.
02-24-2003, 03:41 PM
#13
Three Wheelin'
I consider anyone who fights for his or her country to be a "soldier." What's the old saying? I believe it goes something like:
"I would've been in the corps, but I scored too high on all the tests."
Service rivalry is a good thing <img border="0" title="" alt="[Wink]" src="wink.gif" /> An Uncle of mine flew Rhinos in the Corps; he's always talking about how the Air Force jocks loved to loose off BVR missiles and then run back over to their "zone" in exercises
Micah
"I would've been in the corps, but I scored too high on all the tests."
Service rivalry is a good thing <img border="0" title="" alt="[Wink]" src="wink.gif" /> An Uncle of mine flew Rhinos in the Corps; he's always talking about how the Air Force jocks loved to loose off BVR missiles and then run back over to their "zone" in exercises
Micah
02-24-2003, 03:56 PM
#14
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Not to start an inter-service flame war, but if you want a good technical education while in the service, your chances are better in the AF or Navy. Yes, the Marines do provide a lot of technical education, but I suspect that a smaller percentage of it is likely to have outside application. This is not a knock on the Marines, just an appreciatrion of the differences among the services, their equipment, and missions.
One possible 'career path'.... join the AF or Navy as an enlisted person; get into a tech field that they will educate you in. While in, get all the college courses you can towards your degree (math, English, general arts & sciences should all be possible). Then when you get out, get a decent-paying civ job using the military skill to support yourself in reasonable style while you finish college. You could have it trimmed down to where you only need three or four semesters of part time work in your major to graduate with a BS or BA.
I came out of the Navy 'way back ('71) qualified to be a diesel or hydraulics mechanic / technician. With a little study, I could have been a stationary plant opertor (steam electrical plant), or served in the merchant marine (hard to go to college...8). I also transfered in over a semester of college-credit general ed classes (a, I didn't really try, and b, we were at sea a lot), and got a reduced graduation requirement in both PE and total hours required. Honestly, the AF probably offers better chances to go to college while in.
And yes, any service will whip you into good physical shape in basic, but it's gonna be easier on you to go in in good shape. You'll have more than enough new s*&t thrown at you without being in pain all the time.
Jim, " I read recipes the same way I read science fiction. I get to the end andand I think, 'Well, that's not going to happen.' "
One possible 'career path'.... join the AF or Navy as an enlisted person; get into a tech field that they will educate you in. While in, get all the college courses you can towards your degree (math, English, general arts & sciences should all be possible). Then when you get out, get a decent-paying civ job using the military skill to support yourself in reasonable style while you finish college. You could have it trimmed down to where you only need three or four semesters of part time work in your major to graduate with a BS or BA.
I came out of the Navy 'way back ('71) qualified to be a diesel or hydraulics mechanic / technician. With a little study, I could have been a stationary plant opertor (steam electrical plant), or served in the merchant marine (hard to go to college...8). I also transfered in over a semester of college-credit general ed classes (a, I didn't really try, and b, we were at sea a lot), and got a reduced graduation requirement in both PE and total hours required. Honestly, the AF probably offers better chances to go to college while in.
And yes, any service will whip you into good physical shape in basic, but it's gonna be easier on you to go in in good shape. You'll have more than enough new s*&t thrown at you without being in pain all the time.
Jim, " I read recipes the same way I read science fiction. I get to the end andand I think, 'Well, that's not going to happen.' "
02-24-2003, 04:25 PM
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</font><blockquote><font size="1" face="Verdana,Tahoma,Arial,Helvetica,Geneva">quote:</font><hr /><font size="2" face="Verdana,Tahoma,Arial,Helvetica,Geneva">Originally posted by jim968:
<strong>Not to start an inter-service flame war, but if you want a good technical education while in the service, your chances are better in the AF or Navy.</strong></font><hr /></blockquote><font size="2" face="Verdana,Tahoma,Arial,Helvetica,Geneva">Jim pretty much said what i was thinking, and if you think that the marines are going to help you stop drinking as much... yeah, think again.
I know quite a few people that have crossed from the marines to the AF and at first they think the AF is stupid, but after time they talk about how backward the marines are. No matter what branch you join, it will depend on what job you do, where you work, and what you want to accomplish. It is a VERY big gamble that I personally would not take.
If you do decide to join, go into one of the jobs that requires a high score on your asvab. Make a good score on your asvab first of all. You can be a complete idiot and get in a dig ditches, or you can make a good score and get a good job. People hate me on a daily basis when they walk in my office and I'm sitting there doing nothing. They ask me why, and i tell them because that is what i got for applying myself at the very beginning. For my job i got 48 credit hours, not too shabby. My job also translates to a job on the outside. I have a friend w/o a degree who just got out after 10 years (he could have gotten out before that and did the same thing) and he started his job at 90K.
Heres the big issue. The life is simple. You will always be payed. It is all routine (mostly). Whats the problem you say... it is overly simple. Everything is made for the absolute DUMBEST MFer out there. It will drive you insane. Imagine the biggest idiot you know, multiply it by 10 and he will be somewhere in your chain of command somewhere along the way. You can't quit. You'd better be ready to move. Lots. Last thing, so suppose you do sign up with a particular job. Guess what? That DOES NOT guarantee that you will get that job.
Don't get me wrong. I love what the military has done for me. I have seen the world. I met my wife. I have become a bit more responsible. I've learned a skill that will make me big bucks in a couple of years, and if I could keep my wife out of the deal I would give it all back. It hasn't been worth it. It took me a few years to get this attitude, and i wasn't like this before i came in. We just got a new guy, he made eagle scout when he was 13.5. He even said that the place that we work will zap your motivation and will to do anything. I'd hate for anyone else to end up like i have. HUA (thats for the blockheads.)
<strong>Not to start an inter-service flame war, but if you want a good technical education while in the service, your chances are better in the AF or Navy.</strong></font><hr /></blockquote><font size="2" face="Verdana,Tahoma,Arial,Helvetica,Geneva">Jim pretty much said what i was thinking, and if you think that the marines are going to help you stop drinking as much... yeah, think again.
I know quite a few people that have crossed from the marines to the AF and at first they think the AF is stupid, but after time they talk about how backward the marines are. No matter what branch you join, it will depend on what job you do, where you work, and what you want to accomplish. It is a VERY big gamble that I personally would not take.
If you do decide to join, go into one of the jobs that requires a high score on your asvab. Make a good score on your asvab first of all. You can be a complete idiot and get in a dig ditches, or you can make a good score and get a good job. People hate me on a daily basis when they walk in my office and I'm sitting there doing nothing. They ask me why, and i tell them because that is what i got for applying myself at the very beginning. For my job i got 48 credit hours, not too shabby. My job also translates to a job on the outside. I have a friend w/o a degree who just got out after 10 years (he could have gotten out before that and did the same thing) and he started his job at 90K.
Heres the big issue. The life is simple. You will always be payed. It is all routine (mostly). Whats the problem you say... it is overly simple. Everything is made for the absolute DUMBEST MFer out there. It will drive you insane. Imagine the biggest idiot you know, multiply it by 10 and he will be somewhere in your chain of command somewhere along the way. You can't quit. You'd better be ready to move. Lots. Last thing, so suppose you do sign up with a particular job. Guess what? That DOES NOT guarantee that you will get that job.
Don't get me wrong. I love what the military has done for me. I have seen the world. I met my wife. I have become a bit more responsible. I've learned a skill that will make me big bucks in a couple of years, and if I could keep my wife out of the deal I would give it all back. It hasn't been worth it. It took me a few years to get this attitude, and i wasn't like this before i came in. We just got a new guy, he made eagle scout when he was 13.5. He even said that the place that we work will zap your motivation and will to do anything. I'd hate for anyone else to end up like i have. HUA (thats for the blockheads.)