Military info

Hey i am going to take the college rotc classes and i have been thinking of joining while i was still in college i have talked to the rotc people and they said that i would be a second lieutenant would it be worth it to join or better for me to get my college degree any info would be great thanks

 

Join the reserves. Come back from basic training and AIT and go to college on the Army's dime. Finish your degree, and if you enjoy the military, go active duty. If not, ride out your enlistment (most likely 6 years) and get out. Just don't be surprised if you get deployed. It's worth it, much more than the college benefits. Skills and life training.

 

It depends what you are comfortable doing in life. If your curiours about the army pm me. I am currently deployed to Afghanistan and have been in 7 years, I can answer most questions on the combat arms side of the house

 

I was too much of a pussy to join when I was thinking of it.

Once I completed college I worked mostly with x-Military guys and managed and hired military guys. I have the utmost respect for all of you that served and feel blessed to have learned great discipline from those that were diciplined by serving. I don't think you can go wrong unless you go wrong. And then that can be a repeating theme.

I wish you good luck in what ever you do!

 

how many years of college do you have left? If you have about 2-3 or less look into BDCP

http://usmilitary.about.com/od/officerjo2/a/bdcp.htm

This is what I did, you get paid as an enlisted during college (2 year non-technical, 3 years technical) then upon completion of college you go to ocs and get commissioned. Screw that ROTC bullshit... While I was in College I made $30,000 my first year, $38000 my last year just from the Navy. I have a part time job that made another $15000 a year. I did not EVER where a uniform (while in school) I met with the recruiter twice a month, had full medical/dental, Exchange priviledges, etc

ROTC sucks...unless you got the scholarship. I paid for my last 2 years of college out of pocket (with exception of about $10,000 in grants)

In this economy, Military is a good option... oh these years in college count too, unlike the academy and ROTC. So when you're commissioned you already have 2-3 years on the books

An O-1 (Ensign, 2nd Lt) makes about $35000 in base pay, +atleast $12000 Housing, +$4000 Food, plus other incentive pay

 

i have about 3-4 years left in college and i want the rotc scholarship but idk if i would be able to get it because i have a VA scholarship ( my dad is a combat disable Vietnam vet) also how hard is it on a family

 

perfect! BDCP is the way to go, you get paid while in college, benefits, etc and no uniforms while in college or anything...

Call a Navy Recruiter and speak to the Officer Recruiter... not the enlisted recruiter because they will try to convince you to enlist and will not help at all

 

Thank your dad for his service.

10 years ago I had a client that was from Vietnam that found out that my boss was a Vietnam Vet and she wrote a long letter to him thanking him for helping her people in an attempt to be able to allow them to live a free life. She went on about how many perfect strangers were willing to put life and limb on the line in an attempt to help her people. I should have asked for a copy of it.

My boss later told me that he had been spit on, yelled at, called a baby-killer, etc. but that was the first time anyone had thanked him for his service and efforts.

Just another reminder of how blessed we are and how we tend to take it all for granted. When was the last time anyone on this board had to lie, cheat and steal to get food or toilet paper for our loved ones (I'm not saying that people here don't do those sort of things - we just don't have to).

 

i also was wondering how is military life for family's

 

While you are getting answers to that question also ask how different careers affect families. Then ask "How do I want to affect my family?"

 

true i never thought of seeing it like that and i still need to find out what i want to do when i get in

 

I will tell you a college degree does help out on the enlisted side of the house with promotions. The fine print on the officer contract is they have you for the rest of your life. You can be 60 and retired, but if they need a person with your capabilities, you just got your ticket back in.

As far as families go, it truly depends on the job you take, the amount of times you get deployed. But most families work out a social network when deployments occur to stay informed, communicate with loved ones and so on.

 

While USMCGoose is correct and there does exist a possibility of recall after you have left the service, I wouldn't let it influence your decision on whether or not you should pursue a career as a military officer. In my five years of service I have met zero officers who have been recalled to active duty against their will. However, I can't count the number of enlisted soldiers I have seen stop-lossed past their enlistments due to the needs of the Army. Many of the officers and enlisted I know have left the service only to voluntarily return after one or two years after realizing how much they miss it. Bottom line is that being in the service is a very rewarding experience which will give you the opportunity to see and do things you might not have otherwise gotten to do but it certainly is not for everyone. Joining ROTC will in no way preclude you from getting your degree. Generally speaking, commissioned officers are required to posess a bachelor degree to be commissioned, although some exceptions do apply (degree completion program allows you to commission without one, but you still have to get it before you advance past O3) You will graduate just as you would otherwise in whatever major you choose, but you'll also get a minor in military science. After graduation you will be commissioned as an O1 (2nd LT or Ensign) and serve what is typically a four year committment, either on active duty or in the Reserves. Feel free to PM me with any questions.

 

I remember stop-loss. ahh Memories

 

i want to say thanks all of you that gave me the info and just to let you know i am joining up this week