Military after College

like I said, I don't plan on being a lifer. The ultimate plan would be something like; graduate college, enter the military (enlist or officer?), do some time (~4 years looks average), then get out and go into Law Enforcement. Or there's the other, skip military all together and go straight into LE. I donno, I've just always felt indebted to my country, both of my grandfathers were in the service and I have a lot of respect and pride for them. I utilize my freedom on a daily basis, why not help secure and pay for that freedom? I don't need the Service to pay for my school because as I stated above, I pay it outright, but if there was some incentive or whatever to help alleviate the stress of two jobs that would be cool.

 

I would recommend going the officer's route. The pay and benefits are better and you will have the opportunity to gain more managerial experience. Correct me if I'm wrong, but the police force is different than the military in that the "enlisted ranks" blend into the "officer ranks" in a sort of continuum: corporal, detective, sergeant, lieutenant, captain, major, etc. One would progress up this rank structure with years of service and merit. This is different from the military in that an enlisted serviceman would never promote to an officer (NCO's aside); of course they can become officers via direct appointment, OCS, commissioning, etc. but that is besides the point. So if you plan to make the police force your career, it would be reasonable to expect that you would eventually become (if you wanted) a lieutenant or captain. I think that the experience of a captain in the U.S. Army would more closely resemble a lieutenant or captain in the police force than an U.S Army sergeant (assuming you do 4 years active duty).

Of course, if you want help alleviating the cost of school, the officer's track (among most branches; I don't think the the USMC offers the same kind of financial help unless you do NROTC) is the way to go. I don't know too much about enlistment benefits, but I don't think they surpass the monetary compensation available from ROTC programs and alike.

I applaud your desire to serve the country. I think that your plan [including service] is a good one, and one you won't regret. I'm currently doing the U.S. Army ROTC program and love it. Let me know if you have any questions about that program and I'll try to help you out. Good look with your plans!

 

Do bdcp and earn money and time in service while in school

 

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... ^^^ ... Ditto ... Very well said.

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Well, I was in the Army, enlisted NCO, and I will tell you that you can make a lot more money as a civilian cop in 4 years than you can as a soldier in 4 years. After your 4 years in the service, then you are starting your civilian job 4 years older than your peers. I recommend that if you are set on serving in the military, then get a civilian cop job and THEN join the reserves. Police Departments are understanding about reserve commitments and that way you can start earning money sooner in life.

Definitely go the officer route in you do go in the service.

 

Before joining the guard consider the natural and man made disasters you might get called out for in your state. I know many guardsmen that have had to drop out of college many times to go serve their state of Louisiana. We have hurricanes on now the oil spill.

I'm in the reserves for this reason. It's not the I am avoiding serving my state but finishing college is my top priority right now.

 

I'd hate to be the sour apple of the bunch but an officer? Really? The only thing you're going to see is a desk, and every enlisted person under you will hate you because you will have no real world expedience while simultaneously thinking you know everything. There really is nothing worse than a boot lt. Enlist, you'll make much less, it will be harder, you will have less freedom, BUT you'll also have the pride that comes with being the one who is actually putting rounds down range. And as far as picking a job that will benefit you in the future when you get out, no other MOS develops leadership skills more than infantry. Not even close.

 

Nothing worse then a junior enlisted who thinks he knows everything!

Most newbs know they know nothing... but EVERY enlisted man thinks he knows EVERYTHING!

lol, are you serious, infantry... yes leadership and absolutely nothing else, not a single marketable skill other than "leadership"...

must be a marine thing, maybe in a few years you'll understand.

 

In a few years? I'm retired, med sep. Did just over 5 years, made SGT in 3, and along with my other two squad leaders, carried our Lt. I'm not looking to get into a pissing match here, but I'll beat you if you want to get into one.

 

lol... just because you had a bad experience doesn't mean you should bash officers.

 

Valid point on being 4 years behind...unless he goes the NG or Reserves route. This way he could pursue both his civilian career and serve his country.

WOC could also be an option. I was looking into doing this and going CID.

 

Why become an enlisted if you can be an officer. My Lt. from 2/4 and 2/5 5th Marine REG, 1st MAR DIV did everything those grants did. I was a corpsman (enlisted) and seen everything during my time (Iraq and Afgan). One Lt. died because he gave his sapi plate (bullet proof palte) to his marine and got hit in the back towards his liver, died right away. I called this heroic and leadership! Go for officer and you can still do all the dirty shit that us enlisted are doing in the daily basis. I myself thinking of going back as an officer, I have a Bachelor degree in Nursing now and have a good paying job now, but still wanting to go back. I felt proud and honored to be serving with those who sacrifice their time and lives for this country! Go for it!

 

This is really true - although many civilians tend to underestimate the leadership skills acquired - I learned the hard way
But hey - I bet you can throw a hand grenade farther than anyone on the block!

 

Looks like Mark proved his point here ......................

 

You guys all crack me up. They pay doesn't bother me, I'm not greedy and if I was concerned with money I would be a Civil Engineer by now, didn't want to sit at a desk my whole life. I would rather not be a pencil pusher and I tend to agree with mgrande here. Where I come from, respect and experience are earned, not handed out freely. The thing I'm concerned about is whether or not I will still be employable as an ex-military man 4 years and in some cases 6 years older than the next guy?

 

Clearly your one unit didn't teach you very much. Cause I've seen just as many shitbag E's as I have shitbag O's. No one has a monopoly on being dicked up.
Your insular view of officers shows a clear disrespect and utter misunderstanding of how most officers get their jobs. I set my sights on getting my butter bars in 6th grade. Worked my ass off to be the "well rounded" type...then gave up a "normal" college experience for a service Academy and got my commission. That's a lot more work than alot of folks put into getting a job. I know E's who have ended up in a job because that's what some recruiter checked for them-0 dedication on their part. I say all this not to prove that I am supposed to be automatically respected- but to show that I've worked plenty hard to get where I am and should not be automatically discounted because I'm an officer.

It has nothing to do with the rank or position and everything to do with the individual attitude. You Lt. musta been lazy or pretty dumb but REALLY lucky to keep his job if he is as bad as you say. Or maybe you think more highly of the work you did "carrying him" than you should. IDK- but I do know there are more sides to that story.

Not to mention that officers are not supposed to be experts at everything....You don't want to do his paperwork and deal with the BS that he does...so you be the technical expertise and he'll be the managerial expertise and the unit will tick along. It takes all types and they all have to be willing and enthusiastic.

Edit added: What point does an officer deserve respect?? Now that I've been in 8 years-that's longer than your 5- do I know enuf to be considered worthy of your respect?? Or do I need to make O4 first?? or maybe be a flag officer??

Depending on your MOS/job selection IN the military you will be VERY employable outside...or not at all. Being a supply or logistics guy won't help you a damn site...but being an MP or a Coast Guard Maritime Enforcement Specialist/Boarding Officer will provide you with the right skills and instincts to be valuable to a police force or federal LE agency. You also have an easier time sourcing and applying to those jobs (or NCIS/ACID/CGIS). Most agencies give an age cutoff extension for folks who have been in the military and will look highly on honorable service.

 

As a retired vet, it is my experience that my military background was highly recruited in the civilian sector. The hardest part is translating your job skills into a resume without using the jargon. Also for a lot of fed and state jobs, you qualify for veterans preference if you have a honorable discharge DD214.

Certainly you will get the opportunity to gain highly technical, tactical and leadership skills not taught in any book or classroom. It is difficult to project what exactly the job market will be in 4, 6 or 8 years. Remember, your commitment for a non-prior service person is 8 years even if you only do 4 yrs active duty, you will have to be in a reserve status, whether drilling or not until that obligation is met meaning 8 yrs. It might be "inactive reserve" but you are in a pool of folks available for service in case of call up. Just saying in case you did not know that.

 

OP, there are plenty of skills that can be obtained in an infantry field that will make you more saught after in the civilian world. There are plenty of schools you can go to, all of which not only tech you a particular skill, but will also teach you how to train your Marines in in that field. Hence the leadership, but much more will come from it as well. In the civilian worl it would translate to leading and traing a work force to perform thier jobs. You can also opt to do your first two years with security forces which will get you a secret secuity clearance, but not just a normal one. There are certain jobs with the gov that between the clearance and combat experiance, guys are a shoe in. They recuit them.