Is enlisting in the military with a bachelors a bad idea?

[gmenfan40]

First and foremost I have completely and upmost respect for people who serve for my country, and don't mean this in any negative way.

The facts are that the job market sucks, my degree is just as useful as toilet paper (still a bachelor of science), and I have student loan debt. The career I'm aiming to get into is law enforcement and it doesn't seem to be panning out, as it's very competitive and actually hard as fukk to get into. Where just 5-10 years ago, almost anyone can practically walk into it. On the back of my mind I always wanted to serve and was going to serve regardless, but as a reservist. Now if I don't make it as an officer, I want to go in as active. My choice of branch is coast guard, and I want to either be a diver, mechanic or MP. In the back of my mind, I feel like i'm overqualified to enlist, yet who am I to say this? Another dilemma is my student loan debt, how will I pay it while serving and live comfortably? Last is I was a DEP in the Navy, but dropped out for personal reasons. Now as i'm about to turn 23, I just want to establish myself as an independent man with a career already. I feel like a kid going in no real direction.

[MysteriousNomad]

I think of it all the time but due to past circumstances I can no longer be an officer.

You do start of as an e4.

I graduated with a BS as well.

Brother and father served. I have the utmost respect for military guys.

Goodluck in your endeavors OP

[yourname2221]

You start off e3 which makes only about a 100 solar difference a month.

If you can't go officer you can enlist and they will pay your student loan debt so no need to worry about that. Do 4 years, don't do mp, work on your schooling while in and then after 4 get out and get a masters paid for. If you want more in depth details pm me.

Why the coast guard. Let alone a reserve coast guard there is not going to be a lot of spots for that.


If you go mp you still have to go through the civilian selection process to be a cop, you just get a few points to help. And they pay for one degree at each level, bachelor's masters doctorate.

[CodyR2095]

No. Go off to military, get GI Bill, go to school again..

Smart ****ing idea, you'll have military background + more college education...

I'd do it.

EDIT: And MP is not like being a local neighborhood police officer, was told that by a recruiter recently. Everyone wants to become an MP because they think MP translates to civilian law enforcement work.

[gmenfan40]

No. Go off to military, get GI Bill, go to school again..

Smart ****ing idea, you'll have military background + more college education...

I'd do it.

EDIT: And MP is not like being a local neighborhood police officer, was told that by a recruiter recently. Everyone wants to become an MP because they think MP translates to civilian law enforcement work.

Could be wrong, and I hope i'm wrong. But I think they only pay for your first bachelors, and don't go past a bachelor degree. Meaning I already have a bachelors and they won't pay further than that.

post test

You mean the ASVAB score?

[PuTangSlayer]

I'd enlist if I for sure they would station me in japan.

[CodyR2095]

Could be wrong, and I hope i'm wrong. But I think they only pay for your first bachelors, and don't go past a bachelor degree. Meaning I already have a bachelors and they won't pay further than that.

I hope you're wrong too. And either way, you can afford to pay off your loans by utilizing your GI Bill, even if you can't pursue more education.

[MysteriousNomad]

You start off e3 which makes only about a 100 solar difference a month.

If you can't go officer you can enlist and they will pay your student loan debt so no need to worry about that. Do 4 years, don't do mp, work on your schooling while in and then after 4 get out and get a masters paid for. If you want more in depth details pm me.

Why the coast guard. Let alone a reserve coast guard there is not going to be a lot of spots for that.


If you go mp you still have to go through the civilian selection process to be a cop, you just get a few points to help. And they pay for one degree at each level, bachelor's masters doctorate.

What if school is payed off by father being in military?
Other benefits?

[thedoggod]

No. Go off to military, get GI Bill, go to school again..

Smart ****ing idea, you'll have military background + more college education...

I'd do it.

EDIT: And MP is not like being a local neighborhood police officer, was told that by a recruiter recently. Everyone wants to become an MP because they think MP translates to civilian law enforcement work.

This This This.

Enlist for a short amount of time, figure out if it's something you'd like to do, and make a choice to either reenlist, commission, or use that experience in the civilian world.

My buddy joined for the "Police Experience" as a MP (Security Forces in the Air Force). Brb guarding nukes, getting no experience at all.

[tunyce]

become a warrant officer in the army
go to flight school
fly helicopters
#profit

you're 22. still young, still can change your career paths. do your research and make a decision *******

also, you mention interests in being a reservist. look into the National Guard.

in b4 hate on nasty girls. same uniform, still says US Army on the uniform, still get deployed. awesome school benefits.

[yourname2221]

You mean the ASVAB score?

Nah, sorry was just seeing if I could post or not, at work and says website denied when I try to post but it seems it still goes through.

What if school is payed off by father being in military?
Other benefits?

You can either take advantage of it at enlistment or not. Meaning if you dont have them pay your loans intially they wont later on.

They pay up to $750 a class for college classes while your in up to 4500 a year (there is ways to go higher though). Then when you seperate no matter if you did 4 or 6 years you can use your GI bill and get your school paid for (you have to be full time) while collection BAH so you work 4 years and get your school paid for for 4 yearswhile getting paid for your housing. Its a hell of a deal in reality.

[ForestFootball]

I'm planning on enlisting in either the Navy or Army (Seals or SF). I will save 50%-75% of my pay and bonus for ten years then get out and join the guard while going to school balling out of control.

[gmenfan40]

become a warrant officer in the army
go to flight school
fly helicopters
#profit

you're 22. still young, still can change your career paths. do your research and make a decision *******

also, you mention interests in being a reservist. look into the National Guard.

in b4 hate on nasty girls. same uniform, still says US Army on the uniform, still get deployed. awesome school benefits.

Will never make it as a pilot, because of my vision. I'm also an extremeist and want a career, not something part-time. Also i'm interested in the coast guard, not army.

[Ferios]

Could be wrong, and I hope i'm wrong. But I think they only pay for your first bachelors, and don't go past a bachelor degree. Meaning I already have a bachelors and they won't pay further than that.

While your in you get classes paid for and it doesn't use your GI Bill. You have to pay for books though. I took a few prereq classes while in, then I got out of the AF after 4 years and went right to college on the GI bill. When you get out the GI Bill will pay for a will pay for a 2nd undergrad degree and it will even pay for a post grad degree. You just have to get it all done in 36 months/~8 semesters. Also, if you can help it, DO NOT go enlisted with an undergrad degree. As an officer you get paid a lot more and life is just generally better. Also, DO NOT become MP, you will hate life. Good luck!

[JM2412]

Am I the OP??????

Holy hell, I'm in the EXACT same situation as you dude.

I'll be graduating in December with a B.A. in Criminal Justice, and I'm thinking about enlisting in the Army after I graduate. My future career goal is to work in law enforcement as well.

Srs.

[MysteriousNomad]

Nah, sorry was just seeing if I could post or not, at work and says website denied when I try to post but it seems it still goes through.



You can either take advantage of it at enlistment or not. Meaning if you dont have them pay your loans intially they wont later on.

They pay up to $750 a class for college classes while your in up to 4500 a year (there is ways to go higher though). Then when you seperate no matter if you did 4 or 6 years you can use your GI bill and get your school paid for (you hbave to be full time) while collection BAH so you work 4 years and get your school paid for for 4 yearswhile getting paid for your housing. Its a hell of a deal in reality.

Ok so I can get housing paid for? I already have a bachelors thats paid off by using my fathers gi bill.

Regardless if I join it would mainly be because my father and brother served.

Thanks breh

[LoseTheKeg]

I did it. It worked out well for me. Feel free to PM with questions. I'm still in the Navy.

BTW, the Navy specifically has a very high percentage of enlisted sailors with bachelors

[yourname2221]

I'm planning on enlisting in either the Navy or Army (Seals or SF). I will save 50%-75% of my pay and bonus for ten years then get out and join the guard while going to school balling out of control.

GL with that. i dont know where you got that 50-75% thing from though.

Am I the OP??????

Holy hell, I'm in the EXACT same situation as you dude.

I'll be graduating in December with a B.A. in Criminal Justice, and I'm thinking about enlisting in the Army after I graduate. My future career goal is to work in law enforcement as well.

Srs.

DONT GO MP/SF

ever

[fourdegrees]

Nothing wrong with going enlisted with a degree if you cant find work. Just dont go in with the idea that you are some how better then anybody because of it. Once you're in, the only thing that matters is your pay grade. That degree will always be there for future opportunities, and it can make you look better for promotions, but that's it.

The best career fields are ones that are highly technical, and not limited to military specific components, as you can transition those skills to a civilian job.

11 years AD AF here

[ceeco]

Not a bad idea, whatever works for your life.
I even have a friend who started service after med scool. Good side: He owes nothing. Bad side: He didn't go straight into residency after the M.D. He doesn't regret his decision though.

[Nakuke]

lol OP as I opened the misc this is exactly what's on my mind. Doing a Biology BS right now and wondering what I might do after college. Unfortunately (or fortunately) all the jobs that appeal to me are in public service: military, law enforcement, teaching, maybe nursing. I'm trying to get it all figured out but I feel like enlisting after colelge is one of the best decisions you can do if you don't have an engineering or CS degree (since they get a job straight out of school almost all teh time) Here's how it works:

When you enlist with a bachelors, you will enter as an E-4. The monthly pay for that level is 2000 dollars for up to two years. From there it only goes up you will stay in at least 4 years, lets say by that time you are an e-5, you earn 2500 dollars a month. Work hard, don't be stupid and stay in for another 2 years, let's say you reach e-6 (Not sure how fast enlisted get promoted), you will now be getting 3000 a month. Keep in mind while active you will not be paying for food or housing, as that is paid for by the military, so that's to save/pay loans. This does not include any extras from any MOS you may get into. When you enlist, you have the option of utilizing the loan repayment program, which gives you a stiped to pay off loans monthly (not in one lump sum) up to I believe 15k dollars. Or you can opt for the post 9/11 GI bill which allows you to get a masters or doctorate program paid off (not certain doctorates such as MDs). You cannot choose both on your first enlistment. If you re enlist and renew your contract, THEN you can choose the other and get both. So if you want o pay off loand AND get the GI bill, you will need to serve 8 years. this shouldn't be a problem if you heart is in the right place and you TRULY want to serve, you TRULY enjoy the military, and you're not a LITTLE FUKING KID who cries every time he receives an order (and you will receive a lot of BS orders). DO NOT JOIN FOR THE BENEFITS. First off you'd be a leech that the military does not need. Second you will hate your life for 8 years. Also keep in mind you can always be called to combat. So think about what you are doing well.

Choose an MOS that you enjoy and maybe pays a little extra. Do not go in with the mentality you will be able to use your degree, because you probably won't, but who cares for by the time you exit your degree will only help you in applications and the like since you already have tangible skills. There's a lot of stuff to do, so do some research, and don't try and go for the over-saturated or competitive spots, make your life easy.

I will probably be taking the same route as the job market is chit and I'd hate nothing more than working in a lab at some biotech company. Would rather get an EMT or some type of community college health certificate than do that chit. Once you come out, you may just as well be able to do whatever you like since you won't have to worry about loans and will have all the post retirement benefits as well. If you would like to do law enforcement, military experience of ANY
kind helps a lot. Not sure you will actually need MP experience. It's a great place to start because I don't believe they hire police officers out of college.

Cliffs: Joining is a great idea to get loans paid off and start saving up money, getting tangible skills after college. Gives you time to meet people and make lifelong friends, learn to be a leader, manage a team, work with others etc, gives you time to think what you might want to do afterwards, with a mix of the post benefits and a vocational masters or certificate, you will be pretty set no matter the economic climate. Don't know what science you studied but if you enjoy the subject, serving, and can deal with kids, look into teaching. Really needed right now and it is quite easy to transition from military to teaching with all the programs they have (plus school administrators love military teachers).

[naturaltony]

Isn't pm and security forces like the worst jobs in the military?

[Rodier21]

feels.

I'll be graduating with a BS in Criminal Justice in a little over a year, not sure if i should go Officer into the Marines/Navy or try and pursue law enforcement right out of college.

[4g64fiero]

They pay isnt great, but its better than what your degree would get you anyways. Personally, I don't know much about the cost guard, but most branches have a program once you enlist that will let you commission. You may still be able to commission if you enlist.

[tunyce]

Will never make it as a pilot, because of my vision. I'm also an extremeist and want a career, not something part-time. Also i'm interested in the coast guard, not army.

if ur color blind then you're right. but if you just have bad vision in general, you can get LASIK/PRK surgery to correct vision. you can get a full time position as a pilot, just gotta put in the work and get flight hours.

coast guard flies rescue helicopters.

good luck brah

[gmenfan40]

While your in you get classes paid for and it doesn't use your GI Bill. You have to pay for books though. I took a few prereq classes while in, then I got out of the AF after 4 years and went right to college on the GI bill. When you get out the GI Bill will pay for a will pay for a 2nd undergrad degree and it will even pay for a post grad degree. You just have to get it all done in 36 months/~8 semesters. Also, if you can help it, DO NOT go enlisted with an undergrad degree. As an officer you get paid a lot more and life is just generally better. Also, DO NOT become MP, you will hate life. Good luck!

I would love to become an officer, but what I have been told the competition is very stiff and leans toward applied enlistee's than civilians. Also that there an extremely long wait, gpa requirement, etc. I have a 2.5 gpa in criminal justice. I honestly don't think that qualifies me to be an officer with todays military, being that its cutting down on size and lacks funding.

IDK if this sounds negative, but i'm just trying to sound realistic. I will however contact a recruiter for the coast guard Monday and tell them i'm interested in becoming an officer. I know when I did that with the Air Force they were only looking for people who can fly planes, as other jobs were allegedly filled. I won't pass the vision requirements.

[4g64fiero]

I would love to become an officer, but what I have been told the competition is very stiff and leans toward applied enlistee's than civilians. Also that there an extremely long wait, gpa requirement, etc. I have a 2.5 gpa in criminal justice. I honestly don't think that qualifies me to be an officer with todays military, being that its cutting down on size and lacks funding.

IDK if this sounds negative, but i'm just trying to sound realistic. I will however contact a recruiter for the coast guard Monday and tell them i'm interested in becoming an officer. I know when I did that with the Air Force they were only looking for people who can fly planes, as other jobs were allegedly filled. I won't pass the vision requirements.

That is just NOT true. Its not. Not even in the slightest. The boards only have a few slots for enlisted typically, they will take rotc like nothing else though.

Honestly my gpa is only about 3.1, so I am going to have to get out of the military and do a year of ROTC before I can commission.

[Nakuke]

Two questions for military brahs:

1. People say go for officer if you have your BS, bu isn't the military over saturated with officers? OCS is pretty much impossible ot get into, and you waste at least a year that you could be earning 2k a month with your fingers crossed. Furthermore, officers get no say in where they are stationed or what they do, since it is up to the needs of the military. Also officer jobs are pretty much constricted to giving orders to the NCOs and watching over them isn't it? Seems pretty chitty to me. ALso the level of responsibility and standard they are held up to seems like a pain in the ass. While everyone else goes to the bar on weekends to have fun, you stay home and get your dress inspected because officers are of a higher class. This is just the perception I've been getting from my observations. not saying it shouldn't be done. I would love to go in as an officer. But with all that selection BS seems like it's about the same as going through grad school applications and getting the same return. Yea it's nice to have a bigger room or an extra 1k a month, but at the same time you can either not go in because they won't take you as a CO and make nothing, or make something as an NCO.

Insight please?

2. Why does everyone say don't do MP/SF?

[4g64fiero]

USAF officers like engineers, scientists, etc are normally in a different environment than that. The officer careers and climates are just as varied as enlisted. I have had that experience as an e5 in the usaf just because my supervisor changed. Its going to start sucking for everyone with the force draw downs whether enlisted or commissioned.

[yourname2221]

lol OP as I opened the misc this is exactly what's on my mind. Doing a Biology BS right now and wondering what I might do after college. Unfortunately (or fortunately) all the jobs that appeal to me are in public service: military, law enforcement, teaching, maybe nursing. I'm trying to get it all figured out but I feel like enlisting after colelge is one of the best decisions you can do if you don't have an engineering or CS degree (since they get a job straight out of school almost all teh time) Here's how it works:

When you enlist with a bachelors, you will enter as an E-4. The monthly pay for that level is 2000 dollars for up to two years. From there it only goes up you will stay in at least 4 years, lets say by that time you are an e-5, you earn 2500 dollars a month. Work hard, don't be stupid and stay in for another 2 years, let's say you reach e-6 (Not sure how fast enlisted get promoted), you will now be getting 3000 a month. Keep in mind while active you will not be paying for food or housing, as that is paid for by the military, so that's to save/pay loans. This does not include any extras from any MOS you may get into. When you enlist, you have the option of utilizing the loan repayment program, which gives you a stiped to pay off loans monthly (not in one lump sum) up to I believe 15k dollars. Or you can opt for the post 9/11 GI bill which allows you to get a masters or doctorate program paid off (not certain doctorates such as MDs). You cannot choose both on your first enlistment. If you re enlist and renew your contract, THEN you can choose the other and get both. So if you want o pay off loand AND get the GI bill, you will need to serve 8 years. this shouldn't be a problem if you heart is in the right place and you TRULY want to serve, you TRULY enjoy the military, and you're not a LITTLE FUKING KID who cries every time he receives an order (and you will receive a lot of BS orders). DO NOT JOIN FOR THE BENEFITS. First off you'd be a leech that the military does not need. Second you will hate your life for 8 years. Also keep in mind you can always be called to combat. So think about what you are doing well.

Choose an MOS that you enjoy and maybe pays a little extra. Do not go in with the mentality you will be able to use your degree, because you probably won't, but who cares for by the time you exit your degree will only help you in applications and the like since you already have tangible skills. There's a lot of stuff to do, so do some research, and don't try and go for the over-saturated or competitive spots, make your life easy.

I will probably be taking the same route as the job market is chit and I'd hate nothing more than working in a lab at some biotech company. Would rather get an EMT or some type of community college health certificate than do that chit. Once you come out, you may just as well be able to do whatever you like since you won't have to worry about loans and will have all the post retirement benefits as well. If you would like to do law enforcement, military experience of ANY
kind helps a lot. Not sure you will actually need MP experience. It's a great place to start because I don't believe they hire police officers out of college.

Cliffs: Joining is a great idea to get loans paid off and start saving up money, getting tangible skills after college. Gives you time to meet people and make lifelong friends, learn to be a leader, manage a team, work with others etc, gives you time to think what you might want to do afterwards, with a mix of the post benefits and a vocational masters or certificate, you will be pretty set no matter the economic climate. Don't know what science you studied but if you enjoy the subject, serving, and can deal with kids, look into teaching. Really needed right now and it is quite easy to transition from military to teaching with all the programs they have (plus school administrators love military teachers).

Please stop spreading this ****. You information is off.

When you join you will be e3 not e4. Your pay will be ~1800 a month. The earliest you can make e4 is 18 months normal is 2 years. The earliest you can make e5 is 3 1/2 based on test time average is around 5. e-6 try 6-7 years average is around 10. Thats if you are srsly exceptional. You will be paying for food from your BAS which isn't enough to support alot.I'm pretty sure Its not an either/or thing with loan repayment, you can have them pay your loan and elect to get the MGIB. Just costs 1200 your first year of enlistment which it does even if you dont have them repay a loan. post 9/11 is used in different ways.

Isn't pm and security forces like the worst jobs in the military?

Yes, they are the bottom of the **** with the lowest scores needed to join and get dicked around every day.