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

[fourdegrees]

If you choose to join the military, you are wasting your time enlisting with a bachelor's degree. See a recruiter about joining under an officer program. There are a myriad of reasons to join the military as an officer over enlisted:

-Better pay
-Better living conditions typically
-More job opportunities afterwards

To name a few. You are right in saying you are overqualified to enlist with a bachelor's degree. You spent the time and effort studying and obtaining a degree, you shouldn't settle for doing that all over again as enlisted.

You act like the OP can just automatically become an officer because he has a degree...

[RocknRollMuscle]

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.

I did. Even better if you go for OFFICER. Pick any service that gives you officer position if they give you trouble. Officer > *

I was an idiot and went enlisted. One of the dumbest thigns I did in my life. And I had two freakin' degrees. #*******crewcheckinin

[LoseTheKeg]

You act like the OP can just automatically become an officer because he has a degree...

Which I incidentally have addressed in my preposterously long post. Amazing.

I did. Even better if you go for OFFICER. Pick any service that gives you officer position if they give you trouble. Officer > *

I was an idiot and went enlisted. One of the dumbest thigns I did in my life. And I had two freakin' degrees. #*******crewcheckinin

I'm disappointed that you feel that way, but quality of life is a terrible reason to go officer. I would rather be getting shot crawling in the dirt with my enlisted guys than living in a stateroom and calling out instructions from a safe distance. Lead from the front.

[mastamauro83]

Recently went through Army OCS. PM me if you have any questions.

[xMetalocalypse]

Which I incidentally have addressed in my preposterously long post. Amazing.

As I was Army, I have no idea how Navy works. How competitive is the OCS program? Army has like a 20% acceptance rate. I imagine the Navy's is more selective.

[RaibeartBruis]

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.

MP is not a job I would want. Brb manning the entrance to an Army base. Brb looking under cars for bombs. I'm too much of a pussy to do that.

[Ochosiete]

When I talked to my recruiter, he knew a lot about his own career field, but he didn't know anything about mine. Is that what you really want?

[LoseTheKeg]

As I was Army, I have no idea how Navy works. How competitive is the OCS program? Army has like a 20% acceptance rate. I imagine the Navy's is more selective.

They don't give us percentages, but I got in on my first attempt with an age waiver and a GPA waiver. It is very selective, and I know people don't always make the cut, but the best candidates do make it. Don't think about it as a percentage of equal applicants, though. Plenty of people apply that aren't qualified or worthy of consideration. Not everyone is cut out for it or truly seeks opportunities to lead. If it is in your blood to lead, you'll get your chance.

[mhockey9090]

are there any actual military recruiters on here that can answer questions? very interested in this

Yes for the Army. Ask away brah.

[Rufflez]

nah

[DropSetBrah]

Did you plan on becoming a law of physics enforcer OP? notsrs

Go in as officer because the military is looking for science degrees, don't go enisted. Even though enlisted will qualify you for tuition loan repayment, E's make much much less than O's srs. Quality of life is better too.

Also keep in mind it's the military. They'll own your ass. It's not for everyone including myself. No thanks Jeff.

[Ferios]

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?

1. Officer life is way better. Yes you have more responsibility but you can have just as much fun as enlisted.

2. MP/SF is a terrible job because you get **** assignments, the job is boring (always pulling gate guard duty), and they are undermanned (you get deployed more). Don't believe me? Just go up to a military base and find an E-1 through E-3 cop and ask them about their job. Granted some love the job, but most will tell you to run. Also, since we are talking about terrible enlisted jobs, don't enlist as a crew chief. You aren't in charge of anything and the job is nothing more than a glorified gas attendant. If you want to work on aircraft choose any of the specialist jobs.