should a college guy enlist in ARMY????

[gonnabenypd]

need some advise guys, Should i enlist in the army as an e-4 specialist if i have a 4yr degree? Is it a normal thing that is done? Im looking at going in as either mp or intel but im just wondering how this is looked at by other enlisted members and also if its possible to go green to gold through osc? any opinions would be apprcieated

[TTRAIN222]

Well I already signed and I'm graduating from college in 6 weeks. So I will be a E-4 specialist when I go to basic in February. As far as continuing to OCS after, I am still thinking about it. I attend weekend drills now and about 99% of the people I talk to look at me like I'm crazy when I tell them I just enlisted and will be getting my degree next month. But hey, gotta do what ya gotta do! Weigh out all your options before you decide!

[gonnabenypd]

do u mind me asking what your motivation for enlisting was? I love the military and want the experience. wouldnt mind staying in for life. Also paying back loans would be nice :)

[JohnMBA]

There are a lot of enlisted people in the military with 4-year degrees. Usually they earn them on active duty, the military is great for going to college. In my case, I entered the Navy with zero college and will be leaving with an MBA in Finance. TA paid 75% of it and I paid the rest out of pocket, so I have no student loans.

To answer your question there is a lot more perks entering the service as an Officer vice Enlisted. Better pay, instant respect and an overall better quality of life. In my opinion try OCS first, if that doesn't work you can always apply while your working your way up the enlisted ranks. One more thing to add, even with my Master’s degree I have to work within my enlisted rank and still sweep and mop when needed. So remember just because your educated you will still have to do the work of an enlisted man.

[Badge11]

If going through the enlisted ranks is something you want to do, than go for it.
After comparing the quality of life issues and responsibilities of an officer versus an enlisted person, I would take OCS first in a heartbeat.
I'm not too familiar with the responsibilities and duties of an E-4 in the Army but like JohnMBA stated in the Navy you'll still be swabbin decks, making coffee, trash duty, standing watches, and humpin boxes in working parties no matter what your rating is or degree you have.
Also, you may want to consider that when you're active duty and you apply to the ocs program its has to be approved by your command staff and a whole bunch of other people up the chain. It will also depends if there is any critical shortages in your rating, etc.
But, whatever route you take is service to your country and you can't go wrong there!
Good luck!

[UN_Cop]

I have done the 19 year old Marine grunt thing. Now I am an E-4, to be E-5 next month with the National Guard. In the next few days I will be submitting my paperwork for OCS. When I get my bar (2nd LT), I will have been on both sides of the coin.

Prior enlisted who become officers are commonly refered to as "Mustangs". Most of the Mustangs I have met are good to go, they have done the shit details and now have to assign the shit details. The point of the story is you know what it is like when you go from a shit job to a glamor job.

I will never forget and always respect the training I had as an enlisted Marine. Also, I am excited at the fact I will placed in a position of more responsibility. Some people make careers out of the enlisted ranks and officer ranks, and some make the transition. It will come down to what you want out of the service.

CopDog hit on a point, remember this phrase: The needs of the service. It is self explanitory, you are at "their" service. So someone else will decide a lot of you future.

I really did not give you much advice, but I will tell you it is what you want to make of it. Now for me, I would rather be an officer.
Good luck

[gonnabenypd]

thanks for all the comments fellas it greatly appreciated. As of now im talking to a recruiter(taken with a grain of salt) and weighing the benifits of both. We will see what happens

[TANKMGA8]

As an E-6 in the Army I have seen the benefits of both enlisted to officer and going to OCS and becoming an officer. I have had good soldiers with and without degrees and bad soldiers with and without degrees. What ever you decide, remember what was said earlier, even as an E-4 with a 4 year degree you will have to do the dirty work just as everyone else did. As an officer you get the instant respect that your rank demands, but you will have to earn the respect of your troops when you show them that you can do the job and lead them.

As a side note, if you are interested in LE and are doing this to get experience I don't think that you will get as much LE type experience as an officer as you would enlisted. As an officer I think it would be more of a management and supervisor position, but I could be wrong. I just don't remember seeing any officers out on patrol. If you want to retire from the Army, the officer route looks good, except as stated earlier somebody will control your destiny. As enlisted you have a little control of where you go for the first ten years through your re-enlistment options if you excerise them.

Good luck in your decision.

[FL Boy]

As a current Air Force officer (Captain), here are my 2 cents:

Go officer. First the pay is better. Not that we do this job for the money, but, it does make it easier having more "breathing room" on each paycheck. Second, LE agencies I have talked to put a high value on the added responsibility and leadership experience that officers attain from the moment they put on that little gold bar. (I'm not saying you don't get any leadership experience as an enlisted, just that you're thrown into the fire quicker as an officer.) Third, a majority of the fields open to enlisteds are just as much an option for officers. And finally, you'll be one of the ones making the decisions (a tremendous learning experience) instead of having them made for you.

There are other pluses too, like working to resolve conflicts among your troops, counseling them on their performance, helping them solve family problems, etc. (As you know, the military tries to help those in need as opposed to alienating them.) All these experiences help make you a well rounded individual.

Again, I'm not saying you don't get some great experience(s) as an enlisted person (I was one for 4.5 years), I just feel the learning curve is steeper as an officer. (getting treated better and having a nicer standard of living ain't so bad either)

Again, this is just my personal opinion. I hope I didn't offend any enlisteds out there. Good Luck in your decision.

FL Boy
Florida Boy/Fly Boy......whichever

[TTRAIN222]

gonnabenypd,

My motivation was (in order):

1. Experience for my resume, also leadership and discipline skills that I should learn in basic training

2. $8,000 bonus

3. College loan repayment (make sure you really look at this cause it's kind of tricky)

4. Physical Training

5. I will not regret missing the opportunity

6. Firing an M-16

[TANKMGA8]

FL boy,

Your d$*m right you offended the enlisted, at least this one!!!!! Not really, I'm glad somebody else that has done both piped up, like I said earlier all I know is enlisted.

[Dwight6]

I too have been on both sides of the fence. I enlisted right out of high school and got two years of college under my belt while I was still in. I then got out and went ROTC.

In my opinion, you should seriously consider pursuing a commission. I think that if you already have the education AND a buring desire to lead soldiers, then you should go to OCS. The pay and standard of living for officers is better, and the experience you gain by being an officer looks great on any resume.

[FAIR]

I enlisted into the Army with a four year degree, entered as an E-4 and left as an E-5. I did some incredibly mind numbing and humiliating work, but learned a great deal. I also recieved some unbelievable training opportunities allowing me to build a unique resume. OCS would have paid me more and spared me some miserable days and nights, but there is nothing I would trade for my enlisted experience. Final note; look into the language program. You won't get this as an officer. Good luck.

[USAF]

In my opinion, there is no question that you should go for OCS. Don't even consider entering as enlisted with a four year degree. You get paid a lot more, treated a lot better, and it will with out a doubt look better on a resume for any LE job. I don't remember the exact pay scale, but I think an officer with 4 years in makes about the same as an E-8 with 20 years in. ( quessing from the last time I saw the pay scale but I should be close. ) I am an E-5 with 8 years and my base pay is 1888.00 a month. NO LAUGHING!!

Just my 2 cents, but I think you would regret not becoming an officer.

[Schmaltzy]

Enlisted just today - college grad. OCS will always be an option.

FAIR I will send you a PM soon.

[jasonomo]

As many have said the decision is ultimately yours but maybe I can help some. I am coming up on the end of my three year enlistment. I entered as an E-4 with a college degree. I was going to go to OCS but will I was waiting for my commander to get to know me so that he could give me a recommendation I was put on orders for Korea. Once my orders came down I was ineligible to apply until I arrived to Korea six months later. By this time I had 1 year remaining and OCS would be a 3 year commitment so I gave up. OCS is a very good possibility, they are hurting very bad for officers. To me I just can't see coming out of college not knowing a thing about the military and then being put in charge of a platoon of 30 or so guys, some who have been in for 16 or more years. I feel that you need some time enlisted unless you do ROTC or graduate some type of military college. Yes you will find yourself doing mindless work and you may despise many of your higher ranking NCOs because when you are cleaning latrines you may start thinking damn these guys should be saluting me. Dont be mistaken there are many valuable lessons to be learned from many of these NCOs, lessons you would not get as an officer. Being prior enlisted will make you a much better officer. Finally, enlisting gives you the option of jobs, and yes I think a language or computer job is your best bet. When you come in as an officer you go wherever the military needs you. FYI the Army is offering huge bonuses for a Korean language interpreter and despite what others may tell you this country is not all that bad. I hope this helped you some.
If you have any more questions I would be glad to help you

Jason

[FAIR]

You have taken a tremedous step. Get ready for an incredible journey. Keep a journal and start it today!!!!! When do you enter on duty and where are you headed?

[sherlock1]

Are you looking at making the military a career? I currently an Army CID warrant officer, and will retire in less than two years. Yes, many enlisted personnel have 4 yr degrees. If you are looking at entering the military simply as a step towards experience for a resume, either enlisted or officer will do you well. If you choose enlisted ranks, you have a much better opportunity to choose your military speciality. As an officer, you can request your military branch, but good luck on receiving your choice. Also, military MP officers are mainly managers, not "cops". The MPs have dual roles, LE and a "peace keeping" mission. If you choose the MPs, get a guaranteed assignment such as Fort Belvoir that does not have an MP "field" unit. Good luck!

[zz25]

I enlisted in the Army 2 months after obtaining my bachelor's degree (I got out last year after 6 1/2 yrs active duty and got out as an E-6). I did it to get into special operations as quickly as possible. I spent my first 2 years in a Ranger BN and my last 4 yrs plus in Special Forces. I would not have been able to spend my whole time in specops if I had gone to OCS first. I thought my military experience would translate into jobs when I got out and for the most part (I'm talking federal agencies here) they have been very receptive to enlisted Special Forces combined with a degree (I'm still waiting to hear from several feds and local) while I work on my Masters). That said, there is not a single agency or employer that wouldn't rather hire an officer. Additionally, the pay discrepancy between enlisted and officers is like two different galaxies, not to mention the responsibilites (at least for the first few years). I wouldn't trade my experience for the world, but you're still serving your country as an officer, have most of the same opportunities, and the quality of life is 1000 times better. Someone mentioned language training on a previous post...many officers get language training inlcuding all SF officers, foreign affairs officers (FAOs), and some MI and Psyop officers might also. Good luck and don't sell yourself short, you're way more marketable as an officer, and you still get great experience. You'll get weapons training, discipline, and experience in any number of military units both officer and enlisted, but for the resume, officer is the way to go.