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[marcj]

Alright, I need some advice from you guys. Here's the situation; I was studying biology wanting to become a physician over the past 3 years. I have 82 college credits and about a year ago my girlfriend got pregnant and we now have a 4 month old. I'm a full time student with a small internet income based on advertising I do in my spare time.

So, my plans have changed a bit since my kid was born, and now i'm choosing to take the military route for income stability, housing and the benefits for the family.

Here's where I need advice; I am 27 years old, and would like to enter the Air Force if possible. The age cut off for enlisting is 28. I obviously need to enlist now if I ever plan on going into the Air Force, but I'm so close to having my 4 year degree and going to a military officer school. The competitiveness of officers going into the Air Force is so high, there's almost no chance i'll get in unless I devote every minute of my time to raise my GPA to a standard of 3.5 or better.

What would you do?  should I go ahead and enlist as an E-3 Airmen First Class for 4 years, take the crappy labor job and suck it up. OR should I use my grant, finish up my year or more of college with my grant (free ride) and go in as an officer in another branch of military and just live poor until then?

E-3 Airman First Class  in the Air Force
Regular Military Compensation     3,365.91 a month     40,390.93 annualy

O-1 Second Lieutenant  in whatever branch takes me
Regular Military Compensation     4,477.77 a month     53,733.20 annualy

My college is paid for via VA grants earned by my dad from the Army. I just don't have a job to support my family over the next year or so.

[slaminsam]

Finish up school and go in as an officer. I know if you go in to do the medical thing then you have a modified basic. Check out the minimum requirements to make the jump in rank. You will be much better off going in as an officer.

[marcj]

I agree, but my wife feels differently.. she wants me to enlist so we have a house and benefits sooner.. it's obviously a lot easier for her with all things considered.

The main thing for me is, if I don't enlist now as an E3 (taking that rank due to college), I wont be in the Air Force as an officer, and would most likely be in the Navy. I hear even as an enlisted the Air Force quality of life is bar none.

[fysh]

Enlisted can commission as officers. In fact prior enlisted usually make a better officer.

[marcj]

Enlisted can commission as officers. In fact prior enlisted usually make a better officer.

right, but I have a 4 year obligation as enlisted. from there i'll be 31 years old after my first term. I'll definitely have my 60 remaining credits done by that point, but i'll have to wait until my 4 years is up as enlisted obviously.

[jagojon3]

Finish college. She can wait. You will find a way to make it work.

[marcj]

so, I guess the real question is "IS BEING IN THE AIR FORCE AS ENLISTED BETTER THAN AN OFFICER IN OTHER BRANCHES?"

[sushi]

Enlisted can commission as officers. In fact prior enlisted usually make a better officer.

They CAN, but it's not a sure thing.  You have to put in a package and be selected.  It's a good deal if you can get it, but there are many others going for the same program.

[junkyard racer]

I agree, but my wife feels differently.. she wants me to enlist so we have a house and benefits sooner.. it's obviously a lot easier for her with all things considered.

sounds like you really dont have a choice in the matter. getting in into the military at the age of 27 and being the shit of the shit would really really really suck.

Its all what you make of it.

Also, your basic pay will be around $1600 a month, not 3k.

http://www.dfas.mil/militarypay/militarypaytables/2009MilitaryPayTables.pdf

[Stealthmode]

  I believe there's a delayed program that you can sign up for that will allow you to finish school and then go in as an officer. From what I remember you'll just owe your contract plus the school time. That's IF you decide to go into the military. Sounds to me like you should tough it out and become a doctor on the outside. Your wife might want a house and an income, but she won't have a husband.

[TorinRage]

I under stand the points your coming from. My job shit the bed and all this shit is going wrong. So I opted to join but this is what i did.

If you want to finish your degree and she wants the benefits for the family. Join the air force reserve depending on the job you get via the asvab score and what you want. Which btw the way get the ball rolling now and actually Enlist between Oct1st-15th since the military fiscal year starts new then and all the job will open back up and give you a vast more options and pull when choosing the job.

Anyway why the reserves you can take that break from school which  depending on the MOS is around a year for most unless you pick a crazy one. While you are gone you making bank and if you marry the girl your making even more bank. PLus if you get a signing bonus most reserve bonuses are 20k (which was mine)  you will get half your AIT school and after taxs is around 8k. You will get the benefits for you and your family  once AIT is done.

After that you spend 1 week end a month  2weeks outa the year but still able to finish your degree and if it was not already paid for like your full ride( mine wasn't) GI bill and what will most likely pay for it.  Spend atleast a 1-2years in the reserves your case would be a year then put in for officer package to go to OCS if you want or stay enlisted in the reserves or go active. Plus air has like has thier college or some shit I'm going army but that is basically what i am doing going reserves till my degree is done then go active. I've thrown around the idea of going Officer but thats to much paper work for my taste and other stuff I'd rather not due. you also could get a high enough GT score on the asvab and try to become a warrant officer which is pretty good gig to get into.

Sorry if its long but that what i am doing in a nut shell  good luck with anything you choose. If anything army cut off is Higher than 28 lol

[j.h.christ]

Also, your basic pay will be around $1600 a month, not 3k.

this

[Kenny Rogers]

officers candidate school, kthxgo

[Joseph Davis]

Get a real job, hippie.

[j.h.christ]

also, don't take advice from people who haven't btdt. you need to scout out a fucking officer and ask him for fucks sake. all of us are/were enlisted and probably don't have the answers you're looking for.

[xpert787]

I was prior enlisted E-5 promotable and am now an officer O1 in the Army. For you it sounds like pay is #1, pay for enlisted e-3 is 20k a year base, maybe another 10k or so for BAH, COLA, dependent pay, blah blah.... As an O1 I make 5000/month take home after everything. I  get a high BAH though for living in Marlyand/DC. As far as what has the better life style they say Air Force, but I have no idea I didn't join for the life style. As far as officer vs enlisted, there is alot more bullshit to deal with on the enlisted side(various duties, room inspections, peer counseling,FORMATIONS FOR EVERYTHING), but there are a lot of entitled, know it all assholes on the officer side that will get on your nerves, pick your poison I guess. Benefits are awesome free health for family,subsidized child care, practically free life insurance(like 10/month), dental, military discounts, GI-BILL for you, child or spouse. Deployments suck, you should really talk to wife about this, what would be easier having you gone w/ nice house benefits etc, vs you home working your way up corporate America and having to eat ramen for awhile? Also you can get a retirement=50% base pay with 20yrs service. That's all I can think of.

[j.h.christ]

I was prior enlisted E-5 promotable and am now an officer O1 in the Army. For you it sounds like pay is #1, pay for enlisted e-3 is 20k a year base, maybe another 10k or so for BAH, COLA, dependent pay, blah blah.... As an O1 I make 5000/month take home after everything. I  get a high BAH though for living in Marlyand/DC. As far as what has the better life style they say Air Force, but I have no idea I didn't join for the life style. As far as officer vs enlisted, there is alot more bullshit to deal with on the enlisted side(various duties, room inspections, peer counseling,FORMATIONS FOR EVERYTHING), but there are a lot of entitled, know it all assholes on the officer side that will get on your nerves, pick your poison I guess. Benefits are awesome free health for family,subsidized child care, practically free life insurance(like 10/month), dental, military discounts, GI-BILL for you, child or spouse. Deployments suck, you should really talk to wife about this, what would be easier having you gone w/ nice house benefits etc, vs you home working your way up corporate America and having to eat ramen for awhile? Also you can get a retirement=50% base pay with 20yrs service. That's all I can think of.

also, officers always get the best fucking parking spots, at least in CONUS. that always pissed me off.

[sushi]

also, don't take advice from people who haven't btdt. you need to scout out a fucking officer and ask him for fucks sake. all of us are/were enlisted and probably don't have the answers you're looking for.

Of the hundreds of packages I've seen put in I know of 6 guys that got it.  There used to be a program that would have the military pay for your college and you would obviously have a commitment to them for so many years.  It believe it was called CASH, but I don't know if it's still around.

[Joseph Davis]

They kept trying to talk me into that program, after HS.

[marcj]

I guess my plan now is to switch my major to something else in order to finish soon, like Bachelor of Arts in Sociology or some shit. Right now my major is Biomedical, and the course work looks like it's going to take forever from my last audit.

[E-b0la]

I guess my plan now is to switch my major to something else in order to finish soon, like Bachelor of Arts in Sociology or some shit. Right now my major is Biomedical, and the course work looks like it's going to take forever from my last audit.

That's a bad idea. What the hell is a degree in sociology worth?

Suck it up work hard, take lots of classes and go as an officer. You'll probably be glad later that you worked hard now.

[TunerToys]

Work with your recruiter (or better yet, make him work for you).  The "Palace Chase" program is the one that will take you from enlisted to officer for the AF.  Yes, you have to be within so many credits before applying.  Not sure what the program is for getting paid to finish school and then enter as officer.  As a ten year AF veteran enlisted, I'd find anyway I could to go in officer from the beginning. If you can, talk to all the AF recruiters in your area, one of them will be hungrier than the others.

Also, doesn't the Navy have some 2 year deal?

[Doug]

You'll be deployed in a few months and wifey will be at home banging the pizza guy before you know it.

[sushi]

I guess my plan now is to switch my major to something else in order to finish soon, like Bachelor of Arts in Sociology or some shit. Right now my major is Biomedical, and the course work looks like it's going to take forever from my last audit.

That's a bad idea. What the hell is a degree in sociology worth?

A degree is a degree to the military.  We had officers with film degrees going through the nuke program with us.  That is the navy though.  Ask a recruiter, but from what I've seen all they look for is that piece of paper.

[junkyard racer]

most Marine officers have a degree in physical education. Basically, the only thing they know is how to party.


I would not go into the military at your age. You will have kids 19-20yo in charge of you. You will have the crap shifts. If you get anything flightline related, you will probably work 12 on- 12 off shifts for 6 days a week. If you were 5 years younger....I might suggest it.

Finish your school.

[Joseph Davis]

I would not go into the military at your age. You will have kids 19-20yo in charge of you. You will have the crap shifts. If you get anything flightline related, you will probably work 12 on- 12 off shifts for 6 days a week.

Sounds like working in an import performance shop.

[Jordy53]

If you go into the military go to the Navy it’s allot better being both Enlisted and being an Officer. If you are enlisted all you have to do is pass a 200 question multiple choice test to get advanced in pay grade. They tell you exactly what to study. I have seen people make E-5 in 2 years or less and E-6 in 4 to 5 years.  I have seen chief in 8, once you hit chief in the navy you are pretty much untouchable. It takes an act of congress to get you demoted back to E-6. I can tell you from first hand experience you will receive more in-depth and better training for whatever job you do in the navy as compared to the chair force. For my job in the Navy I work on Hydraulics, Sheet metal fab, tires, brakes. In the air force those are all separate jobs. OFF MY SOAP BOX NOW. If you enjoy working with your hand and enjoy some physical labor do not become an officer. You won’t do anything but paperwork and managerial stuff. Yes they make more money but I enjoy my job. I am enlisted and while my wife and I are not loaded we are never in need. We live in a nice house (Base housing), drive nice cars, all our bills are paid, and we have paid for all of her college out of pocket. All while still being able to afford my very expensive turbo Honda habits. Also another thing to think about is you get extra points on you advancement exams for having degrees. One more thing and i'm  done. There is a program when you enlist and I think get your commission too, that if you have student loans they will pay them off instead of getting the GI Bill. I know they have it don’t let them tell you different. If you have any questions or need help in this process PM me I am always willing to help people out in this matter. There is allot recruiters neglect to tell you, so do your research.   GL

[sushi]

If you go into the military go to the Navy it’s allot better being both Enlisted and being an Officer.

 

[j.h.christ]

If you go into the military go to the Navy it’s allot better being both Enlisted and being an Officer.

 

exactly. don't give advice on something you have no idea about. i was army infantry, you don't see me telling people that it's better/easier than something else, as i have never served in another branch.

[mulletcar]

If you go into the military go to the Navy it’s allot better being both Enlisted and being an Officer. If you are enlisted all you have to do is pass a 200 question multiple choice test to get advanced in pay grade. They tell you exactly what to study. I have seen people make E-5 in 2 years or less and E-6 in 4 to 5 years.  I have seen chief in 8, once you hit chief in the navy you are pretty much untouchable. It takes an act of congress to get you demoted back to E-6. I can tell you from first hand experience you will receive more in-depth and better training for whatever job you do in the navy as compared to the chair force. For my job in the Navy I work on Hydraulics, Sheet metal fab, tires, brakes. In the air force those are all separate jobs. OFF MY SOAP BOX NOW. If you enjoy working with your hand and enjoy some physical labor do not become an officer. You won’t do anything but paperwork and managerial stuff. Yes they make more money but I enjoy my job. I am enlisted and while my wife and I are not loaded we are never in need. We live in a nice house (Base housing), drive nice cars, all our bills are paid, and we have paid for all of her college out of pocket. All while still being able to afford my very expensive turbo Honda habits. Also another thing to think about is you get extra points on you advancement exams for having degrees. One more thing and i'm  done. There is a program when you enlist and I think get your commission too, that if you have student loans they will pay them off instead of getting the GI Bill. I know they have it don’t let them tell you different. If you have any questions or need help in this process PM me I am always willing to help people out in this matter. There is allot recruiters neglect to tell you, so do your research.   GL

Dont take advice from people like this that havent experienced both sides, I cant speak for any other services but the Air Force has it good!! I joined the Air Force at 21 yrs and I am still enlisted and wouldnt change it for anything. I shadowed an officer (Captain) for 3 days when I was thinking about going to OTS, and it was the worst, most borish shit I have ever had to endure.. This was a Logistics Readiness Squadron officer and I damn nearly gouged my eyes out with my Leatherman.. Im not saying this is for you, but my point of view as a NCO.