Joining the Army -- Length of Service and MOS?

Question

So, I'm 19 years old and majoring in engineering. I plan to get my degree first before joining the army. I will be done in about two years.

However, after finishing my degree, I want to join the Army. My questions are:

1) How long do I have to serve. I have heard some people say two years, while others say eight years. I want to go to medical school eventually, so I don't want to spend too long in the Army.
2) What is the Individual Ready Reserve?
3) If I join the Army, what MOS's are available to me?
4) I am an Arab-American who was in Kuwait when the US kicked Saddam out, so I want to give something back to the US. I love this country and its ideals -- however, I don't feel our current political leadership lives up to its ideals. What is it like in the Army for liberals/non-Republicans? I have heard all sorts of things, like the army is super-conservative. Can any enlisted soldiers tell me what it is like in the Army politically?

Thank you so much!

Answer 1

I recommend that you stay in school and see if you can get involved in the ARMY Reserve Officer Training Corps (ROTC), You will have to seek US citizenship as quickly as possible.

As an underclassman, you may be eligible for ROTC classes that are non-obligatory, which means that you don't have to sign a contract. But you will learn much of the military history and discipline that troops are trained in. You will learn about military ethics and leadership skills. You will learn that the United States military has a civilian army, so you are allowed to think and have your own ideas.

The military is not a democracy, but it does serve to protect this republic and the leaders that we have placed in power. So regardless of political party that is in power, the military will serve.

Answer 2

Why not change you major and go into the Army's medical program? After your free schooling, you serve 5 years.

The military services are just like the civ world as far as politics. There are folks on both sides of the coin. If you look at the current political scene, you will find that far more "libs" served than did cons.

You can not speak out either for or against the current regime but you will get in no trouble for having a bumper sticker.

Answer 3

If you are smart, i'd walk my butt down to the ROTC office ASAP, and try to get that commission (to become an Officer). Really, you are going to Graduate College with a degree. You deserve more than just to be a simple soldier. With ROTC you have a 4 year obligation, and 4 years of IRR ( Individual Ready Reserve, thats when they can call you back to active service for a temporary amount of time). Through ROTC you are offered all branches of the Army.

Seriously, think about becoming an officer, because I am a Captain in the Army and I had a Specialist who graduate College the same year as I did, and I was in charge of him. I felt a bit uneasy because I surely was getting paid four times more than he did, doing more or less a managerial job. E-mail me if you have further questions.

Answer 4

1)length of shortest enlistment is 2-3 yrs Ive been out now for two years so i may be wrong about a 2 yr enlistment still being available But that usually include 6-7 inactive years as 8 is the total you would be asked to serve as possibly being on call for the next few years after your active duty

2) many MOS'S are available you would have to take a test that a recruiter can get you and then you would be allowed to select from the available MOS"S that are available to you depending an your test scores

3) good luck on trying to keep education and your willingness to participate in military activities in harmony

Answer 5

You can join now, and the Army will pay tuition assistance to let you finish your school. Getting time to go to school in a traditional classroom may be hard, and will depend on the job you have and where you are stationed. You may have to resort to online courses (the army has an online degree program with lots of colleges, so it isn't too hard). Another option would be to go ROTC and let them pay for your college now with an agreement to serve a set number of years later. Another option is to finish your degree, then join for the college loan repayment option. I assume you speak Arabic, and the military really needs linguists right now, and they are paying big bonus money to folks with those skills.

As for length of service - regardless of how long you sign up for "active" service, you incur an 8-year obligation. Some of that may be served in IRR status, which means when your enlistment ends, you are kept on the rolls and they can call you back if your speciality is needed or if they need troops. Quite a few IRR troops have been called up in the last few years, so it is not unheard of.

MOS choices are various. If you are planning on going to medical school later, you may want to look at one of the medical MOSs that are available. Or, you may want to join the medical corps program and let the military pay for your medical school and you can intern at Bethesda or Walter Reed.

As for politics, you can't wear them on your sleeve, conservative or liberal. We aren't allowed to get involved in politics. I personally don't care what my soldiers leanings are, as long as they live the Army values every day. A word of warning: your politics won't change the fact that if the commander in chief orders you to go somewhere and do something, you have to do it even if you don't agree with his/her politics. A lot of folks thought Bosnia and Kosovo was a bad idea back in the 90s, but we served. A lot of folks think Iraq is a bad idea, but we serve.

The main thing to keep in mind is that you aren't just getting a job - you are joining an organization that has some core values you need to agree with. They use the acronym LDRSHIP - loyalty, duty, respect, selfless service, honor, integrity, personal courage. You can find out how those are defined at the Army web site. If you don't agree with ALL of those core values, then don't join. I can't stress this enough - the Army is not a job. It's more like joining a religion. If you don't agree with the underlying principles of the Army, you will be miserable and a danger to your brothers and sisters in arms.

Best of luck to you. Hope you decide to join the family.

Answer 6

1) When you enlist you enlist into either Active, Reserves, or National Guard. for as little as 2 years, but when you sign the papers you give 8 years to the service.
2) After you served your enitial enlistment you either re-enlist or get out, the remaining years you had left from the 8 year total service is what you spend in "limbo" (IRR) if they need you they call you if they don't they want.
3)Take your ASVAB ( test you have to take to enlist) based off that score is what is available to you do well on the test and they sky is the limit.
4)You just do what your told don't question the boss (President) polotics realy don't mater until after your an Officer. Just do what your told and you'll be good. They can't tell you what to belive just what to do, aslong as its not inmoral or elegal.

Answer 7

You could get your schooling from the Army. Talk to a recruiter. I do believe the MOS you choose will determine years of enlistment.

Answer 8

http://www.campbell.army.mil/sf/