I am highly considering joining the United States Armed Forces. In speaking with a recruiter, they stated that if you join as enlisted that the Military will repay 'up to $ 65,000' in Federal student loans. Is this correct?
Would I also not receive the same benefit if commissioned? I will have a Bachelor's degree.
2006-08-12 17:50:40 · 22 answers · asked by J C 2 in Politics & Government ➔ Military
The $ 65,000 he mentioned was the Loan Repayment Program, not MGIB benefit. This is also clearly printed in their materials and on goarmy.com...
The big debate for me is branch, then E v. O. I don't really see any other way of being able to pay back $ 46,000 in loans.
2006-08-12 17:56:52 · update #1
Also ROTC is not an option (degree in December).
2006-08-12 17:57:57 · update #2
I did not really consider joining until this year, when I joined a Fraternity, and a majority of the guys were ROTC. Since I am a senior, it is not possible. I will be graduating with a degree in a foreign language, and was seeking a posting in Cryptography.
One of the biggest considerations between E and O is compensation. These are some of the things that I was told that I would like cleared up:
1. If you enlist, you are eligible for bonuses. If you seek commissioning there are no sign-on bonuses.
2. If you enlist, you may seek OCS. (if correct, I would do so following original term of service)
3. If you enlist, you are eligible for loan repayment, if commissioned you are not.
2006-08-12 18:05:18 · update #3
My language is French, and I do plan on making this a career. I hope to attend DLIFL in Arabic, Farsi and Pashtu Dari (and maybe Hebrew).
2006-08-16 03:12:00 · update #4
Its better to Enlist for a term, then get your commission afterward, then you know how life is on the Elisted side of the Military.
When you become an officer the Enlisted men and women will respect you much more if you are Prior enlisted.
2006-08-12 19:36:27 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 0⤋
Enlisted Vs Officer
2016-10-01 00:55:53 · answer #2 · answered by henderling 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
There's good answers here, but two things bear repeating or clarifying.
1. The recruiter _wants_ you enlisted. You don't count against quota or whatever for him otherwise.
2. You can definitely apply for OTS/OCS as a civilian. You don't have to enlist first. Don't believe anyone (recruiter) who says otherwise.
Go in to the ROTC detachment where all your bros were from and talk to the commandant of cadets (AFROTC) or Professor of Military Studies (PMS = AROTC) or whatever and ask them to put you in touch with someone familiar with officer recruiting. Again, never ask a recruiter questions about being an officer.
There's nothing wrong with being enlisted, but if you have the degree and you have the opportunity, I suggest you try the officer route first. If you get turned down for OTS/OCS, then consider enlisting. I don't know how the money is going to turn out, and having signing bonuses or tuition payments would be nice (though not guaranteed--better get that in writing), but the money as an officer is better from day one. Go into a critical career field in the Army or the AF and there are bonuses going around both to enlisted and officers. You have a lot of research to do.
Remember, if you take the enlistment route, you have some big bargaining chips on your side because you have language skills and a degree.
Jobs to consider as an officer would be intel and Foreign Affairs Officer (FAO). Jobs as enlisted could be linguist, intel, airborne linguist, or a hundred other things too.
Good luck!
2006-08-12 19:35:06 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
Talk to more than one service. The recruiters want you enlisted.
You need to find an Officer Selection Officer (OSO). They'll feed you a lot less BS.
Go Officer. I was enlisted for 7 years. Should have gone to college and been an officer.
and SEMPER FI-I don't need no stinking college frat. The USMC is the best brotherhood any man could be a part of.
Women too.
2006-08-12 17:57:25 · answer #4 · answered by planedws 3 · 3⤊ 0⤋
You don't say which language. That's important. If you want an opportunity to use your language skill, look into to U.S. State department.
As a retired officer who started off as a private (called Mustangs), I'd say start enlisted. Then find a very competent Senior NCO to mentor you. After a couple years in your MOS field, then you'll have the perspective to make the decision and you will have seen what offcers have to do. U.S. Embassy Comms are handled by the Army, Marines do the security. The Air Force flies the VIP's around. Do you have the skills for simultaneous translation/transcription?
Bottom line, do you plan to make the Military a career? Corporate Recruiters are always looking for Junior Officers who make better job candidates for entry level Jr. Exec jobs.
2006-08-13 11:03:13 · answer #5 · answered by Fuggetaboutit_1 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
This Site Might Help You.
RE:
Enlisted vs. Officer?
I am highly considering joining the United States Armed Forces. In speaking with a recruiter, they stated that if you join as enlisted that the Military will repay 'up to $ 65,000' in Federal student loans. Is this correct?
Would I also not receive the same benefit if commissioned? I...
2015-08-10 04:38:21 · answer #6 · answered by ? 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
If you go officer, you will not get repayment of college loans. That is why i stayed enlisted, i wanted to get the repayment of college loans. I enjoyed being enlisted, you have a more active role in the completion of the mission and a more direct role in the development in those under you. I went to OCS as a sergeant first class and had a better knowledge of how the military worked and a greater respect for my NCO's. There are also subtle differences between officers and enlisted, but it is all up to you, what do you want from the military. Its there for you, its up to you to use it.
2006-08-12 18:31:57 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
I can't answer your questions.... except you can apply for OCS once you have enlisted. My son enlisted with a 4 year degree and was trying to decide between OCS and Warrant Officer followed by helo flight school. He is choosing the WO/flight school because he will fly more. As an officer, he would push more paper than helo sticks. The other thing is a warning, DO NOT trust the recruiter... they are out to get warm bodies and do have quotas.... don't let them fool you. Recruiters are the BEST salesmen in the WHOLE world!!!!!
Hooha!!
2006-08-12 19:11:04 · answer #8 · answered by msfyrebyrd 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
But if you become an officer they pay for you to go into an ROTC program in a college anyways. After that you become an officer and get 2x as much as enlisted.
You can also go to a prep school for the air force academy, or go into the academt directly out of high school and get adegree that's better than Harvard or Yale. Ask your recruiter about that. And if he discourages you about it ask about the prep schools.
Don't listen to the recruiter. He's just trying to get you to do enlisted for stupid reasons.
Plus, if you want a career in the military officer is the way to go b/c of higher pay. Plus in the airforce ONLY officers can be pilots.
2006-08-12 17:56:12 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
As others have stated, don t trust the recruiter. They are trying to fill their quota. My recruiter told me I could opt not to go to sea, which is a inaccurate. It is also harder to go officer once you are enlisted. It seems counter-intuitive but the reason is that enlisted folks have a tendency to retire as an officer O-3 because they have 20 years at that point. So in order to make it more competitive for O-4s the make it easier to become an officer as a civilian.
2015-03-13 04:01:02 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋