Army before or after college?

Question

I am currently a freshman in college studying Arabic and International Relations. Unfortunately, the school is good at marketing, but the programs are pretty terrible. Also, I have always wanted to join the army for a while for the experience and to hopefully make a difference. Thus, I have two options the way I see it.
I can transfer to another school that is pretty good, but that I'm not crazy about, get my degree, then hopefully use the Army's college loan repayment program to pay for school since I won't be getting any scholarships as a transfer student.
Or, I can join the army now, and come back to school once my time is up. In this way, I'd be able to apply as a freshman (and be eligible for more scholarships) and use the GI Bill to help pay for school. Also, this way I'd have a good chance of attending my dream school, Columbia, which has a special program for those who've been away from education for a while.

Although I could possibly transfer to Columbia now, it would be a big financial burden on my parents, and I don't want that.
On the one side, some people say it is very difficult to transition back into school after time away. Yet, I also feel like time in the army would help solidify my path in life, and help me gain a better understanding of exactly what I want to do.
Maybe it's just this college, but I feel very disinterested with the major, and I also have no clear idea what I want to do with it from a career standpoint. I'm on a path with no destination at this time.
I know many people would suggest ROTC, but unfortunately the officer life has no appeal to me at this time. I'm looking to do something MI related, and the last thing I want is to sit behind a desk for my time in the military. Also, I know of a lot of ROTC cadets who don't even get the branch they want.

I guess it boils down to what I want to get out of it in the long run. I would say I want the experience and the adventure, as well as the opportunity to serve the country and make a difference.
Yet, I'd probably have better career prospects with a degree, and especially as an officer. But then I feel like what good are career prospects if I don't even know what I want to do?

I could use some advice from those who've been there and done that.

Answer 1

This worked beautifully for me: I joined the AF after 1 1/2 years of college - it was during Vietnam and I did consider the fact that I could be drafted and chose AF as best of service for me - because college felt like a continuation of HS and I was not challenged. Joining AF was best thing I could do. Loved the four years. Trained as analyst and that helped my analytical thinking and assessments I would do in my career: Investigator. When I discharged from AF I returned to college with renewed vigor. Also, got GI bill that helped a lot. Also, I was able to grow up during my AF years with so much responsibility and I saw most of the Far East, Washington DC and one year in Texas which I also loved. Your situation seems a lot like mine was with the exception that you are not looking at the draft - at this time. Good Luck. Email me if you have other questions.

Answer 2

You have received a lot of answers that are very supportive, and go in both directions. Now, I will add my 2 cents.

The way that I read your question, you are simply dissatisfied with the way your education is going. You sound like an intelligent young person, and you have many options availiable in the Army. One of which is to become a language specialist. You can still study Arabic, which is a prime language right now. Of course, you will definately be deployed after completing training, but you will know the language. You probably scored/will score high on the ASVAB, meaning that you will have a large choice of jobs. Joining the military will get you the GI Bill, but you may also be able to get a bonus, either more money for college, cash, or something else that you would like. You would be able to continue your education thru the several colleges/universities on post or on-line, and your credits would transfer to whereever you decided to go after your time in. The Army also has a program called "Green to Gold". Once you have your AA, be that from the civilian world, or while in the military, you can apply to go to college to obtain your BA. You will pick a college that has Army ROTC, attend, pass, obtain your degree, and then return to active duty as an officer. If you obtain your Bachelor's Degree while active, you can apply for Officer Candidate School.

OR

You can transfer schools, put a financial hardship on your parents, and then join afterwards. If, however, you decide to join after college, the Army College Loan Repayment Program is ONLY for enlisted. You cannot join as an officer and get the loan repaid.

OR

You can stick it out where you are, and still do the stuff in the above paragraph.

No one can make the decision for you. You have to decide what you want to do, and make the decision. We can only provide advise. I admit that I am retired Army, and did three years as a recruiter. The Army was good to me. I have my degree (paid for by the Army), I have two houses, and I have seen the world.

Good luck

Answer 3

Education is the key that opens the doors to opportunity, not the other way around. It is harder to get back to education after the military. My time was Nam and I went into the Navy at 17 with my Dad's signature and got out when I was just turning twenty one. The bottom line I spent fourteen years going to night school to get a degree while working full time, and that is the long road.
Get the education first it will give you many paths to take, without it you are limited, and besides the enlisted in any service are a lot more expendable in a war zone. The bad part of Military service and what the dumb politicians say is that when you serve you are part of the troops, which is true, but when you get back your a Veteran and they don't pay much attention to you than. So although you are doing a good thing for your country, remember those old farts are not going into harms way so if you can avoid it do so.

Answer 4

I would transfer schools & join ROTC. That way when you get your degree paid for by the military you can join the army as an officer which pays better.

Re the school transfer - transfer to the best school you can. You won't always be in the military & it matters what college you attended when it comes to finding a job.

Also consider that you can't say that you graduated from your new school if you don't take more classes there than at the old school. So make your decision ASAP.

Answer 5

I'm a Marine Recruiter and I always ask applicants what is it that they are looking for. Officers in the Marine Corps that graduate High School, go to college and then become and officer do not receive as much respect as officers that are prior enlisted then become an officer (I would think it's the same in any branch). An officer is a leader and in order to be a good leader one must first understand what your men go though. If the money is all you're looking for then I guess you should go to college first, but if you really are looking for the respect of the men you lead (that can be into combat) then I would go enlisted first. Money will only last you so long, but the respect you'll receive will last you a life time.

Semper Fi!

Answer 6

I used the Army College Fund to pay for my college and along with the Pell Grant, I had no other help to pay my college bills. I also got out of college debt free. If you joined the Army, you could go to the Army Language School in California where you would live Arabic 24-7. Then when you get out of the Army, you could return to college. Or you could do what one of my friends did (he did this exact thing, studied Arabic and everything) and he is now an interpreter in Washington D.C. Good luck with whatever you choose. Peace.

Answer 7

I went into the Army first, then came back and went to college.
I found that I was much more mature than the others in my classes and I was much more focused. I'd learned good habits and was able to apply them to my studies.
That path is not for everyone, but it worked for me.
Know that these days, education gets you advanced rank upon entering the Army, and a good recruiter can make you aware of all this.
Good luck on whatever you decide to do. Right now I have two children in the Army, one's a lifer and the other will be out this next year. My eldest also served as did his wife, and my sons-in-law, and half daughter. They are all better for their experience, and all but one are advancing their education both in and out of the service.

Answer 8

One of my greatest regrets is not enlisting after graduating high school. I was very close to joining the marines when I was 18. My parents talked me out of it and I went off to college. I had a great time in college but I wasted alot of the time and missed alot of experiences I could have had simply by not being mature enough to take advantage of the situation.

Looking back I wish I would have joined the corp and then gone to college. The discipline and maturity I would have gained would have most definitely improved the college experience. I imagine you can find people with opinions running both ways. If you're doing well in college and feel that you're getting the most out of your time in school then finish up and enlist after graduation.

One more piece of advice about college.....don't double major in history and philosophy, not alot of job openings in those fields hehe.

Answer 9

It seems to me that new recruits tend to be the ones that the military are sending over to places like Iraq rather than people who have been in the military longer. I think if you join the Army prior to going to college you will never make it to your first class especially since they are talking about sending more troops to Iraq due to the turmoil over there.

If I were you I would do anything I could to avoid joining the Army altogether. The military is targetting young people to send over to these dangerous foreign countries and they seem to have very little training and they lack the equipment they need to stay safe.

I think the war in Iraq is wrong and many people both Iraqi and American are dying needlessly. If you want to make a difference in your life go to college, get a good education and take up a profession where you are helping others. Become a teacher or a doctor....anything where you are bettering the lives of other people.

What good is the GI bill if you come home in a coffin? You'll never benefit off of the money and you'll never get your education.

There are always other ways of achieving your dreams if you want them bad enough....

Good luck....

Answer 10

I have a suggestion if you are of the correct age.

Have you thought contacting your state's senators about recommending you for West Point for next year. You would come out an officer and would have to serve for a set number of years in the Army to pay for your schooling.

Then you could go to Columbia after you get out of the Army.

West Point's website.
http://www.usma.edu/