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I am a senior in high school, and I want to join the Navy. I don't know whether I should enlist now, or do ROTC however.
If I do ROTC, I’d probably get a scholarship, and I would get to go in as an officer. I would also get "the college experience" of getting a degree on a college campus. Finally, I would get "leadership experience", which is apparently something employers look for. The bad side is that once I'm in ROTC, it's real hard to change my major without losing my scholarship. And if I get a scholarship, I won't get the GI bill to further my education (I want to get more than a bachelors eventually) Then there's the fact that ROTC is extra work, which might take away from my other classes. I would have much less flexibility in choosing my job as an officer. I could also get out of ROTC if I lost interest in the military (not likely, but its good to consider all possibilities).

2006-12-13 06:00:27 · 14 answers · asked by bowlingcap 2 in Politics & Government Military

If I enlist now, I could probably get two years of education during a four year stint, meaning I could finish my bachelors and military service combined in six years rather than eight. I’d like to be a CTI, but even if I don’t get that rating I would still have a lot more influence over my rating that if I went in as officer. I got a 99 on the AFQT so I have some good opportunities. I would also get the GI bill benefits once I leave, which are about as much as a ROTC scholarship I could get if I went to college first. If I don’t finish my degree while on active duty, I’ll probably have a better college experience since I would have more discipline, maturity and money than if I had done ROTC. I could easily change majors without worrying about losing scholarships, and I would not have to balance ROTC on top of my classes. And if I liked the Navy, I could go to OCS after a few years and become an officer with prior enlistment, which pays more than regular officers.

2006-12-13 06:00:56 · update #1

So do you have any advice? My brain says these options are about equal, but my heart has a definite preference (don’t want to tell you what it is so you won’t be biased). Please tell me if you have any military experience. I’ve thought about this a lot but if you have any thoughtful responses I would really appreciate them.

2006-12-13 06:01:15 · update #2

14 answers

Depending on your personality, circumstances and educational level, there are pros and cons to doing both.

If you decide to simply enlist, especially now, or within the next year, I would personally hold off because since troops are constantly being needed overseas, you even as a naval enlistee would also be deployed. That's right, sailors don't always work on ships, they are deployed to the battleground many times too. Plus, if you enlist between the next six months and a year, there might not be any field that you are interested in and you may just have to choose something off the top of your head, which can be quite a bit of trouble in the long run.

There are many benefits to joining, if you are that type of person who doesn't think they want or need college and can learn quicker through the system. However, there are others who decide to do college and still end up nowhere. I personally would go through college and major in something that interests you. Don't go, just to go and get a better deal in life. I once wanted to join the navy and become a medical officer. But, I realized that wasn't where I was suppose to be.

I personally would recommend going to college, get your Bachelor's Degree, then through ROTC you can become an officer. There are two ways of becoming an officer. My former family physician had the best way. He was initially invited to join the air force through a friend right out of college. He would have been a captain then. Instead, he waited and opened his own practice. Twenty years later, his friend came back to him and asked again. This time, my physician accepted and went into the air force as a lieutenant colonel, under the title flight surgeon.

There's that way, where you get a degree from college, usually a master's or Ph.D, then apply or the military will see you and come to you, but that's on rare occasions. It's not uncommon, especially today because so many doctors are needed in the military. If you get a degree and then go apply, which could also be easier as opposed to ROTC, you will go right in as a 2nd lieutenant and receive further officer training.

Then, there's the last way, which is just go to college and apply for ROTC. Either way you do this, you have to measure the pros and cons very carefully, especially right now, considering the fact the President is constantly deploying more and more soldiers and sailors overseas. If you decide to just enlist, well, you will end up going through basic training no matter what with that decision, attending your specialized training after about nine to twelve weeks and then be stationed wherever.

So, yes, you can ask the opinion on those around you as much as you wish, but, unfortunately, this is something you and only you can decide for yourself.

Best of all luck to you.
Happy Holidays!
J.F.

2006-12-13 06:40:54 · answer #1 · answered by ? 3 · 0 0

Honestly it all depends on what you want to do in the Navy. Some jobs are only open to enlisted and some are only open to officer. If going to college is your goal then I suggest go to college first. If you enlist you may not have the opportunity to finish a degree in a short period of time or at all for that matter. Once you join the Navy active duty there is Tuition Assistance available but you will have to incur service commitments. There is also the post naval graduate school where you can get a masters(it is competitive though). Also if you do ROTC and you do well with a BS you can extend your commission to get a Masters although it depends on the degree you are getting. As for quiting ROTC you have to be careful because if you get a full scholarship they will make you pay back the money or serve 2 yrs active duty. If you're not sure what to do you can try joining the reserves as an enlisted and join ROTC. I know people who have done it. Of you can try joining their auxilary corps. It will give you an idea of what you want to do next. I even think you can join reserves after graduation as opposed to active duty but you'd have to check with the detachment for that. There are several options out there you just have to do your research. Either way if you join as an officer or enlisted you will be very marketable on the outside world.

2006-12-13 15:36:24 · answer #2 · answered by aalma00 2 · 0 0

The answer is yes. lol Join the Navy Reserve before going to college. They will give you credit for completing basic and all. Use your GI Bill to pay for school. Join ROTC, graduate, and go on. If you stay in as an officer it is required to continue your education, and they do pay for that as well. The best officers are those that have spent time as enlisted anyhow, and the Reserve is a great way of looking at the military without living it day in and out. If you are truly wanting a career in the Navy, don't wait any longer, start now!

2006-12-13 15:47:50 · answer #3 · answered by Shawn M 3 · 0 0

Really check out their offer to pay for your college and serve as an officer. See if their offer includes living expenses and/or room and board.

When I was graduating high school, the Marines offered me a plan to pay for my 4 year degree, after having attended basic training in the summer after graduation, and then I would be a member of the ROTC and serve like 1 month every year in the summer. The price was that I would have to be in for 6 years after graduating, as an officer.

I didn't take them up on it, because I never thought of myself as Marine material, not being real gung-ho or tough. But I'm sure I could have had the Army or Air Force offer me the same deal.

Like a dummy, I passed on it, and I was never able to complete my 4-year degree on my own. I view this as one of the big mistakes in my life and I wasted about 10 years working for a living at low wage jobs.

Get all the information. Talk it over with your parents. They might have some good insights. They might not like the idea of you joining, but try and separate the two arguments. Tell them you will discuss the benefits of joining or not, but separate from which is the better offer.

2006-12-13 14:09:48 · answer #4 · answered by Uncle Pennybags 7 · 1 0

It depends on what you want to do in the Navy. Officers do have a better way of life and more pay. but enlisted get to do most of the fun stuff. ie; I have never seen an officer at a gernade range or shooting the main round of a tank, but of course I am army. You could always get your degree join as enlisted and if you dont like it I am sure the Navy has a program you could join to become an officer if you are enlisted with a degree.

2006-12-13 14:11:02 · answer #5 · answered by Comnec1 2 · 1 0

Go after college. One you will go in as an officer. Two, after four years in the navy you will go to college at the age of 22. The experience will not be the same because all of the freshman will be 18 years old.

2006-12-13 14:11:02 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0 0

I would wait if I were you do your time in college and then enlist as a noncom officer this way you would be at a greater advantage from the word Jump not to mention all the benefits after your service.

2006-12-13 14:09:47 · answer #7 · answered by crawler 4 · 0 0

Join the Navy now, and they will pay your college tuition, and then you work for them for 4 years after college to make up for it.

It is a good job and good pay. Good luck!!


And by the way, the military WILL pay for further education, but you just have to work for them longer. They paid my cousin's entire education to go be a doctor, which is about 10 years of college!

2006-12-13 14:03:15 · answer #8 · answered by i hate hippies but love my Jesus 4 · 2 0

Go to NROTC. ROTC is Army. NROTC is Navy. Go NROTC and see if you can put up with it in the first year. If you can't then stay out of the service all together. You will not be required to join the Navy to be in NROTC so you can experment in your first year without any committments.
Good Luck

Boo Navy, boo Notre Dame...Go Army!

2006-12-13 14:10:17 · answer #9 · answered by Zee HatMan 3 · 0 0

After college WHY because then you will go in as an officer,

2006-12-13 14:03:06 · answer #10 · answered by Gypsy Gal 6 · 0 0

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