Joining Military as college recruit?

Question

Ok so adding to my recently asked question, I'm deciding between finishing my B.S. in movement science(pre-med) and then reapplying into an engineering school (probably civil engineering), however, that love for the military keeps creeping up on me so enlisting is competing as well. I'm sort of confused with what I want to do for the rest of my life, but I just want to do something I will love. And also, whats OSO; OCS; ECP; and NADA?? I know theyre acronyms but what exactly are they? THanks to all those answering my 1st question

Answer 1

My suggestion is since you want to go to school and want to join the military, why not check out the guard or reserves? They do have very good educational opportunities, sometimes better than active duty. If you get your BS, make sure you demand OFFICER. Otherwise, you'll get paid less to be an enlisted grunt.

Answer 2

Whew. Ok, grab a seat, and hold onto your brain.
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The academys are a great thing (and they're free), but it's pretty much 4 years of boot camp. But I have to admit, if my commander recommended me for Annapollis, I wouldn't say no (cause I'd only need 2 years).

If you are set on being an officer, you're a smart man. It's MUCH less stressful. Officers are pretty much treated "like kings" as my dad puts it. They have MUCH higher responsibilities, but they're also trained to handle those responsibilities. And they get more money. And they have nicer uniforms too.

Going enlisted has its advantages though. I know a few people that threw in their commission to go back to being enlisted. It's less pay, but you make fewer critical choices than the officers. Plus enlisted men are the heart of the military, and make up a VAST majority of the military, and enlisted men usually get promoted quicker too, but still, the pay is less.

But, you can go to officer from enlisted. In fact, you won't pay a dime for college if you do it that way. Plus, you'd be more experienced than any of the other officers around you.

My personal experiences have brought me to this; I wish I did my A.S. first. The more credits you have, the higher your rank will be out of boot camp (at least for the Navy).

The Navy goes like this: 20 credits for E-2, 30 credits for E-3, and when you're in, you need an associates degree or you'll never make Chief.

The training the Navy gives you does count for credit. The job you do determines how many credits they give you, and so does your rank. The higher the ASVAB requirement for a job, usually means more credits.

But remember, you don't have to stay in for life. Most of the jobs only require 4 years. Some require more, especially if you want any kind of sign on bonus.

As far as your acronyms:
OCS - Officer Candidate School
OSO - Operational Support Officer (I think)
ECP - Enlisted Commisioning Program (Known as STA-21 in the Navy)
NADA - This one is over my head. Nothing we use in the Navy.

Good luck in your decision process.

Answer 3

Well, I can not speak for anyone but myself . In 1983 I graduated high school like thousands of others good grades and all The Problem I had was my parents while not poor never made a ton of money and could not afford to send me to college. So I looked at the Army. figuring 3 year enlistment use the VEP program - My bonus and what ever money I could get with the GI kicker to go to college . Well that 3year enlistment lasted 25 years . Best 25 years of my life . While in the Army I was able to obtain my Masters degree (No I never became a officer) Retired in 2008 , took 7 Months off and Now work for the Department of Defense at the age of 59 I will be able to retire with 41 years of federal service between my Army retirement , DOD retirement , Roth IRA and SS at 62 it is estimated I will have a monthly income of $11,202.00 per month So, ask your self does the Army pay off ???

Answer 4

NADA it is not acronym it is slang for nothing. I'm in the same situation and am joining the Army's OCS program. you should think about th Army(try to be a medic) or the Navy as a Corpsman you would be working with the Marines, as Jarheads do not have their own medics. Either way it would be a good lead into becoming a Special Forces medical Sergeant which is what I think you said you were interested in. good luck dude.

Answer 5

you can apply for one of the military academies. you join and they train you to be an officer. but you had to have been aiming for it all your high school career. My older brother is a super brain and in Navy Junior Reserve Officer Training Corps. he was thinking or majoring in aeronautical engineering. he applied for the Naval Academy. recently, we received the letter that he got in. my advice is to find a college which has ROTC(reserve officer training corps) and where you can get a bs in movement science. If you take rotc you finish college then you are military reserve or you can choose to serve.

second part:
erll... i'm not sure what context they were used in but the best place to check is http://www.acronymfinder.com/ . check here

Answer 6

If you can't understand the acronyms after they have been explained to you then maybe the military isn't for you.

Answer 7

i dont know wat these are, but do it if you like it just dont kill the good side in you through disipline