Hey, I have a degree (just graduated) and have not been able to find a job. The Officer Candidate School for the branch I was looking at (CG) is not reviewing people for a long time.
Would it be a mistake to enlist as regular enlisted? Would I be paid better having a degree at 24 than I would have without one enlisted at say 18?
2007-09-13 18:00:03 · 12 answers · asked by asdf39873837 1 in Politics & Government ➔ Military
It would not be a mistake and go Enlisted. There will be other opportunities later on. Might want to consider talking with the Navy though. Bigger service and a much better chance of being accepted to OCS. There are programs that can be applied for in the Navy and other branches too where you can be selected for differant officer programs.
If you have transcrips showing a 40 semester hours completed you are advance to paygrade E-3 if you go Enlisted. There are also schools that guarentee accelerated advancement to E-4 to E-5 upon sucessful completion of the school and agreement for 2 more years past the standard four. Some also have cash incetives as well.
2007-09-13 18:10:38 · answer #1 · answered by oneiloilojeepney 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The big advantage that an Officer with prior enlisted service has over an officer straight out of PLC is experience. The "mustang" generally has several years of experience in the real world that an officer straight out off the grinder does not. The mustang can speak the language and has the practical knowledge of dealing with troops. It is a very different thing to actually command troops in the field then it is to learn about commanding troops in the field. Also, it just takes more drive and determination to "take the long way around" and drive and determination are two of an officer's most important skills. The disadvantage that the mustang has is that the senior officer corps are virtually all academy grads and so they have a common basis of understanding and experience that the mustang doesn't have. It isn't exactly an "old boys network" but there are pressures that an outsider like a mustang will have to be prepared to deal with. As has already been said, the quality of an officer is down to the individual and you cannot say a person is a better officer simply because they may or may not have served time as an enlisted man.
2016-04-04 20:01:30 · answer #2 · answered by ? 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
As a former enlisted Air Force member. I can tell you that if you have the grades to become a officer you are much better off. To start as a officer you will make almost twice what a starting enlisted member would make. Also if you plan to make it a career at the upper end of the pay scale a officer make 3 to 4 times what a equilivent enlisted member would. The Coast Guard is allways very hard to get spots, either enlisted or officer. I would encourage you to look at the other services, if your not heart set on the CG. Also the CG performs mainly police functions now, so if you want traditional military you should look somewhere else.
2007-09-13 18:08:51 · answer #3 · answered by WVJoe 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
having a 4 year degree will net you advanced paygrade.. as high as E4 in the Army, but most Branches will give you E3.
depending on what your degree is in and what your GPA is, you could be competitive for Navy OCS, if being in a seagoing service is your ultimate goal. As the smallest Branch, the CG is VERY tough to get into, enlisted and Officer alike.
2007-09-14 05:07:44 · answer #4 · answered by Mrsjvb 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Well your best be is going in as an officer.
You will get some credit for having a degree, but all things considered, not really that much.
Check into other branchs, It doesn't hurt to ask, make an informed decision.
I spent 20 years in the Navy and loved it.
Derrick * What branch of the service did you serve in.
2007-09-13 18:06:50 · answer #5 · answered by Jon 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
You should be able to go in as a E-4 (in the Army). I'm not sure if you were referring to the Coast Guard, but I thing it would be about the same. A brand new recruit would usually go in as an E-1. I know you would at least be able to get in as an E-3 or E-4, and could then apply to OCS when the next review cycle can around. It's always an option.
2007-09-13 18:06:06 · answer #6 · answered by Marco R 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
To get right to the point, you're probably better off going in as an officer than enlisted. First off, nobody will take your e-4 seriously considering you didn't earn it with time in service or grade, and a good amount of the lower enlisted don't treat college boys to well.
2007-09-13 18:18:58 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 1⤋
derrick has a good point. however, we didn't treat 2lts well either.
I was 22 at Parris Island as a pfc, turned 28 in TQ Iraq as a Sgt. with (lucky for me) a CWO 4 as a Plt Ldr. Some poor guys had 21 or 22 yr old Lt's for Plt Ldrs.
2007-09-13 18:29:04 · answer #8 · answered by Gwot-expedition 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Dude your better off with the degree. Your still a young officer at 24yrs old, I would trade with you in a sec.
2007-09-13 18:28:09 · answer #9 · answered by James the Just 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
contact another recruiting office.
2015-06-01 05:52:10 · answer #10 · answered by Philis 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋