Is there any benefit to enlisting in the military after you have received a college degree?

Question

I'm looking for real answers please, not opinions on the war.

Answer 1

If you have your bachelor I would recomend going in as an officer instead of enlisted. Also in regards to weather you should join, that really hinges on your likes/dislikes, your career situation and your future career interests. I would recomend talking to the people on the sight below there is alot of real hones opinions and zero pressure

Answer 2

First off there's the pay a 2nd Lt (O1) makes about $2500 a month in basic pay while an E1 makes $1300 a month. So right of the bat that's $1000 difference. If you were to come in enlisted with a college degree most branches give you an automatic promotion after basic training to E3 which pays $1500 a month.

There are certain jobs that only officers can do, like being a pilot and of course commanders.

Then there's the responsibilities, as an officer there's more expected of you since you shoulder the responsibility of command. Enlisted are the strength of the force besides your regular job you'll also be getting a lot of crappy jobs/details as you first start out and work your way up. Say they need someone to work over the 3 day holiday weekend you can bet an E1 to E3 is definitely gonna be on call versus an Lt.

You will have to go to an Officer Training school for its respective branch, just because you have a college degree they wont just give you bars ...your still gonna have to earn them. Most recruiters should be able to help you with that. If you get told to come in enlisted or have to come in enlisted before you can become an officer...walk out of the recruiters office immediately. Go to a different service or try a different recruiter in another town. Had a friend who had a 4 year degree, was told by his recruiter that all officers come from enlisted ranks and once he got to his first base that he could apply to become an officer....WRONG,

You may also want to check out the ROTC office at your college if they have one and ask for any info on becoming an officer.

If I had to do it all over again I would of gotten my degree and came in an officer. I've enjoyed my time and have had great experiences as an enlisted person but I do think there better opportunities in the officer world.

Answer 3

oh yes, if you're looking to become an officer you need a college degree; at least for the Air Force, I'm not sure about the other branches but I'd imagine they have similar requirements. Officers get paid much more than enlisted, so yes I'd say there's considerable benefit. But since I'm not an officer I really can't go into much detail about any other kind of benefits since I don't know.

Answer 4

Yes you have the option of taking your commision. You will need to talk to a recruiter about that some more though.

A lot of these good folks recomened becoming an officer, and this is not a bad thing, but I would rather be an enlisted soldier than an officer, because that is where the rubber meets the road and NCO's are leaders and officers are managers.

But anyway, yes there are some benifits of having a higher education upon enlistment. For one, you should be eligable to enter the service as an E3 rather than and E1.

Another benifit is when it is time for promotions your civilian education will count as points toward your promotion package. Enlisted soldiers are promoted as per a point system. You get points for different reason, i.e. time in grade, time in service, civilian education, Military education, etc...

Chad

Answer 5

There are some benefits to enlisting in the military, college degree or no. In the military you'll have the opportunity to learn a skill, you'll learn the value of leadership, teamwork and discipline, and in the process gain valuable life experience that can help you whether you choose to make the military a career, or just do one of two enlistments.

Answer 6

absolutely. Obviously with a BA already it becomes more about the purer patriotic reasons, but there are for sure some practical benefits.

They can make all your student loans go away for one (SLRP). If you're thinking about grad school at some point, there is tuition assistance to cover that, and you can apply for programs that'll put you on active duty status getting full-time pay to go to school.

Of course there's the standard stuff: 10k bonus, medical, insurance, etc. and the ancillary from joining stuff like USAA. That extremely equals low percentage loans, loans on your signature, auto/home/etc insurance at a fraction of the cost, stuff like that.

And then there's the fact it'll change you. You obviously will become a fairly good leader & manager as an officer. There's good ones and bad ones of course, but you can make the most of that experience to translate into very good things in the civilian world.

I don't know what course oyu're considering, but I'd suggest you make guard/reserve a part of that research process as well. If you need more info on the national guard, particularly the becoming an officer part of it, I'm doing that as we speak, just drop me a msg & be happy to talk to you further about it.

Answer 7

Benefits if you join the service. 'Bet your sweet bippie! Short and sweet! Choose your branch of service then choose your branch (job) that you would feel that you would excel in. Definitely go for a commissioned officer status. Benefits: Three hots and a cot, paycheck twice monthly, free medical, dental, and eye, thirty day paid vacation every year, SGLI (insurance) into the 100's of 1,000's of dollars for a pittance, travel within the states and around the world, meet people from all walks of life, managerial skills, ( many senior commissioned and non-commissioned officers go on to be deans of prestigious colleges (Penn State for example), CEO's of some of the largest corporations, very highly paid consultants, and hell.... some even presidents of the United States) and best of all is the retirement!!!! You can retire in your 30's or 40's and keep most of the aforementione benefits with a whopping good pay check coming in each month. Now compare that to the people who put their college degrees to use in civilian life. Work until age 62,65, or 70, invest their money into retirement with minimum payback, have to pay for medical, dental, eye, and life insurance out of their paychecks, worrying if their company might fold, (or like what happens when thet reach retirement age, "Sorry don't need you anymore." and lose a lot of the aforementioned, dip into their savings to keep afloat and alive, put up with more BS (not a degree) and rectum-openings (being polite) than they ever would in the military, and even risk being fired and moving from job to job in the first five to ten + years because of job dissatisfaction or because they have to. Yep! You listen and read all the negative comments about the military that you want to but I never regretted the 30+ years I was in it because I did'nt want to work for someone until I was 70, build a business then lose it, deal with ***-holes, and if I would work I would be able to tell the boss to go and enjoy his sex life. Better yet, if you don't believe me, talk to some vets who were in and got out. I bet over 85% of them would say, "If I could do it all over again I'd of stayed in". Do you have any idea how many times I have heard that from all veteran age groups. It's your choice pal. The military isn't for everyone. But if you qualify do not be dummies like so many are on this site. Make your decision, stick to it, and enjoy life. I am!

Answer 8

If you already have a degree than you will be able to go into the military a Commissioned Officer. You get better pay than being an enlisted soldier.

Answer 9

Yes you have 2 options if you already finished you can have the Military pay off your college and com in enlisted as an E-4 or you can pay off your own college debt and come in as an O-1.

Answer 10

It depends on how you want to live your life. Do you like order and structure? Do you like to travel? Do you feel that the military is a worthy enterprise that you would recieve fullfillment from? Do you want to continue for a graduates degree? Is your degree incapable of actually getting you a job in the private sector (many are)?