Want advice from the military guys
 

So finally after about 4 years of wanting to join the military I was able to talk my mom into being ok with it. My question is on what should I join since I want something that would help me get a job after the service preferably with an 80k+ annual salary if possible.
About me: 19. I'm fine with being deployed into combat. Am fine with doing the officer school if that helps me with my career in the future. Speak 3 languages fluently. Am above average in school and way above average physically.
Considering all these things, what would be a good path to take military wise and then career wise? I am not doing this strictly for the money and to help pay for school, joining the service is something I have wanted to do for a very long time to help me learn discipline and because I have an obsession with all things military.
Thanks

Crypto-linguist.

Air Force and Navy both have excellent Crypto-Linguist programs. You can also fly if you want to. The military allows you to take a quick test of your language skills (no limit to how many) and if you demonstrate a certain proficientcy level in any of them, you get extra pay for it. (Not that it's about the money like you said, but let's face it, you've got a gifted tongue :ugh2: )

After the military, any major 3 letter agency (NSA, CIA, FBI) would pick you up and you'll definitely make that 80k you're looking for. :tiphat:

If that's not the route you'd like to go, the Navy's Nuclear Engineering program is WELL known for setting people up for life. You do however many years you want in, and afterwards you're having several Power companies begging for your service.

Lastly, Air Traffic Control, if you're interested in that. It's an officially rated position that when you come out, any major airport would love to have you. Guaranteed 6 figures starting.

Hope that's a good start. :tiphat:

That single post provided me with more information than all the research i have done in the past (which is a lot). For the things you said though I feel like I would need top secret clearance, not being born in the U.S. would there be a problem with me attaining it?

When you enter into basic training, they'll run a background search anyways. It will be one of the things you do while you're in Technical Training. (For the Air Force, other branches I'm not sure when/how they do it.)

Depending on how much you've been living/working in the US can affect the timeline it takes to get finished. Something else to ask when you're talking to your recruiter. Military Service will help you attain your US Citizenship much faster than civilians. But as long as you're in and serving, and depending on what job you do, that's something your recruiter will be able to answer best with each job being specific to what they can/can't allow. But I don't see it being a problem so long as you don't have a tainted history.

Thank you Chris, +rep. Is there anything that involves combat and weapon systems? Or any benefit of becoming an officer? I understand that the next question is a very touchy one for some, but which branch would provide me with the best opportunities afterwards?

11 years AF here, crew chief on F-16s. +1 on everything Chrisw said. Linguist might be best for you and huge in the civilian world. FYI, I believe there is an age cut-off for Air Traffic Controller in the civilian world so keep that in mind if you plan on doing 20 years military.

If becoming an officer is even remotely in your mind I will suggest another 4 years in the civilian world getting a Bachelors. No matter what the recruiter tells you it is not easy to go enlisted to officer. And yes, there are bennies associated with being an officer during and after the military.

From personal experieince, I thought it would be great to get in the aircraft maintenance field and I loved it. I grew up working on cars with my pops and jets are just as fun. If I had to do over from a career perspective I would go in the medical field. X-ray techs have a good life, there is good job security and the med field will never go away. Like I said I have 11 years active duty, 2 years with Lockheed Martin on the JSF and working on a Masters of Aeronautical Science and I don't make $80K a year.

Air Combat Controller, TAC-P, and pararescue will get you in the combat role if that is your thing but I don't think there is much in the civilian world for that training.

In the end you have to ask yourself what you are passionate about and go from there. Oh and AF all the way!!!:happydance:

I'm not sure how enlistment works today, but when I joined, the Army was the only service that would allow me to choose which job specialty I wanted, of course dependent on the ASVAB scores. The other branches would allow me to indicate a preference, but they had final say over what field I would work in. With the Army, the exact job I wanted was in my enlistment paperwork and was guaranteed.

Of course, this could all have changed by now, but something to be aware of when talking to the recruiters.

Best of luck.

More opportunities as an officer in any of the branches and afterwards, but as mentioned, be cautious about believing anything a recruiter tells you about that kind of thing.

If you're contemplating being an officer, do consider going to college instead of relying on promises of OTS/OCS. Getting a degree will definitely make that path easier and will provide you with more opportunities after you get out. If you can't get in to one of the service academies (that's a very prestigious credential and most companies LOVE to hire academy graduates), you should consider ROTC.

In the AF, you can go in based on your ASVAB scores as 'Open General or Administrative or Mechanical or Electrical' And while you're going through basic they'll pick out a career field for you, but you choose which major sector to be in. OR you can go to your recruiter and say you want to be a __________ and if there is a job open in that area, you can sign for that specific job and have it locked in. That's what I did. Of course I later found out what I'd be doing was not what the recruiter told me I would be doing. But I blame that on the mystery of my career field and him having not done it, had no idea what it was. :icon17:

But it is possible in the AF to go in with a guaranteed job.

In the past in the Navy, you could enlist for a specific rating. I wouldn't do it any other way.

To be an officer, you need a 4 year degree, but the navy has occassionally had a NAVCAD program where with a two year degree you could go to flight school and become an officer, then finish your four year while on active duty.

As a linguist, you could go either navy or air force. Going in enlisted, I would recommend the air force.

I was 10 years active duty navy officer and aviator.

If you want guaranteed 80K plus after an enlistment, look into anything Cyber related, Computer Networking, Engineering, Security, etc. These are highly sought after everywhere but particularly in the D.C. area as the federal government can't get enough qualified IT and Cyber Security types. All branches have established pipelines so you'd have to look at what they are offering. Get your citizenship while in the armed forces, then get all the training you can while in whatever branch and you'll also gain what most other IT college grads won't have, experience. Good luck and thanks for serving!

Thank you guys, all of this is very helpful. I have also been looking into EP and PMCs such as triple canopy. Does anyone have any experience with any of this or any information on this since the majority of the information I find is by people who have no experience with this field?
Thank you again guys, part of why I love the Z community, there is always someone willing to help.

Oleg, Denny here retired Army Infantry, been there done that got the T-shirt, thanks for playing the game now move out. Look I'm in now way a recruiter for any branch. There are pros and cons to each and of course AF will say their the best Marines will say they are and so on. Fact is PM me I will send you my cell number call me this weekend and we will chat some cause your never gonna get a real feel of someones advice or not through reading a forum where somebody's only real military experience could be because they watched black hawk down a few hundred times and have a cheat code for unstoppable on COD got me. Hope to talk to you over the phone soon. Hell call me tonight if you want I don't care. Oh one more thing... Rangers lead the way!

I understand the whole concept of it not being like a movie and having to take **** from someone that out ranks you for for years. I know a few people that have recently came out of the service (rangers and marines only). Some have said that its a decision that they do not regret, but those people also never saw combat once. Have a classmate who's brother is going in for a second tour as a ranger, he said that he could tell in his everyday life that he's brother has changed and feels out of place in civilian life which is something that i have been concerned about too.
The thing is every career I have looked into so far that I would even remotely enjoy doing either doesn't pay enough or the schooling is too expensive. I would love to have a career where I'm not required to sit behind the desk for the rest of my life.

Ok so first question what is it that you want to do when you grow up? I don't mean in 5 years from now but when you grow up. I spent my entire adult life shooting blowing **** up flying around in helos and fixed wing birds laying in ambushes forever crawling around in a ghillie for days on end to move 1k because there was no wind just to take a shot and crawl away again fast roping kicking in doors and don't forget walking forever with up to 180lbs on my back and so on and so on. Sound fun? It was. And now I have to grow up... Kinda, I'm starting flight school next month lol. But still I have to start all over and why... Because I got hooked to the adrenalin all my life. So before you think about how much you want to make after the military ask yourself what do you want to be when you grow up. Combat is not the movies btw and if your bro has changed its because it's hard to relate to anyone outside the military afterwards. I've lost more buddies than I care to remember and I know I will lose more and it sucks ***. Anyway Lil brother call me if ya like I sent ya my number

^ the question there would be, was it worth it? If you got to restart from 18 again would you have gone the education way or the military way again?
As far as what i would like to do, architecture is something that i would absolutely love to get into but making 40k a year in an unstable job doesn't seem like a very smart choice and I bet getting a job out of school will not be easy either.

Can't believe I've missed this thread. If you can, go national guard, and do ROTC. Best path IMHO and I wished I had taken it.

4 years Army Aviation. I was an AH-64D Armament, Electrical, and Avionics system repairer.

Again, if you go reserve/guard and do ROTC, you get the GI Bill IIRC or Student Loan Repayment, you start out as an officer and it really looks phenominal on a resume.

Would I do it all over... If I had or I should say at age 18, my parents had the resources to send me straight to college or I wasn't a dumb *** know it all kid... I would have went straight to college and that's the honest truth! Call me I can't say that enough because I am sure you have tons of questions and recruiters are used car salesmen (no offense to anyone) but there shady

Im not sure about non us citizens getting federal positions with the federal govt, its something I'd inquire about.

I don't know the OP status...but to join the person has to be at least a Permanent Resident of the US.

However the Armed Forces has a program that he/she can be a US Citizen within 3 yrs or less of active duty service I think. This program was established after 9/11.

IMO from the introduction of your first paragraph you shouldn't enlist at all. You should maybe spend some time doing school or college, something you will like and when you mature a bit and know more about the world then join the Arm Forces. It will help you make a better decision and a more straight line of thinking from where you at right now.

Im in the federal govt, and Im pretty sure you gotta be a naturalized US citizen to get a federal job... i may be wrong. I dont know for a fact.

I served in Active Duty for over 20 yrs and proud of it. However, I would never drop out of college and get mine education with full scolarship that I had, but I flushed down the drain.

If you go to college you still have the poortunity to join the ROTC and when you get your degree you can come in as an officer. Anyway I would go with education.

Are you saying an archictecture makes 40K a yr? :confused:

Man, if I could do it all over again, I woulda listened to my mom and joined the air force but I joined the army instead and did 8 years, got out and went to FSU, and got my degree.

The other problem your going to run into is that your not going to be qualified for some MOS's due to you needing a secret or Top secret clearence as you stated you are not an actual citizen yet... Just being honest. Like I told ya before go to college your going to be better off

Ok here's another thing to consider... Getting a job now
A days as a combat veteran is not easy either. I'm happy I'm retired cause I have been on too many job interviews and they all same the same... "Well you seem to be just right for the job but... Oh wait, you have been in combat I see... Um honestly you may be over qualified for this position". Yea I love hearing that one over and over again. That's why I'm in college now at age 40!

QFT :tup:
That's what everyone says... lol :stirthepot:

I have more to say, but I will bite my tongue as I don't know you...

x2. Its where the real money (and future) is.

Specifically, I would suggest (if going enlisted), the 1N2 or 1B4 career fields, and requesting Fort Meade as your first base. Also, Arabic linguists are always in high demand (I dont believe you mentioned WHAT languages you were fluent in...).

You can thank me 4-6 years from your enlistment when you get out making 6 figures.

I think you have plenty of opinions of what to do and that's good, so i will give you my opinion of what not to do. Dont join the marine corps, and if for what ever reason you decide the marine corps is for you don't be a grunt.

While I love the Marine Corps, he is correct about not bring a grunt. Its miserable. Fun....but miserable. I will say this though, there is still room in the Marines for intelligence, and still careers that provide you with skills you can user when you get out. The AF and squids do have more to offer though.

Semper Fidelis.

Sent from my MB855 using Tapatalk 2

:tup:

Ranger
 

All The Way!

There sure is - I work with those guys.

lotsa room... wouldn't you say? eh bobo? :bowrofl::bowrofl::bowrofl:

You have to make the decision biased off what you want. You can feel like you make a difference in the military by choosing a career that directly impacts what ever the mission is at the time. or, you can do something that your happy doing, but not having the satisfaction of truly saying you did something for your country.. Either way, no matter what you do in the military you will receive the same discipline and you will learn a tremendous amount regardless. Take some time and think about it bro. good luck

Plenty of good advise. What I would say is what ever career choice you decide on, what ever service you decide on, get it in writing. 22 years of Naval service taught me that. Get it in writing.

I saw to many shipmate enter the service and trusted the system to make a choice or give them options down the road. The results weren't always what they bargined for. Get it in writing before you sign.

AGC(AW/SW) USN Retired

qft