Want advice from the military guys

oleg

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

XwChriswX

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 )

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.

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.

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R.I.P. Abby 3/29/10 - 3/30/14

oleg

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?

XwChriswX

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.

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Bonnie - Stage 2, Audio build coming this fall!
R.I.P. Abby 3/29/10 - 3/30/14

oleg

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?

falconfixer

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!!!

Roadster4Us

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.

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Greg


2013 Camaro ZL1

MacCool

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.

XwChriswX

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.

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

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Bonnie - Stage 2, Audio build coming this fall!
R.I.P. Abby 3/29/10 - 3/30/14

Mike

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.

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ZCarMan

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!

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Jon

oleg

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.

Hawk6

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!

oleg

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.

Hawk6

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