Posted: 10/27/2004 6:29:35 AM EDT
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Hi all, I don't post in here too much but I have a question that I was hoping I could get some advice on. I'm currently a student at Norwich University... I'm in my 4th year here, my 5th year in college but since my junior year I haven't had the motivation to be in school. I had a flight contract with the Marine Corps (PLC Program, did 6 weeks at Quantico for Juniors) and I have been thinking that getting out of this grind and out into the fleet would be good for me. School has been downhill like I said since Jr. year (schoolwork etc... is just somthing that I'd rather not be bothered with right now) plus I have more then a few buddies overseas right now. Thinking it over I think that enlisting for a while would be better then sitting here and waisting time and money. I am planning on graduating from here, just right now I feel like I should be doing something else. There isn't much holding me back, my parents of course would rather see me finish school NOW and then do whatever it is that I want to do- and I have friends here at school but none of that would hold me from going in. My question is what would you do if you were in my situation? Right now I'm slated for class of '06 (this semester, next semester and a full year more- yea I'm way behind). I'm just looking for some advice... Thanks in advance! -Roth |
| It is not a matter of what would we do,it's what do you feel in your heart is the right thing to do? None of us can make that decision for you. As a parent I would say finish out your college and enlist as an officer. The flip side to that is I would also tell my son to do what he felt was right,but that is me,not every parent is going to feel that way. You probably also feel like you'll go back at a later date to finish,but in reality that also may not happen. Weigh all your options,and if you have to make a list of pro's and con's you are the one that is ultimately going to have to live with that decision,just make the best decision for yourself that you can live with. Good Luck. |
+1, but I'd like to add something. Sometimes I feel that officers should have to go enlisted for a few years before they can go officer. I always felt more respect for Mustangs. I know I could have gone officer in the Navy however I chose to go to the fleet. There are many officer programs in the Navy, especially if your only a year or 2 from your degree. I'm not sure about the Marines. I know it sounds cliche but, follow your heart. I didn't and I spent 6 years in the Navy doing a job I didn't like. |
mkguns: That is another aspect of my thinking. I would have liked to go to PI out of high school, enlisted in the reserves then come to school but my dad told me to do otherwise. He doesn't want me being an enlisted grunt like he was. I just think this is something that I need to do. MrsWildweasel: Thank you very much for your reply- it's good to have the opinion of a parent- but not YOUR parent if you know what I mean. I understand the part about not comming back to school because my buddies are drilling it into my head also but, I already have the ring on my finger- that is enough of a reminder to come back to school and finish (so it means something). I think I had my mind made up for me already and I'm just looking for someone to tell me to do otherwise. I get to talk to the parents this weekend- wish me luck because I don't know how they're going to take it. -Roth |
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I was in a nearly identical situation. I completed USMC PLC Jr, and was on my way. Going into my junior year I realized I had lost the motivation for school. I quit, and that day Enlisted in the Army with an Airborne contract. I spent 22+ years jumping out of perfectly good aircraft while in flight, meeting fascinating people, and killing them. The only regret I had was that I never finished my degree. (I'm now back in school) ....But that's just me.hinking.gif |
| Finnish school BEFORE you go in. If you think your school work is taking up too much of your time, wait until you're working a 10-12 hour duty day and trying to squeeze in another 3-4 hours of class time to finish your education. If you do get an early comission, the military will require you to complete your degrie in a set amount of time or you're out. Get it out of the way, the war isn't going anywhere and neither is the military. |
+1 |
| I might also be a parent,but I am also ex-military. I had more respect for our warrant officers also.NUCdt04... I didn't tell you anything thing that I would not have told my 18 year old. The only difference is I would want my son to do what he felt was right in his heart. If it meant him dropping out and not finishing his last year,I would understand,I might not like it,but I would understand it. I do wish you all the luck and keep us posted on what you are doing. |
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I can tell you from personal experience, life is much better when wearing the gold. Sure you will have to be the SLDO (Shitty Little Duties Officer) for a couple of years, but that's a hell of a lot better than cleaning and shining shitters as an E1 to E3. I'm a Mustang, did a lot of years enlisted and even got to be a Senior Enlisted Advisor for a number of years as a CPO. Life as a senior enlisted (E-7 and above) isn't bad, but it improves even more going gold. I was 44 when I finally got my Bachelor's Degree. Pull your head out and get it done while you are young. You'll be glad you did when you are 40. Regards, Rich |
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I will dissent a little from most others, I say if you want to be an officer and a pilot, finish school and do that. These is some experienced to be gained from being an enlistedman before becoming an officer, but not much. A officer has a vastly different job from an enlistedman, and often the Mustangs end up being more of a buddy to thier troops and less of a leader. As an Officer it may one day be your job to go and tell a private to do something that may well cost him his life, if you have to much empathy for the enlistedmen you may find yourself hesitating to put them into harms way, when you should be desicive, and that is a bad situation. Every enlisted man in every branch will tell you stories of stupid officers doing stupid things, you will also hear the same enlisted men talking about sending cherries out to look for TR double E's, and prick E7's, all these stories will tell you is that before you can be good at your job you will have to gain experience, and the best way to get experience as an Officer is to hold a commision. There are certainly exceptions to this rule, thier are enlisted men who would make great officers, and there are officers who wouldn't make it as a private for two months, but that is more a statemnet on human nature, rather than a failure of the military to vette personel. |
Points very much taken and thank you again for all the replies... I understand what everyone is saying about finish school first and to go officer. I also think that I need to get out and do something diffrent for a little bit- I can take 10-12 or whatever hour days doing something in the military, I can't stand an hour and a half class in english though. I'm just only good at what is interesting to me (yep, I'm sure there will be boring classes in the military also). I'm thinking I may take a semester off, go down to PI and enlist in the reserves instead of going active duty. I need to think about that one- that way I'd be back up at school next year but still get some time off. Still not sure- I get to talk to the parents this weekend though and I'm sure that dad will rip my head off for thinking this even  . Something about parents not wanting their kids to do what they did.... Thank you all for the advice- and I would still like to go over to the officer side when I finish school, life is of course much better. I just think that some time enlisted would do me good- I had wanted to go enlisted in the reserves out of HS then come to college but was talked out of it. Not sure if it would have made a diffrence but I still think that I should have. For me I think that experience will be good. Thank you all again! will keep y'all posted on what I'm doing -Roth |
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Stay in school and finish. You'll get to the fleet in good time, stick with PLC. You will make more as a zero and hopefully you will be driving airframes around the sky. If you are worried about getting to do cool GI Joe stuff, TBS will give you ample opportunity. Once you are in your fleet squadron you will get whored out to do some ground work as a FAC as well. You are staring at an opportunity that many will never see. |
This is the biggest crock of shit I've read in a LONG time... Being an officer definitely takes different skills than being an enlisted man. That said, the majority of officers that have experienced the enlisted life will be better leaders. Period. You have to learn how to follow before you can learn how to lead. |