i've been in my comfy university job as a network administrator for the past four years or so and am thinking it may be time for a change. the politics and the environment here are strange and i'm actually getting tired of looking at a monitor.

one idea that came to mind was enlisting and trying something completely different. i have no wife or children to provide for and think the service idea could be exciting.

from the army web site, the Health Care Specialist, and the intelligence analyst positioins wuld seem to match my interests and skills.

from you guys who have been there, do you think this could be a good move?

thanks!

Same here. I've been working for BFI's(1) or Consulting for about the last 8 or so years. I'm 26. I'm getting tired of this crap...(yah, people are now staring at me like I grew a third eye...but spending years working on trading floors wears you down fast. Especially when you're not the one making oodles of cash doing it...)



I'd be interested in hearing this, as well. I probably won't go the service route (I will be the first to admit I have all the discipline of cranky 3 year old), but there's gotta be something...

(1) = Big Financial Institutions

I.T. can get boring. solving the same old fake crisis year in, year out is tedious. i'm too old now, but if i had it to do over, intel analyst would have a certain appeal. but then, i'm the outdoors type, i'd consider infantry too!

It's great you posted this.
This will be long, sorry guys.

I've been working on computers for the last 5 years, basically its really the only thing  I've ever done in my young life. I've gone from simple phone support, to now supporting over 50 companies in a consulting environment that covers desktops to database servers.
I'm now 23 and I'm finding my drive to learn more about computers getting smaller and smaller as the months push on.

I have been seriously considering joining reserves. Everyone has things they want to do in their life before they die, we spend are whole life's trying to find those things, at my young age, serving for my country is one of those clear cut things that I want to do.

I too have discipline issue's, my parents were tough, but had a soft shell overall (I've been kicked out of my parents house, which seems to be a un-common thing nowadays!).

I've had a good wage since I started working, I always work things out with my bosses to get what I want (like coming in @ 9 instead of 8, or taking days off as I please)

My way of life isn't going to make me a better person. I NEED TO GET MY ASS KICKED!
So I've pretty much decided I want to go into the army reserves, not for computers, but for infantry work.

Not that I want to go to war, but I think it would be an experience that has no other equal.

What do you former or still serving solders think about us computer nerds wanting to serve for our country, not for glory, but because we feel our jobs are almost meaningless in the big picture, and we want to better ourselves??

Is the military a good way to gain life experiences?  Is it worth it?

I went through the same thing, eurotrash.  I've been in the computer field since I was a little kid...  Decided I needed to do something NEW and DIFFERENT with my life.  I joined the Army National Guard, and have never regretted it for an instant.  I'm an Intel Analyst.  Go reserves if you're not 110% sure that's what you want for yourself -- you can always move into the regular full-time Army if you want.  Or stay a reservist and volunteer for specific assignments that you're interested in.  There's a huge demand for Intel Analysts right now!  I've been offered several assignments since 9/11, in some very interesting places.  They'll even give you a decent enlistment bonus if you pick the right MOS. :)

Go for it.  You just can't lose...  It's such a great learning experience, even if you decide you don't want to do it forever and don't re-enlist.