Going into military after college-high achieving student

TLDNR

doing what you're told* Sorry, forgot to proofread

I'm a former Air Force officer. The authority issues you have will be less of a concern as USAF officer than as enlisted in any service, but you will eventually learn that everyone reports to someone. Even if you own the business, you have burdensome, stupid laws to comply with. In the AF, only pilots are at high risk of life or injury, and even pilots are lower than the typical Army or Marine guy that has to ride through the roadside IEDs in some primitive country.

In any service, being an officer gives you far more flexibility and post-military resume material.

With your academic background you could do quite well in the military. But, every experience is different. Most all officers that I have ever served with or known have had positive experiences with their military careers, no matter how short. If your experience isn't what you hoped for, it is only temporary and you will gain valuable experience and knowledge for having served.

If nothing else, the experience of working and living with a diverse group of people from totally different backgrounds is a valuable life learning experience. It will also go a LONG way in helping your career for point 2.

I was in a similar situation to you coming out of college and actively considered joining the Marines. Ultimately I did not go that route as I had a great job opportunity come along. That job ended up working out well and I subsequently got my MBA at a top 5 school. Fast forward 12 years and I have some regrets I did not go the military route.

While it is great to work out of college in the field that you are ultimately interested in, the reality is that most fields require a graduate degree to advance beyond a certain point. My working years pre-MBA, while beneficial, had little impact on my post-MBA career. As such, I wish I had done something a little more exciting, challenging and memorable than work 60 hours per week from age 22 through 26. Furthermore, I would have received the necessary work/life experience to still get into a top MBA program.

Looking back on why I made my decision, I think a lot of it is attributable to immaturity. I had a safe option and took it. As I get older, more and more I appreciate the benefits of taking the less comfortable road.

I don't think you should worry about the trouble-with-authority thing. I had the same thing, and thought it would be a problem with being in the military, but it hasn't been so far. I'm an Army JAG guy though; my MOS probably has less BS to deal with than a lot of others.

Thanks for the responses so far. Any information on what kind of an experience I could expect as an officer, what I would be doing, the training required, etc? I know it must vary from service to service, but being physically and mentally challenged is a draw as well. I'd love to learn more about military strategy, tactics, and operations. Is one service better than the others for learning more about strategy and policy?

don't go, ever heard of Depleted Uranium?

http://www.google.com/#hl=en&rlz=1R2ADFA_enUS461&sclient=psy-ab&q=depleted+uranium+american+soldiers&rlz=1R2ADFA_enUS461&oq=american+soldiers+depleted+&gs_l=hp.1.0.0i8i30.85547.147360.10.149469.67.40.5.9.9.10.3968.23702.0j4j14j7j5j2j1j9-4.40.0...0.0.Wwcz8Uwg6FU&pbx=1&bav=on.2,or.r_gc.r_pw.r_qf.,cf.osb&fp=8aabf25a9b44994b&biw=1024&bih=571

Todays military leaders (and Government) don't care about the soldiers in the field. I was in the 82nd Airborne Division for 8 years. Don't go my friend you will come back sick, and maybe incurable. It's not worth it. I had over 80 vaccinations during that time. Over 2000 soldiers have died this year, but the number cause of death is Suicides and sickness. There maybe a link with all drugs and vaccines being prescribed. I want to think hard about it, my son, the military change you for the worst....in so many ways. I was lucky that I got in one piece, today I am a do a lot of detoxes, cleanses, and an avid health guru. I was so sick when I got out, I won't go into it, but please think about what you are doing.

Remember no ones today, there is TOTAL disconnect in today society. If you died, no one cares, except the local people. If you are lucky. THINK????? THINK...please!

If you even think you have a problem with authority you have to ask yourself not only if this would be a problem in the military but also later in the State Dept. In the military there will be lots of peer pressure to follow authority in the State Dept not so much but it is more important to your career that you do.

runnerwithoutacause wrote:

Thanks for the responses so far. Any information on what kind of an experience I could expect as an officer, what I would be doing, the training required, etc? I know it must vary from service to service, but being physically and mentally challenged is a draw as well. I'd love to learn more about military strategy, tactics, and operations. Is one service better than the others for learning more about strategy and policy?

Your experience is going to depend to a large extent on your MOS. Military Police, Adjutant General, Infantry, Transportation, etc. are all going to have different experiences. This book has some pretty good information on what officers do:

Also, if you know any current or former officers talk to them.

I think my problems with authority are more focused on people either the same age as I am or who clearly aren't extremely competent telling me what to do. That and when people instruct me how to live my personal life. I have less of a problem with professional authority than I do with say working under someone in a group of peers or having a new coach tell me his way is the only way (my HS experience, why I like running club/being self coached). The problem I see with that in the military is having someone telling me when and how to do every little thing in my life.

Can anyone shed some light on what the deal would be for grad school? Would some/all of it be covered after having served?

I don't really see where you are coming from. By the time you get to State, if you go through the military first, there are going to be lots of people your age, who went to State directly, that will be telling you what to do because they have more experience. Your actual boss may respect the military experience but your peers may not.

You do know that there is a horrific war going on right now in Afghanistan and potentially worse conflicts brewing in Syria, Iran and maybe even Pakistan? You do know that there are a lot of soldiers coming back from Afghanistan who are severely damaged physically and/or mentally? You do know that the suicide rate for US soldiers has been as high as combat deaths? You do know that trigger happy chicken hawks may take over the US government in Jan 2013?

Talk to some recent vets, especially those who sustained combat injuries, before you sign up. You may not understand that serving in the military these days can be a very raw deal for most of those who end up in combat. Most recent combat vets I know do not feel like they served their country. They feel like their country chewed them up and spat them out.

I also looked into enlisting/commissioning into the military during and after college. Ended up getting PDQed for something rather medically minute. So even before you go down this route, look to see if you are DQed for anything before wasting your time(Food allergies/asthma/eczema medical history are or can be DQed). Like you I was also putting serious consideration into trying for the State route. I spoke 3 languages including a semi-critical one. Looked into enlisting and going DLI for another critical. Started to speak to another former officer who had served and at the time as foreign security for the State Dept. He told me that the military background hurt him for FSO consideration, and the two fields are different animals.

If you are seriously looking into the State path, go Peace Corps. I met two former members who served in Uzbekistan years ago, and both landed jobs for the State Dept. No masters. My cousin graduated from a very prestigious liberal arts school and attended the JFK School at Harvard. Attempted to join the State Dept. three times, never made it and eventually abandoned the dream. He says the masters degrees guarantees nothing more than better prep for the selection process. I'm sure some countries in the Peace Corps will offer better future opportunities at the State the Dept(like Turkmenistan vs South Africa).

the is no "esprit de corps" amoung the Officers, it is every cut throat, every man for himself. If don't make the rank of Caption by the six year, you will asked to resign or leave. The point system (201 evaluations) to get promoted is very bias, meaning West Pointers, VMI, Citadel, etc get the nod on most evaluations....and more promotions and points are offerred to soldiers(Officers) who over seas fighting war, those sitting at home don't have a very good chance getting promoted unless you are in arms way. Sometimes two or three tours...think young man THINK?

Join the military? Are you nuts? You mean join up and get sent over to fight a useless war like Afghanistan or Iraq?

This generation's Vietnam.

It's one thing to be patriotic it's another thing to be stupid.

Either join the Coast Guard or Air force, they're the only ones that care about each individual for the most part, the Air force has better technology, the Coast Guard is still stuck in the 90's.

Navy is not bad too.

Don't join the Army, especially don't enlist.

Your just a dumb ass if you join the Marines

Miltary Man wrote:

Your just a dumb ass if you join the Marines

So let me guess...

You sound like an entitled prick looking for a story to tell the grand kids. Do you honestly think you could lead men in combat? Can you tell a Sergeant with four combat tours what to do? Can you make decisions that could kill yourself or your men? Go do Teach for America.