Josh McDougal has joined the US Army and just graduated OSUT.

It's uncommon for someone who's older and a college grad to enlist, but it's not unheard of. I personally know an infantry guy who enlisted at 30 with a masters.

A lot of guys go infantry because they want to go do soldier stuff. But they find out once they get to their unit that soldier stuff happens very rarely. Most days are filled with cleaning, sitting in the motor pool, various details, and waiting for someone to tell you to do something. You might get to go to the field once a month. But most guys don't want to go to the field because it means days, if not weeks, away from their families. So you get into a rut, wonder why you enlist, and either a. explore other options, such as SF or officer, or b. count down the days until ETS.

Best of luck to Josh. Maybe he'll find a good unit or an opportunity to escape the clutches of garrison life. But it's tough being older, more mature, and better educated than 95% of the guys you work alongside and work under.

While pay is still relatively "low" as a 2LT or 1LT, that's still not bad compared to the enlisted side. Plus, one isn't factoring in BAH and BAS, which will both still be higher as an officer, when looking at that pay. I guess I just don't get why one would go the enlisted route (unless maybe looking to go special forces?) rather than officer. Or maybe I'm not patriotic enough.

did two and out wrote:

most common pay grades at under 2 years service

officers

Lieutenant-35,500

First Lt -41,00

enlisted

Specialist 4-24,500

Sergeant-26,800

Isn't Liberty University against killing people/military and owning guns? Part of their school philosophy?

That's a whole lot of makeup...

Any chance he is joining for the WCAP program?

glj/ wrote:

Isn't Liberty University against killing people/military and owning guns? Part of their school philosophy?

Liberty University is neither Mennonite nor Quaker- both are pacifists who won't fight in wars or bear arms.

Ditto. I have a BS, went enlisted. My reason was more for timing as the wait for OCS was too long. Also, he can still go green to gold in a couple years.

*OCS is Officer Candidate School. It's how degree holders off the street can become an officer. The others are ROTC, West Point and direct commission (medical mostly).

Another reason he went enlisted....how old is he? OCS is pretty strict about its age cutoff. My intention was to do two years enlisted then try to go OCS, but the age limit dropped significantly from 36 down to 28. I believe the age cutoff now is 32. But, there might be other reasons he couldn't go to OCS. Just because you join the army with a degree doesn't mean the officer route is a shoe-in. Entry into OCS is highly competitive.

Alan

Runningart2004 wrote:

Just because you join the army with a degree doesn't mean the officer route is a shoe-in. Entry into OCS is highly competitive.

Alan

Did not think of this, but it is probably a good answer. I specifically remember being overwhelmed at OCS with the process my platoon mates had to go through just to get there. My MOS is granted a bit more...ah..."leeway," so to speak, when it comes to selection (followed by a hearty, "Haha, good luck making it through!" behind the scenes from the recruiting command, I'm sure).

Pennoyer Shoe Co. wrote:

Runningart2004 wrote:

Just because you join the army with a degree doesn't mean the officer route is a shoe-in. Entry into OCS is highly competitive.

Alan

Did not think of this, but it is probably a good answer. I specifically remember being overwhelmed at OCS with the process my platoon mates had to go through just to get there. My MOS is granted a bit more...ah..."leeway," so to speak, when it comes to selection (followed by a hearty, "Haha, good luck making it through!" behind the scenes from the recruiting command, I'm sure).

A big kicker is the security clearance. Once you're in a secret clearance is given out like candy. As a recruit it's a different story. My student loans prevented me from getting a clearance at MEPs, but I easily had a clearance once I enlisted. So, if one has a degree and a lot of student debt that might keep yju from getting a clearance which would prevent you from going OCS.

Alan

Looks a little too much like Douglas C. Neidermaier, Sargent at Arms.

Talk is You wrote:

Looks a little too much like Douglas C. Neidermaier, Sargent at Arms.

A pledge in! On your uniform?

Note: Niedermayer and Sergeant are the proper spelling here.

Maybe he will go to OCS after this....

Follow Me and Iron Mike!!!!

I was sad to see this.

An athletic version of "Falling Down"

I spent 20 years in two different branches and did so because I didn't prepare myself to succeed in life and ended up in the military...and stayed.

A guy like that with a mop and a bucket in the dayroom of a barracks...

Seriously?

Josh Mcdougall, lining up against Rupp at Terre Haute now lining up at a chow hall.

I sure hope there is more to it.

Maybe those were marines.. wrote:

Didn't a couple Army guys make our Olympic team in the distance races?

WCAP . Most are Kenyans who found their way to be U.S. citizens by joining.

I wonder too what the full picture is, I still can't wrap my head around everyone wearing a beret, and I know plenty of ol' timers that worked hard for that black beret. I wish him the best, at his age and two kids and a wife, that would be a slight change of pace. Thanks for your service Josh.

Theory #26

It's the most affordable way to get medical coverage for a family of four.

Does anyone know if his wife or children have a preexisting medical condition? That would bolster this theory.

glj/ wrote:

Isn't Liberty University against killing people/military and owning guns? Part of their school philosophy?

Lol no Liberty has allows campus-wide concealed carry.

Yes!!! Special ops!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Factor in BAQ, BAS, HD Pay and jump Pay....puts a 2nd LT closer to 60k to start!

ClaireHuxtable wrote:

What is Josh's motivation for joining the U.S. Army?

Wanted to take out ISIS. Merica started ISIS so they need to finish if off.