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military enlistment help

Rack OpsRack Ops Member Posts: 18,596 ✭✭✭
edited March 2014 in General Discussion
My nephew just told me he is thinking about signing enlistment papers for the Army Reserve. The recruiter has told him he can sign up, complete basic training, then start college rotc and become an officer.

Josh's goal is to become an architect or engineer.


My concern is that the college route won't pan out the way he thinks, and I don't think the reserves are eligible for the GI Bill.


My suggestion is to say no to this offer and look into active duty with a construction unit like the Navy Seebees......then when he gets out he can go to a school of his choosing.

Input appreciated
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Comments

  • shilowarshilowar Member Posts: 38,811 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    I have a couple guys in my PD that are ARMY Reserves and they are going to College on the GI BIll.
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  • grumpygygrumpygy Member Posts: 48,464 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    All I can say is get everything in writing. If they won't put it in the contract its not true.
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  • shoff14shoff14 Member Posts: 11,994 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    Why would he pass up the ROTC scholarship? That doesn't sound like a very good idea.
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  • JamesRKJamesRK Member Posts: 25,670 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    There are officer programs that operate about like that, but the competition is fierce and if he isn't selected he still has the four years active duty obligation. Odds of being selected are better than the lottery, but not much.

    If his goal is education I don't see how driving a D-9 tractor for four years in the SEABEES will advance his goal very much.

    Is he qualified for any of the service academies? That takes some preparation and recommendations. Don't forget the Coast Guard. If that's not an option, maybe he should apply for NROTC or ROTC. That way he gets the education up front.
    The road to hell is paved with COMPROMISE.
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  • nmyersnmyers Member Posts: 16,892 ✭✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    I served 6 years in the Army Reserves. I had taken ROTC in college, & they offered me a commission after 2 years ---- if I extended for another 8 years. So, I declined. If you are in college, or a training program at your job, or.....whatever, you can get activated at any time. If you have a wife & young children, it may be difficult for them.

    During the time I served, they doubled the number of hours of active duty for the unit. There's just no way to anticipate all the ways that they can find to screw with you.

    With some majors, the military will give you a full scholarship at college if you sign up to give them 6-8 years after you graduate (& you don't have to take ROTC). Or, if he gets through on his own, they will give him a direct commission.

    You only get 1 chance to go to college directly out of high school; pass that up, the odds are stacked against you.

    Neal
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  • CaptFunCaptFun Member Posts: 16,678 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    Architecture is a totally different degree. My oldest is looking at that path. The problem is that the studio classes are only offered once a semester and if you get off track you have to wait a year to get back in sync.

    Engineering, they will be all over. If he can get in, go to school first then do service. I had a NAVY deal, but they would not pay for my first choice school which was WAY expensive. They would pay for Georgia Tech, but then so could I. At the time it was $750 a quarter for tuition.

    Plenty of my friends and fraternity brothers were on Navy and Army ROTC rides. One of my roommates got the best deal of all, right before graduation he got a Navy deal for PhD in nuclear engineering. Probably still underwater somewhere or in skunk works. Have not seen or heard from him in 25 years.
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  • rawhide54rawhide54 Member Posts: 432 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    I have to recommend caution at every turn. All of the branches will be cutting personnel over the next five years. They've already started. The Army is at about 480,000 active duty right now and may cut back as far as 350,000. That's a pretty good indication of how intense the competition is going to be for any worthwhile programs.
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  • pwilliepwillie Member Posts: 20,253 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    My son had a 4 year Army ROTC @ FSU! He would have had to serve 6 years after he went active....He passed on it for The USNA appointment...
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  • JamesRKJamesRK Member Posts: 25,670 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    USNA has a five year obligation, and they add to that for any additional education after graduation. At least USNA graduates are regular Navy.
    The road to hell is paved with COMPROMISE.
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  • buddybbuddyb Member Posts: 5,393 ✭✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    From experience I can say Seabees is(or was)a hell of a lot more hard work than formal education.
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