What factors do I consider when choosing a military branch?
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What factors do I consider when choosing a military branch?
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I'm deciding between Air Force enlistment and Army OCS. The factors I'm weighing are:
1) Familial opportunities - I have heard USAF takes better care of the family unit, but is it really that large of a leg up over the Army? I'm unmarried with 0 children at the moment, but have plans to put 1 in both categories within the next few years. Also, my respective recruiters tell me USAF deployments are 6 months, Army deployments are 12-15. Deployment length matters less to me than to my significant other.
2) Meaningful work - I am not a particularly combat-oriented individual, but would certainly like a good dose of training for it. I want to work with my hands, and have done a huge amount of grunt work in civilian life. I think USAF has more of the hands-on work I'm looking for in terms of engineering . Are the only hands-on jobs in enlistment?
3) Becoming an officer - I have read that Army OCS acceptance rates are higher than 50% without prior enlistment. USAF OTS seems to require a technical degree, which I do not have. If I enlist in the Air Force, how would I prime myself for OTS candidacy?
4) Branch selection - the Army recruiter said the phrase "You can have any job you'd like" after I scored near perfectly on a practice ASVAB (I aced it in high school and had a Navy and AF recruiter knocking on my door), and he recommended I apply for OCS. Is this a normal occurrence? I have read that as an OCS candidate your branch is chosen for you, which I would totally expect, while as an enlisted man I would more than likely be able to pick my own work. My basic concern is that I'd rather not get placed in Infantry if they needed more warm bodies since I doubt it could be the most meaningful place to put me (although being in harm's way is not a deterrent for me at all). Is there a way to find out which branches are in high demand, or figure out how to increase my chances of entering an area that serves the Army the best because it is what I would be best at? How is this ascertained?
5) Space - I would love to be involved in a space program, be it National or within the private sector. Would USAF be a good gateway for continued work in NASA, who bar-none require engineering degrees (which I do not have)? I want to pursue a MS or PhD in engineering during my lifetime, and want to know how difficult the process is for continuing education while in the service (if it is easier to attend a school while enlisted versus officer).
6) Basic Training - I really want Basic to be difficult and expose me to as much as possible, but am afraid USAF BMT is "softer" than Army BCT (USMC is not an option I'm considering, although I really want their Basic Training). The programs are now about as long as one another, but how much more/less rigorous is one over the other?
I've been doing a lot of searching for my answers, and am having a good amount of trouble finding some real make-or-break deciding factors. I'm looking for anybody who has been through or been affected by any of these decisions.
Additional Details
Why the Armed Forces?
1) Service to my country
2) An experience I see as necessary
3) A possible career
4) To rise to a challenge that many people, past and present, have gone through
5) To be a part of something much larger than myself
6) To gain a more realistic perspective on being not only a citizen of my country, but of the world
7) To learn and to grow in ways that nothing else in this world can provide me with
8) Deep-seated respect for the organization
9) A dream that I am ready to fulfill
10) Because civilian life does not feel like my place
Are those good reasons? I have more, but those are my top 10
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dude45
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You sound like me: An individual with a book smarts who wants to work in a field that he will excel in. However, don't be like me and join the Marines. As someone who actually has potential in the real world, I feel like I hit a 5 roadblock in my life. I've been in 3 years now, and I definitely feel like I should've joined the Air Force, as they actually encourage you to use your mental strengths. I'm not bashing on the Marines, but I feel like my skill set is not being properly utilized. The Air Force also gives you more job opportunities in the civilian world, whereas the only occupation that would actively seek me would be law enforcement (No real civilian equivalent to Infantry)
It's also easier to go from enlisted to officer from within each respective branch. As long as you aren't a complete S**tbag, they would rather have an officer with military experience vs a boot officer who only has a degree.
I know pretty much nothing about the Army, but I do know that they are diverse enough that you would also probably find an occupation that fits your niche. It can go both ways with them. |
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Stanzi
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... or you can ignore all that, look at how much fire and lightening are in the commercials for each branch and join the Marines! |
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SSG U.S Army
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Those reasons sound a lot like the reasons that I joined in 2000 and the reason that I haven't been able to bring myself to leave. I am an Infantryman and it is very fulfilling to me. I'm part of history in the making. One day, my grandkids will be reading about things that I did during the War on Terror. The Infantry is not full of "warm bodies", it is actually the opposite. While most other MOSs attract applicants that "need the money" or "need to get out of town", the Infantry attracts people like you and me.
The only real civilian employment advantage that the Infantry will give you is leadership. If you are looking for technical experience, choose a job that offers that. You will still be a member of the team.
The Air Force has a higher standard of living and the deployments are shorter. I am currently on a remote outpost in the middle of nowhere Iraq. I obviously have internet and we still get three hot meals a day. The bond between Infantrymen is strong though and that makes deployments easier. My thought is, if you're going to go, go all out.
I can't speak for life as an Airman so I won't. |
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Nathan
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Well really picking a military branch is tough because they are all similar in many ways. The airforce is more for technology however. The army, well they are a mix of everything. Becoming an officer in either branch is still a great and beneficial achievment that you should go for. Honestly in my opinion its about what they are going to include in your contract that should be base your decision. |
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