Absolutely, go with the Marines. There are many reasons why you should consider enlisting with the military after getting a bachelor’s degree. According to Military.com, if you enlist in the Navy after you've earned an associate's degree, you will receive a $5,000 bonus for enlisting. To join the CEC, candidates then attend Officer Development School for five weeks to obtain general training in civil engineering. You may not get the rush of playing god as an engineer, but your contributions could result in far more saving of life (or killing if that is really your thing) than being the person pushing buttons. Some students weighing their options after high school may view joining the military as an alternative to higher education or something to be done before considering a bachelor’s degree. Welcome to the United States Air Force. Joining as an officer is to a large degree learning to deal with a lot of responsibility thrust upon you quickly. My job as of now is mustering up throught the week on a daily basis and unclogging the occasional toilet. You could also look at getting a GS job and actually be one of those civilians that works with the military. Buddy of mine did ROTC and entered the military as an officer upon graduation. So let’s say you want to stay enlisted, if you have a degree you can come in as an E4 instead of an E1. My dad is a mechanical engineer and was active duty then reserve in the Air Force. I told him he might want to reconsider as long as he doesn't mind being told where to live. Learn as much as you can about each branch of military service and see which one will suit your needs. Civilians do most of the heavy lifting engineering-wise, as a new Lt you'd be mainly figuring out how to lead. If you have 48 or more you can enlist as an E-3. I've been wanting to join the military for a while, but I've kept delaying it, and focused on my project. Yes you can join the military with a degree in biology. Culinary specialists can expect to earn an extra $12,000. I'm not afraid of getting pigeonholed into any one specific thing. If you want to serve but don’t want to commit long-term, your best bet is enlisting in the Army Reserves. After the successful accomplishment of PE, you will become a licensed engineer and can apply in the armed forces as a military engineer. How to Join the Navy With a College Degree. We get buses to and from our jets while people are working outside on the 140 F flight line (the Middle East is a very trying place to do anything), but flying for up to 22 hours at a time is incredibly trying on the body and mind. Even military engineering specialties are basically email jockeys acting as a liaison between contractors and the military. Human intelligenc… AskEngineers is a forum for questions about the technologies, standards, and processes used to design & build these systems, as well as for questions about the engineering profession and its many disciplines. Than find a federal job (Army Corps of Engineers, Department of Interior, Civilian Engineer for the Military, National Parks, etc). With a 4-yr degree like a BSME you qualify for several different roles as a “Line Officer” or you can be a reservist and work as an Engineering Duty Officer (EDO in the Navy for example. Officer Candidate School: Those with a 4-year degree who are not interested in student loan repayment can join the military and pursue one of many specialties. Active duty military members who specialize in certain areas, such as construction engineering, multichannel transmission systems maintenance, computer systems repairs and preventive medicine may qualify for enlistment bonuses ranging from $5,000 to $40,000. But at this stage in the game, it may be your only option. If you enlist with a BS/BA degree, it depends on what service branch. Went to OCS and joined the marines after getting his BSME. Engineers apply the knowledge of math & science to design and manufacture maintainable systems used to solve specific problems. As previous posts have mentioned, the financial incentives are actually very good for a 20-something starting their career, and the medical benefits aren't bad either. In certain cases, enlisted service members can advance and transition to officers during the course of their military career as well. Whether planning to join the Air Force, Army, Marines, Navy, or Coast Guard, each of these military branches allow students with four-year degrees to bypass general enlistment and move directly into officer training.In addition to saving time spent working up the ranks, officers take on leadership roles and earn higher salaries. There best way to do that is to reach out to the Naval Recruiting District HQ for your state and ask for contact info for one. Every service has a direct commissioning program, but it is usually the smallest commissioning source and therefore the most difficult to get into. If you want to pick your job and have fun, go enlisted. I'm enlisted Marine, I know a lot of pilots that got engineering degrees. Military Technology Leadership. For many, this is the only path to getting professional status. Having a MILITARY BACHELORS DEGREE is extremely advantageous for anyone considering signing up after completing four years of college. You can choose the entry depending upon the nature of commission i.e. Well it isn’t really that simple, because to get constructive credit for rank as an officer it needs to be a degree which is applicable to your military specialty. It's also important to recognize that most engineering positions within the military aren't design oriented positions. I am a Junior Civil Engineering student and as my time in college starts to come to an end, my future looms ahead. The purpose of this article is to help you get a better understanding of what it’s like to serve in each branch of the armed forces. By earning a degree, it shows on paper your qualifications to rise in the ranks and your readiness for your next promotion. That being said, if you really want to do engineering, I'd really recommend going the civilian route to apply your degree to something. Press question mark to learn the rest of the keyboard shortcuts. Reply. Overall my experience has been really positive. First of all, age doesn't matter… at least not at 27. I also love how there are lots of different directions I can take my career if I want to. Yes, absolutely, and I agree with the other answers offered. Students can also consider joining the military before enrolling in an engineering program, as the military offers many tuition assistance programs that will offset the costs of going to school. Choosing one of the 2020 best degrees for military officers will put you on the path to success and future career growth by teaching you the skills you need to advance your career and prepare you for careers outside the military. The time away from home thing can be good or bad, depending upon you and your circumstances. Let’s look at potential dangers and downsides to joining the Air Force. The Bachelor of Science (BS) degree with an area of study in Military Technology Leadership is designed specifically for current members of the armed services and veterans of the military who desire to bring together their military experiences/training in applied science, technology and leadership into a bachelor's degree program. It's a pretty good gig. When he was active duty, he worked mostly as a civil engineer doing top secret work that essentially amounted to how much force it takes to destroy different types of structures. … I will not miss huddles with my boss at 6am before unit PT, getting my own vehicle inspected before long weekends (to make sure I have insurance and up to date registration), and safety briefs ensuring no one beats their wife while kicking their dog and drunk driving. Which branch exactly i'm not too sure on, but I was thinking the Marines for a number of reasons ranging from the leadership skills i'll gain to serving the country to potentially travelling around the world. Instagram: @kidthndr2 Snapchat : @klop95 Email: ybemerica@gmail.com Choosing one of the 2020 best degrees for military officers will put you on the path to success and future career growth by teaching you the skills you need to advance your career and prepare you for careers outside the military. For example, right now I have two direct subordinates, one of which has as much time in the Navy as I have time alive, the other who isn't far behind. The Army Corps of Engineers does do a lot of civil engineering, but even that is heavily dependent on their staff of civilian engineers. Air Force and Navy - E-3. Enlisted Seabee here. Investigate commissioning options. I will most likely never end up using my degree, even though I did very well in school and really enjoyed the material. However, my suggestion is that if you can afford it, go to pharmacy school. I am currently in my last year studying mechanical engineering with a concentration in aerospace. Find competetive jobs in technical, environmental and combat engineering. r/engineering is a forum for engineering professionals to share information, knowledge, experience related to the principles & practices of the numerous engineering disciplines. More importantly you should note I described myself as expensive property. If you do have an associates degree, there is a good chance you can become a warrant officer in the Army or Navy, where the pay and benefits are better. Its extremely fun because I get to go camping for three weeks in the summer and once a month. Military Occupation and university degree compatibility As an ROTP applicant you may either select which military occupation you prefer and then determine which RMC academic degrees are acceptable for that occupation, or you may choose which programme you intend to complete at RMC and then determine which occupations are compatible with that degree. I don't fly fighters but I am an aviator. While many Navy sailors enter the military immediately following high school, others opt to wait until they earn a degree from an accredited college or university. As long as you’re staying Guard/Reserves, you can afford to shoot for a variety of officer types. There certainly are some exciting times, but those are mainly interrupting the soul crushing daily grind. What you'd be doing is technician level at best and in the USMC you'd be a technician on outdated equipment. If you don't get it in writing you are not getting whatever they promise you.). They will almost 100% hire you if you have an engineering degree and reserve status. Just a piece of advice. The rest tend to be AD veterans who still wanted to be part of the military or professionals like me. Maybe look at other branches? 10 Cons of Serving in the Air Force I received my engineering degree 5 years ago and am currently working for the private sector in construction. Military engineers are also responsible for logistics behind military tactics. At worst (from my experience) you could become a bitter husk of a person counting the days until you have some semblance of control over your own life and probably worse if you actually find yourself killing and being shot at as part of your job. Worked out well for him but your mileage may vary. For example, those who join the Army generally receive up to $20,000 to pay back student loans, according to Recruiters Never Lie. I dont think the Marines are going to be the best choice for integrating engineering knowledge. Army - E-4. ... You can also join in the Naval Architecture Cadre of the Engineering Branch. Officers typically … We also live in a pretty affluent area where-in no one really thinks about joining the military (the standard presumed path around here, get a 4.0, go to an Ivy, and then work as a lawyer or doctor or engineer, which is part of the reason I'd want to join the military - I'd get to meet and work with people from all over America, not just the very homogenous people here). However, many people with college degrees join the military each year to become enlisted members of the special operations groups. Joining the military can be one of the biggest decisions of your life, and no quiz will give you the full insight you need to make an informed decision. If you're interested in designing and developing the next generation of fighter jet, you'd be better off looking for work at Lockheed or a similar defence contractor. My undergrad experience included some pretty incredible research opportunities and I felt very proud about what I was doing for the world with very bright people. If you want adventure because working in a lab is boring then the air force at least is a terrible idea. You don't need a college degree to join the Air Force Reserve, but with a bachelor's degree, you might qualify to become an officer. You don’t even have to disclose that you have a degree. Recruiting commercials and Hollywood sell a fantasy. Yes, absolutely, and I agree with the other answers offered. It is absolutely true and there is a reason the tongue-and-cheek moniker "G.I" exists for soldiers. Without a college degree, you can only join the Navy as an enlisted service member. Even starting as an entry-level officer means you will likely make more than twice what you’ll make if you join right out of high school. 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