Hi,

I will be finishing college with a degree in philosophy (This is my fifth year. I transferred and lost credits). I will be approximately 100k in debt, and the thought of accruing another 100k in debt by going to law school makes me want to vomit (even though over the long run it will be lucrative). Despite studying philosophy, I am not a nerd. I play soccer, lacrosse, and I mountain bike regularly. In short, I love and need action, but not serious mortar action, or limbs being torn from people’s bodies by hot shrapnel. I’m not one of those kids who says he wants to get into some gnarly urban warfare. Once you’re dead, you’re dead. I want a job that requires travel and activity. I simply do not think I could stand another 3 years of school at this point in time. I can’t stand being broke anymore. For these reasons, I am thinking about joining the Navy. My mother’s friend did 20 years and became a pilot. He now flies for Fed Ex. He said he loved the Navy.

However, I have the following concerns: 1) I am not a terribly regimented individual. 2) I need a healthy social life (I love to drink. How often can one go out?) 3. I don’t want to be someone’s bitch. 4. I need a change of scenery to be content, and being on a ship doesn’t seem to be the best place to do that.

In short, I need a lot of action, just not gnarly action that requires me to dodge mortar fire or plunge a pocket knife through an Iraqi’s jugular. Although, I am more than capable of executing a command. . . Can you guys recommend a certain type of job for me? Would I be completely miserable in the military? Thanks for your time.

Yetti-Sounds like you might not be miserble but everyone around you probly would be if you went in the Military .I think you should try Hollywood first.Just my oponion if you go in the Military you don't get nothing for free no matter what kind of picture the Recruiter paints.

Sully, you think people would hate me? haha

I know I would have to work hard in the military, just like anything else. I was more or less asking if there are jobs that afford a decent amount of freedom and excitement without being extremely dangerous. thanks again.

Yetti


I just gotta ask this question: When you decided to pursue a degree in philosophy, at what point did you think that you would have to put that degree to work? And what type of job did you feel you could use a degree in philosophy that would provide you both a means of steady income above and beyond paying back the student loans?

I only ask because my paranoid schzophrenic son insists on pursuing this same course of study.

Gunny

I first went to pharmacy school for two years, but I couldn't take it anymore. Good salary. Too boring. Hated the people. Wasn't for me. At that point, my debt was already considerable, so I said F*** it, and went to study something I considered interesting. However, when I decided to go study philosophy, I did not think that I would be able to use the degree. I understood that it was a degree that prepares a person for law or graduate school. So tell your son that unless he is certain that he wants to pursue grad school, don't study philosophy. It is simply a degree that teaches you to become highly analytic, which, of course, is good, but no one in this day and age respects a philosophy degree anyway. Tell him to take up a minor in it. He'll be able to get plenty of classes in that way. Plus, philosophy is not an easy endeavor. All of my upper level courses were spent with 27 year old PhD candidates who were extremely well versed in all areas of philosophy. To say the least, they were all incredibly intelligent human beings and had at least 20 IQ points on me. I enjoyed the major a lot, but it's not so fun when your buddies are going out to the bar and you have to read 50 pages of philosophy of language at 10 minutes per page. Is it worth it? Maybe. Maybe not. For grad school, yes, because you are very well prepared in that having read and discussed very difficult material makes anything else simple.

Yetti-You could use your Pharmacy but you said you didn't like it so that is off the board.All US Navy Ships have certain freedoms and are competive in everything including Sports with other Ships & USMC personal.You could go in most Clerical Rates which are used on both land & sea and usually wide open Rates meaning easy Rates to advance in the USN has the best Schools.If you want Freedom maybe Communications but one thing onboard Ship you will have the same Fire fighting and Battle efficency as anyone else on that ship.The comment about everyone being un-happy meant usually if you require a active social life and going to the Bar a lot people get very un-happy when they have to carry the load for you plus your Military Quartely marks would have a reflection on your advancement.

This message has been edited. Last edited by: SULLY1,

Sully...I'm surprized at you...this guy is prime Master of Arms material! I mean, he's smart, thrives on a little action, wants to serve, doesn't mind pissing people off....good solid officer material!

Sully,

I don't mean to make myself out to be a wild, obnoxious drunk. I would absolutely not allow people to carry my load. That's simply unacceptable. I work hard, but I also enjoy throwing back a few.
I don't think communications would be for me. After all, if I wanted to do something of that sort, I would stay a civilian. I want to get the hell out of here, travel, have some responsibility and serve. In other words, I want to do something that one cannot do as a civilian, which, I guess, is almost anything in the Navy, but the Navy does have civilian equivalents. My first choice, actually, is flying,but I know how difficult it is to get a flight contract. Despite getting my b.a. in philosophy, I nevertheless did take hard sciences-bio, chem, organic chem, physics. Do you guys know anything about flying? Thanks again for your time.

[QUOTE]Originally posted by thegunny:
Sully...I'm surprized at you...this guy is prime Master of Arms material!


Master of Arms?! Isn't that military police? I'm not one to do that. I dislike cops very strongly. Trust me.

hmmm, have you taken the time to speak to a recruiter? You really should start there. Those guy's will be able to point you in the right direction, or at least detail your options.

I know more than enough about flying. I built and tuned Rolls Royce jet engines for 16 years. I also know that I don't like strapping my arse into an armed ejection seat. I'd keep my feet firmly planted on the ground thank you very much. Besides, its kinda hard to swim with 40,000 lbs of metal strapped to your butt when the jet is set on joining the rest of the birds on submarine watch.

thegunny -what surprises you when I got out of the Navy MAA Rate was very new so new that most of MAA billets were still occopied by mixed Rates on Shore Duty the Shipboard MAA were mainly Deck Rates.Shore Patrol consisted of Ships present in Port or Naval Personal assigned to TAD waiting for ships or many other reasons.

Yetti-I can not tell you much about MAA because I don't much about the Rate .But if you selected any Rate and went onboard a Bird Farm or any of its Strike Force you would probly make an around the World Cruise in the minuium of 4 yrs unless the Ship goes into Shipyard for a major overhaul.