Hey guys, I have a question for all of you. I am sure most of you know that I am planning on joining the military. Well I kind of want to finish my degree before I enlist, but I know that will be pretty much impossible for me if I don't have some ties to the military. I just want to join too bad to wait another 3 years before I enlist.

My question is, what do you think about joining the Reserves while I am attending college? Would that be a good idea or not. My only concern about that is going on a long tour to Iraq and being pulled away from college. The reason that bothers me is because I am not sure if I would get reimbursed by the military should I have to leave halfway through the semester, and I have a feeling that once I start college AGAIN and have to stop for a tour that I wouldn't be motivated enough to start back.

I already have one year done, but I really would like to get my Bachelor's Degree before going AD. I am looking into the online courses so I could get my degree faster. It looks like I would be able to finish in about 2 years.

I know this is kind of a selfish question on my part, but do you think it would benefit me to join the Reserves while finishing school or hurt me, due to the possible deployments? Do you think it would just be better for me to enlist and try and finish my degree then? I eventually want to try and become an Officer, but I would like to be enlisted first.

Any comments or tips are GREATLY appreciated!!

Green.

Here's the deal. There is nothing wrong with wanting to finish college. A matter of fact I can't blame you especially having already started. If you want to be an officer than I would have to say ROTC is the best route for you at this point. Only a year into college is not to late to join a program. If you are in a small school in Florida that doesn't offer a ROTC program then have no fear, b/c you can enroll into a program at a bigger college near you that has ROTC; and you don't have to be a student at that college. We call them Cross Towns. I am in my third year of Air Force ROTC at the University of Missouri, and I commission in a year. I am not telling you this b/c I am doing ROTC, but in your situation I wouldn't go any other way.

ROTC gives you the chance to put classes first, and the military second while you are a student. That is actually what the cadre preaches to us all the time, b/c you CAN'T become an officer with out a college degree. The opportunities for summer programs are plenty and very awesome, job shadowing is awesome(I've flown T6A's, T38s, B2sim several times, among many other perks). The leadership training is right on the money as well. In the Air Force you no longer have the option to go Reserves it is only active duty now. I am pretty sure it is the same for the other services.

Every now and than you will hear someone bashing ROTC, b/c they have this image that we are slackers. Maybe you have heard the same thing; I don't know. Don't listen to these people if you hear any of that. I will gladly challange anybody on this forum if they have a skewed view of the route I am taking. In the end we all come out the same rank, fly the same planes, and get promoted at the same rate.

Anyway. . . thats my .02 cents on the issue. Any route of the military is honorable, but in your situation I would keep ROTC on the front burner.

Actually, I have thought about ROTC, and have checked into it recently. But I have something on my record that I am not at all happy with. It pains me to have to say this again, but on August 11, 2004 I received a DUI. I have come to gather that this hurts me TREMENDOUSLY for any route I want to take in the military. However, it seems that enlisting shouldn't be a problem for me with a waiver.

They(recruiters), say I shouldn't have a problem getting a waiver to enlist, but after talking to a few Major's of the ROTC at different schools, they say that it would be very very tough for me to enter ROTC, with or without a scholarship.

With this information, I am not completely giving up on becoming an Officer as everyone says it should be obtainable once I am in the military and have proven myself. That's why I was thinking that going Reserves might be a good idea, or even if I have to, to enlist and try and work on my degree that way. To be honest though, I really DO want to be an enlisted man before I take on the rank of an Officer, if that is even possible now given my record.

What it boils down to is that I have learned a hard lesson from a costly mistake and am at a crossroad now in my life. I don't think I could be more confused than what I am at this point. I am not looking for pity, as I deserved everything that was thrown at me for my stupidity, but what I am looking for is maybe some guidence or insight as to what might be the best route for me considering my situation. Thanks again.

Yeah sorry to hear about that Green. I don't know about the other services, but right now in the AF it is really hard to stay in the program if something like that happens.

If you are going to stay in school you have nothing to lose by trying though. Sign up, and make them kick you out. Paperwork takes a really long time; if you go into a ROTC program and perform very well before the paperwork catches up with you than the commander may work some magic and try to keep you in. And if it doesn't work out than you at least have a little military knowledge that will help you at basic if you enlist.

Reserves are a good option if you are looking into that route. Keep in mind that the deployment rate for reserves is practically the highest it's ever been. This may detract you if you are looking to finish school. Like anything in the military you are promoted off of your character, and military record not your high school record. If you have a long rap sheet than the chances are slim, but one mishap shouldn't hurt you too much if you go the OTS(Officer Training School is the route most enlisted take to become officers) route.

If you do end up going reserves you will be gone for quite a while before you could start school again. Basic, and than tech school is time consuming especially when there are time gaps between the two.

In close, I would really try for ROTC. If they don't except you than at least you tried. Like I said, Make THEM kick you out. Otherwise I think enlisting would be a very fine decision, and best of luck with that.

Well, to anyone that cares, haha, I am taking a different route. I was pointed into the direction of Georgia Military School by an online acquaintance a few days ago. I have been researching it and decided to print off the applications. I even have been in contact with the Major who is in charge of the ROTC program there to let him know my situation and asked him what he thought.

I was extremely excited today when he told me that I am as good as accepted as soon as my paperwork reaches the school. He says that I just need to get my paperwork in quickly so he can start the waiver process. He said that there have been many before me to get in with a DUI and for me not to worry about it!!

As from what it LOOKS so far, I will be going to GMC into the Early Commissioning Program that is offered there. It makes me an O-1 in the Reserves after 2 years. Once I graduate from that school with an AA degree, I get to pick any college in the nation to attend on the Army's dime while I finish my degree. I will be drilling with the local Reserve unit as I am finishing the degree as a non-deployable asset. Once I have completed my 4 year degree, I am commissioned as an O-2 in the Active Duty Army.

I am very excited about this opportunity. Although not yet official because I haven't even gotten all of my paperwork out, he said not to worry as I am competitive enough to earn a spot in this program. For anyone else out there thinking of becoming an Officer in the United States Army, I encourage you to check out Georgia Military College.

Congrats Green. Way to keep lookin in to all of that. What kind of training environment is it? When do you go to officer basic?

Well the the Major said that I would need to attend the LTC at Ft. Knox before I could start the school. He said that if/once I am accepted that we sets up for me to attend the LTC in June. He said that is the course that is Officer Boot Camp. It's a 5 week course. Once I complete that I start to attend the junior college as a cadet.

Since I will be a cadet, I will have to reside on campus. They have revellie every morning and taps every nite. I have PT before academic classes and study hall at a given time as well. We have certain time frames in which Drill will also take place. On the weekends you have to get a pass to leave school grounds. If for some reason you need disciplinary action for the previous week, your weekend pass will be revoked. It seems very strict and seems to be on a set schedule, I am just not sure how much valuable information or lessons I will receive in order to make me become a valuable asset to the Army.

I have a very similar thread about this going on at mil.com and have had 2 very negative responses about this program. They say that since I am commissioned as an O-2 after a 4 year degree and have only served in the Reserves for 2 years that I will not be ready to take on the assignments thrown at me. They say that they have personally seen many people from this program crash and burn. Does anyone else have an opinion about this program? I would like to hear about it if you have had some experience with it yourself, or ran into someone who has taken this route.

I would be willing to bet that you will learn many valuable principles of leadership at this school. Will you get ample opportunities to get leadership in the reserves? I don't know, that is a good question. If I were you by the time you make it to the reserves; I would volunteer for every TDY or deployment that you can get your hands on, that way you will create leadership opportunities.

Sent you an email Sean G.

Residing on Campus. Campus! I tell ya that little place looks like a prison. I could walk from one end to the other in 2 minutes.

By the way Milligeville has a big prison and the state looney house along with that college my niece goes to.

One positive thing is there are more girls than guys at this small school my niece goes to. And from the Military School to her School is a 5 minute walk.

Way to hang in sean, you can handle it, go for it if that is the way for you to get the bar you want. I have fath in you DON'T let this old lifer down lol. Good luck and best wish's.

Thanks everyone for the kind words. Believe it or not, but it really does help in times like this. I sent off all of my applications today and should get a response as to whether or not I got accepted into the school in about 2 weeks. I won't know whether or not I got into the commissioning program until later though. I will keep everyone here updated in case you are curious.

SG,
I've sent you some interesting emails on Milledgevillve. My niece will hook you up with her sorority sisters. I sent her a link to your picture.

CB, I got the E-Mails, VERY COOL!!!

I sent you an E-Mail back as well.

THANK YOU!!

Hey I'm new to this whole forum thing, and it looks like everybody here knows everybody else from prior forums. What is the average age at MilSpot???

Joe, I have no idea!! You have quite a few 50 and 60 year olds, you have quite a few 20, 30, and 40 year olds, and then you have quite a few of teenagers wanting to join. I would guess that the average age would be right at 35 or so ....