Joining Military before LS Forum

[Paichka]

No one has been called up from the INACTIVE RESERVES, and it won't happen short of WWIII, and if that happens then there will probably be a draft anyway. lol.

Not true. While not very likely to be called up from IRR, it has happened. If they need a particular skill for an individual augmentee, they may call you up. Also you have about a 50-50 chance depending on branch and location to be at least called in for weight checks and to make sure you are alive, but that would only be for a weekend or so. Did not happen to me, but has happened to more than a couple of my buddies. So don't let any recruiter tell you that it can't happen, or hasn't happened. But know that it is very unlikely to happen that you are called up for a full deployment (but again it has happened, and recently).

Ok, so let me get this straight. In IRR there is a very slight chance I could maybe possibly be called up to get my weight checked and maybe possibly get turned active. Sounds good.

The point was that you were spouting incorrect information about the IRR. You want to role the dice, fine. I don't disagree with your decision, and I know many people who are happily on the IRR. The GI Bill IS fantastic, and people should know the benefits of the program. That being said, they should also know exactly what they're signing up for. I know, personally, a girl who was yanked out of law school to deploy (based on her MOS -- she got a deferment from her school to serve her deployment). When you sign your contract, you are signing up for eight full years. Whatever you DON'T serve on active duty, you WILL serve in the IRR.

That's all. Enjoy the intel branch, I was a 35 series before I went into the funded legal education program. It's full of good times. Try not to be a fobbit though; fobbits give shitty analysis.

[CyLaw]

Sorry, got to ask: What is a fobbit? That is one term I don't know.

Edit: Googled it.

<-- Air Force Linguist, so I guess that makes me a fobbit.

[MrKappus]

That's all. Enjoy the intel branch, I was a 35 series before I went into the funded legal education program. It's full of good times. Try not to be a fobbit though; fobbits give shitty analysis.

Dude, you provide EXTREMELY needed experience to these boards. TY. I'm not sure what MOS I'd be, since I've never been in the military, but I was definitely interested in the length of service that would be required of me, and it sounds like 8 years is the min.

[CyLaw]

That's all. Enjoy the intel branch, I was a 35 series before I went into the funded legal education program. It's full of good times. Try not to be a fobbit though; fobbits give shitty analysis.

Dudette, you provide EXTREMELY needed experience to these boards. TY. I'm not sure what MOS I'd be, since I've never been in the military, but I was definitely interested in the length of service that would be required of me, and it sounds like 8 years is the min.

Fixed that for you.

[MrKappus]

Fixed that for you.

Thx. You added immeasurably to this thread.

[CyLaw]

Fixed that for you.

Thx. You added immeasurably to this thread.

Not sure if that was sarcastic based on just my last post, or for real based on my previous sets of posts. Trust me, get scolded once by a female officer for accidentally calling her "Sir" and you would be careful to correct gender designations also.

Either way, if anyone is considering the military before law school, I would be more than willing to talk or answer questions from the Air Force / Intelligence perspective. Also know that there are more than a couple of other veterans on these boards from all the branches and different job fields that would also being willing to talk with ya'll. You can find them in the Military Law thread and the various GI Bill threads.

[ambernwalker]

I think you're making a great decision. I don't know much about the intelligence field but I'm sure you'll have an interesting job. I am actually in the IRR until October 2010. I really did enjoy my active duty years. I worked in the JAG office as a paralegal and then later as a court reporter for a military judge until I got out. Without the GI Bill, I wouldn't even have considered law school. Plus it's actually enough funding for me to finish my MBA and attend law school as well. Can't beat a free education and actually being paid a living allowance to attend as well. I'll be 33 years old when I graduate law school but I have a lot of real-world experience that I wouldn't trade in for anything. I served in the Army by the way.

[Paichka]

Cy, a fobbit is just someone who refuses to go off the base. It's dangerous off base, you know, and many many staff weenies refuse to go see what it's like on the ground because they have an overdeveloped sense of self preservation. That's fine for many staff weenies, but a really bad course of action for intel analysts. As an analyst, you're going to be digesting raw data fed up from a variety of sources and then feeding it back out to the troops. Your analysis is vital to their mission success and safety. I made my guys go on convoys at least twice a month (most did more), and at least one of my Soldiers attended every mission hotwash (an after action review) for every convoy mission run by our supported units. That way, we understood exactly what their mission was and what their intel needs were to effectively target the products we gave them so they'd be most effective.

You can't do that if you stay on base all the time.

Linguists are a little different, but there's a real danger with any battalion or brigade level staff section that you'll forget who your target audience is (IE, the Soldier acting on your intel) without spending a significant amount of time in his shoes.

[big_blue79]

Qualifications are very high to enter intelligence. You have to have a very good ASVAB score and be able to obtain a top secret clearance. The college degree helps with regard to rank and promotions. They have plenty of infantry to go to the front lines so the chances of them throwing me in the trenches is small.

If you have any shot of getting into a T1 law school, you can easily get the ASVAB scores to go into any career field. The security clearance would be a higher obstacle for intelligence/communications/linguistics/etc...

Most career fields across all branches will never leave a base in a deployed environment. If you really want to stay away from the "action", you can very easily find an MOS/AFSC/etc... that never goes off base.

The Post-911 GI Bill is so amazing I'm scared they'll take it away. Too good to be true, to be honest.

Edit: I was almost called up from IRR. This despite the fact that I was working the same system as a contractor, which means I was doing the work of 8 of my enlisted selves for only 4 times the pay. Never trust the military to make a rational, informed decision.

Also, why would anyone, anywhere join the Army when the Air Force is so much better? I kid, I kid, but only a little. I've worked in or with all four branches, and the way the Army treats people is a step above serfdom.

[Great Satchmo]

Those in the thread who did serve, what was the timeline and how did you enter? Did you look at it as an experience to go through, and move on from afterward - if so, how did this affect your choice of branch/MOS? Or were you testing the waters for a career?

How, in retrospect, did this affect your decisions and career afterward? Did you work before the military?


Just curious. As I mentioned earlier, I almost joined a few times - once as a WO for rotary wing in the Army, then another almost for my PhD at the USUHS in Bethesda to be followed by a commitment to the Navy.

I feel such a strong itch, but I also feel like I have too much ahead of me to risk possibly screwing it up in the military (not that the military would mess it up, but it'd give me ample time to throw off a timeline for my life).

I feel like if I were going to do it, right out of college would have been the time. Now, I've been out for 2 years, I've worked full-time research positions at top universities, and although I'm not going to an amazing school, I have a solid scholarship and I think my head is on right after a little bit of work experience.

However...there is some nagging feeling like the military has something to offer...

[mhernton]

I thought the minimum commitment for joining the Army was 8 years.

You are correct, however that time is divided between active duty, in the OPS case 3 years, and reserve time which can be served as an Active Drilling Reservist (1 weekend a month, 2 weeks during the summer) or inactive reservist, which requires no commitment other than being on the inactive list which could lead to involuntary recall.

[mhernton]

Those in the thread who did serve, what was the timeline and how did you enter? Did you look at it as an experience to go through, and move on from afterward - if so, how did this affect your choice of branch/MOS? Or were you testing the waters for a career?

How, in retrospect, did this affect your decisions and career afterward? Did you work before the military?


Just curious. As I mentioned earlier, I almost joined a few times - once as a WO for rotary wing in the Army, then another almost for my PhD at the USUHS in Bethesda to be followed by a commitment to the Navy.

I feel such a strong itch, but I also feel like I have too much ahead of me to risk possibly screwing it up in the military (not that the military would mess it up, but it'd give me ample time to throw off a timeline for my life).

I feel like if I were going to do it, right out of college would have been the time. Now, I've been out for 2 years, I've worked full-time research positions at top universities, and although I'm not going to an amazing school, I have a solid scholarship and I think my head is on right after a little bit of work experience.

However...there is some nagging feeling like the military has something to offer...

I've been in the service in some form or fashion since I was seventeen. Uncle Same paid for my BS from the US Naval Academy, then after five years the Montgomery GI Bill helped to pay for part of my MBA. I am a little bitter about the new GI Bill being available after I left the service. It will help pay for part of Law School.

The military experience is what you put into it. There are jobs for people that want to do 3-4 years and get the benefits and get out, and jobs for the hardcore 30+ year guys. I intended to fly out of the academy and didn't do well enough to make that happen. So I planned on doing five years and moving on with my life. 9/11 had severe impact on the life in the military for obvious reasons, but also for less obvious reasons. I'm in the Navy and a Ship driver, and have done two tours in the middle east with boots on the grounds and a rifle. Its a serious commitment not to be taken lightly. It can fit into an overall plan for life and there are benefits in doing it.

[alanv]

Qualifications are very high to enter intelligence. You have to have a very good ASVAB score and be able to obtain a top secret clearance. The college degree helps with regard to rank and promotions. They have plenty of infantry to go to the front lines so the chances of them throwing me in the trenches is small.

If you have any shot of getting into a T1 law school, you can easily get the ASVAB scores to go into any career field. The security clearance would be a higher obstacle for intelligence/communications/linguistics/etc...

Most career fields across all branches will never leave a base in a deployed environment. If you really want to stay away from the "action", you can very easily find an MOS/AFSC/etc... that never goes off base.

The Post-911 GI Bill is so amazing I'm scared they'll take it away. Too good to be true, to be honest.

Edit: I was almost called up from IRR. This despite the fact that I was working the same system as a contractor, which means I was doing the work of 8 of my enlisted selves for only 4 times the pay. Never trust the military to make a rational, informed decision.

Also, why would anyone, anywhere join the Army when the Air Force is so much better? I kid, I kid, but only a little. I've worked in or with all four branches, and the way the Army treats people is a step above serfdom.

hhhmmmhmm promotions!!!

[Patriot1208]

For anyone in the know, if I already have my TS is it possible to get intel guaranteed as an officer?

[deadhipsters]

For anyone in the know, if I already have my TS is it possible to get intel guaranteed as an officer?

I think it is possible for the Navy and Air Force. And not possible for the Army and Marines. Of course, you'd have to double check.

[gabrion]

Also, why would anyone, anywhere join the Army when the Air Force is so much better? I kid, I kid, but only a little. I've worked in or with all four branches, and the way the Army treats people is a step above serfdom.

^^ This. Seriously. Even for 18 series it's hard to bear.

Especially for anyone going in just for the GI bill benefits, seriously look at other branches.

[Kswizzie]

For anyone in the know, if I already have my TS is it possible to get intel guaranteed as an officer?

I think it is possible for the Navy and Air Force. And not possible for the Army and Marines. Of course, you'd have to double check.

I'm categorized as a 14NX (Intelligence Officer) in the Air Force right now. USAF is really overmanned right now and a lot of academy and rotc grads got their start times deferred last year (sound familiar)? So I wouldn't think they would be too willing to give people guarantees.

[Voodoo94]

For anyone in the know, if I already have my TS is it possible to get intel guaranteed as an officer?

For active duty OCS, there is no "guarantee" of becoming a Military Intelligence (MI) officer. That said, the new OCS branching procedures allow candidates significant influence over their branch choice. In recent classes (130 - 140 students), there have been, on average, 12-15 MI positions. These are very encouraging numbers for candidates that want to branch MI.

The Army Reserve can essentially "guarantee" MI or any other branch. Unlike active duty OCS applicants, Army Reserve OCS candidates know their branch and unit of assignment before signing any binding contract. Given the serious shortage of Army Reserve officers, applicants can "shop" units to find one with the position and/or command climate that best suits them.

I hope this helps.

http://www.armyocs.com

[WhydidntItry]

I joined the National Guard, and I am actually deployed right now. I enlisted instead of going Officer because I was not graduated yet, and I wanted to work with the JAG Corps. I'm a paralegal, and it's interesting - although I am a fobbit. But it is good experience, especially when you get to work in more than one office. I've done a ton of military justice and legal assistance. There is also Trial Defense, Admin Law, etc.

With regards to the IRR... they are definitely still calling people up from that to deploy. We are in Kuwait as a brigade in support of OIF/New Dawn... and we have about 30 IRR soldiers here with us, or more i'm not sure. I've done some research on IRR call-ups though, and it has been 15 years since they have prosecuted someone for not showing up to an IRR call-up.

I forget who said it but they were correct... it depends on what job you have. If a certain unit is missing people of a certain pay grade of a certain MOS, and they can't find someone from another National Guard Unit, or Active unit or whatever, they goto the IRR. They are always in need of legal people it seems so this is one that would probably get called back.