Harvard or join ARMY? Forum

[BirdLawExpert]

Here to advocate for the Air Force. I was commissioned through AFROTC in college (medical discharge), and I know a lot of very successful female officers who, for the most part, have not had the same experiences re:sexual assault/harassment that female officers I know in other services have had to deal with. They're extremely well respected by their units, and even in the macho aviator community they're given the same opportunities as their male counterparts.

On top of that, Air Force bases are generally known to offer the highest quality of life (yes, even Minot isn't a total sandpit), and the career fields open to you in the Air Force generally translate into very, very high-paying jobs in the civilian world should you decide law school isn't your plan after a few years (my personal recommendation would be to go Cyber or Space, but I'm a nerd). If you want to do corporate law, being a Contracting Officer in the Air Force is going to get you hired by basically anyone upon graduation. One of my old superior officers was in contracting and he got out as a senior Captain, he was a graduate with a low GPA from a directional school in Louisiana, and went to work for a government contractor getting paid more money than God.

So yeah, my vote is Air Force then law school.

[Specter1389]

Here to advocate for the Air Force. I was commissioned through AFROTC in college (medical discharge), and I know a lot of very successful female officers who, for the most part, have not had the same experiences re:sexual assault/harassment that female officers I know in other services have had to deal with. They're extremely well respected by their units, and even in the macho aviator community they're given the same opportunities as their male counterparts.

On top of that, Air Force bases are generally known to offer the highest quality of life (yes, even Minot isn't a total sandpit), and the career fields open to you in the Air Force generally translate into very, very high-paying jobs in the civilian world should you decide law school isn't your plan after a few years (my personal recommendation would be to go Cyber or Space, but I'm a nerd). If you want to do corporate law, being a Contracting Officer in the Air Force is going to get you hired by basically anyone upon graduation. One of my old superior officers was in contracting and he got out as a senior Captain, he was a graduate with a low GPA from a directional school in Louisiana, and went to work for a government contractor getting paid more money than God.

So yeah, my vote is Air Force then law school.

As an Air Force Academy graduate, I believe the majority of this post is true. My close female friends from USAFA are absolutely killing it in their career fields. I'm not saying it doesn't happen because there are bad apples everywhere, but I think the majority of female officers in the Air Force are treated with respect according to their competency, not their gender. With a GPA like that from an Ivy, I have no doubt you would excel. Three of the four people in my squadron who outrank me currently are females and when my squadron commander leaves in a month, all four will be. I don't think there is a sexist culture, but I might just not be seeing it.

Additionally, I am also a contracting officer and the money outside of the DoD is ridiculous. Most warranted contracting officers who leave the Air Force walk into another job, whether with another government agency or a contractor, making well over 6 figures. One of the reasons I am willing to take a gamble on law school is because if it doesn't work out, I will always have this to fall back on. I highly recommend looking into this career field. I was medically disqualified from pilot training and wasn't even thinking about contracting, but am very happy I was reclassified into this career. I could be wrong, but I think a lot of the skills I have acquired as a contracting officer will benefit me during law school and in a legal career.

So in summary, I echo this sentiment and would highly consider the Air Force. If you don't want contracting, there are a lot of career fields to choose from.

[birch]

active duty female army officer here. have only been in 3 years with 1 deployment, but from my personal experience a lot in this thread seems exaggerated. i'm not saying sh/sa is not a problem, but it's certainly no reason to avoid joining. i have never felt in any kind of danger and i was the only female in my company in a light infantry BCT. purely anecdotal of course, but take it for what it's worth.

the army needs strong, smart women of character who carry themselves well and can perform competently at their jobs- to break down stereotypes and prove the unit is stronger with us around. it's rarely easy, and you will face people who underestimate you. for me this just adds to the challenge, and makes me work twice as hard to prove i am worthy of their respect. everyone's different- if you'd prefer to never interact with anyone who doubts you maybe you should find another career path. but if you can use that to fuel you, i suspect you would find the army a rewarding experience. for the most part, i have worked with incredibly professional and inspirational leaders, NCOs and soldiers, and i wouldn't trade my experience for anything. i'm happy to answer any questions you have about army life from my perspective. you have a lot to consider, obviously you've worked hard to get to this point. i'd hate to see a competent female with a desire to serve scared off by misinformation. feel free to PM if you have any questions. good luck with your decision!

[bklynattorney]

You could always go to law school and then apply to be a JAG in the Army, Marine Corps, Navy, etc. Not only would you make rank more quickly this way (and, if you're wanting to go to law school regardless, I say get it over with now), but you'll qualify for the PSLF program. A note about making rank more quickly: as a JAG, you'll become an O-3 within a year and a half after commissioning (at least that's how it is with Navy JAG, and I'd assume the other services . . . you're an O-2 when you report to Naval Justice School, and a O-3 within a year after that, typically) vs. an OCS grad who will not become an O-3 until 4 years after commissioning.

Note: I'm an active duty Naval officer (I work with the JAG part-time, but am not a JAG myself).

[Dcc617]

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I'm not exaggerating how bad it was in my unit. It sounds like you were in a good unit. Hopefully if OP joins she ends up in a good unit.

[omegaweapon]

You could always go to law school and then apply to be a JAG in the Army, Marine Corps, Navy, etc. Not only would you make rank more quickly this way (and, if you're wanting to go to law school regardless, I say get it over with now), but you'll qualify for the PSLF program. A note about making rank more quickly: as a JAG, you'll become an O-3 within a year and a half after commissioning (at least that's how it is with Navy JAG, and I'd assume the other services . . . you're an O-2 when you report to Naval Justice School, and a O-3 within a year after that, typically) vs. an OCS grad who will not become an O-3 until 4 years after commissioning.

Note: I'm an active duty Naval officer (I work with the JAG part-time, but am not a JAG myself).

Isn't selection for JAG without prior service SUPER low?

[bklynattorney]

You could always go to law school and then apply to be a JAG in the Army, Marine Corps, Navy, etc. Not only would you make rank more quickly this way (and, if you're wanting to go to law school regardless, I say get it over with now), but you'll qualify for the PSLF program. A note about making rank more quickly: as a JAG, you'll become an O-3 within a year and a half after commissioning (at least that's how it is with Navy JAG, and I'd assume the other services . . . you're an O-2 when you report to Naval Justice School, and a O-3 within a year after that, typically) vs. an OCS grad who will not become an O-3 until 4 years after commissioning.

Note: I'm an active duty Naval officer (I work with the JAG part-time, but am not a JAG myself).

Isn't selection for JAG without prior service SUPER low?

No, at least not for Navy JAG. If anything, it seems to be the opposite. Not many prior service folks seem to be going to law school to become JAG officers in my experience, and most of the JAG Corps is recruited right out of law school. There is a pipeline for Navy JAG aimed at enlisted sailor (http://www.jag.navy.mil/careers_/career ... s_ipp.html), but, just like OCS, the pool of applicants for enlisted service members is extremely small and the process is very competitive. Again, this is Navy JAG that I'm most familiar with, but everything I'm reading online about the JAG Corps in the other services suggest that the great majority of JAG officers have no prior military service either.

[glitchfire]

I say do it! The commitment is only 3 years out of OCS. Making your final commitment around 3.5-4yrs.

The combat jobs will have a more macho culture, as they should. This should not scare you away as a female, but it is a reality. You need to gauge your personality and decide which military job will fit you best. A lot of the advice on here is from the enlisted ranks. As an officer, you will be less likely to face sexual harassment. It still exists in the Army as an officer, as it does in the corporate world too.

You will experience great and bad. But at the end of your commitment you will gain life skills that are unique to a 26 year old. Not to mention a nice GI bill at the end of it .

Here are some great female officers to give your inspiration:

Kim Campbell AKA KC...Killer Chick! http://www.badassoftheweek.com/kimcampbell.html

Ann Dunwoody...first female 4 star officer https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ann_E._Dunwoody

[glitchfire]

I say do it! The commitment is only 3 years out of OCS. Making your final commitment around 3.5-4yrs.

The combat jobs will have a more macho culture, as they should. This should not scare you away as a female, but it is a reality. You need to gauge your personality and decide which military job will fit you best. A lot of the advice on here is from the enlisted ranks. As an officer, you will be less likely to face sexual harassment. It still exists in the Army as an officer, as it does in the corporate world too.

You will experience great and bad. But at the end of your commitment you will gain life skills that are unique to a 26 year old. Not to mention a nice GI bill at the end of it .

Here are some great female officers to give your inspiration:

Kim Campbell AKA KC...Killer Chick! http://www.badassoftheweek.com/kimcampbell.html

Ann Dunwoody...first female 4 star officer https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ann_E._Dunwoody

[zoov]

Obviously go to Harvard. You can always join the army; you can't always go to HLS.