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35T sounds more like CTM. 35Q would be closer to CTN (35Q is new by the way). Where I work I do the same thing as the 35Qs, the only difference is they PT 5 times a week and are always getting pulled from their real jobs to do Army stuff. I PT twice a week, have a meeting once a week that lasts 15 mins, and have a bunch of "optional" Navy stuff I need to do, but am very flexible with when I can do it. Also, as far as fast tracking goes, I maintain that Navy is the best option. Everyone I work with that's army is E5 or above, with the majority being E6's and E7's. Anyone that's Air Force is an officer or E7+. Navy is mostly E4s and E5s. This is mostly due to the fact that Navy A school is C school for the other branches.
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Jan 15, 2013 01:26
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Thanks a lot for the information so far guys, it's been really helpful to narrow it down some more. I'd really appreciate if some Airmen and Marines could offer up some info too. I'm coming from a programming background and I am experienced enough that I'm perfectly content training myself. I do want to learn more about, and work on, networking systems and server technology, all the nifty hardware poo poo that I rarely got to handle working as a civvy. I imagine the available certifications would largely be the same regardless of specific MOS, and they're my biggest reason for enlisting besides the usual poo poo. Once I'm out, I'm planning on finding work in network administration or integration analysis. I'm in it keep my head down, do my job well for 4 years, and be a benefit whore. Learning military-specific technology isn't a priority. Edit: quality of life is a non-issue. I seriously don't give a poo poo. I know a some people say that without having any clue what it entails, but my family has ensured that I know what to expect as I mentioned in my last post. I simply want the best work experience and benefits, 4 years is not a long time. DICTATOR OF FUNK fucked around with this message at 03:34 on Jan 15, 2013 |
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Jan 15, 2013 03:27
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root beer posted:Thanks a lot for the information so far guys, it's been really helpful to narrow it down some more. I'd really appreciate if some Airmen and Marines could offer up some info too. The Data geeks in the Marine Corps are in a better position now that we are in the process of getting rid of the civilian contract to handle network and computer issues in garrison. Years ago we did all of this ourselves but once OEF/OIF kicked off the Corps thought it could save money by outsourcing the support to NMCI. Their contract is finally getting phased out and the Marines are actually starting to handle computer poo poo again. For the past 10 years, the data Marines only did their data and networking jobs in the field which meant that the experience level of the guys working varied depending on what type of unit they were with. The guys with Infantry Battalions spent a lot of time in the field and were generally proficient but if you talked to a guy attached to a wing unit or something, they were inexperienced at half their job. As a former recruiter, I don't think there is a package that guarantees Data though. I think it just promises something in the 06 field which could be anything from Radio Operator (Hey guys shoot at me! I have a big loving antenna sticking up so I look important.) to wireman (if digging trenches and laying wire is your thing, this job is up your alley), to Sat Comm and some other poo poo I have no idea about. So you might want to check to make sure that the Data field is in the package without another lovely comm MOS paired with it.
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Jan 15, 2013 06:48
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Hekk posted:Radio Operator (Hey guys shoot at me! I have a big loving antenna sticking up so I look important.) More like 'sitting in the COC for 12 hours a day doing radio watch while watching movies on my netbook'
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Jan 15, 2013 06:57
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Veins McGee posted:More like 'sitting in the COC for 12 hours a day doing radio watch while watching movies on my netbook' Only if they are too weak to hang with the line companies. The strong ones get pushed out to squad patrol bases.
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Jan 15, 2013 07:02
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As far as I know CTN right now is only a 6 year contract. There really is no doing your 4 and getting out. 2 extra years is a long rear end time, so you'd better really be into computers if you go for the rate.
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Jan 15, 2013 12:02
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At the end of the spring semester I'll be graduating with a bachelor's degree. I'll save you all of the details (which are completely honorable, and has nothing to do with student loans of course), but I plan on entering the Army afterwards. I think I'm pretty well qualified and my recruiter is really eager to send me down to MEPS. He assures me that while I'll swear in as an E-3, as soon as I graduate the Army will "see" that and bump me up to E-4, and I'll get whatever other benefits there are for someone who enlists with a higher ed degree. Is this true? My instinct is to not risk anything, and hold out until graduation, but at the same time keeping my recruiter on hold for a few months also seems like it might not be the best idea. Any insight will be greatly appreciated.
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Jan 15, 2013 18:21
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If you're going to enlist and won't listen to reason at least do not let your recruiter gently caress you up the rear end. If it doesn't say on all of your paperwork some combination of E-4, SPC, or Specialist do not sign poo poo. Don't trust your recruiter ever, make sure everything is in writing, and tell them to suck your dick if they want you to do DEP stuff.
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Jan 15, 2013 18:24
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Ironman posted:At the end of the spring semester I'll be graduating with a bachelor's degree. I'll save you all of the details (which are completely honorable, and has nothing to do with student loans of course), but I plan on entering the Army afterwards. I think I'm pretty well qualified and my recruiter is really eager to send me down to MEPS. He assures me that while I'll swear in as an E-3, as soon as I graduate the Army will "see" that and bump me up to E-4, and I'll get whatever other benefits there are for someone who enlists with a higher ed degree. Is this true? My instinct is to not risk anything, and hold out until graduation, but at the same time keeping my recruiter on hold for a few months also seems like it might not be the best idea. Any insight will be greatly appreciated. If you have a degree and meet the other commissioning requirements, I would encourage you to look into going the officer route. If nothing else, talking to an officer selection officer would at least let you know if you qualify to attempt a commission. While there are some instances where enlisting with a degree could make sense, as a general rule of thumb it's not a good idea.
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Jan 15, 2013 18:28
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Yeah, that sounds like the recruiter is trying to put a dick in your rear end. vacation in kabul is totally right, especially about the DEP stuff, that poo poo is dumb and gay. And like I tell everyone else: if you are going to enlist, especially with a degree, pick something 35 series. Don't listen to no "if you aren't combat arms you are a pogue" bullshit. Combat arms is dumb.
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Jan 15, 2013 18:31
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not caring here posted:Combat arms is dumb. Quoted for truth, unless your long-term plan is to be a Sergeant Major.
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Jan 15, 2013 18:31
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vacation in kabul posted:If you're going to enlist and won't listen to reason at least do not let your recruiter gently caress you up the rear end. If it doesn't say on all of your paperwork some combination of E-4, SPC, or Specialist do not sign poo poo. Don't trust your recruiter ever, make sure everything is in writing, and tell them to suck your dick if they want you to do DEP stuff. DEP was exactly what he was talking to me about doing. I thought that was the standard procedure? Could you tell me why I should avoid it? I'm actually meeting with the guy in a few hours. not caring here posted:And like I tell everyone else: if you are going to enlist, especially with a degree, pick something 35 series. Don't listen to no "if you aren't combat arms you are a pogue" bullshit. Combat arms is dumb. The 35 MOSs were what got me interested in enlisting in the first place, so there's no chance I'll accept anything else. Ironman fucked around with this message at 18:35 on Jan 15, 2013 |
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Jan 15, 2013 18:32
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DEP is where you participate in stupid poo poo with the recruiter where you "play Army". Nothing cool, mind you, you do some stupid Army PT, yell the soldier's creed, and other pointless crap that you will be sick of about day 1 in Basic. I think people think it's a way to keep people "motivated" -- another word you'll get sick of, especially seeing as how it's also used interchangeably with aggressive -- and you'll also get sick of that poo poo pretty quick too. Save yourself some grief, when he says DEP appointment or something, say you've got school. Basically, it's dumb stuff about the Army that you'll be doing for the next X years, so you might as well avoid as much of it as you possibly can.
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Jan 15, 2013 18:37
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Ironman posted:DEP was exactly what he was talking to me about doing. I thought that was the standard procedure? Could you tell me why I should avoid it? I'm actually meeting with the guy in a few hours. It's a stupid waste of your time, you will learn and do absolutely nothing useful in it. Wait until you have your degree and enlist as close as possible to whatever ship dates they have, usually they get a ton of open slots in the summer when they disqualify kids that signed up during high school. So if you're graduating in April/May I'd say you're going to be fine. Don't feel bad about being a dickhead to your recruiter either. He has nothing to do with your time in the Army other than getting you in, tell him you want the moon or you're going to walk. Let him know very reliable sources told you DEP is a ridiculous waste of time and you're not doing it. DEP is mostly a program to make sure the people waiting to get in are still interested anyways, just the beginning of the Big Brother routine the Army is going to put on you for four years. Have you looked at the Air Force?
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Jan 15, 2013 18:37
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Afaik, there is a rule for getting promoted to E4 if you had a bachelors degree but didn't have the documentation at the time of enlistment and wind up going in at a lower grade due to that. It doesn't sound like it applies in your case so you might wind up stuck as a PFC for 1.5-2 years.
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Jan 15, 2013 18:38
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vacation in kabul posted:It's a stupid waste of your time, you will learn and do absolutely nothing useful in it. Wait until you have your degree and enlist as close as possible to whatever ship dates they have, usually they get a ton of open slots in the summer when they disqualify kids that signed up during high school. So if you're graduating in April/May I'd say you're going to be fine. drat, you guys have absolutely made my day. Thanks for the responses. My conception of the Air Force had been that basically everyone who wasn't pilots were mechanics.
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Jan 15, 2013 18:46
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Every person who enlists has a total of eight years of obligated service. Most contracts will be for four or five years of active service with three or four years off inactive reserve (basically time that the military could recall you if there was a shortage of qualified personnel). Every day you do in the Delayed Entry Program reduces your obligated service by a day. The military uses the DEP as a way of lining up folks to fill beds for boot camp/basic training. Its just a method of keepingI obligated folks motivated enough to ship out when they are needed.
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Jan 15, 2013 18:50
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Ironman posted:My conception of the Air Force had been that basically everyone who wasn't pilots were mechanics. The AF has a bunch of really cool (relatively speaking) jobs in SATCOM and Intel (and other fields that can net you contracting $$$ after your enlistment) that exist in a much, much better environment than their Army counterparts. The drawback, however, is that if you were being sarcastic and you're enlisting to take care of student loans I do not believe they currently offer any student loan repayment and when they were doing it I think they only paid like 10,000 per person. You also make rank slow as gently caress in the AF and they have a system set up to screen out the most absolutely retarded people they enlist, unlike the Army which still doesn't really care how stupid you are. Hekk posted:Every person who enlists has a total of eight years of obligated service. Most contracts will be for four or five years of active service with three or four years off inactive reserve (basically time that the military could recall you if there was a shortage of qualified personnel). Every day you do in the Delayed Entry Program reduces your obligated service by a day. Uh, what? I didn't get two weeks credited for DEP, who the gently caress do I call about this?
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Jan 15, 2013 18:51
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I got 11 months off of IRR because of DEP, its true They automatically did it though so who knows v0v
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Jan 15, 2013 19:02
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Welp nevermind I guess DEP is pretty sweet. Don't enlist just to do DEP though, wait until you have your bachelors and are absolutely sure they're giving you E-4 before you sign or do anything with the Army.
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Jan 15, 2013 19:03
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vacation in kabul posted:Welp nevermind I guess DEP is pretty sweet. Don't enlist just to do DEP though, wait until you have your bachelors and are absolutely sure they're giving you E-4 before you sign or do anything with the Army. I wouldn't say it's great or anything. Having to spend Saturdays hanging out with high school kids probably isn't high on my list of cool poo poo to do. However you could always tell your recruiter to gently caress off and not go to pool functions. As a recruiter I had older guys never come to functions but I would see them one on one during the week after they got off work. I agree that you shouldn't sign until you get something in writing that says you will be an E-4. However if you decide not to listen, there is no way anyone can actually force you to ship. They will try to scare you with some poo poo about fines and prison time but in the history of the US military no one has ever been fined or imprisoned for refusing to ship. If you do refuse to go to boot camp and later decide to attempt to join another branch it will require a waiver and you will have to ship out the day you swear in though. One shot at the DEP is all you get and the time you previously spent in the DEP will not count towards obligated service since you didn't fulfill your contact.
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Jan 15, 2013 19:17
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Hekk posted:I agree that you shouldn't sign until you get something in writing that says you will be an E-4. However if you decide not to listen, there is no way anyone can actually force you to ship. They will try to scare you with some poo poo about fines and prison time but in the history of the US military no one has ever been fined or imprisoned for refusing to ship. I feel pretty dumb having gone talk to the recruiters in January when I'll actually be graduating in May. I didn't realize that the process went call recruiter Thursday-> meet him Friday -> go to MEPS Tuesday. Kind of nuts, and this'll eat at me for the next few months but the best thing for me to do right now is to just wait.
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Jan 15, 2013 19:36
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Start filling out your SF86 now.
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Jan 15, 2013 20:00
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Ironman posted:I feel pretty dumb having gone talk to the recruiters in January when I'll actually be graduating in May. I didn't realize that the process went call recruiter Thursday-> meet him Friday -> go to MEPS Tuesday. Kind of nuts, and this'll eat at me for the next few months but the best thing for me to do right now is to just wait. It doesn't have to go that fast but the recruiter (or in the Armys case the station since each recruiter is assigned a job like canvassing, interviewing, processing applications and waivers, and managing their DEP) has a mission of X number of contracts a month they have to meet. So he is going to pressure you to sign up because if they don't make mission it tends to be painful for recruiter man. Just be firm with him and let him know you are going to graduate before you do anything and there is nothing he can say or do that will change your mind.
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Jan 15, 2013 20:02
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Seriously if 35 series MOS's are interesting you look at the USAF as well.. I personally rank them as follows: 1N4X1 1A8X2 1N1X1 1N0X1 1N3X1 1N5X1 Then you've got your navy rates-- and honestly they promote faster and a lot of times have cooler missions-- the IS rate isn't bad at all, and you can specialize in different stuff within the rate. But the really hot commodity right now is the CTN rate. If I were 18 years old right now about to enlist again, I'd join the navy and go CTN. Barring that I'd enlist in the USAF as a 1A8X2 or 1N4. I can't emphasize enough how lovely life is for the vast majority of the army. Unless you're super high speed and motivated and get stuff guaranteed in your contract to go to certain units/training -- and you succeed at that, you stand a reasonably good chance of having a fairly lovely life in the Army. Naturally, your mileage may vary-- and your tolerance threshold for bullshit will really determine how much you hate poo poo. I would seriously give the Navy and the IS / CTN rates a look, and maybe the USAF Intel AFSC's as well.. I'd leave the army as a tertiary option at this point... even with the student loan issue, and here is why: Even if you're not able to get a student loan repayment thing going with the AF/USN, I believe you can get a interest free time out for joining up, and since you'll live the in barracks/dorms/ship or whatever, you can put a real dent on your student debt just from your pay. One good deployment should knock out a great deal of the debt to be honest. Just some things to think about/look into. Does anyone remember if the Student Loan Repayment business eats into your GI bill eligibility time? I want to say I've had to deal with guys who didn't get 100% of the post 9/11 because they didn't serve enough years after the SLRP stuff. If I'm wrong lemme know, but I'm p. sure this is the case.
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Jan 16, 2013 00:00
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GAS CURES KIKES posted:gently caress THE TROOPS Everything you just said was very interesting but I can't help but think that you are just trolling me with that avatar, dude. Anyway, just to update y'all, I think I goofed when I spoke to the recruiter today. I came in, turned in my SF86 and got to talking to him about the MEPS. He was ardent that after I swore in at MEPS I'd go there once again before shipping out since being in DEP makes my paperwork basically the same as high school senior, ie their paperwork has to be updated after graduation, and so would mine. I stuck with my guns, and eventually he understood but asked me to explain everything to the station commander. So I did, and he shook my hand and said okay, but as I was walking out of the office he suddenly got upset and claimed that I had wasted the recruiters time. I'm kind of worried now, because I figured that at least I'd gotten all of the paperwork out of the way. He may just have been pulling a good cop/bad cop thing with me, but the way his attitude suddenly changed made me think that he wasn't 100% rational.
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Jan 16, 2013 02:19
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Ironman posted:Everything you just said was very interesting but I can't help but think that you are just trolling me with that avatar, dude. lol Feel free to ignore my advice, enjoy the army! Best of luck! 
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Jan 16, 2013 02:22
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Jesus christ, if a guy goes to MEPs but doesn't yet have a bachelors degree, but has enough to get E3, he will get that when he swears in the first time. If he gets his bachelors while waiting to ship, the diploma/transcript is uploaded into the system, and upon shipping he would be promoted to E4. No one is screwing anyone, that's just how it works. If he went to MEPS with "almost a bachelors" then dropped all his classes then that wouldn't fly for E4 either. We enlist people as E1s all the time, then they bring in their college transcripts and they get E2 or E3 all the time, its just annotated on the UF1137, marked that he is eligible for promotion and signed by the company commander. If you're screwed in that deal its literally the most worthless recruiter ever. DEVILDOGOOORAH fucked around with this message at 02:49 on Jan 16, 2013 |
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Jan 16, 2013 02:46
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DEVILDOGOOORAH posted:Jesus christ, if a guy goes to MEPs but doesn't yet have a bachelors degree, but has enough to get E3, he will get that when he swears in the first time. If he gets his bachelors while waiting to ship, the diploma/transcript is uploaded into the system, and upon shipping he would be promoted to E4. No one is screwing anyone, that's just how it works. If he went to MEPS with "almost a bachelors" then dropped all his classes then that wouldn't fly for E4 either. Don't listen to this guy, he's a recruiter and he's probably your recruiter!!!! Dun dun dunnnnn Also don't you sign your contract the first time you swear in? Mine had my rank on it, not to say you're wrong man but there is no way in hell I think it would be a good idea to sign a contract without the proper rank on it.
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Jan 16, 2013 02:50
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quote:but the way his attitude suddenly changed made me think that he wasn't 100% rational. This is what you're signing up for.
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Jan 16, 2013 02:51
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Ironman posted:Everything you just said was very interesting but I can't help but think that you are just trolling me with that avatar, dude. He was right, you would have been fine. Just go to MEPs, if they pulled a job for you and projected you to go to MEPs, then you backed out, that can be a big deal. Heads are probably rolling in that office. If you don't come back until may or whatever, you did waste their time.
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Jan 16, 2013 02:51
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vacation in kabul posted:Don't listen to this guy, he's a recruiter and he's probably your recruiter!!!! Dun dun dunnnnn Trust me its not a big deal. Its exactly the same process for promoting someone who passes the PT test or brings a referral to join. I think I promote probably 75% of dudes that come through my office while they're in DEP. The other 25% don't give a poo poo and leave E1s but thats their problem. edit: when you go back to MEPs they review anything, and if there were any changes, such as rank changes or whatever, its basically an addendum to the contract and poo poo. I mean you can sign that contract saying you're in the Army and subject to UCMJ but can still back out too even though thats not in your contract. DEVILDOGOOORAH fucked around with this message at 02:54 on Jan 16, 2013 |
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Jan 16, 2013 02:51
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GAS CURES KIKES posted:Does anyone remember if the Student Loan Repayment business eats into your GI bill eligibility time? I want to say I've had to deal with guys who didn't get 100% of the post 9/11 because they didn't serve enough years after the SLRP stuff. If I'm wrong lemme know, but I'm p. sure this is the case. Yep. SLRP is a 36 month program, so after 36 months your time in service resets in the eyes of the post 9/11 GI Bill. For example, go in under SLRP and do four years of service, you'll end up getting the full SLRP and ~50% of the GI Bill. I think (someone else correct me here) you have to do another 36 months after your initial term if you want both SLRP and 100% of the post 9/11 GI Bill.
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Jan 16, 2013 03:55
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iKon posted:Yep. SLRP is a 36 month program, so after 36 months your time in service resets in the eyes of the post 9/11 GI Bill. For example, go in under SLRP and do four years of service, you'll end up getting the full SLRP and ~50% of the GI Bill. I think (someone else correct me here) you have to do another 36 months after your initial term if you want both SLRP and 100% of the post 9/11 GI Bill. This is correct. Most 4 year enlistments with SLRP end up being 60% Post 9/11. Need to do 6 years to get both.
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Jan 16, 2013 04:02
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DEVILDOGOOORAH posted:Trust me its not a big deal. Its exactly the same process for promoting someone who passes the PT test or brings a referral to join. I think I promote probably 75% of dudes that come through my office while they're in DEP. The other 25% don't give a poo poo and leave E1s but thats their problem. Welp, the way you explained it makes me feel like even more of a douche. Last time I trust important life decisions to strangers on the internet. For sure.
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Jan 16, 2013 05:27
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GAS CURES KIKES posted:Even if you're not able to get a student loan repayment thing going with the AF/USN, I believe you can get a interest free time out for joining up, and since you'll live the in barracks/dorms/ship or whatever[...] It might just be specific to my student loans, but I wasn't able to defer my payments just for being in the military. If I were to deploy, then they could go on an interest free break while you save all your pay.
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Jan 16, 2013 12:32
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Ironman posted:Welp, the way you explained it makes me feel like even more of a douche. Last time I trust important life decisions to strangers on the internet. For sure. Don't feel like a douche about it, he's coming from a recruiters perspective. I wouldn't go on what he's saying, he has no idea who your recruiters are and can't guarantee they won't gently caress you over due to incompetence, malice, or sheer laziness. If there's some way they could lie to you to get you to enlist they'll do it, and they'll laugh about it after they ship you out. You're about to sign four or five years of your life away, I talked to a recruiter while I was still going to college, told them I wanted to enlist, and then ignored their phonecalls and didn't show back up to the recruiting station for four months. The same person still happily enlisted me despite probably getting his rear end chewed out four months earlier (this was in 2008 so the Army was wwwaaayyy more desperate for people then it is now). The Army is stupid for doing monthly quotas and treating their recruiters like used car salesman, there's nothing you can do about that.
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Jan 16, 2013 15:49
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Ironman posted:Welp, the way you explained it makes me feel like even more of a douche. Last time I trust important life decisions to strangers on the internet. For sure. Yeah, don't stress it dude. The Army will always be there man, go back when you feel comfortable. People do stuff like that all the time, and honestly, you at least had the balls to go there and say it. A lot of people just loving no show, which is the most annoying. At anytime you want to go back and you're serious about processing I'm sure that you'll have no problems.
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Jan 16, 2013 16:00
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Update: Went in yesterday to finish up some brief paperwork, ended up spending 6 hours in the recruiters office. I was originally scheduled for MEPS today, and took off work for the occasion. As it turns out my recruiter hosed up and put me in for tomorrow. Sigh...
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Jan 16, 2013 20:48
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This is every MEPS experience ever. I think I made 4 trips to the place before I signed my contract.
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Jan 16, 2013 22:01
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