Posted on Dec 6, 2021
Would it be risky to leave my civilian career in IT to enlist and go on active duty?
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Hello all,
I wanted to get some opinions from outside of my family on my current situation. I am considering leaving my career to enlist in active duty in the Army. I am currently 20 years old working in IT as a field engineer. I find it interesting and it could be a very rewarding career in the future, but I am torn because of how much I have always wanted to enlist. I want to take an option 40 as either a 68W, 19D, or 11B. I know I may get some shit for wanting to be in a combat MOS since I have knowledge in IT, but combat roles have always been the most interesting careers to me. Growing up would always tell my pops I wanted to be a ranger haha.
Would this be a risky decision for the future with the current state of the path I want to take? I don't want to be years down the road with regret and what-if's. Any feedback is appreciated, thank you.
I wanted to get some opinions from outside of my family on my current situation. I am considering leaving my career to enlist in active duty in the Army. I am currently 20 years old working in IT as a field engineer. I find it interesting and it could be a very rewarding career in the future, but I am torn because of how much I have always wanted to enlist. I want to take an option 40 as either a 68W, 19D, or 11B. I know I may get some shit for wanting to be in a combat MOS since I have knowledge in IT, but combat roles have always been the most interesting careers to me. Growing up would always tell my pops I wanted to be a ranger haha.
Would this be a risky decision for the future with the current state of the path I want to take? I don't want to be years down the road with regret and what-if's. Any feedback is appreciated, thank you.
Posted in these groups: 
Enlisted
68W: Healthcare Specialist (Combat Medic)
19D: Cavalry Scout
11B: Infantryman
Ranger
Enlisted 68W: Healthcare Specialist (Combat Medic) 19D: Cavalry Scout 11B: Infantryman Ranger
Posted 3 y ago
Responses: 35
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Well, I was 27 with a College Degree and volunteered Infantry twice, first enlisted and the when I Commissioned. Let me beat the good SFC Boyd to the punch (yes, he convinced me), you do not need an Option 40 to get into the Ranger Regiment. Option 40 simply gives you the chance to go to selection/RASP and if you don't make it, you are needs of the Army AND you don't have a slot for Airborne School. A route that gives you more control over your career is to enlist with an Airborne option, then volunteer at OSUT/Airborne or wait until you hit your unit. If you wash out of RASP, and the attrition rate is horrible, you are Airborne and either return to your initial unit or get assigned to one.
If you go through the numerous threads on this site, you will notice that the fact that the Infantry is the largest branch in the Army and has the best promotion opportunity and a surprisingly large number of Career paths. I don't regret any of my Infantry time, even though I ended up as an Engineer Officer that last half of my career . At some point when you are over 30, Light Infantry and Air Assault units start losing their charm and you start looking of a Career that involves having a vehicle.
If you go through the numerous threads on this site, you will notice that the fact that the Infantry is the largest branch in the Army and has the best promotion opportunity and a surprisingly large number of Career paths. I don't regret any of my Infantry time, even though I ended up as an Engineer Officer that last half of my career . At some point when you are over 30, Light Infantry and Air Assault units start losing their charm and you start looking of a Career that involves having a vehicle.
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MSG (Join to see)
Don't ruck it, truck it. And if you can't truck it, then f*ck it. A bumpy drive beats a smooth walk any day.
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CPT Lawrence Cable
MSG (Join to see) - Yes, being a Grunt it a younger man's game and it's hard on the body. I wanted to serve, my father and all of my uncles served, and just wanted to know if I was as tough as I hoped, so 11B was my choice. I think I would have ended up trying 18 series if I hadn't went to OCS. Even as an 11A, I wasn't really thinking about another Branch when the KYARNG offered me a slot if I branch transferred to the Engineers. That got me thinking about different opportunities and the fact that Divisional Engineers assigned to Mechanized Units even the Platoon Leader has a vehicle was at least a factor in that decision. I got to drive around and still shoot big guns and blow stuff up. My perfect job.
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SSG Michael McCalla
I would say go 68W route, but then I am biased as a former 68C who started out as a 91A and went thought the whole revamp of the series.
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WHAT?!? NOT BE A TANKER??!! There is something very wrong with you. As none of those will help you with your IT experience. Though you are ahead of the game in learning tech and using it in the field. One thing, go become a medic. make sure MEPS has the jump school in your contract after AIT. Once complete, when you get to your duty station, request placement for Ranger school or have in your contract pin point assignment in Ranger BN's. As a medic in a Ranger unit, you should get a slot for Ranger school. IF you make it and pass, Ranger you are and work with teams. If your wanting more excitement, then request to go to SF training and make selection. Then its ton of training and be placed on a team as their medic. We all love our medic or affectionally called "Doc".
I won't blow smoke up your ass. In garrison, life can suck. There is a thing called "RED CYCLE" where you do all these odd jobs. Mowing grass, pulling weeds, vehicle maintenance, CQ (sucks). I haven't seen anyone painting rocks since 2002 as it was deemed "cruel and unusual" punishment and hazing. Just like dropping Soldiers for push ups. The Army life is too easy. Soldiers that piss n moan about everything most often are in trouble or lazy bc they had to clean up their shitty looking room and bathroom. Common skills.
I would also tell you what no one else has, you score high on the ASVAB with a high GT and ST score it opens many doors for you. Even possibly a signing bonus on a certain MOS. Qualify you for the College fund and the GI Bill. While active take college courses which one didn't have to pay for the last time I checked. So you could earn yourself a BA working up to your Masters, or get out after your first enlistment to go to college and have it paid for. Check into it. Good luck.
I won't blow smoke up your ass. In garrison, life can suck. There is a thing called "RED CYCLE" where you do all these odd jobs. Mowing grass, pulling weeds, vehicle maintenance, CQ (sucks). I haven't seen anyone painting rocks since 2002 as it was deemed "cruel and unusual" punishment and hazing. Just like dropping Soldiers for push ups. The Army life is too easy. Soldiers that piss n moan about everything most often are in trouble or lazy bc they had to clean up their shitty looking room and bathroom. Common skills.
I would also tell you what no one else has, you score high on the ASVAB with a high GT and ST score it opens many doors for you. Even possibly a signing bonus on a certain MOS. Qualify you for the College fund and the GI Bill. While active take college courses which one didn't have to pay for the last time I checked. So you could earn yourself a BA working up to your Masters, or get out after your first enlistment to go to college and have it paid for. Check into it. Good luck.
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