Did you have a long-term plan when you joined the military?

The FBI. I liked the people I worked with, the entrance process was grueling but manageable. In the end you're a GS employee with LEO pay. That's ok but I didn't really care for the pay cut, and flying helicopters was still fun in the Army. The FBI has a lot of stupid people in in to- just like any other organization. I was having some medical issues from the first gulf war that were creeping up so I chose to stay in and finish my command. Less than a year later I ended up getting out and transferring to a Guard AGR position. At the time it was a good move but detrimental to my career progression.

I have absolutely nothing bad to say about the FBI as a career choice. I only applied because a friend of mine at work applied and talked me into applying too. Same with the CAF job. In the end I didn't like the commute.

SGT (Join to see) - You gotta get that Master's degree you were just bashing, to be competitive for the FBI.

I have worked for two federal agencies, one LEO and the VA. I have a feeling government agencies are stupid across the board, but that's because it's funding isn't based on performance and good decisions.

SFC (Join to see) Do what you gotta man. I’m 100% in support of going after what you want but is spending $60,000 on a masters the right choice just to apply to one job at the FBI? You could say that masters can be used elsewhere; but considering how many government employees that have masters in interdisciplinary studies I would advise caution. You have all been warned....

SGT (Join to see) - The ARMY paid for my $60,000 masters degree, so with that I seen/saw no reason to complain.

Honesty. I like that lol

It’s a ‘life happens’ thing... i see/hear about something... seems like it might be fun/interesting... i go do it.

My naval background family, going back to Vikings, considered me a traitor for going into the Air Force.

Lol

I was going to do one enlistment. 24 yrs later I went inactive reserves.

Interesting, because I was commissioned in May but wasn't scheduled to come on Active duty until November I pretty much had to find work. Since I'd graduated the jobs I had during the summers at Pratt & Whitney Aircraft weren't available and they weren't hiring business majors. In June I finally found a position in Sears Management Training Program, which at the time was the Cadillac of retail training programs and tracked with my experience and major. I was a bit guilty of not being forthcoming about my entering the military in November, but in the days of the draft anyone could be called up at anytime so not a big deal to them and certainly not me.
When I did come on Active Duty as a Reserve Officer, I did so as a Sears employee on military leave, so continued to get my 10% employee discount and other employee perks and had every intention of getting out at end of my commitment and returning to the Sears Management Training Program. As luck would have it I discovered that I really loved flying, even with all the B-52 TDYs to SE Asia, and when I was offered a Regular Commission I took it and pretty much committed to an Air Force career. Never did tell Sears about all this and at around my 10 year point got a letter from Sears asking if I was going to return to my position. Finally had to tell them I was staying in the AF and they terminated me, but hey got 10 years of shopping at Sears and getting an employee discount! Given status of retail today, and Sears in particular, I think I made a wise decision.