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Posted on Feb 19, 2019
Is it possible to explore too many opportunities?
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Currently I’m a 68C. I like my job but don’t like the medical fields culture in the military. I would like to do one of two things. 1) move into the SOF realm as a Civil Affairs Specialist. 2) fly.
I have already attended civil affairs assessment and selection once. I was not selected and told that I was a good candidate but needed more military experience to better meet their ideal candidate. I would love to work in CA. I like their mission, and the work they do would allow me to use all the skill sets I’ve obtained from college and the Army. I am also still torn on staying enlisted or commissioning.
At the same time I have an interest in flying and applying to WOCS does seem like another good option that would allow me to learn something challenging and still be an asset.
I’m just afraid that I will end up trying to take advantage of too many opportunities leaving myself more scattered with no defined plan. Is it worth exploring my other interests or should I just focus on returning to CAAS a better candidate?
I have already attended civil affairs assessment and selection once. I was not selected and told that I was a good candidate but needed more military experience to better meet their ideal candidate. I would love to work in CA. I like their mission, and the work they do would allow me to use all the skill sets I’ve obtained from college and the Army. I am also still torn on staying enlisted or commissioning.
At the same time I have an interest in flying and applying to WOCS does seem like another good option that would allow me to learn something challenging and still be an asset.
I’m just afraid that I will end up trying to take advantage of too many opportunities leaving myself more scattered with no defined plan. Is it worth exploring my other interests or should I just focus on returning to CAAS a better candidate?
Military Career
Opportunity
38B: Civil Affairs Specialist
Posted 7 y ago
Responses: 16
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SPC (Join to see) my whole career was a plan C. Just understand that once you choose, sometimes other doors close. If you wait too long, doors close. These two goals are divergent. You need to pick one or the other and give it all you've got.
I know some Special Operations selection programs tell people to come back and try again just to see if they are determined enough to come back. I'd defer that opinion to a CA NCO. CW2 (Join to see) any insight? It appears you can now be selected as an E5 promotable.
I know some Special Operations selection programs tell people to come back and try again just to see if they are determined enough to come back. I'd defer that opinion to a CA NCO. CW2 (Join to see) any insight? It appears you can now be selected as an E5 promotable.
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CW2 (Join to see)
Absolutely, returning for a second attempt at CAAS is often successful. It shows dedication and desire. Not to mention, after 3 years as a CA NCO you could still put in a flight packet if you wanted.
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You answered your own question. How many professions can anyone successfully pursue? Like girlfriends, too many will create problems for you.
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There are lots of people in the Army who pursue many different fields. It is definitely easy to get too scattered if you don't have a good plan.
Basically, you can explore as much as you want as long as you do it within the time you have. When you're on active duty there is a clock ticking down. Every selection, MOS, commission opportunity etc, has certain grade, age, time in grade, and time in service restrictions. So as you progress in one pathway others will start to shut behind you.
You have a college degree so you entered the Army after 22, your AIT was a year long, so let's imagine you're 24 right now. You have to be in your new MOS at least a year. You want to go to CA, you'll need BLC first. So, let's say you're 26 then. You attend selection and now you need to reenlist 5 years to cover the QC plus W1 and W4 and the three years you owe after that. Now you're 31, you've got 7-9 years in the Army and you're on the borderline of age, time in service limits for commissioning.
Basically, you can explore as much as you want as long as you do it within the time you have. When you're on active duty there is a clock ticking down. Every selection, MOS, commission opportunity etc, has certain grade, age, time in grade, and time in service restrictions. So as you progress in one pathway others will start to shut behind you.
You have a college degree so you entered the Army after 22, your AIT was a year long, so let's imagine you're 24 right now. You have to be in your new MOS at least a year. You want to go to CA, you'll need BLC first. So, let's say you're 26 then. You attend selection and now you need to reenlist 5 years to cover the QC plus W1 and W4 and the three years you owe after that. Now you're 31, you've got 7-9 years in the Army and you're on the borderline of age, time in service limits for commissioning.
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SFC (Join to see)
CW2 (Join to see) that's true, and that could easily change again in the future. It's just an example time line; he could still be lacking the line scores or clearance or any other number of reasons that delay PCS to CAQC from the day they choose to attend.
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It never hurts to diversify but there will come
a time when the diversification will no longer net a positive return. Keep your head in the game!
a time when the diversification will no longer net a positive return. Keep your head in the game!
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Lots of comments mentioning grad school for ya. I recommend returning to CAAS. ARSOF offers a number of graduate programs that are free of charge, so you will still have your TA to pursue a certificate or second Master's. We have National Defense University, Naval Postgraduate School, and Joint Special Operations University....none of which you'll spend a dime to attend, nor have to juggle work with school, they are resident programs.
I personally am just using my TA for grad school while doing CA/recruiting. There is plenty of time, even more so during a CA deployment to knock out some school.
I personally am just using my TA for grad school while doing CA/recruiting. There is plenty of time, even more so during a CA deployment to knock out some school.
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CW2 (Join to see)
SGT (Join to see) you would need to become a 38B, 37F, or 18 series soldier. Then apply through special warfare education group for the programs. Information is on the swcs website
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We had a family friend who'd been Army enlisted, he got into Army WOCS, went rotary wing, did his Bach in aviation at Embry Riddle, then Army released him, USCG picked him up, he finished his 20 as a USCG O-3...I relate that story merely as I thought you might find it of interest...however, the more you know about flight ahead of time, the raised I think you'd find the transition, which is why I'd asked how much STEM trainjng you've had...I can point you to specifics about fixed and rotary wing flight to help get you prepped...however, no !after how much cockpit time you amàss, as either pilot/aviator, or nav/WSO/NFO, sooner or later you'll have to be used as senior staff, not solely for flight ops...then, too, theres also flight test, which you could opt for if that might interest you as well...you'll also have prof mil educ (PME) to do, not just in your own svc, but in other svcs as well, as that's needed for broadening...I merely thought I'd point out those aspects, as well....
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Pick one as a career and get good at it. Nothing says the others cannot be hobbies. I have always wanted to fly however I had horrible vision. I became an RN and an officer. Great decision as it pays the bills and I am fairly good at it. I love prehospital care and flying and for hobbies, I am a paramedic and fixed wing pilot. Love them both more than my job and will probably never get burned out as a paramedic or pilot because I do my hobbies for fun, not work.
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To add in to what has already been said, the more you switch, the less competitive you become. Either you are competing against folks who have been doing it since day 1 as a PVT or you are competing against folks who ALSO just switched over - but are 5 (or 10 or 15) years younger in both TIS and age, meaning they can go farther before retirement, making them a better candidate for promotion or for hooah school.
It is not wrong to pursue multiple options and keep options open. But once you decide, stick to it and give it everything until you either definitively succeed or definitively fail - and then move on with whatever is next.
It is not wrong to pursue multiple options and keep options open. But once you decide, stick to it and give it everything until you either definitively succeed or definitively fail - and then move on with whatever is next.
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The CA field is a laudable goal. I did CA after my SF time. The possibilities are endless and the deployment opportunities are there.
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Through your journey remember that most branches wont accept a SSG as a reclass without losing rank. This is because a SSG should be an SME in their branch. Go nuts and do whatever the Army will let you get away with, but when you start getting close to the 4 year mark you need to be prepared to settle down in something you can finish your career in, if you dont follow the selection route.
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