Should I join the military as a 25B or stick with certification and finish my Bachelors in Computer Science?

Stanley Isma — Wed, 12 Dec 2018 01:07:35 -0500

I'm 24 my wife is in the army, and I want to be more successful in life. I want to know if I should join the military or stick with cert and finishing my Bach in computer science? I'm all bout the money tbh? Help please?

Response by Maj William W. 'Bill' Price made Dec 12 at 2018 6:58 AM

Maj William W. 'Bill' Price — Wed, 12 Dec 2018 06:58:00 -0500

Stanley Isma If you've already got the cert, good for you. I'd suggest completing your degree and if the military is still of interest, apply for OCS. Best of luck.

Response by MSgt Michael Smith made Dec 12 at 2018 8:00 AM

MSgt Michael Smith — Wed, 12 Dec 2018 08:00:30 -0500

Complete your degree. It might not be instant gratification, but ultimately the college degree will pay off. You will be better off in the end with the degree.

Response by MSG David Surprenant made Dec 12 at 2018 8:25 AM

MSG David Surprenant — Wed, 12 Dec 2018 08:25:07 -0500

You have many options available to you.

- If you join the Army for 25B you may be able to take advantage of programs that can help pay for those student loans you may be accumulating in pursuit of a degree. Remember that 25B is only one of the Military Occupation Specialties (MOS) within Career Management Field (CMF) 25. 25B focuses primarily on day-to-day computer workstation and internetworking duties. Some of the other CMF 25 MOS focus on telecommunications, infrastructure and/or enterprise networking. One of the other CMF 25 MOS might better suit your particular career goal.

- CMF 25 is not the only Army career field that involves information technology either. For example, a relatively new MOS is 17C which focuses on Computer Network Defense (CND) or Defensive Cyber Operations (DCO). Be advised that 17C is a highly challenging MOS with demanding skill and security requirements but also can be very rewarding. Success at this MOS would place you among a very small, select group of IT professionals.

- You don't have to resign yourself to the Army. All branches of service have IT/Cyber Security programs. One of the other services might have a program that better suits your long term career goals and interests. I know through association with some of its members that the Air Force has a very exciting and challenging IT program.

- If you feel that a full-time military membership may hamper your ability to pursue your career or education you might want to consider a reserve component enlistment. Members of the reserve components (e.g. Army Reserves; Army or Air National Guard) receive the same training as their active component counterparts. This would allow you to pursue outside goals while maintaining your military career.

- None of the above would keep you from attending OCS once you've established yourself in the military. Many officers and senior enlisted folks I’ve worked with throughout my career (including me) find that officers who started out as enlisted members have a better understanding of leading soldiers.

- And don't forget about the Army Warrant Officer Corps.

I've heard many times that civilian employers find the leadership, problem-solving skills and discipline, developed through service, to be highly desirable traits when selecting employees. Military membership would definitely help you to be more successful in life regardless of the path you choose.

Response by Sgt Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 12 at 2018 11:04 AM

Sgt Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 12 Dec 2018 11:04:47 -0500

Finish your degree. Joining the military is a big commitment, so do not join just for the money.

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 12 at 2018 11:09 AM

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 12 Dec 2018 11:09:06 -0500

Inquire with a local recruiter about ACASP. (Army Civilian Aquired Skills Program) if you have worked in the field you're studying and you could get a boost on initial enlistment.

Be weary of going commissioned if you want to stick in your field of computers. Other than warrants, officers typically hit O3/O4 and end up in staff positions vs doing their jobs hands on. (In my exp)

Response by LTC Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 12 at 2018 12:23 PM

LTC Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 12 Dec 2018 12:23:31 -0500

To add on to MSG Smith’s comment....if you want to stay hands-on, go enlisted with a 25 or 17 series MOS and then apply to Warrant Officer Candidate School. Like previously mentioned, OCS can send you to any branch and you will not find out what branch until you are 3-8 weeks into your OCS. You could go Infantry, Field Artillery, Signal, ...even Finance, etc. Also, if you are all about the money, probably not a good idea to lead troops.

Response by SGT Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 12 at 2018 1:48 PM

SGT Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 12 Dec 2018 13:48:12 -0500

If you are all about the money, finish your university until you get MS in Computer Science in INFOSEC. In the long run it can get you up to +100K with less than 1 year experience in the field out at civilian sector.
When I was working as IT Specialist INFOSEC (Cyber Security Engineer) I was making 80K with only BS in Computer Science in Network Engineering and 11 years of experience in IT field, but I am currently a IT Specialist SA (Systems Administrator) I only making 69K, but I feel like I am contributing something to the advancement of humanity.
It is all about what you want in life I guess. My military career was bit rough at beginning and in the early middle, but I am enjoying being specialist in my field and in military for 1 weekend a month, 2 to 3 weeks a year. I do OK in the civilian life, there is a light at the end of the tunnel for me out side of military.
If you want and thinking about to join the Army. I will say from experience, 25B is a basic help desk work in the Army from E-1 to E-5. If you want to do more and gain experience in advanced IT work, go for 17C. 17C at least you get to dabble in policy and planning for IT infrastructure. Or 25N, here you have chance to play with network switches and routers and many other network of things.

Response by Maj John Bell made Dec 19 at 2018 10:24 PM

Maj John Bell — Wed, 19 Dec 2018 22:24:57 -0500

If you are all about the money, the odds that the military is part of that path are not zero, just next to zero.

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 19 at 2018 10:30 PM

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 19 Dec 2018 22:30:05 -0500

The military with give you a significantly higher entry level pay rate prior to completing your certification, as well as paying off up to $10,000 fedral student loan debt, and paying your tuition fees to complete a degree up to a bachelor's.

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 19 at 2018 10:35 PM

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 19 Dec 2018 22:35:16 -0500

And don't forget, you can go Guard or Reserve and receive the same financial aid for education. As for the money component, that's why I joined and why I stay. I was twenty nine at the times d already had a religion, a family (immediate and extended), and a career. Money is all the military has to put on the table, all my other needs where met.

Response by CPL(P) Kevin Koch made Dec 24 at 2018 2:31 AM

CPL(P) Kevin Koch — Mon, 24 Dec 2018 02:31:11 -0500

Stay in school and get your certifications. Once you have your degree, make sure to have CompTIA Security+ ce and an environmental certification. Get a contractor possition wherever your wife is stationed. Out of school with a degree and certs, figure around 40k starting. Show competence and your sallary will jump quickly. Comming out as a 25B with 4 certifications, security clearance and 5 years experience... I started at 45K and within 2 years I was making 60K. Going through the army as a 25B is great right out of high school. But since you are already getting your degree, stay that course and work as a DoD Contractor instead. Better payday.