Should I reclassify, go to OCS, or become a civilian and pursue a Master's Degree?

SSG Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 19 Mar 2019 18:36:24 -0400

Hello all,
I am a 74D CBRN specialist who is currently serving in Fort Carson. I am currently deployed in Kuwait. I've joined US Army with a bachelor's degree in Computer Science and IT Security. I picked 74D because I had a zero security clearance and that I wasn't a US citizen but now I am. I am currently facing many dilemmas regards to my career options and future in general. My leaderships and officers been suggesting US Army's new Cyber Ops MOS but my parents want me to join OCS. I am sure I'll be hitting retention office real soon once I get back from this deployment and I am just not too sure what'll be best options for me at this point: reclassify into Cyber Ops MOS vs. OCS vs. Civilian life with Master's Degree. What would be the suggestions for me facing these kind of dilemmas? Thank you all.

Response by SSgt Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 19 at 2019 6:39 PM

SSgt Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 19 Mar 2019 18:39:37 -0400

OCS. I was nearly a pilot. Should have too.

Response by SGT Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 19 at 2019 6:42 PM

SGT Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 19 Mar 2019 18:42:13 -0400

Can't you do OCS and change your MOS?

Response by LTC Eugene Chu made Mar 19 at 2019 6:48 PM

LTC Eugene Chu — Tue, 19 Mar 2019 18:48:41 -0400

Consider direct commission with Army Cyber. Do you qualify?

https://www.goarmy.com/army-cyber/cyber-direct-commissioning-program.html

Cyber Direct Commissioning Program

System admin, web developer, programmer. Put your civilian experience to work and become an officer in the Army through the Cyber Direct Commissioning Program.

Response by SSgt Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 19 at 2019 6:51 PM

SSgt Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 19 Mar 2019 18:51:26 -0400

What do you want your life to look like next year? In 5 years? in 20 years? Answer these questions first then decide which route will give you the most opportunity to make that vision a reality.

Response by MAJ Ken Landgren made Mar 19 at 2019 7:05 PM

MAJ Ken Landgren — Tue, 19 Mar 2019 19:05:02 -0400

Here is my 10 cents.

-Enlisted no considering your education.
-Officer maybe but I PCSd 9 times in 20 years, went to several schools, and deployed 3 times.
-Civilian maybe. You will have more stability and probably make more money.

Response by 1SG Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 19 at 2019 7:17 PM

1SG Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 19 Mar 2019 19:17:22 -0400

Make a 5 and 10 year plan using each course of action.
Write the procs and cons of each course of action.
Select the one that best fits you.

Response by 1SG Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 19 at 2019 8:06 PM

1SG Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 19 Mar 2019 20:06:41 -0400

How about cyber warrant officer

Www.gowarrantnow.com

U.S. Army Warrant Officer Recruiting

The official website for the Army Recruiting Command (USAREC)

Response by SGT Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 19 at 2019 8:41 PM

SGT Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 19 Mar 2019 20:41:19 -0400

I currently work in the software world as a developer. The pay is good. There are few to zero jobs that pay as well as software development so early in the field. However, the work is not particularly challenging, and the gravity (or the importance) of the work is far, FAR less than the importance of soldiering in the Army.

Commissioned officers (in the first few years, at early pay-grades) don't make as much in direct salary as a civilian software developer, but they are earning toward retirement and the pay rates for 0-5s and up, given the years of experience you would expect, and additional benefits paid beyond the salary, are pretty decent. A retired officer will have a pretty good pension. I would expect they will have a pretty good second career, as well. But the big thing here is they get to keep soldiering. Their jobs matter. There are very few jobs like soldiering - anywhere.

So, as someone who left as an E-5 and who now works in software, I wish I had stayed Army and gone to OCS. I miss soldiering, though E-5 me would never have believed that could happen. Corporate world life lacks the challenges of realtime decision making and physical exertion/character-testing experiences, not to mention the gravity of military responsibility.

Master's degrees: Today, you could get one either way and do it part-time over the internet. Don't worry about a masters degree. Think about whether what kind of problems you want to work on: business problems or battlefield problems.

Response by CSM Charles Hayden made Mar 19 at 2019 8:44 PM

CSM Charles Hayden — Tue, 19 Mar 2019 20:44:13 -0400

You should dilegently pursue US citizenship as a primary goal. Doors will open.

Response by LTC Jason Mackay made Mar 19 at 2019 8:50 PM

LTC Jason Mackay — Tue, 19 Mar 2019 20:50:30 -0400

MAJ Jason Lathey can you provide any insight to SSG Private RallyPoint Member. Perhaps applying for direct commission?

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 19 at 2019 9:32 PM

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 19 Mar 2019 21:32:16 -0400

OCS to Cyber

Response by CW4 Craig Urban made Mar 19 at 2019 9:35 PM

CW4 Craig Urban — Tue, 19 Mar 2019 21:35:59 -0400

That I'd coplety up to you. If you go to OCS and are successful as a officer the army will pay and send you to get your masters. I went to bootstrap for a year on uncle as warrant

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 19 at 2019 9:56 PM

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 19 Mar 2019 21:56:05 -0400

Reenlist for a bonus. Submit for a direct commission as a cyber officer.

As for your parents, either cut the umbilical cord and be an adult or do what they tell you the rest of your life.

Response by CW2 Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 19 at 2019 10:19 PM

CW2 Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 19 Mar 2019 22:19:16 -0400

Goarmysof.com. give Civil Affairs a look, we'll help you pursue a Master's while still active. PsyOps also dabbles in cyber, give us a call or email me @ [login to see]

Response by Capt Daniel Goodman made Mar 19 at 2019 11:51 PM

Capt Daniel Goodman — Tue, 19 Mar 2019 23:51:28 -0400

http://www.ocsfoundation.org

First, look through this, it's not all-inclusive of everything, it leaves out Army WOCS, as well as direct commission indoc OIS programs, though the forum pages for the five main OCS programs are quite good....

OCS Foundation

SERVICES FOR: Candidates Alumni Officer Families

Response by Capt Daniel Goodman made Mar 19 at 2019 11:52 PM

Capt Daniel Goodman — Tue, 19 Mar 2019 23:52:26 -0400

https://news.usni.org/2018/06/13/navy-implements-warrant-officer-1-rank-for-cyber-specialists

Read about this, as a possible alternative....

Navy Brings Back Warrant Officer-1 Rank for Cyber Sailors - USNI News

Navy pay can't keep up with private sector cyber jobs, so the service now offers a quick path to management as a way to keep talent.

Response by Capt Daniel Goodman made Mar 19 at 2019 11:53 PM

Capt Daniel Goodman — Tue, 19 Mar 2019 23:53:21 -0400

https://www.goarmy.com/army-cyber/cyber-direct-commissioning-program.html

You likely already know about this, I figured I'd send it anyway, just in case....

Cyber Direct Commissioning Program

System admin, web developer, programmer. Put your civilian experience to work and become an officer in the Army through the Cyber Direct Commissioning Program.

Response by Capt Daniel Goodman made Mar 19 at 2019 11:54 PM

Capt Daniel Goodman — Tue, 19 Mar 2019 23:54:39 -0400

https://www.gocoastguard.com/active-duty-careers/officer-opportunities/programs/direct-commission-engineer-dce

I'm unsure how USCG would treat cyber, however, being as you're also comp sci (CS) as you'd said, you might have a chance for this....

Direct Commission Engineer (DCE) | GoCoastGuard.com

The direct commission engineer (DCE) program provides engineers and technologists with leadership opportunities in program management, implementing systems that enable and support Coast Guard missions. Experienced C4IT engineers are needed to advance our systems infrastructure in a rapidly modernizing organization.

Response by Capt Daniel Goodman made Mar 19 at 2019 11:56 PM

Capt Daniel Goodman — Tue, 19 Mar 2019 23:56:24 -0400

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Air_Force_Institute_of_Technology

Next, read about this, all warrants and commissioned, as well as senior NCOs from Army and USAF, from YouTube videos I've seen thus far, are allowed to submit here, from all services, I'd expect....

Air Force Institute of Technology - Wikipedia

The Air Force Institute of Technology (AFIT) is a graduate school and provider of professional and continuing education for the United States Armed Forces and is part of the United States Air Force. It is located in Ohio at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, near Dayton. AFIT is a component of the Air University and Air Education and Training Command.

Response by Capt Daniel Goodman made Mar 19 at 2019 11:58 PM

Capt Daniel Goodman — Tue, 19 Mar 2019 23:58:12 -0400

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Naval_Postgraduate_School

I had an O-6 recommend from my unit CO to go here, I couldn't get it, I'd also seen they now have an online PhD in CS, I've seen the site for it, though I don't know how strict getting to be allowed to do it would be, once you might go warrant or commissioned....

Naval Postgraduate School - Wikipedia

The Naval Postgraduate School (NPS) is a public graduate school operated by the United States Navy and located in Monterey, California. It grants master's degrees, doctoral degrees, and certificates. Established in 1909, the school also offers research fellowship opportunities at the postdoctoral level through the National Academies' National Research Council research associateship program.[3]

Response by Capt Daniel Goodman made Mar 20 at 2019 12:07 AM

Capt Daniel Goodman — Wed, 20 Mar 2019 00:07:51 -0400

Now, you need to be way more specific, that you have the bachelors certainly helps, however, you need to go into specific STEM coursework, grades, GPAs, any associates you did with major, plus all the same info...what masters major you'd want, also, whether you'd want PhD...you mention going civilian, though I gather you're in now...if you go warrant or commissioned, virtually from day one, you're gonna be expected to get, minimum, a masters, at least part time, aside from all your prof mil educ (PME) stuff, trust me, been there, done that (BTDT)...next, do you have any flight interests at all? I only ask as your bachelors clearly lends itself to that as well, plus, Army WOCS for flight, most often rotary wing, though Army also has fixed wing, I've gathered, only needs high school, minimum...so, do as detailed and thorough a biosketch as you can, listing hobbies, interests, reading tastes, sports incl any martial arts, I have an interest in career/educ topics like yours, however, the more you send in, the more specific you are, the easier I and others can suggest various possibilities...explain your specific aspirations, also, have you done compilers? Data structures? Numerical methods? Full differential and integral calc? Do you know it COLD, BLINDFOLDED, BACKWARDS AND FORWARDS, UPSIDE DOWN? Have you done differential equations? Modern physics, a full year, NOT just classical first year physics? Linear algebra? Complex variables? Digital, analog, and RF electronics? Numerical methods, incl numerical differentiation and integration? Control systems, linear, nonlinear, digital versions? Any mechanical engrg? Structures? Statics? Dynamics? You wanna functions as a serious engr or CS type, trust me, I've been exactly where you wanna go, 10x over, I assure you, OK? Be as specific as possible, give me actual course titles with grades, specifics, not vague generalities, read what else I'll send in, and I'll try to suggest more for you, no rush, whenever convenient, however, trust me, be as thorough and detailed as you possibly can, OK?

Response by Capt Daniel Goodman made Mar 20 at 2019 12:09 AM

Capt Daniel Goodman — Wed, 20 Mar 2019 00:09:19 -0400

http://www.ieee.org

Join this if you haven't already, I'm a Senior Member in it, I worked 11 yrs as an EE before my total perm disability, I assure you, you're gonna need to be a part of this, promise, incl at a student level, and if you've published at all, discuss that also, I haven't, though I tried, I was just really unlucky....

IEEE - The world's largest technical professional organization dedicated to advancing technology...

RT @ComputerSociety: Highlight from this month's ComputingEdge: A Different Lens on Diversity and Inclusion. In the world of science, techn…

Response by Capt Daniel Goodman made Mar 20 at 2019 12:09 AM

Capt Daniel Goodman — Wed, 20 Mar 2019 00:09:34 -0400

http://www.acm.org

Same with this....

Association for Computing Machinery

ACM, the world's largest educational and scientific computing society, delivers resources that advance computing as a science and a profession. ACM provides the computing field's premier Digital Library and serves its members and the computing profession with leading-edge publications, conferences, and career resources.

Response by Capt Daniel Goodman made Mar 20 at 2019 12:09 AM

Capt Daniel Goodman — Wed, 20 Mar 2019 00:09:48 -0400

http://www.same.org

Join this....

www.same.org

Response by Capt Daniel Goodman made Mar 20 at 2019 12:10 AM

Capt Daniel Goodman — Wed, 20 Mar 2019 00:10:07 -0400

http://www.afcea.org

And this....

www.afcea.org

Response by Capt Daniel Goodman made Mar 20 at 2019 12:10 AM

Capt Daniel Goodman — Wed, 20 Mar 2019 00:10:19 -0400

http://www.crows.org

This too....

www.crows.org

Response by Capt Daniel Goodman made Mar 20 at 2019 12:11 AM

Capt Daniel Goodman — Wed, 20 Mar 2019 00:11:57 -0400

http://www.mors.org

Ops research is a frequently overlooked possible major for those in the services, I assure you, their journal Phalanx is well worth your time, look up minimax theory, saddle point theory, linear and nonlinear programming, the simplex method, you'll rapidly realize why I'm suggesting them as topics, promise, OK?

Military Operations Research Society

Bronze BAE Systems George Mason Volgenau School of Engineering Gurobi Optimization Hartley Consulting Improbable Innovative Decisions JMP

Response by Capt Daniel Goodman made Mar 20 at 2019 12:12 AM

Capt Daniel Goodman — Wed, 20 Mar 2019 00:12:41 -0400

http://www.usni.org

Their proceedings and historical material should be reqd reading for all service personnel, their stuff is that good, regardless of service, promise....

United States Naval Institute

The U.S. Naval Institute provides an independent forum for those who seek to advance and strengthen the naval profession.

Response by Capt Daniel Goodman made Mar 20 at 2019 12:13 AM

Capt Daniel Goodman — Wed, 20 Mar 2019 00:13:26 -0400

http://www.ausa.org

Join this, if you haven't already...their conferences are well worth your time, find the chapter nearest you, and join....

Association of the United States Army

Voice for the Army – Support for the Soldier

Response by Capt Daniel Goodman made Mar 20 at 2019 12:13 AM

Capt Daniel Goodman — Wed, 20 Mar 2019 00:13:50 -0400

http://www.afa.org

This is the USAF main professional group, also well worth the time, promise....

Home

The Air Force Association is the premier professional military association dedicated to dominant air, space, and cyber power, and a strong national defense.

Response by Capt Daniel Goodman made Mar 20 at 2019 12:15 AM

Capt Daniel Goodman — Wed, 20 Mar 2019 00:15:18 -0400

https://www.thebalancecareers.com/united-states-marine-corps-platoon-leaders-course-3332801

This is less well known than ROTCs, it can, so far as I'm aware, also be used for grad school, as can the various ROTCs....

US Marine Corps Platoon Leader Course: What You Need to Know

The Marine Corps Platoon Leaders Course (PLC) is an alternative for NROTC or OCS for college students who wish to become commissioned officers.

Response by Capt Daniel Goodman made Mar 20 at 2019 12:16 AM

Capt Daniel Goodman — Wed, 20 Mar 2019 00:16:00 -0400

https://search.aol.com/aol/search?q=rotc%20graduate%20school&s_it=loki-tb-sb

Read these....

rotc%20graduate%20school - AOL Search Results

Looking at Going to Graduate School? Are you looking at going to graduate school? Do you need someone to pay for it? Well Army ROTC can help. We can pay for your graduate school and pay you a stipend each month.

Response by Capt Daniel Goodman made Mar 20 at 2019 12:16 AM

Capt Daniel Goodman — Wed, 20 Mar 2019 00:16:50 -0400

http://www.arxiv.org

The very best free scientific preprint article site in the world, get really familiar with it....

arXiv.org e-Print archive

Open access to 1,514,645 e-prints in the fields of physics, mathematics, computer science, quantitative biology, quantitative finance, statistics, electrical engineering and systems science, and economics. Submissions to arXiv should conform to Cornell University academic standards. arXiv is owned and operated by Cornell University, a private not-for-profit educational institution. arXiv is funded by Cornell University, the Simons Foundation...

Response by Capt Daniel Goodman made Mar 20 at 2019 12:17 AM

Capt Daniel Goodman — Wed, 20 Mar 2019 00:17:13 -0400

http://www.vixra.org

This one too...newer, however, also quite good....

viXra.org open e-Print archive

ViXra.org is an e-print archive set up as an alternative to the popular arXiv.org service owned by Cornell University. It has been founded by scientists who find they are unable to submit their articles to arXiv.org because of Cornell University's policy of endorsements and moderation designed to filter out e-prints that they consider inappropriate. ViXra.org has no association with arXiv.org or Cornell. ViXra is an open repository for new...

Response by Capt Daniel Goodman made Mar 20 at 2019 12:18 AM

Capt Daniel Goodman — Wed, 20 Mar 2019 00:18:18 -0400

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Materials_science

Very hot topic in grad schools right now, look at this very seriously as a potential grad school major....

Materials science - Wikipedia

The interdisciplinary field of materials science, also commonly termed materials science and engineering is the design and discovery of new materials, particularly solids. The intellectual origins of materials science stem from the Enlightenment, when researchers began to use analytical thinking from chemistry, physics, and engineering to understand ancient, phenomenological observations in metallurgy and mineralogy.[1][2] Materials science...

Response by Capt Daniel Goodman made Mar 20 at 2019 12:18 AM

Capt Daniel Goodman — Wed, 20 Mar 2019 00:18:53 -0400

That should keep you busy for quite awhile, when you want more, lemme know, I'll drown you in the stuff, OK?

Response by Capt Daniel Goodman made Mar 20 at 2019 12:21 AM

Capt Daniel Goodman — Wed, 20 Mar 2019 00:21:52 -0400

https://www.goarmy.com/careers-and-jobs/current-and-prior-service/advance-your-career/warrant-officer/flight-warrant-officers.html

And as I'd said, if you have flight interests, this is one way being as you're Army now, you could also put in for aviator/pilot in the other services, as well as nav/NFO/WSO, the back seater spots, I did the NFO medical while I'd been USAF, I'd been Army ROTC before that, 3 yrs, I passed, I was just never able to go interservice, if there's a mil aero club near you, look into it, to go for whatever FAA ratings you can, I had one where I was, I didn't make adequate use of it....

Flight Warrant Officers

If you have dreamed of becoming a helicopter or fixed-wing pilot, the Army can help you turn that dream into a reality. Warrant Officers fly some of the most exciting, technologically advanced aircraft in the world.

Response by MAJ Javier Rivera made Mar 20 at 2019 12:24 AM

MAJ Javier Rivera — Wed, 20 Mar 2019 00:24:43 -0400

1) You make the decision not your parents- with all due respect to them.

2) Do you want to do stuff or plan the plan for the plan to do stuff? A m Officer you are knowledgeable but the execution is done by enlisted; and the SMEs are Warrant Officers- highly recommendable with your educational background!!!

Response by SGT Chris Stephens made Mar 20 at 2019 11:02 AM

SGT Chris Stephens — Wed, 20 Mar 2019 11:02:56 -0400

It's all about what you want to do with your life. Do you see yourself doing 20 years in the Army, or do you want to get out and be a civilian? While there will be those who will want you to do something, you have to pick for yourself. Your parents should be there just to advise, but ultimately the decision comes down to you.

Response by SGT Joseph Alanzo made May 2 at 2019 3:00 AM

SGT Joseph Alanzo — Thu, 02 May 2019 03:00:53 -0400

let the military pay for your master degrees its free for you stay in the military