Posted on Mar 19, 2019
Should I reclassify, go to OCS, or become a civilian and pursue a Master's Degree?
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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.
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.
MOS
Reclass
Cyber
Retention
Military Career
Edited 5 y ago
Posted 5 y ago
Responses: 40
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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.
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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.
As for your parents, either cut the umbilical cord and be an adult or do what they tell you the rest of your life.
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SFC (Join to see)
MAJ Jason Lathey I didn't know that they aren't taking current SM applicants for direct commission. Seems like a loss of a potential talent pool
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U.S. Army Warrant Officer Recruiting
The official website for the Army Recruiting Command (USAREC)
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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.
Write the procs and cons of each course of action.
Select the one that best fits you.
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SSG (Join to see)
Hello SGT Reynolds, I've heard you can pick a branch you want after OCS but I've heard you have zero options during first 3 years as an officer. Army is going to assign you to different branches for first couple of years...maybe I'll get attached to Cyber Corps but not guaranteed :(
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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
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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.
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.
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SSG (Join to see)
Thank you for your comment based on your experiences SGT Stewart. I grew up in NYC where things were busy, competitive and tough to survive. While I was working on my Bachelor's degree, I've tried applying different tech companies for their entry level positions. But it came out that their job requirements or minimum qualifications are way more than what I have for my current skills. Various certs were welcomed, minimum of 3+ years of programming experiences needed and must have relevant work experiences (where college education didn't counted for). I almost found myself impossible to join tech companies because the level of entrances was way too high. The only true reason that I am thinking of reclassifying into Cyber Corps is to have some military work experiences in IT to show Civilian companies that 'I do have relevant work experiences'. But other than that reason I have no intention to stay in as enlisted but perhaps a commissioned officer if I am really staying in the military.
I am trying to avoid having my Master's Degree while I am in the military because I am left with online part-time classes and limited amount of time which I find myself less attractive because it's not a classroom environment. Based on my experiences, online learning wasn't helpful and I tend to lose focus real quick.
I am trying to avoid having my Master's Degree while I am in the military because I am left with online part-time classes and limited amount of time which I find myself less attractive because it's not a classroom environment. Based on my experiences, online learning wasn't helpful and I tend to lose focus real quick.
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SGT (Join to see)
SSG (Join to see) - That makes sense. Just a quick note to anyone who is looking to work in software: 1. any place that wants certifications, be leery. 2. don't go through a company's Human Resources department if you can instead meet someone at a technology Meetup. You can hand your resume to a decision maker at a tech Meetup after discussing, in person, your abilities and interests. That completely bypasses any process focused on certifications and degrees.
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SSG (Join to see)
SGT (Join to see) - That makes a lot of senses! Would these apply to Cyber security sectors too? I am not really looking for a software engineering but rather into IT Security or Cyber security management.
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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!!!
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!!!
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