What are the pros and cons to having my first duty station be OCONUS?

One of the obvious pro's is being able to travel and explore parts of the world. I spent 3 years in Germany and loved every moment of it. I can't think of any specific Cons to your first duty station being ONCONUS. There is always going to be the typical Military crap to deal with.

Especially for folks who never lived abroad before the military, I think one's leadership skills become more refined if your early duty stations are OCONUS. Living with a different culture in / around garrison helps you prepare better to work with different cultures in hostile situations while deployed.

You gotta be kidding? (Sounds derisive, but I don't mean it so). You've been here your whole life, get out there and see the world. It'll expand your views, your experience, and make you a better leader. Not to mention being fun and fascinating. You'll learn more than you can possibly imagine. My advice is that if you have the choice, OCONUS all the way.

Expand your view of the world by experiencing it.

Cadet LT (Join to see) I spent two months at my first duty station, 4th Marine Division Nucleus, at Camp Pendleton. The easiest duty during the four years that I served. I requested to be sent to Vietnam and they granted my request. If I had not volunteered to go, I probably would have gone within a month, since I was the boot. Being exposed to different cultures and conflicts helped develop my leadership skills.

Cadet LT (Join to see) Stay Outus as Long as You Possibly Can, If You make a Career Out of the Military Soon Enough they will put you 5 sided Funny Farm (Pentagon). You Join to See the World. Learn from Other Cultures. Do It! Pushing Papers in DC Sucks.