Posted on Feb 10, 2019
What career/education advice do you have for someone leaving active duty to join the Guard? Additionally, how is the culture shock?
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My ETS is still a ways out I know that. I am just looking for information. I am currently doing online college at AMU to get a associates degree. I read a lot of posts about this but figured I would ask for myself. My goal is a Bachelors but still advice would be appreciated! Thank You.
Education
College
Reserves
Posted 6 y ago
Responses: 5
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This happens to be one of my favorite subjects. Being a Career Counselor, this is literally what I do.
1. Why did you pick AMU?
2. There are colleges that will offer more credit towards your AA/AS from your JST.
3. What is your end goal? A degree is not a goal (unless you want to be poor) it's a step towards a goal. If your goal was a degree you would stay active till you finish your degree then retire and die. What is it you want to do in 10-20 years?
1. Why did you pick AMU?
2. There are colleges that will offer more credit towards your AA/AS from your JST.
3. What is your end goal? A degree is not a goal (unless you want to be poor) it's a step towards a goal. If your goal was a degree you would stay active till you finish your degree then retire and die. What is it you want to do in 10-20 years?
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SGT (Join to see)
SFC, My end goal is to be a detective or a Forensic analyst. Currently AMU took 27 credits from my AIT and 6 from my JST. My goal is to get a AA before getting out. Im just going through the possibility of staying active or going reserves/guard. The Army is great and a solid stepping stone.
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SFC (Join to see)
SGT (Join to see) it's a great stepping stone and everyone gets out. Use the Army because the Army is using you.
As u understand, the good jobs in forensic science require a master degree. I suggest you finish your AA and apply to CID. While MP doesn't transfer to law enforcement in the real world, CID does transfer to being a detective (because that's what CID is).
Also, I suggest finishing your BS in the Army and applying to a Masters in forensic analysis or science when you leave the Army if you choose not to go CID.
Here are a few alternatives:
CID then warrant CID
Officer CID
CID then green to gold for a masters in forensic science (you'll be poor, it sucks being a college student)
Bachelor then RC/NG as a CID officer.
CID then RC warrant
AA then CID then RC CID (RC CID requires police experience or CID on AD)
As u understand, the good jobs in forensic science require a master degree. I suggest you finish your AA and apply to CID. While MP doesn't transfer to law enforcement in the real world, CID does transfer to being a detective (because that's what CID is).
Also, I suggest finishing your BS in the Army and applying to a Masters in forensic analysis or science when you leave the Army if you choose not to go CID.
Here are a few alternatives:
CID then warrant CID
Officer CID
CID then green to gold for a masters in forensic science (you'll be poor, it sucks being a college student)
Bachelor then RC/NG as a CID officer.
CID then RC warrant
AA then CID then RC CID (RC CID requires police experience or CID on AD)
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SGT (Join to see) Your question headline doesn't really line up with the question you are asking in the narrative.
As SSG (Join to see) asks, what's the goal? What academic area? School? Are you leveraging the Guard for Education Benefits/tuition waiver? You mention wanting to work in Forensics to SFC (Join to see). Recommend you find a state school with a good program, where the ARNG has a tuition waiver/education benefit, and tailor your current AMU work to set you up for success in that program (recognized pre-reqs as an example). Sometimes AAS are problematic with translating to a particular school. Schools are fickle on accepting outside credit. You have to Neck this down to where you are trying to go. Otherwise, this is a mile wide and a mile deep.
Then there is the matter of the employer's recognizing the degree and your value to hire you.
As SSG (Join to see) asks, what's the goal? What academic area? School? Are you leveraging the Guard for Education Benefits/tuition waiver? You mention wanting to work in Forensics to SFC (Join to see). Recommend you find a state school with a good program, where the ARNG has a tuition waiver/education benefit, and tailor your current AMU work to set you up for success in that program (recognized pre-reqs as an example). Sometimes AAS are problematic with translating to a particular school. Schools are fickle on accepting outside credit. You have to Neck this down to where you are trying to go. Otherwise, this is a mile wide and a mile deep.
Then there is the matter of the employer's recognizing the degree and your value to hire you.
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There will be culture shock going from Active to the Guard. I was active duty Army and went to the Air Guard. But during Operation Noble Eagle, we worked very closely with Army Guard unit’s. I found their culture very similar to the Air Guard.
The Guard tends to be way more relaxed than active duty. Rules that you used to follow on the AD side may be totally ignored on the Guard side. It pretty much depends on CO and SNCO’s of the unit. You also may deploy as or more than your AD unit, depending on your MOS. I left the Guard for the Reserves because my unit deployed a lot.
As far as the Detective or Forensic jobs go. I spent 31 years in civilian LE, most of that in Investigations. Having a BS degree or higher is very important to get those jobs. In most police departments, you don’t start as a Detective. You have to work your way up the ranks. In those jobs, a BS degree is not required. However, on the Federal side (FBI, DEA, ATF, USSS, etc) a bachelor’s degree is required to get hired. The Major doesn’t matter, but the FBI prefers accounting degrees. Depending on the police agency and the specific forensic job you are going for, depends on the degree you need. Some positions (CSI type jobs) only require AA degrees with a heavy emphasis on photography. Others may require a BS or MS degree.
AMU is great for the military but not so great on the civilian side. It matters who you get your degree from. The sad truth is that online only schools don’t get the same respect as brick and mortar schools. I would either find a brick and mortar school or go online with a brick and mortar school to get your degree from. Such as Arizona State University. They have a great online program and you get the save diploma as if you actually attended the campus in Tempe.
The Guard tends to be way more relaxed than active duty. Rules that you used to follow on the AD side may be totally ignored on the Guard side. It pretty much depends on CO and SNCO’s of the unit. You also may deploy as or more than your AD unit, depending on your MOS. I left the Guard for the Reserves because my unit deployed a lot.
As far as the Detective or Forensic jobs go. I spent 31 years in civilian LE, most of that in Investigations. Having a BS degree or higher is very important to get those jobs. In most police departments, you don’t start as a Detective. You have to work your way up the ranks. In those jobs, a BS degree is not required. However, on the Federal side (FBI, DEA, ATF, USSS, etc) a bachelor’s degree is required to get hired. The Major doesn’t matter, but the FBI prefers accounting degrees. Depending on the police agency and the specific forensic job you are going for, depends on the degree you need. Some positions (CSI type jobs) only require AA degrees with a heavy emphasis on photography. Others may require a BS or MS degree.
AMU is great for the military but not so great on the civilian side. It matters who you get your degree from. The sad truth is that online only schools don’t get the same respect as brick and mortar schools. I would either find a brick and mortar school or go online with a brick and mortar school to get your degree from. Such as Arizona State University. They have a great online program and you get the save diploma as if you actually attended the campus in Tempe.
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