What is the best position for me to choose given my degree in Computer Science and Information Systems?

2LT Private RallyPoint Member — Sat, 23 Feb 2019 14:43:52 -0500

I have some options to where im assigned after I finish OCS. 1 enegneering units( construction) as O-2 platoon leader very close to where i live.
2- signal unit in California as O-2 maintenance Officer.
3. Recruiter is working on cyber position for me in VA

I have a computer science and Information systems degree, the reason i joined was to do cyber and to receive help with my student debt. But when I signed i was told student debt repayment is open to OCS and is dependent on the unit.
So what is the best position for me to choose given my degree. Any advice on getting how to find a unit helps with student loans?

Response by LTC Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 23 at 2019 2:49 PM

LTC Private RallyPoint Member — Sat, 23 Feb 2019 14:49:59 -0500

Much to my surprise, I spoke to a major who is an engineer and he said people washed out of engineer bolc or even engineer Captain's career course. If you want the challenge, go engineer.

Response by 2LT Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 23 at 2019 2:50 PM

2LT Private RallyPoint Member — Sat, 23 Feb 2019 14:50:29 -0500

* student loan repayment is not available to OCS and the cali unit doesn’t offer it. I wasn’t even given the $15000 im supposed to get for finishing OCS as a reserve officer. It on the army’s site.

Response by LTC Jason Mackay made Feb 23 at 2019 3:45 PM

LTC Jason Mackay — Sat, 23 Feb 2019 15:45:38 -0500

Suggest you pursue Cyber if that is what you want.

Response by MAJ Ken Landgren made Feb 23 at 2019 4:51 PM

MAJ Ken Landgren — Sat, 23 Feb 2019 16:51:59 -0500

Are you NG or Reserves?

Response by Capt Daniel Goodman made Feb 23 at 2019 5:28 PM

Capt Daniel Goodman — Sat, 23 Feb 2019 17:28:39 -0500

I have an interest in career/educ topics, try to elaborate as to grades, GPAs, whether you got an assocs also, specific course titles, esp STEM stuff, you can get as technical as you wish, I've been through pretty much every STEM topic conceivable...you're gonna find that, quite literally from day one, you're gonna be expected to get masters minimum, eventually PhD, trust me, been there, done that (BTDT), anyone who tells you otherwise doesn't have clue one what they're talking about, I assure you. I've been exactly where you wanna go, I did that stfr a seriously long time, I was 3 yrs Army ROTC doing my initial NSEE, I took excessive coursework, plus stupidly walked away from a NS bio, as I'd wanted bioengineering, I was too stupid to know the right way to get it on active, from day one after going USAF OTS instead, I was too dumb to know when I was well off, and totally bllixed up vetually everything I touched, incl likely having been able to have been funded to go minimum masters level at a fantastic school near where I was oud instantly also kick me for being so dumb about...you'll need the training, a Bach isn't sufficient for what you'll be tasked to do, I know, I did it, there's zero you're gonna be exposed to that I wasn't exposed to long before you were born, I've forgotten more engrg, comp sci (CS), and IT then you'll ever absorb, promise...I got, all told, 4 yrs EE exposure on active, 5 yrs related industry, 2 yrs serious unrelated industry, all EE, I eventually wound up with an MSEE, a second BS(Math), MS(Physics), MS(Math), got real close to a Doctor of Arts (DA) (May), where I was doing it, PhDs in physics and math had been stopped, I was also stupid enough to miss those, I spent urs trying for grad, research, or teaching assistantships (GAs/RAs/TAs) to do my PhD, my low initial 2.88 on my initial BSEE bollixed up every effort I made, I got a 3.0 on the MSEE and BS(Math), then a joint 3.55 for the MS(Physics) and MS(Math) together, I then managed to finally plot my escape from the land of EE, to go clinical, and managed to further bollix that up by doing it the wrong way, I got a clinical allied health doctorate, doing seven yrs of residency before I got ill in my seventh, so I never was able to get my surg board eligibility, so even with the license, he doctorate was effectively rendered useless, very, very long story...I didn't do med as I should have, I was very badly revised by many I sought help from, though, most definitely my own inadequacies most definitely contributed, I'd wanted pure or applied clinical research, I got real close, nearly published once, I'm total perm disabled now, tats why I found what you'd written of interest...I'm Sr Mbr IEEE, I also did my PE license, though it and the clinical license have long both been shut off, trust !e, you'll most definitely need your PE, not just cyber certifications, PE license is a major biggie where you're going...you'll also he expected to major big time get done with prof mil educ (PME), I did USAF Squadron Ofcrs School (SOS) and USMC Command and Staff (C&S) both nonresident, all svcs look favorably on attending PME courses in residence, whether their own, or other svcs as well, so you're gonna need to get them done EARLY, which I was too dumb to also realize, I got them done WAY too late, or you'll NEVER stand a chance to go in person, trust me, also BTDT...you'll be expected to list all your accomplishmemts for your OERs or OPRs, or whatever they've morphed into, I had to, you will also, all svc mbrs do, esp warrant and commissioned...now, having been prior enlisted, you're likely far more well adjusted to svc life than I was, I wasn't prior enlisted, so that level of pre commissioned svc life exposure will help you enormously, many of those I trained with at USAF OTS were prior enlisted, from all svcs, one guy had even been Navy prior enlisted sub's wearing dolphins, all svcs had prior enlisted there, you might've also seen that at Army OCS, I'm assuming you're at Ft Henning, not an ARNG state OCS, of you are, correct me, I can show you a good deal, what was your pre OCS MOS as well? Knowing tat would help suggest things for you, you're also gonna need to look at the websites and Wikipedia pages for USAF AFIT and Naval Postgraduate School (NPS), I bollixed up my changes for those, I had an O-6 recommend from my CO of my unit for NPS, I couldn't get it because I was a pluperfect idiot, as I'd said...you're gonna need to join sevl specific groups I'll suggest for you, believe me, I was well trained, I was just extremely stupid and foolish, squandering every chance I got...I !et two Apollo astronauts, one while I was in, one after I got out, I'll try to send you more later, believe what I tell you, trust what I say, I worked with and/or knew all technical fields while I was in, go into your hobbies, interests, reading, sports incl martial arts, the more you relate the more I and others can suggest, which specific assignment I'll try to elaborate on later, however, all of those, everything I related to you just now applies with equal vigor, I promise, send more, I'd be most eager to know as much as you can relate beyond what you already have, and believe me when I tell you, not vagueness, technical specifics of all your coursework, I assure you, nothing you'll relate will be beyond my exposure, promise, OK? Be as technical and detailed as you possibly think you're able, I'll try to point you to some very good technical stuff you'll likely not yet have encountered thus far, OK?

Response by CPT Joseph Gaskill made Feb 24 at 2019 12:19 AM

CPT Joseph Gaskill — Sun, 24 Feb 2019 00:19:17 -0500

I think it's too late for you to get SLRP - Student Loan Repayment Program from the Army. I think you had to have it in your contract when you signed your 09S contract , and it looks like you're already at OCS. SLRP if you do have it, is not unit dependent; rather it is on YOU to file the paperwork and forward it to the loan providers. I just did this Feb. 21.

Response by Capt Daniel Goodman made Feb 24 at 2019 1:02 AM

Capt Daniel Goodman — Sun, 24 Feb 2019 01:02:50 -0500

I can't help you with the loan stuff...I CAN help you make nest use of your trainjng, to get the most bang for the buck from it, however, OK?

Response by Capt Daniel Goodman made Feb 24 at 2019 1:22 AM

Capt Daniel Goodman — Sun, 24 Feb 2019 01:22:13 -0500

Lemme offer you a further pearl of wisdom, OK? I wound up in a unit I never expected, never initially wanted, and, as I'd told you, was too stupid to know when I was well off...whichever unit you wind up in, entirely up to you and USAR needs, it falls to your lot to make lemonade outta your lemons...good science is where you find it, it finds you, you don't always get to find it...any if those units, I can point you to difficult, stimulating material, I assure you...science, engrg, aren't fun, one is fortunate to have them be interesting, however, cultivating interest in your own mind, esp scientific interest, is an art, and an art is merely a science learned often painstakingly by anecdote I could regale you with anecdotes of how I taught myself to be a scientist, if you let me help you, ilk show you how with far less aggravation, honest, OK?

Response by CWO4 Jerry Place made Feb 24 at 2019 8:08 PM

CWO4 Jerry Place — Sun, 24 Feb 2019 20:08:29 -0500

I earned a PhD in Computer Science while serving in the USMCR. I stayed in the infantry after finishing my degrees and loved every second of it. For 11 months of the year I was a college professor teaching computer science and mathematics and a drilling reservist. During the 2-4 week annual training duty period I was an infantry officer. I served as an S-4a, S-3a and FSC. I had a sniper platoon for 2 years; I had a security platoon for 2 years; I was HQ Co XO and loved every second of my 30 year military career.

Think carefully about what you want to do in your military career. You have many options. Your CS degrees mark you as intelligent and capable, thus I think you will be allowed to do pretty much what you want.