Which branch of the military should I join?

I had every intention of enlisting in the Navy. I had been a Sea Scout. I was a competitive navigator. I had my Coast Guard Operators License. I had a college degree. What other choice was there. Well, the Navy dragged their feet and I ended up in the Army. (Interestingly, the Navy called four hours after I was sworn into the Army to congratulate me. I had been accepted. Right)

Well, it's easier to look around at the opportunities from the inside. Recruiters are notorious for promising anything, especially when they have a prime candidate champing at the bit to get in.

Let me offer you a test. Ask the recruiter of each branch to show you their listing of MOS's (Military Occupational Specialties). The length and breadth of those lists are indicative of the opportunities. Now those service members (past and present) know where this is going (don't you). The Army listing is as long as the others combined (or approximately so) because the mission of the Army is inclusive of so many more challenges. It may not be the most glamorous branch. Members of the others have good reason to be proud of theirs. But pride isn't what you're looking for, is it. You know that you will serve with pride in any branch of the military. You're looking for opportunities and I've shown you how to measure it.

(Join to see) what flavor engineer are you? That has a lot to do with your choice, however you need to be braced for being assigned in a career field that has little to do with your academic field. I am a civil engineer, but have been a logistician and an Ordnance Officer for 22 years. I have used civil engineering three times in that career, came in handy as a Garrison Commander. The bachelor's degree is a box check for the commission.

As for the Army, If you are electrical, you may want signal corps. If you are mechanical, possibly Ordnance. If you are civil, you may want Ordnance, Transportation, or Engineers. You will not work in a U.S. Army Corps of Engineers assignment before Captain, likely not until Major. A background with project management will be helpful. Not all civil engineering programs are the same, mine was heavy on structural. If you leaned towards transportation engineering, Transportation branch may be good, especially at the strategic level later in your career. aeronautical engineers could branch aviation and then lean towards aviation maintenance later, may be Acquisition branch later working acquisition/evaluating aircraft. That is niche.

Which ever service you choose, the (advancement) promotion system is largely based on the year you enter. All the officers in that year group compete against each other, one grade at a time. It is all based on federal laws, managed on service regulations and policy. Promotion is tighter in smaller services. But it is all based on your performance against your peers, key and developmental assignments, and selection for competitive based schools (Intermediate level education, war college etc). Doing well in tough jobs will carry you far.

Deployments are relative. The Navy has routine 6 month deployments on board ship organized in task groups. But if you are a career field on the beach, it doesn't work the same. Marines typically deploy 7 months to combat zones as a Marine air ground task force (MEU, MEF, MEB), or deploy as part of a Naval task group on an ocean going deployment. What I have seen from the Airforce is they deploy 4-9 months depending on what the job is. Many deploy as individuals and form an ad hoc unit upon arrival (in the bucket). The Army by in large deploys as a unit at Brigade level, but can go smaller for enablers like logistics, for 9-12 months. This all changes based on urgency, needs of the service and force commitments.

I have ZERO regrets about this choice in my life. I have travelled the world, gotten three degrees, met my wife, served with some of the best people in the world, and served in combat at the crossroads of history. I absolutely have gotten the utmost satisfaction from this career. I am retiring this summer, all good things come to an end.

You have to be prepared for the eventuality that you will not use your degree everyday or at all. But if you are a civilian engineer you have to be prepared to bounce company to company, contract to contract, until you make a name and reputation for yourself. Study hard and get your EIT certification and then go back for the PE regardless of what you do. Regardless of branch, get in top physical shape. All branches have physical standards. Marines are probably have the toughest, then the Army. All branches use the physical challenge to strip off the outer layer to see what you have underneath.

You also have to prepare to lead people. It won't be about you, it is all about your people and the mission. Stuff that is not your fault, will be your fault. If you are wondering whose job it is, it is probably yours.

You have to decide your career goals, but as an Engineering student, I would suggest one of the following:
1) Navy Nuclear Power
2) Combat Engineers (Seabees, Army CE, etc..)
3) Civil Engineering (Navy, Army, don't know about MC, CG, AF)...
4) Navy Engineering Duty Officer - managing shipyard construction and overhauls...

But you have to decide what you WANT TO DO...

You are asking that question on a Navy based area of RP. Its obvious that you should join the AF.

Leon,
First of all I commend you on wanting to serve for your country. Reading what you wrote I think you should ask yourself a question first. Do you want to pursue an MOS that is related to what you are studying? If so, I would say the Marines are not the branch for you. Now if you are looking for discipline, humanitarian missions and combat, that is our job. The Navy and Marines handle a lot of humanitarian missions. because we deploy aboard ships it is easy to get to a location with tons of supplies to assist in the wake of a disaster or assist a small village in rebuilding a school or homes. 5 of my 6 deployments were aboard a ship. we are highly trained to do any mission we may be tasked with. With the assistance of the Navy we can float or fly ashore to help a country destroyed by an earthquake, help rebuild a school, protect and reenforce a US embassy, non lethal riot control or load out for a combat mission. I have done all the above. Now, the deployments and combat will differ depending on your MOS. I was in artillery so when the grunts deployed so did we.
As for advancement, that is hard to say. Some MOS promote faster than others. You would most likely be an officer. I am not sure how they promote. Hopefully a Marine office may be able to chme in on that.
Good luck, hopefully I didn't come off to much like a recruiter.

Join whatever branch has the program and lifestyle you want.

If I had to do it again, I would have joined the Marines.

I think their equally good, but its up to you to check them all out and see which one has the most to offer you with your education. I joined the Army first because I was an Army Brat living in Germany so I was around the Army most of my life. I just followed in my Dad's footsteps and back in 1966 when I enlisted I knew I was going to Vietnam. I hope you will really take the time to check them all out and find the one that's a good fit for you and not them. Good luck in your future.

Marine Corps is the only answer to your question without a doubt. 0311!

Try the navy I did NJROTC my freshman year and my instructor was a engineer on a sub. If you like water and tight spaces then that is an option. I personally want to join the army or airforce