Posted on Dec 12, 2018
Should I join the military as a 25B or stick with certification and finish my Bachelors in Computer Science?
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I'm 24 my wife is in the army, and I want to be more successful in life. I want to know if I should join the military or stick with cert and finishing my Bach in computer science? I'm all bout the money tbh? Help please?
25B: Information Technology Specialist
Cisco Certified Network Associate (CCNA)
Certified Information System Security Professional (CISSP)
Posted >1 y ago
Responses: 11
Finish your degree. Joining the military is a big commitment, so do not join just for the money.
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Stanley Isma If you've already got the cert, good for you. I'd suggest completing your degree and if the military is still of interest, apply for OCS. Best of luck.
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If you are all about the money, finish your university until you get MS in Computer Science in INFOSEC. In the long run it can get you up to +100K with less than 1 year experience in the field out at civilian sector.
When I was working as IT Specialist INFOSEC (Cyber Security Engineer) I was making 80K with only BS in Computer Science in Network Engineering and 11 years of experience in IT field, but I am currently a IT Specialist SA (Systems Administrator) I only making 69K, but I feel like I am contributing something to the advancement of humanity.
It is all about what you want in life I guess. My military career was bit rough at beginning and in the early middle, but I am enjoying being specialist in my field and in military for 1 weekend a month, 2 to 3 weeks a year. I do OK in the civilian life, there is a light at the end of the tunnel for me out side of military.
If you want and thinking about to join the Army. I will say from experience, 25B is a basic help desk work in the Army from E-1 to E-5. If you want to do more and gain experience in advanced IT work, go for 17C. 17C at least you get to dabble in policy and planning for IT infrastructure. Or 25N, here you have chance to play with network switches and routers and many other network of things.
When I was working as IT Specialist INFOSEC (Cyber Security Engineer) I was making 80K with only BS in Computer Science in Network Engineering and 11 years of experience in IT field, but I am currently a IT Specialist SA (Systems Administrator) I only making 69K, but I feel like I am contributing something to the advancement of humanity.
It is all about what you want in life I guess. My military career was bit rough at beginning and in the early middle, but I am enjoying being specialist in my field and in military for 1 weekend a month, 2 to 3 weeks a year. I do OK in the civilian life, there is a light at the end of the tunnel for me out side of military.
If you want and thinking about to join the Army. I will say from experience, 25B is a basic help desk work in the Army from E-1 to E-5. If you want to do more and gain experience in advanced IT work, go for 17C. 17C at least you get to dabble in policy and planning for IT infrastructure. Or 25N, here you have chance to play with network switches and routers and many other network of things.
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Stanley Isma
I didn't know nothing out 17c or 25n lol but idk I feel like if i did go into the military il have better chances getting a job. I feel like I wont get a job over military background
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SGT (Join to see)
If you just want to have "Military Veteran" perk in your portfolio, complete your BS in Computer Science. Become a Signal (25A) or Cyber (17A) Officer complete your mandatory 6 years in the Army. Make sure you have command experience during your 6 year service. By this time you have spent 10+ years of honing your skill, and have fairly good looking resume. Apply for a job in Cyber or IT industry as Technical Project Manager and you will be making 100K a year.
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SGT (Join to see)
On the other hand, getting a job in the Cyber or IT field is easy. You can work towards it while you are in school for Computer Science. While you are attending classes, get into a school sponsored work study program. Preferably in a IT help desk or Jr Systems Administrator position if available, there are not much of making money at this point, but you do not have to worry too much about tuition cost. Also this will give you bit of experience working in a IT field. While in school get more IT certifications, join your schools local CIS study group, and volunteer for CIS or Physics projects with your professors. When you graduate; you will have limited but valuable experience, shiny new university diploma, and IT certifications. Starting out you will not make a lot of money (may be 45K to 55K a year) but after +10 years of Cyber or IT field experience you have higher chance to make +130K a year easy.
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