Considering Enlisting in the Army, please help!

[jcabin]

I'm 22 years old, going to be 23 in september. i'm currently 1 year into my associates degree, ive got about 3 semesters left. I'm a criminal justice major, because i want to go into law enforcement, specifically federal law enforcement. I was planning on transferring to a university to get my bachelors in criminal justice, but recently ive been considering joining the military. I want to join because of several reasons; i believe it is something i should do as an american, it would be good for my personal growth overall, and it will really help my future as an LEO. I would plan on enlisting after i receive my associates, then working on my bachelors degree while im enlisted. I've always said if i joined the military it would be under a combat position, i suppose therefore i would be going into an infantryman MOS. I suppose from there my specific job would be selected. However i also know of the Military Police, which would definately look excellent on a law enforcement resume, but then again, so would being a combat soldier. I dont know how much combat the MP's see. Im not against this position but im not for it. I know i might be biting my tongue off here but i do want to see combat, the same way as a law enforcement officer i would want to see action. If anyone who has experience in this sphere of operation could assist me it would be much appreciated. I would also like to know what my options would be for having a 2 year degree, and what type of benefits/pay i could expect upon enlistment. I thank you for your help and your time, it is much appreciated.

[Ed Ely]

Sorry, but you cannot have your cake
and eat it also. Any member of the Armed
Forces can and will be deployed.

Your cause and interest is noble and
thank you for stepping up.

Most recruiting is done to fill quotas
for what the military is looking for at
that particular moment. Whatever you
choose, get it in writing.

Yes, there are a lot of MPs deployed,
but these guys don't act as enforcers
of the law as such, they do truck driving,
security work, grunt work and stand along
side all the other troops. Perhaps a state-
side assignment would put you in a more
traditional LEO work environment. War is
hell, and we need all the help we can get.

Good luck!

Ed

[bps3040]

Whatever you
choose, get it in writing.

My son joined the Navy, The recruiter convinced him to change his choice, and got the change in writing. I tried to tell my son........, but they know best. So, the recruiter lied thru his teeth
and my son cannot change for at least 2 years.
The recruiters have a quota to fill, so, they lie,lie,lie. Get it in writing. Oh, by the way, they also screw you out of your $20,000 "bonus"

Good luck

[MarineFlyboy]

My wife's cousin just enlisted in the Army and he has a 2 year degree. I'm pretty positive since he has his AA, he is going in as an Specialist (E-3) so he is stating off making a little bit more money than the average guy that goes in as a E-1 or E-2. As for seeing combat, if you get into a combat arms MOS, I'd say its a safe bet you'll be in Iraq or Afghanistan. Good luck!

[ArmyGuy45]

i would say do it.. i have loved it every minute of it..
but get a job that has a clearance since that will get you bigger dollars on the outside world
MPs have a Secrect clearance which is not bad.. but there are better ones out there.
unless you medically cant go, your going to get deployed.

as for getting your degree.. ( if you get your AA )youll come in as a SPC so be prepared to be handed responsibility right off the bat from basic on to AIT to even your next unit. Then youll make SGT pretty quick because the army is handing it out like candy in certain MOSs, so be ready for that.

If this all sounds good to you.. then sign up.. its been a fun a ride for me.. and i plan on staying in a bit longer

[Cannibul]

Originally Posted by bps3040

My son joined the Navy, The recruiter convinced him to change his choice, and got the change in writing. I tried to tell my son........, but they know best. So, the recruiter lied thru his teeth
and my son cannot change for at least 2 years.
The recruiters have a quota to fill, so, they lie,lie,lie. Get it in writing. Oh, by the way, they also screw you out of your $20,000 "bonus"

Good luck

It's not so much that they lie but teenagers tend to hear what they want to hear.

And it's impossible for a recruiter to screw you out of a bonus. There is this thick stack of paper that you are supposed to read and sign. Most people just sign. That's their bad. If you sign up for a bonus and qualify for the bonus you get the bonus. It's pretty simple. If you don't sign up for a bonus then you don't get one. Sign up for one and fail to qualify and you don't get one. Pretty standard contract terms.

[13Fox]

Originally Posted by ArmyGuy45

as for getting your degree.. ( if you get your AA )youll come in as a SPC so be prepared to be handed responsibility right off the bat from basic on to AIT to even your next unit. Then youll make SGT pretty quick because the army is handing it out like candy in certain MOSs, so be ready for that.

Not quite. With an associate's degree, you'll come in as an E-3...the only way to come in as an E-4 is to either have a 4-year degree, or join the band.

[ArmyGuy45]

Originally Posted by 13Fox

Not quite. With an associate's degree, you'll come in as an E-3...the only way to come in as an E-4 is to either have a 4-year degree, or join the band.

thats how it was when i was coming in.. did they change it?
i came in as a E 2 cause i pasted a pt test before joining the army...
but i saw guys coming in as a E 4 cause they had a AA degree

[JTF96B]

If you are interested in Federal Law Enforcement MP will not help much. Look at 35M, that is a HUMINT operative. You will be trained to work with sources and conduct interrogations, plus you will get the security clearances that will give you a leg up. 35M's see a lot of action. 20 of the 28 who worked for me last time I was in Iraq earned their Combat Action Badges (CAB) some of them getting confirmed kills.

Once you make E5 you can apply to be a 35L, Counter Intelligence Agent. That's the job that will really open up Fed Jobs.

Anything you do in the Army now days plan on going to Iraq or Afghanistan, probably multiple times in an enlistment.

What ever you decide to do, good luck. Look up GoArmy.com and learn all you can about the different jobs available. Better yet get someone who is already in to go with you to talk to the recruiter. The army recruiters do not have quotas by MOS, they just have to get two recruits a month. The counselor at the MEPPS will try to fill quotas by MOS. Just let them know what job you want and be prepared to walk out if you don't get it. Remember they really do not want you to leave the MEPPS station.

[jcabin]

My best friend and his brother are in the service, he's in the navy and his brother in the army, but just got sent to afghanistan. neither of them will be able to acompany me unfortunately.