If you're able to, join the air force. Programs to Help Repay Your Student Loans. You can choose the entry depending upon the nature of commission i.e. Just beware that there is very little overlap in the too. If you have 24–47 you can enlist as an E-2. These are the officers who are in charge of the Seabee Battalions and oversee facilities construction and maintenance on Navy bases. Military engineering is loosely defined as the art, science, and practice of designing and building military works and maintaining lines of military transport and military communications. I've met a lot of really great people and the benefits are leaps and bounds above what I'd get as a civilian junior engineer. Because the money used to pay a military member’s tuition does not come out of that individual’s GI Bill, it preserves GI Bill benefits that can be used toward Tuition Assistance Top-Up while serving, for an advanced degree after serving, or in the case of the Post 9/11 GI Bill, a transfer of benefits to a dependent family member while still serving. By earning a degree, it shows on paper your qualifications to rise in the ranks and your readiness for your next promotion. I am currently in my last year studying mechanical engineering with a concentration in aerospace. The U.S. Army offers four engineering careers, three for enlisted soldiers and one for officers. You may have that punctuated by fear of death or the very rare feeling of helping someone not die. Do you intend to stay in for 6+ years or only 3-6? That being said, if you really want to do engineering, I'd really recommend going the civilian route to apply your degree to something. Go to your local recruiter’s office. I understand if this is something I want to do sacrifices will have to be made, but I want to get some answers from people in same job field as myself. Almost nobody serving in the military does any real engineering work; especially mechanical engineering. Active duty military members who specialize in certain areas, such as construction engineering, multichannel transmission systems maintenance, computer systems repairs and preventive medicine may qualify for enlistment bonuses ranging from $5,000 to $40,000. what about working in the air force as an electrical/electronics engineer? Human intelligenc… It helped my career because I work for a defense contractor. These schools last between 9 and 17 weeks, depending on which branch of the military you choose. If you’re interested in being an officer, I can take you through your options there as well. However, many people with college degrees join the military each year to become enlisted members of the special operations groups. Learn about great opportunities for enlisted airmen, officers and health care professionals. It's also important to recognize that most engineering positions within the military aren't design oriented positions. Here is the deal. If you want to serve but don’t want to commit long-term, your best bet is enlisting in the Army Reserves. AskEngineers is a forum for questions about the technologies, standards, and processes used to design & build these systems, as well as for questions about the engineering profession and its many disciplines. As an officer your main job isn't to engineer, its to lead people, its personnel management. Did you feel like your time in active duty was worth it? Engineers apply the knowledge of math & science to design and manufacture maintainable systems used to solve specific problems. I do not recommend being active duty enlisted with a CE degree - you’ll never use it. Don't let the recruiters push you into being enlisted with a bachelor's degree. There was one person I spoke to who did have a "Professional Engineer" license, but from what he told me, it seemed as if he barely had enough engineering experience (that was recognized by a provincial engineering organization) over a 20-year career, and that included a Masters in Engineering degree from the military. We get buses to and from our jets while people are working outside on the 140 F flight line (the Middle East is a very trying place to do anything), but flying for up to 22 hours at a time is incredibly trying on the body and mind. Even military engineering specialties are basically email jockeys acting as a liaison between contractors and the military. Officers are generally employed in management roles or highly specialized fields that require professional degrees (e.g., doctors, lawyers and chaplains). Yes, absolutely, and I agree with the other answers offered. Electrical Branch. But at this stage in the game, it may be your only option. r/engineering is a forum for engineering professionals to share information, knowledge, experience related to the principles & practices of the numerous engineering disciplines. Military engineers are also responsible for logistics behind military tactics. You have to wait 10 years to become a major and, by that time, engineering is far more lucrative. The time away from home thing can be good or bad, depending upon you and your circumstances. They will almost 100% hire you if you have an engineering degree and reserve status. Candidates must be between the ages of 18 and 30 if entering active duty, or between 18 and 33 if entering the reserves. This couldn’t be farther from the truth. In general, the Army requires all recruits to have at least a high school diploma; in addition, officer candidates must have a bachelor’s degree. Of the approximately 450,000 enlisted personnel in the Army, nearly all work in military occupation specialties that do not require a degree. r/engineering is **NOT** for students to ask for guidance on selecting their major, or for homework / project help. Its a fun hobby. Learn about great opportunities for enlisted airmen, officers and health care professionals. You'll find yourself working with some all stars, and some people who can't even seem to properly dress themselves in the morning. Unless you are 300% sure want to be USMC more than anything, I'd recommend a hard pass. This is seen on the outside (outside of the military and with some jealousy within the military) as the most spoiled position to be in. For the U.S. Navy, military engineers are part of the Civil Engineering Corps, which requires an engineering-related bachelor's degree and completion of a 12-week Officer Candidate School program. Joining the Military versus Going to College. Every service has a direct commissioning program, but it is usually the smallest commissioning source and therefore the most difficult to get into. You can create your own adventure in life. After completion of full-time bachelor’s degree in engineering, you have to apply for the professional engineer (PE) exam. Yes, absolutely, and I agree with the other answers offered. Honestly, my job is so much more exciting and rewarding than any engineering job I could imagine. Just finished graduate school last month with a Masters in Electrical Engineering and at the place where I intern, my supervisors suggested to me that I give joining the military as an officer via OCS/OTS a try, which is not surprising since my supervisors are all military personnel (Army Captain, Marine Major, Navy Commander). What you should do is to contact the university that you think that you will be attending and see if the school has an rotc department. Find competetive jobs in technical, environmental and combat engineering. The guard is a mix of people. When you join the military with a bachelor’s degree, you will make more money than joining as a high school graduate. I think the Air Force or maybe Army Corp of Engineers would have more of a use for an actual engineer? Reply. Press question mark to learn the rest of the keyboard shortcuts. The best you can hope for is a boring, moderately compensated life of bureaucracy punctuated by some excitement and travel. Army veteran myself. Your job will involve being a leader, managing/organizing people, new equipment acquisitions, project management, new policies, etc. Military science jobs include military officers, chemists, information security analysts, and more. There is very little engineering for most people. I was commissioned into the Transportation Corps in the Army after I got my mechanical engineering degree and was in an armored reconnaissance squadron the entire time. Military Technology Leadership. ... engineer officers must have at least a bachelor’s degree from an accredited school and be U.S. citizens. Read Slaughterhouse Five for the most poignant description of military life and war I have seen. Electrical Officers … Because the money used to pay a military member’s tuition does not come out of that individual’s GI Bill, it preserves GI Bill benefits that can be used toward Tuition Assistance Top-Up while serving, for an advanced degree after serving, or in the case of the Post 9/11 GI Bill, a transfer of benefits to a dependent family member while still serving. I'm not afraid of getting pigeonholed into any one specific thing. Let’s look at potential dangers and downsides to joining the Air Force. I grew up pretty poor and, as I get older and richer, I feel a responsibility to show my wealth as an example to enlisted people so they don't spend $1500 a month of World of Warcraft (I don't even understand how this is possible). I told him he might want to reconsider as long as he doesn't mind being told where to live. Don't blow off hw. If you don't get it in writing you are not getting whatever they promise you.). ... a pilot, you must be an officer, so you will need to have graduated from college. Press J to jump to the feed. Active duty military members who specialize in certain areas, such as construction engineering, multichannel transmission systems maintenance, computer systems repairs and preventive medicine may qualify for enlistment bonuses ranging from $5,000 to $40,000. Ultimately all of these points lead me to believe that someone with an engineering degree is best utilized outside of the military. At worst (from my experience) you could become a bitter husk of a person counting the days until you have some semblance of control over your own life and probably worse if you actually find yourself killing and being shot at as part of your job. Last I knew he finished up as a Captain in MARSOC. I am currently a captain in the US air force with five years in. Also as important is learning how you study best. Culinary specialists can expect to earn an extra $12,000. Its too much of a risk having an engineer be out for 6-10 weeks a year (guard time + vacation + possible natural disasters) and have risk of deployment. This financial aid is another attractive aspect of joining the military after graduating from college. Joining the army with a Bachelor's degree can bring you special pay and bonuses. I will not miss huddles with my boss at 6am before unit PT, getting my own vehicle inspected before long weekends (to make sure I have insurance and up to date registration), and safety briefs ensuring no one beats their wife while kicking their dog and drunk driving. If you absolutely need to become a servant to the government then have at it. Welcome to the United States Air Force. Buddy of mine did ROTC and entered the military as an officer upon graduation. It is absolutely true and there is a reason the tongue-and-cheek moniker "G.I" exists for soldiers. I studied mechanical engineering and the joined the (Canadian) Navy after graduating. Also, as with many other large organizations, the amount of paperwork and beaurocracy is mind boggling. I also love how there are lots of different directions I can take my career if I want to. I don't fly fighters but I am an aviator. This goes for active duty, enlisted members of the military and reservists who have completed a four-year degree, as well as civilians with a bachelor’s degree (who are not eligible for direct commissioning). Yes my time was worth it. I'm currently an active duty Naval Officer and let me just put a plug in for the Civil Engineering Corps: You get to serve your country and do civil engineering. They also get to do some really cool stuff like learn how to scuba/hardhat dive and do underwater construction as well as expeditionary construction building ports and runways in far off areas of the world with big equipment. If you join the USMC or Military doing anything besides something technical (Navy Engineering Officer, Navy Nuke Officer, Pilot, SeaBee, Army Engineering Officer which is construction management) will not be great for your engineering career. I was in the Army before I became an engineer, so I don't know if my experience would help you any. Air Force and Navy - E-3. What do you want out of your service? Engineering Careers in the Army. The U.S. Space Force is just 75 days old, but it has already narrowed down a tight list of 16 military job specialties that it will own, the director of Space Force Planning said Tuesday. Officers typically … Commissioned officers generally enter the Military with a four-year college degree or greater. Which branch exactly i'm not too sure on, but I was thinking the Marines for a number of reasons ranging from the leadership skills i'll gain to serving the country to potentially travelling around the world. Civil engineers oversee the repair, maintenance, and operation of heavy equipment. If you join the military with a master’s degree, especially the enlisted ranks, you may see some benefits, such as earning additional points toward advancement in rank. ... earning $18,194 in 2013. You might get a very little bit of work actually engineering something. Joined the Royal Canadian Navy after I graduated; coming up on 10 years in January. As long as you’re staying Guard/Reserves, you can afford to shoot for a variety of officer types. Right now the climate of the flying community is that we all feel totally used up and become husks of people after a few years. With a 4-yr degree like a BSME you qualify for several different roles as a “Line Officer” or you can be a reservist and work as an Engineering Duty Officer (EDO in the Navy for example. To join as an enlisted member or an officer typically depends upon what job you want to do in the Air Force. Learn as much as you can about each branch of military service and see which one will suit your needs. The military wants you to be educated and gives you all the tools necessary to get your degree. Choosing one of the 2020 best degrees for military officers will put you on the path to success and future career growth by teaching you the skills you need to advance your career and prepare you for careers outside the military. Responsibilities of a civil engineer also include clearing and emplacing obstacles such as minefields. They execute construction, operation, and repair of structures and facilities. Went to OCS and joined the marines after getting his BSME. I'm leaving service soon and have to decide whether to stay on the technician side to maintain quality of life or take a job as an entry level engineer/intern and a huge pay cut. You could also look at getting a GS job and actually be one of those civilians that works with the military. Worked out well for him but your mileage may vary. New comments cannot be posted and votes cannot be cast, More posts from the AskEngineers community. Joining the military will provide you with specialized training in any number of fields, depending upon the branch you are considering. The Army Corps of Engineers does do a lot of civil engineering, but even that is heavily dependent on their staff of civilian engineers. However, competition for some positions can be fierce, especially in occupations like electronics, engineering, science and health care. My Commanding Officer also spent some years with DARPA. Army - E-4. The positives are that, up until this point, the compensation is far above competitive for anyone but a petroleum engineer. My dad is a mechanical engineer and was active duty then reserve in the Air Force. Once your tenure is over, you are allowed to opt for PC. Figure out a budget and stick to it, take advantage of any sort of college payback programs they have, if nothing else the Soldiers and Sailors Relief Act should help drop any interest you might have on payments so you can help pay it off faster. In this case, whether you have your master’s degree or just a four-year degree, you will join the Navy at the same rank as other graduates … I received my engineering degree 5 years ago and am currently working for the private sector in construction. My plan/goal/dream for when I graduate is to fly for the Marine Corps, any insight on the difficulty of flight school (or getting into flight school etc) compared to engineering major and whatever else would give me a better idea, do you still use some of your engineering skills as a pilot, as I would like to return to engineering work after the military as I enjoy my internships a bunch. I'm currently a freshman mechanical engineering major and I was curious about thoughts on joining the military after getting my 4 year degree. Military adventure is your mind turning to absolute mush, being jerked around, and not sleeping. Behind the frontline they improve transport routes, construct camps, build runways and carry out bomb disposal. Instagram: @kidthndr2 Snapchat : @klop95 Email: ybemerica@gmail.com Today’s military is a well educated professional fighting force. If you do have an associates degree, there is a good chance you can become a warrant officer in the Army or Navy, where the pay and benefits are better. I have one of the harder enlisted MOS (jobs) to get into within the marines and I feel like my talents are wasted! That said, I have never regretted my decision to leave OCS and I have been extremely satisfied with being an NCO. Enlisted Seabee here. Officer Candidate School: Those with a 4-year degree who are not interested in student loan repayment can join the military and pursue one of many specialties. Marine Corps - E-2. You will mostly be treated the same as all other recruits, but you may occasionally be put in a leadership position. Just a piece of advice. Design teams are almost always small, experienced, and tight knit, so uh, good luck finding that job designing airplanes. At the front they support the rest of the Army, bridging rivers, using explosives to destroy bridges or clearing routes through minefields. I just got admitted to Embry-Riddle Aeronautical Uni, and going for aerospace. Did guard in college and continue today (11B). About 1/3 of Combat Arms Guardsmen are shitheads who were scared of enlisting. During my senior year in my BS MET, I enlisted in the Army to go to OCS. I am looking to join the military as either an officer or enlisted in the Reserves or National Guard. A military science degree gives you an education in leadership, tactics, strategies, history, and technology as they relate to issues of war, peace, diplomacy, and defense. You don’t need a certain rank to enter the army with a degree. Joining as an officer is to a large degree learning to deal with a lot of responsibility thrust upon you quickly. Engineering give you ample of opportunities for joining defense forces:- Specifically coming to army after engineering, you have many options. They will attend Officer Candidate School, OCS, to complete their … You may not get the rush of playing god as an engineer, but your contributions could result in far more saving of life (or killing if that is really your thing) than being the person pushing buttons. Yup. If you do have an associates degree, there is a good chance you can become a warrant officer in the Army or Navy, where the pay and benefits are better. There's some things that take some getting used to, what with the whole NCM / Officer relationships. Its just too much time outside the engineering field to retain information. The Royal School of Military Engineering Group. After pharmacy school, you can go in as an officer. I just left active duty after my four year commitment expired. For others, it is a gateway towards attaining self-reliance and maturity as well as get a chance to explore the world. Signal Analytics, satellite coordination, project management, coordinating government vendors, etc all require an engineering degree but aren't usually engineering topics but require a secret clearance. Civilians do most of the heavy lifting engineering-wise, as a new Lt you'd be mainly figuring out how to lead. Having a MILITARY BACHELORS DEGREE is extremely advantageous for anyone considering signing up after completing four years of college. Most of the recognized work came from the on-shore "billet" work. For better or for worse, there is a lot of diversity and various backgrounds. I just left active duty after my four year commitment expired. If you want to become a pilot, you must be an officer, so you will need to have graduated from college. , enlisted service members can advance and transition to officers during the course of military! Today ( 11B ) Corps of engineers is the only path to getting professional.... 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