Hi all,
Thanks for reading. I'm in an interesting position..
I'm currently in law school with a semester left for graduation. I'm the Student Body President. I've been offered an OCS slot for Aviation but have to leave in a month due to age limits (getting close to 27).
Being a Naval Officer is a dream, and serving as an Aviator would be an amazing honor. However, I am not sure if it would be worth leaving my post early. I can graduate law school with some work through on-line classes. It is the backing out of my position commitment that I am most hesitant about.
Hard to answer, but any thoughts are much appreciated.
I was in a similar type of situation. Been working in an office setting for two years after finishing up school, and also work with attorneys on a daily basis. Of course it depends on what you see yourself doing, but here's my take..the working private sector is always going to be around. You have at least 40 more years to work 50+ hours a week. And being 26, healthy, and fit, this is your chance to do something more than sit at a desk, or read legal briefs in the company library at 8pm on a Wednesday night.
The civilian working world is important, and I'm not belittling anyone's position. But serving the country, especially in this capacity, is only for a select few. If you happen to qualify for it (and you're being given the chance), I think you'd be selling yourself short by not taking the opportunity. Yes, you might be forgoing some potential future income. And you'll need to consider how you want to raise your family (or if you already have/want one in the future).
Ultimately, this is your chance to serve, fly the best aircraft with best crews, and do what you won't be able to later. And if you decide after 10 years that you would rather return to civilian life, I doubt there will be many other guys looking for lawyer jobs who can list Naval Aviator on their resume.
PM me if you want to chat more