italianlifter
New Member
Absolutely get a degree... When you get it makes no matter. If you get it before, you can go straight to being an officer... No enlisted bullshit. If you get it during, you can use Tuition assistance, looks good as f**k for your promotions, and you can bank your GI bill, but can be difficult.
The better question to ask is what are you capable of doing? Can you do school while having a 6AM to 6PM job? Deployments? Etc?... I always recommend to do school before joining... Focus only on school. Learn everything you can. Live in the library and your professors offices. If you do it on active duty you could potentially get swamped, unfocused, and blame the military for your failure. Also doing it before joining lets you mature. You get caught underage drinking on AD... You get an NJP... You get an NJP... good luck reenlisting and good luck commissioning(i think?).
Get a degree... find the time. Also... Saying you don't have the money is bullshit. If you're single with no kids, then you're not broke. I used federal loans and grants for my degree... No I'm not starving in debt, and after 10 years cumulative service in the military, they'll be completely forgiven and done with.
Also... Go to a reputable public university with a strong alumi program if possible... These schools have an awesome tradition that will suck you in and you will meet people that could potentially help you out one day. Also... College Football is life.
Gig 'Em
Igloo
Thank you sir for replying back to me and giving me good sound advice even though it may not be what I want to hear, its the truth. I agree with you that doing the schooling before entering would be the better option but since I'm 22 I do not want to have to wait till I'm 26 to finally enter the military. I believe I would be better off at least joining and going to school while in the military or if I am overlooking please let me know.
My question for you is would it be wiser of me to join the reserves and stay at my fire department or just leave the fire department and join fulltime/enlisted? I'm trying to weigh in all my options before signing that contract. Tomorrow morning I am heading to MEPS to take my ASVAb and get all my physicals done with.
Hope to hear back and thanks again for the advice sir.