College student thinking about enlisting

[jalevy86]

Hi,
I am a College Junior at Towson University. I really am only a Junior because of the number of credits I have (roughly 70 and should be around 85 by this school years end). I was originally a high school drop out, I was not a bad kid, just a product of a great public education. I immediately went to community college Fall 05 after I got my GED and got a 3.44 GPA while studying Computer Information Security. I transferred to Towson Fall 07 to study Computer Science with a track in Security and quickly found out the hard way that my lack of education in more complex algebra really limited my ability to keep with Computer Science (I got some bad grades and since you start a new with your GPA I was quickly hovering around only a 2.0, plus at that point I was getting tired of CS). I switch to International Studies and had a good run at getting into the CIA (couple hundred applicants and made it down to like the final 6) and ive been really happy with it since.

Ok now that my boring bio is over. I really would love to get a job in Intel with the exception being to get a commisioning in pretty much anything. I find myself with 2 years of college debt, all my loans are private except for maybe 4000 which is a federal loan thru FAFSA and looking at maybe 2 more years before I finally have my BA. I'm pretty much tapped out financially so i've been considering enlisting and gunning for Intelligence Specialist.

My questions are this:

While enlisted will I still be able to pursue my degree? 6 Years as a Intel Spec is a long time.

What are my paths to becoming an officer? Will I need to obtain my degree first? How does OCS work? Is it realistic? I hear once your enlisted your stuck enlisted. I kind of feel that my mentality is prone to wanting to rise to the top (check my bio)

If becoming an Officer is not really an option for me I want to use all my education benefits so if anyone has any experience on pursueing a degree while on active duty, if it is even possible. Please let me know. I also see a new GI Bill is in the works, I would hope to use that to pursue a Masters?

I'm full of questions so i'll try and stop myself here.

Thank you in advance, I see my recruiter this Friday at noon so hopefully I get some replies and tips before then.

 

[nzachman]

Search for BDCP (Baccalaureate degree completion program) for the Navy on google or the search function on this site. This is a great program which I am in which will help you tremendously if you need money to get through college. It won't help with your current loans, but basically you enlist for the duration of your college and make E-3 pay; then go on to OCS and your training upon completion of your degree.

If you have any other, more specific, questions that aren't otherwise answered with a little research, fire away. PM me if need be.

Best of Luck

Nick

 

[jalevy86]

Yeah I just learned about that program today. It looked like it would be a pretty good fit for me. I think part of me also wants a change of scenery. Would it be smart to put off full time college in that respect? I think that a little bit of time seeing the world and getting away from school (at least full time) might help me come back to with a winning attitude. This is my 4th year in college after all.

So I guess the answer I'm hoping to hear is "Yes, if you enlist now and continue working towards finishing your degree you shouldn't have a hard time getting into OCS!"

haha

 

[nugget61]

I'm going to have to reiterate the search for 'bdcp intel'.
If, however, you get into BDCP they put you on a rigid (full time) schedule to graduate, at which point you will go to OCS. So you can't fail and retake if its going to put you a semester behind, you just have to pass.
I know that there are enlisted to officer programs, but I don't know about the difficulty of getting in. However, I do know that BDCP Intel is insanely selective.
Why have you only completed 70 hours in 3.5 years? Sounds like you just need to just bear down, knock out the degree and move on.

 

[jalevy86]

some of the semesters have been part time and when I first transferred to my 4 year school I had trouble adjusting to the pace. So I changed majors. Its a weird situation.

 

[atrickpay]

Yeah I just learned about that program today. It looked like it would be a pretty good fit for me. I think part of me also wants a change of scenery. Would it be smart to put off full time college in that respect? I think that a little bit of time seeing the world and getting away from school (at least full time) might help me come back to with a winning attitude. This is my 4th year in college after all.

So I guess the answer I'm hoping to hear is "Yes, if you enlist now and continue working towards finishing your degree you shouldn't have a hard time getting into OCS!"

haha

From what I have read on this website, enlisting is probably the hardest way to obtain your commission. If you think you would be able to afford seeing the world, you can probably handle 2 more years of tuition. I too am in my 4th year of college, and am just now applying for the BDCP program. I still have 1.5-2 years to go, but keep in mind if you decide to apply for BDCP, you have to maintain full time status.

My recommendation would be to stick it out, finish your degree, and apply for BDCP as soon as possible. Get in touch with an officer recruiter, they will explain everything to you in detail. If you go to an enlisted recruiter first they might be able to explain some of the enlisted-to-officer programs. There is a wealth of information on this website though so you should check it out and get yourself armed with info beforehand. Some of the programs I know of are the STA-21 (seaman to admiral) and BOOST. There may be others.

Best of luck to you.

 

[OccamsRazor]

BDCP Intel

Do you want to be an officer, or do you want to do intelligence? I think that's your key decision, and from what you said it sounds like you want to be an officer. BDCP Intel is a terrific option (and it's not impossible to get in, just tough) or you could consider applying for BDCP for another designator, or directly to OCS. To echo atrickpay, contact an officer recruiter, they can really give you better gouge for your particular situation. If you talk to an enlisted recruiter, don't make a choice you won't be happy with.

 

[fusu]

jalevy,

I'm doing BDCP Intel right now. BDCP is a great deal, PM me if you want any info on the particulars of my application.

Also you need to be a full time student to be in BDCP. Keep that in mind as you think about your options. It sounds like you have some reservations about that.

Fusu

 

[jalevy86]

I think reading Air Warrior has given me the impression that the enlisted life is awful. I'm sure that isn't entirely accurate. I think I really want to do intel which is really hard to do if you want to go the officer route. Would it be so bad to become an Intel Specialist and continue my degree part time? I think I would make a great officer but I don't think I need it after some thought about what I really want.

I have enough credits that I would be going in as an E-3 and from people I know in IS it wouldn't be long after A school that I would likely be promoted.

I think after reading some post here I just spooked myself into thinking that I would have to completely put my life on hold for 6 years (i'll be 29 after 6 years). But I'll still be able to get married and have my wife live on base with me with her two cats, continue my degree, and save for that nice house in Langley when I continue my career, right?

I definitely don't mind working overseas (or on them) and away from home months at a time. But I've spooked myself into thinking enlisted life = no life and that can't be true, right?

 

[nzachman]

And if you do BDCP you enlist as an E-3, get to enjoy college, then do your thing in the Navy. I don't get why you don't just apply and if they say no then think about going a different route. You want to be an officer? You want to go intel? Then put in the work, do the paperwork, apply, get accepted, drink lots of beer....simple as that.

 

[jalevy86]

alright, I'll make an appointment with an Officer recruiter. I just saw my Adviser today and I am 4 semesters from graduating in International Relations, so fall 2010.

Thank you for the help guys!

 

[jalevy86]

I am assuming with BDCP that if for whatever reason you wash out and don't become an officer that you will just go in enlisted? Do you have to pay back money paid to you while you were in school?

I'm not planning on doing this of course! but, I just don't know anything about this program.

 

[nugget61]

If you fail out of OCS after taking money, you owe something like 2 years enlisted.

 

[Stick]

I think reading Air Warrior has given me the impression that the enlisted life is awful. I'm sure that isn't entirely accurate.

But I've spooked myself into thinking enlisted life = no life and that can't be true, right?

Enlisted life is whatever you make of it, just like everything else in life. I personally loved being enlisted, but can't wait to become an officer.

If you are getting your degree you should apply for a commission. It is difficult to get INTEL (from what I hear), but that shouldn't stop you if that is your dream. Don't let someone else convince you that you can not achieve your dreams. Mine was to become a naval aviator and now I am in a spot to make it happen. Many people told me it would never happen, but here I am in STA-21 selected for pilot. Life doesn't get any better than knowing your dreams will come true.

Go for INTEL if that is what you want, and don't settle for anything less.

 

[jalevy86]

Since Intel Officer is really competitive, does anyone know about Information Warfare? My first college courses were in Information Security and I was in IT for 3 years full time while in Community College. I am A+ and Network+ Certified, took Cisco Academy courses, competed in cyber defense competitions, etc.