Son has a degree but was encourgaged to go enlisted?

[EllenE]

My son has a degree in criminal justice, but when he enlisted no one talked to him about going to OCS. I know the other branches allow you to enlist as an officer, does the Navy? He's going to be an intelligence specialist and has it in his head that if he goes office he won't get the school he wants. Any advice??? Thanks!

[mavreens]

Yesterday, I was at MEPS wrapping up some loose ends for my OCS application and a bunch of kids were shipping out for boot camp. I saw parents saying their 'good-bye's to their kids and noticed the ones who had U.S. Navy on their tag. I knew that this time next year, there was the chance that I could have that sailor under my command. That's when it hit me like a ton of bricks. The moment I raise my right hand, take my oath and become an Ensign, I'll be responsible for their lives 24/7/365 whether they know it or not. How well I do my job will not only impact them immediately, but could very well effect them for years to come. I'm 24 years old, not much older than some of them, and I'll be the one they look to when the you-know-what hits the fan. If something goes wrong, I'll be the one writing that dreaded letter to you. So, at least in my head, being an officer is more about the lives that are entrusted to your command and less about the paperwork, money, jobs, 'prestige' that comes with it.

If your son wants that type of responsibility, then by all means, talk to an officer recruiter. If he has a shred of doubt about it, then he should wait.

[TexanOmaandPappa]

Being an officer is not for everyone. Being happy at what you are doing is what is important. I have one son who went in right out of High School into Nuke School and a son in law who at the same time went to OCS as he already had a degree and his teaching certificate. He is a Nuke Officer. I can tell you that my son is much happier with his choice than my son in law is with his right now...being the Junior Officer sucks eggs and he is miserable now and so is his wife. Hopefully it will get better but he will always have to prove himself. So yes more money but more headaches and stress...you have to decide what is more important to you. funny thing is my son in law who is a Nuke officer is really looking forward to his training next year in Goose Creek...he will get there right after my son finishes Prototype...ships passing in the night.

[Kaye S.]

Just a little heads up: I'm afraid that your son's life is also going to "suck eggs" for the first year on his boat/ship until he gets qualified. He'll be very low man on the totem pole.

[Lisa, Nuke Wife]

Amen to that. My husband is a new nuke in the fleet and his work life "sucks eggs" a lot right now. Being the new guy always sucks, as an officer or as enlisted. No way around that one!!

[Lynn]

Hi Ellen,
My daughter also has her degree in criminal justice and enlisted last year instead of going into OCS. Please request me as a friend and I will send you a personal message. Thanks.

[lynda n]

My older son joined the Army after getting a BFA from RIT, he decided to go enlisted instead of officer, because he felt at the time he was a better follower than a leader, and he didn't want the responsibility. He also felt he would be more respected if down the line he went officer from enlisted, so he would be someone just like the guys in the rank and file. He is now a SSG (Staff Sgt.), has been in 5 years and reenlisted this past June. He is well respected in his unit, so at this point he is considering going to OCS.

[TrekkieDad]

My son had his BA, and went into DEP about a year later. He preferred going in as an officer, but was willing to go enlisted. He took a lot of different exams, but eventually the Navy decided to send him to OCS. About half of those in OCS are from the enlisted ranks, the rest have no military experience at all. All have Bachelor degrees. OCS is tough for everyone. Even the "priors" said it was tougher than boot camp. (OC's get PT from Marine DI's.) I'd say about half the OC's do not graduate with the class they started with. That was the case with my son.

My son is now in the Surface Warfare community. SWOs are "generalists" and serve in different departments as they progress. As junior officers they receive instruction from the Chiefs. The eventual goal for a SWO is to command a ship. On the way they will serve in many different capacities and earn at least one advanced degree. Go to any ship's web site and read the bio of the Captain.

That being said, I believe the highest ranking OC in my son's class was a prior enlisted from Intelligence and was going into Crypto. Definitely, your son should be informed of all the options available to him, so he can make the right decisions.

[sarpilot]

What type of degree, if its a BA or BS, offiecer, OCS school, if its an AA or AS, something different. The Navy does have a program for people who have less than a Bachelors Degree. Also, tell your son to get his commitment in writing, (sometimes that doesn't help) Everything in military life, is not a given. Not trying to be negative, just real. Good Luck and God Speed.

[Keith's mom PIR 8/14 alum-Jan]

Hi everyone - I think the issue for EllenE is that the recruiter didn't discuss options for him. Some recruiters (and certainly they are in the minority) don't put the recruit's best interests first. A good recruiter will point him to all options and opportunities. Go to the official Navy website and investigate all avenues of joining. There are multiple programs for enlisted to go into the officer corps, if that's what he wants. He may even be happy doing one enlistment, then going to OCS; it will give him the hands-on experience he will need to be a good leader/administrator.

[tlw1017]

I was in the same situation. I have a Bachelor's Degree but wanted to be in the something related to the health field. I joined as a Corpsman. I could have joined as an officer but then I would just be a line officer who has nothing to do with what I am interested in. If I was a nurse I could have joined the nurse corps and been officer but I didn't have my degree in nursing, it is more just general health education.

Going officer is more money but not always the right choice, depends on what interests you.

[josh]

i initially went to my recruiter with an A.A. and had 2 semesters left to graduate with a B.S. in criminal justice. my recruiter encouraged me to look into becoming an officer because of college. he told me straight that if i didnt even fill out an officer packet and turn it in that i would be acting stupidly, of course this depends on if he wants to become an officer. the only problem i had was the rating that i wanted is not available to officers (Master At Arms) even though some officers are assigned to MA units as their COs. with my criminal justice background, he encouraged me to look into intelligence when becoming an officer. when i went to meps, just before i signed the contract, the staff in the office was adamant that i speak with a LT that dealt with officer selection because i had a degree and would earn my B.S. before i went to boot camp. the LT an i had a long conversation about options in the officer corps.
if you havent i would suggest talking with his recruiter and asking him if he could speak with an officer about selection, if that is something he wants. if his recruiter doesnt do it, i would suggest contacting an officer recruiter http://www.navy.com/findarecruiter/

[Texas Carol]

It seems like the opportunity to go the officer route vs. the enlisted route by virtue of having a college degree is easier in the other branches of service than in the Navy. My son has a degree and spoke to both an OCS recruiter and a regular recruiter before enlisting. The OCS recruiter discouraged him from applying because his degree was not in the math and science field and his GPA was not above a 3.2. My son decided to go enlisted but he really researched the job rates to be sure he got a job he would like (and he was willing to walk away if it didn't work out). They kept him an extra day at MEPS to find a match. He enlisted and went in as an E3 and is now an MC3. So far so good.