Brother enlisting with college degree?

[txrelative88]

Hi everyone! 

My brother is about to graduate college with B.S. in Engineering Technologies. Last year, he informed my family that he wanted to enlist in the military after graduating, taking us all by surprise. We are a military family; my dad and grandfather both served in the Navy. But my parents are very worried and think he's crazy for not trying to go in as an officer! I think they are a little disappointed too...they say he has so much potential. Not that joining the military is a bad thing! But they said that they worked really hard and while it was a good experience for them, it was a hard life and they wouldn't wish it for their son to go enlisted. I think they're beginning to accept the fact that he wants to join military, but now do not understand why he wants to go enlisted. It doesn't help that the pay is low, which I know shouldn't matter, but I think my parents (and I) just want him to have a better lifestyle then they had growing up. It's really hard and stressful on the family. My other brother and sister are attending college too (there are four of us). I'm about to graduate with a masters. We are all trying to be supportive, but it's just hard when the unexpected happens.

He's already talked to some Navy recruiters. His plan is to go in for four years, get some experience involving his degree, and then find a job outside of the military. Is this realistic? Will he get the experience he needs to find a job later? He says that he will do grunt work for awhile, then eventually be promoted to where he can get that kind of experience (with developing or making machinery/mechanics or something like that).

Has anyone had a similar experience? Any advice?

This is my first post so please bear with me!

[Anti M]

I knew plenty of enlisted sailors who had four year degrees.  They wanted the hands on experiences, rather than the purely leadership riles most officers tend to have.  This is an old argument.  Officers may get higher paychecks and more privileges, but they do a very different job.  I guess the lower pay, and the fact junior sailors do some crappy chores makes people look down on them.  They should not, being a sailor is what it is... and personally, I didn't think the pay was that bad.  I preferred the enlisted life.  

It is realistic to look at good jobs after leaving the military.  Veterans often have preference in hiring.  Although four years is underestimating the better programs; those tend to be six years as the schooling itself can run up to two years.  

I have three friends who were electronics technicians in my shop who now have very good jobs.  One is downright wealthy.  

Please, do not look on your brother's decision as something lesser or a failure.  Not everyone wants to be an officer, and there is no shame in choosing to go enlisted.  

[txrelative88]

Thank you for your advice! I'll relay this information to my parents. We love my brother very much and want to be supportive. It's nice to know that there are others in similar situations and his career plan has a positive outlook.

[BunkerQB]

I don't think his B.S. in Engineering Technologies may not be a strong enough engineering major to qualify him to be a nuclear officer - the are where the Navy is the most short handed. However, he obviously is strong in math - so going in as a enlisted Nuke or IT was actually be great alternative. My son graduated with honors with a degree in electrical engineering (consider the most difficult of all the engineering specialties - the most difficult to get into and the most difficult to complete). He joined the Navy as a nuke officer on a sub. He will freely admit that he has met many enlisted guys he considers as smart as he is and a few whom he would considers smarter than he is. Those enlisted men either simply didn't get the opportunity to attend college or were not interested in the academic track and prefers the get-out-of-high-school-and-go-to-work track. Many companies (in or outside of the nuclear energy field) will hire ex-nukes.

I believe your brother is making a smart choice by getting into the Navy as an enlisted guy - I would recommend going into a field w high transfer-ability to civilian jobs.

Let's say he gets in as a nuke, he works for a few years and proves that he is top notched as an enlisted personnel. He can decide at that point if he wants to stay in the Navy or not. If he does, he can then go with the warrant officer path or apply for Officer Candidate School path (for commissioned officers).

Overall, he can't go wrong with joining the Navy.

[txrelative88]

I'm not sure if he has considered going in Nuke. I know he's not interested in becoming an officer at any time though! I'm worried about the job hunt after the military like they mention on this thread:

http://www.calguns.net/calgunforum/archive/index.php/t-382508.html

How does it work if he gets out after four years enlisted? What kind of areas might be good for him to go into and focus on in the Navy with his degree? Which are high transfer? Would he get a lot of hands on experience in his field? I don't know much about the logistics and I just want to understand what he's getting into!

Thank you so much for your advice! 

[BunkerQB]

I don't know of anyone currently who is going in w just a 4 year commitment. It's probably 5 for officers and 6 for many enlisted guys. The training for nuke is almost 2 years. The Navy wants some return on their investment. So your brother better take that 4 year thing out of his head. Maybe the the Army or the Marines. You can google "job opportunities for ex Navy nukes" and any combination thereof. You'll find tons of info.

Good luck to your brother.

[Angie]

There are TONS of people who go in with 4 year contracts...only those who have a special school that requires a "C" school go in with 6 year contracts.

 

[BunkerQB]

OK. Thanks for the correction - if you can list the ones with special schools - maybe that will help everyone understand things better.

[Angie]

too many to list, as there are also different kinds of contracts out there.  No two people joining are the same, even if they pick the same rate.  To many variables to just make a list that would cover everyone. 

 

Example...you can have someone sign up to be an EN and get a 4 year contract...than you can have someone sign up for EN and get a "C" school written into the contract and they get a 6 year contract.