Career After The Army

[SSearchVT]

Yes college would be the ideal choice but then im back to square one again on what to go to school for. The GI Bill deal is crazy, I know but I think I rather use it for a trade school rather than college.

I could barely stand high school I dont think I could deal with college. I ended up leaving high school and got my GED and joined the Army.

Reguardless I am coming back to Boston, what I will do when I get there I dont know as of now.

Sometimes I wish I would of picked a different job in the military that could of set me up for the civillan world.

College is a different game then high school - at least that was my take for mechanical engineering. You'll also be entering as an adult that has been exposed to the outside world, not going directly from high school into college (I took a few years off to work and went back at 21 - never regretted a second of it).

Free advice - talk to the admissions people at a few junior colleges (business, engineering, general studies, etc), and look at taking a few classes to get your feet wet. If the government is paying for it - run it for all it's worth. Education never hurts...

[BMFR6]

good question.
i was actually in your shoes like 10 years ago. the military, in my case the marines, always tell you about all the opportunities you'll have after being a grunt, leadership, management, etc. well thats all BS. employers do love that shit, but without a degree you won't be walking into any middle/upper management positions. you will be starting at the bottom of any company.

imho, your best bet, get out, go to school part time and just pick up a job doing anything. get readjusted to being a civilian and then make a decision. no word of a lie, you are going to be too intense for a lot of places when you get back. there arent many companies that work near the pace you are used to. i was flat out told by my director at one time to slow down, your making the other employees uncomfortable.

so get out, get adjusted and then make a choice

plus, you get free education at state schools in MA and you can collect the GI bill as well if you want.

[DaSarge]

good question.
i was actually in your shoes like 10 years ago. the military, in my case the marines, always tell you about all the opportunities you'll have after being a grunt, leadership, management, etc. well thats all BS. employers do love that shit, but without a degree you won't be walking into any middle/upper management positions. you will be starting at the bottom of any company.

imho, your best bet, get out, go to school part time and just pick up a job doing anything. get readjusted to being a civilian and then make a decision. no word of a lie, you are going to be too intense for a lot of places when you get back. there arent many companies that work near the pace you are used to. i was flat out told by my director at one time to slow down, your making the other employees uncomfortable.

so get out, get adjusted and then make a choice

plus, you get free education at state schools in MA and you can collect the GI bill as well if you want.

You speak the truth my friend. Adjustment should really be the first ultimate goal.

I completely understand the whole too intense deal. I know that I will have to work on blending in with those around me and treat people like people and not soldiers. Its funny because I can just see myself working under some zit faced kid with a hello my name is name tag. I cant make people do push ups for being late or pissing me off anymore

After looking over this thread with everyones advice i realized that maybe im looking too far into the big picture and not focusing enough on getting back out into the world in small steps.

I guess working doing whatever I can find at the time and going to school part time would be a good idea or even vice versa. Even though im positive I will feel im taking a step back in life in reality its a huge leap forward towards intigrating into civillan life.

[BMFR6]

and the pay is better out here also!

[Kham]

Theres always one...What kinda question is that..I wont even entertain this one...

they are legit questions. ones media might ask in interview. people wanna know if a solder like youself would fear death or hesitate to shoot. not looking for entertainment this time.

[Degsy]

Spencer, focus on staying safe and getting back home in one piece. After you get out of the military take a couple of months vacation somewhere warm and THINK about what you want THEN.

I say get some education using the GI bill. if you want to get into the bike industry there are better ways to do it than going to MMI (not that I don't think MMI would necessarily be a bad thing). Get a specialization in tuning, mechanical engineering or suspension and work for yourself.

[Degsy]

they are legit questions. ones media might ask in interview. people wanna know if a solder like youself would fear death or hesitate to shoot. not looking for entertainment this time.

OK, finger is on the button.

[jcbell1007]

forgive me if I repost something, too much stuff to read.

you should look into the Vet. Preference programs that federal agencies are running. ICE and Border Patrol, FBI, etc... all have some sort of Veterans Preference programs. Some of them have direct hire capabilities that you could look into.

I'm a cop right now, looking into Border patrol and the FBI and the hiring processes are pretty extensive. One of my co-workers, who is a vet., just submitted his application to ICE, because a buddy of his works there. under the direct hire stuff, he got a conditional offer right off the bat, and is currently going through the background. I would kill to be able to have that preference right now.

[BMFR6]

they are legit questions. ones media might ask in interview. people wanna know if a solder like youself would fear death or hesitate to shoot. not looking for entertainment this time.

kham, thats out of line and if the media were to ask, they would be out of line.

[Doc]

and the pay is better out here also!

Don't be so sure about that.

As a Nurse I was making low 40's. As a full time Army E-6 I am making upper 60's

Join the AGR Spence.


I need to touch on the intensity and transition thing as well. Take your time, maybe talk to someone in the VA. Civilians are a whole different animal, even alot of us military types have no f'ing clue what you have been through because we have not been in your shoes. It might take a bit to not get mad when someone doesn't lock up when you are talking to them.

When I came off my first tour of active duty in 1992 I was full of myself,(even more than I am now if you can believe it) I thought I could get any woman, and kick anyone's ass. I was a high speed, low drag, wind tunnel tested mother fucker!

Luckily I had a couple close friends from High school who had the balls to sit me down and tell me that I had become an asshole. I took the advice and eased up. Like BMFR6 I had to adjust my life pace.

Get the schooling, look into what courses might help you in the fields you want to be in. Management courses are good place to start. maybe try Part time police work or hell try being a firefighter (you can get some jollies running into burning buildings let me tell you!)

Good luck man! We are here for you brother.

[Doc]

forgive me if I repost something, too much stuff to read.

you should look into the Vet. Preference programs that federal agencies are running. ICE and Border Patrol, FBI, etc... all have some sort of Veterans Preference programs. Some of them have direct hire capabilities that you could look into.

I'm a cop right now, looking into Border patrol and the FBI and the hiring processes are pretty extensive. One of my co-workers, who is a vet., just submitted his application to ICE, because a buddy of his works there. under the direct hire stuff, he got a conditional offer right off the bat, and is currently going through the background. I would kill to be able to have that preference right now.

I just applied to ICE too! Keep your fingers crossed.

[DaSarge]

they are legit questions. ones media might ask in interview. people wanna know if a solder like youself would fear death or hesitate to shoot. not looking for entertainment this time.

From Nov 2006, my first tour. I hope this news article answers your questions

http://www.barnstablepatriot.com/hom...=view&id=10575

EDIT

You know what Kham even though I dont owe you any fucking answers here you go

This past year on my 12 months off the Army tried to separate me on 3 separate occassions for medical from being shot, they said I couldnt do my job as an infantryman
I fought every case against me to stay in for the main reason to deploy back to this shit hole place again and I had to prove to my doctors that I could
I had to go through surgeries and months and months physical therepy just to get back here
Not for any sort of revenge or anger but to serve and fight next to my brothers again

Do I fear death? Of course, my job holds the highest death toll in the military
Do I think about it, no because thats when shit hits the fan.

I hope YOU have the pleasure of meeting ME one day.

[BMFR6]

and on another side note.... at the rate the state is moving, i wouldn't hold my breath on the PD or FD. they're laying off.

[Kham]

no it didn't answer but i can understand when under attack. i honestly dont know if im out o fline. so i apologize.

ok now go ahead and push the button if i deserve it.

[Doc]

no it didn't answer but i can understand when under attack. i honestly dont know if im out o fline. so i apologize.

ok now go ahead and push the button if i deserve it.

Kham, You're out of line. Just drop it.

[Pittenger5]

Spencer, focus on staying safe and getting back home in one piece. After you get out of the military take a couple of months vacation somewhere warm and THINK about what you want THEN.

I take back all other posts by me in this thread, and instead agree with Degs

[Kham]

Kham, Your out of line. Just drop it.

i did. just wanna apologize. dont jump the gun on me yet.

[DaSarge]

I take back all other posts by me in this thread, and instead agree with Degs

Noted haha....Degs is a man of wisdom.

[mikeb]

military retirement is pretty good. 20 years and a paycheck of sorts for life plus bennies. problem is in your line of work you'll keep going back to the front. military life for most is not easy.

i did five years in the navy and if i had a different job and didn't have a complete hatred for officers i would have done twenty.

["Dangerous" Dan K]

Spence,

First off, thank you for your service to our country.

Second, please don't feel like you owe anyone an answer, an explanation, any of that shit. Especially to questions like the ones posted earlier in this thread.

I unfortunately can't offer any advice in regards to how to handle things when you get out. Sounds like you already got some really good advice. I've had friends come back really hopped up, like mentioned, and they all mellowed out a bit after a little time and are doing really well for themselves now.

Both of your job options sound cool to me. I hope you enjoy whatever you choose. Best of luck to you.

[DaSarge]

Thanks Dan. Its just shit like that coming from that type of person for some reason I cant let go. I just get too worked up on the subject...Makes me want to take up smoking again.

I hear ya Mike, doing 20 would be nice but then I look at my platoon sargeant who has been in 24 years infantry and hes pretty fucked in the head haha.

["Dangerous" Dan K]

Thanks Dan. Its just shit like that coming from that type of person for some reason I cant let go. I just get too worked up on the subject...Makes me want to take up smoking again.

Nah man, it's nothing. If anything I should be the one thanking you, which is why I did I hear you that shit can be hard to let go, and if it makes you feel better to reply, or you just want to, whatever - go for it. I'm not trying to tell you what to do in any way, I'm just trying to let you know that most of us don't feel you owe anyone a damn thing. Not an explanation, not an answer to a question like that, etc. Doesn't mean you can't reply if you want to.

Enough outta me, back to the topic at hand. Whatever you do for a career path, I hope you enjoy the hell out of it and it treats you well. If I ever meet you remind me who you are, and I'll buy you a beer.

[mikeb]

I hear ya Mike, doing 20 would be nice but then I look at my platoon sargeant who has been in 24 years infantry and hes pretty fucked in the head haha.

yeah it takes a "special" person to do twenty...

[ScottyGixxer]

Yes college would be the ideal choice but then im back to square one again on what to go to school for. The GI Bill deal is crazy, I know but I think I rather use it for a trade school rather than college.

I could barely stand high school I dont think I could deal with college. I ended up leaving high school and got my GED and joined the Army.

Reguardless I am coming back to Boston, what I will do when I get there I dont know as of now.

Sometimes I wish I would of picked a different job in the military that could of set me up for the civillan world.

I just wanted to chime in on this interesting thread:

High school was a long time ago. You're a different person now, and for the most part, college isn't like high school, so why look at it from a perspective so long ago? Maybe take a semester somewhere and see what it feels like. Maybe take it at a community college for a somewhat more relaxed pace, or BU/Northeastern/Bently, etc. for a more mainstream experience. Even though you have a GED, you write pretty well, and it's obvious you're not an idiot, so either way I would imagine you'd be ok.

On another note, IMO, it really doesn't matter what you get a degree in, unless it's in something like engineering, math, finance, medicine, or a science. Again, IMO, the "business world" doesn't really differentiate between degrees like, Communications, Marketing, Business Administration, etc.

Truth is, most people have no clue what they want to end up doing. I sure didn't when I was 18, and only have a somewhat vague idea now. So, take a few different courses in that first sememster, give a few subjects a shot (lol, no pun intended), and go with what "feels" right/interests you...

[DaSarge]

Even though you have a GED, you write pretty well, and it's obvious you're not an idiot, so either way I would imagine you'd be ok.

This made me laugh out loud