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For people who are in the military I've seen - most seem to have chose school after their enlistment (only because I have been in school for a few years), but I never got to know the side of who didn't choose school.
Can you actually earn a earnest living for you and your family if you decide to get "trained" in the military work force? (technical schools, or whatever they offer if you choose not to enroll in college) after serving your time?
I have also heard you can move up in your rankings again if you enroll again after your 4-year to 8-year.
Your post was a little confusing. You're not required to have a college degree to enlist. There are a lot of reasons some do not go off to college and choose the military. That said, promotions become very competitive as you progress through the ranks. I would offer that it's an unofficial requirement to work towards you degree-- but I'll also say that there are many, many factors that are weighed during a promotion board.
Can you earn a living in the military without college? Absolutely.
As to your last question, which is also about promotions and re-enlistment. You are not given a promotion because you re-enlisted. But you would certainly need to re-enlist if you wanted to make the military a career. Obviously the longer you are in, the more you have the opportunity to be promoted. Promotions are tied to what we call "time in grade". Meaning you have to be a certain rank, Staff Sergeant for example, before you are eligible to be considered for promotion to the next higher rank.
For people who are in the military I've seen - most seem to have chose school after their enlistment (only because I have been in school for a few years), but I never got to know the side of who didn't choose school.
Can you actually earn a earnest living for you and your family if you decide to get "trained" in the military work force? (technical schools, or whatever they offer if you choose not to enroll in college) after serving your time?
I have also heard you can move up in your rankings again if you enroll again after your 4-year to 8-year.
As a career army soldier, I can tell you that yes you can make a good living for your family while serving. It is difficult. It is something you have to want to do. Active duty soldiers get lots of help in that they get a housing allowance, They also get decent other benefits.
Gaining rank has little to do with re-enlistments. It has more to do with gaining experience. Taking the training offered that will be job specific. It will also be leadership specific. Your retirement at the end will have much to do with what rank you finally retire at.
The last thing I want to have you understand is that as a soldier you will learn and need to leave by these guiding principles LDRSHIP which we sound out as Leadership.
Loyalty
Duty
Responsibility
Selfless Service
Honor
Integrety
Personal Courage
While you are in the army live by these principles and you will be recognized and make a good living.
Your post was a little confusing. You're not required to have a college degree to enlist. There are a lot of reasons some do not go off to college and choose the military. That said, promotions become very competitive as you progress through the ranks. I would offer that it's an unofficial requirement to work towards you degree-- but I'll also say that there are many, many factors that are weighed during a promotion board.
Can you earn a living in the military without college? Absolutely.
As to your last question, which is also about promotions and re-enlistment. You are not given a promotion because you re-enlisted. But you would certainly need to re-enlist if you wanted to make the military a career. Obviously the longer you are in, the more you have the opportunity to be promoted. Promotions are tied to what we call "time in grade". Meaning you have to be a certain rank, Staff Sergeant for example, before you are eligible to be considered for promotion to the next higher rank.
I was saying I mostly saw many people who decided to enroll in college after their military service because I saw many of military people at my classes.
So my main question was - can you make it in the military life (afterwards - with training through military and such) without having to attend college after.
I was saying I mostly saw many people who decided to enroll in college after their military service because I saw many of military people at my classes.
Probably because the military offers a variety of education benefits. Promotion boards typically look at what you are doing to improve yourself, which would include becoming more educated.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Pirouline
So my main question was - can you make it in the military life (afterwards - with training through military and such) without having to attend college after.
Yes, it is possible. Do you think an employer would rather have an Army trained mechanic or an Army trained mechanic also with an education...
Many people, like myself, get their degree while in the service. Some do not.
I was saying I mostly saw many people who decided to enroll in college after their military service because I saw many of military people at my classes.
So my main question was - can you make it in the military life (afterwards - with training through military and such) without having to attend college after.
Okay let me see if this makes it. I joined the army in 1976 and didn't even have a HS diploma. I got my diploma while on active duty in Korea. I went through only military training until I decided back in 2006 to get a college degree. It took me until 2010 to get that degree. I did it to compete against others in my rank for the next promotion. It helped so here we are. in over 20 years I went without a college degree. I made E7/SFC without it.
Being a former Navy guy, I was wondering what they meant by " promotion board".
If you are in the Navy you compete within the Navy with every sailor in your rate for promotion and your test score on the nationwide test has a lot to do with promotion.
( also , how many slots are open within the Navy )
For people who are in the military I've seen - most seem to have chose school after their enlistment (only because I have been in school for a few years), but I never got to know the side of who didn't choose school.
Can you actually earn a earnest living for you and your family if you decide to get "trained" in the military work force? (technical schools, or whatever they offer if you choose not to enroll in college) after serving your time?
I have also heard you can move up in your rankings again if you enroll again after your 4-year to 8-year.
It appears your first 2 paragraphs are comparing military guys who enlisted for one term who have not gone to college vs guys who have gone to college ,then enlisted for one term.
From my observations, few servicemen who serve one term, get out and join the civilian workforce, ever end up in a career that their military technical school,ing was for.
Being a former Navy guy, I was wondering what they meant by " promotion board".
If you are in the Navy you compete within the Navy with every sailor in your rate for promotion and your test score on the nationwide test has a lot to do with promotion.
( also , how many slots are open within the Navy )
In the army in the past and I dont know anymore since I am no longer active duty (reserves, national guard) are a diifferent matter, they used to have a board to join the NCO ranks. Not so much one you made E5/SGT but to that point. It was a way of seeing who was ready to lead as an NCO. Maybe a current active duty Army soldier will chime in. In the reserves/national guard it is based on a points system and they conviene a paper board. This is where your evaluation reports and other items such as weapons qualification scores and PT scores as well as schooling evaluations are considered and soldiers are ranked according to the board's findings. They look at the soldier's DA Photo if there is one (E6 and up mandatory and recommended for E5).
When it gets to the senior ranks the senior NCO's in the state have a paper board again to determine who is ready to make 1SG or MSG or in the E9 rank SGM and CSM.
In the army in the past and I dont know anymore since I am no longer active duty (reserves, national guard) are a diifferent matter, they used to have a board to join the NCO ranks. Not so much one you made E5/SGT but to that point. It was a way of seeing who was ready to lead as an NCO. Maybe a current active duty Army soldier will chime in. In the reserves/national guard it is based on a points system and they conviene a paper board. This is where your evaluation reports and other items such as weapons qualification scores and PT scores as well as schooling evaluations are considered and soldiers are ranked according to the board's findings. They look at the soldier's DA Photo if there is one (E6 and up mandatory and recommended for E5).
When it gets to the senior ranks the senior NCO's in the state have a paper board again to determine who is ready to make 1SG or MSG or in the E9 rank SGM and CSM.
It's still like how you describe on the Active Duty side.
Rest is not directed at the current/prior Army guys because you guys already know.
For E5 and E6, it's a Battalion level board. Basically, the Command Sergeant Major (E9) and all the First Sergeants (E8) sit on a board and interview the E4's and E5's who have been deemed to be worthy of promotion. The questions range from basic Soldier questions such as the definition of LDRSHIP to land navigation, the NCO creed, etc...
There is a point system and that is based off of PT scores, rifle qualification scores, civilian education, military education (courses you've taken and successfully completed such as driving military vehicles, language, etc...) They dropped the Commander and board points a couple of years ago. There is a maximum number of points you can get in each category, I can't remember what they are, though.
Promotion for E7, E8 and E9 are done via a "board." You don't sit in front of a panel and answer questions. Those boards are done at the Department of the Army (DA) level. You have files based of performance and your ERB which is basically a living resume.
Each MOS has different point and staffing requirements, that is what will determine how many are promoted and when they will be promoted.
Some MOS's are not easy to promote in such as Chemical, Supply and MI. Other MOS's are relatively easy such as Forward Observer and Infantry.
Officer promotions from 1LT to COL are also done via a board. I'm not sure how many times you can be passed up for promotion as an Enlisted guy but for Officers, you move up or move out.
I know of a few 1LT's who failed to make CPT the first time. Second chance success is only 14% or so and if you don't make it the second time, you are out.
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