Thanks for the tags, ETA & Basenji!
I have played it safe for too long and want a challenge; I want to step outside my comfort zone and push my limits. Even if I join active duty for 4 years, it would provide valuable training and experience that I’m lacking plus many other benefits. Am I crazy for even considering this?
I get the “Crazy?” question a lot. The best answer is “You have to answer your ‘What if?’” If you’ll spend the rest of your life wondering (and possibly regretting) then you have to at least explore the possibility.
I agree that job stagnation merits a career change, but does it have to be this drastic? (Only you can decide.) I’ll also suggest that the problems which most people feel in their lives are simply brought with them into the military. (You might start with a clean record but you’ll still carry your baggage.) The military won’t necessarily solve your life questions, but it’ll give you a sense of purpose. It’ll keep you way too busy for excessive introspection. It’ll give you new skills in resilience and persistence. It could give you a renewed sense of purpose, or it could be a horrible mistake with a pile of stupid rules and a bunch of jerks yelling at you.
I will speak to a recruiter also, but wanted some firsthand knowledge from the forum that’s more geared towards FIRE.
That’s always good. Keep in mind that the recruiters have the latest info (< days old) which is not usually available to the servicemembers, let alone the public. Bring all of your rumors with you and (when the recruiter gives a different answer) ask to see a reference or a message. If you don’t like the answer then ask about waivers.
For example you’re being told about all sorts of age limits, but every service (and every community) is perpetually changing those age limits to match their retention. There are also waivers for people who show up at the right day of the month (especially if the recruiter needs the quota) or with the right skills. You might also be told that particular skills aren’t hiring that month (or even that year) and you’d want to check back later.
High school graduation is coming. This is the worst time of the year to join the military. If you want more options then it’s better to try in August-November, after the tsunami of recruits has been vacuumed into the pipeline and some vacancies open up again.
Would it be optimal to join as active duty then go reserve/civilian in the future?
Always. Take your career one obligation at a time. Stay on active duty as long as you’re feeling challenged & fulfilled, but when the fun stops then it’s time to move to the Reserves or National Guard.
Which branch should I consider for Computer Science/Geospatial Intelligence/GIS type positions?
“Yes.” All of the services have a general need for those areas. However certain skills may be overmanned or short of people, so it’s tough to recommend a single branch.
In general it could also translate to civil engineering, meteorology, and other STEM skills.
See my NOAA comment below... they have the closest match to the geospatial/GIS field and to environmental science. They might also be overmanned and I’m almost positive that they’re underfunded.
Pros and Cons to each branch?
That’s a very long list. I’ll stick to oversimplified generalizations.
The Army tends to be massive, corporate, and perhaps less nimble.
The Navy does a little of everything. If you want Army stuff, the Marines have a big overlap. If you want to fly things, the Navy has an aviation wing. The Coast Guard also has ships and a bunch of missions that the Navy doesn’t want to touch (unless they happen to get a lot of money). If you want to drive ships or submarines or do a lot of ocean then the other services have limited options for those choices.
The Air Force is widely recognized to have the best quality of life, and every other service is jealous. We mercilessly mock the Air Force even when (by accident) we happen to have a better quality of life.
The Marines... it would never occur to you to join any other part of the military. If you’re even asking about pros & cons of the various branches then you’re not a Marine.
The Coast Guard also does a little of everything, mostly domestically. The Navy is very jealous of that quality of life too.
NOAA-- you need to talk to a recruiter. These guys do a lot of GIS and charts. Environmental science is big. This might turn out to be your widest range of choices for your background. NOAA and the U.S. Public Health Service are technically known as “uniformed services” but are not considered to be military.
Will gluten intolerance/dietary restrictions be an issue?
Yes. If you mention this on your entrance physical exam (and the question will probably be a general one about food allergies, so you’ll have to mention it) then you’ll get all sorts of the wrong kind of attention. You may even be declined.
The services try to serve healthy food, especially in large dining facilities. However the services can’t cater to allergies or sensitivities, and your career options might be too restrictive to merit having you in uniform.
For example all of the military services (particularly the Army) are struggling to implement a SECDEF mandate to discharge anyone who can’t deploy. Many of my readers are terrified that their waivers will be vacated or that they won’t recover in time for the next deployment.
How does matching on the TSP work for new recruits? (I see opposing information online)
Short answer: 5% match. The TSP is pretty much like a 401(k).
Longer answer: The TSP also has a Roth 401(k) version. You’ll be automatically enrolled in the new Blended Retirement System and the TSP with a 3% default contribution to the L2050 fund, and eventually you’ll have to raise your TSP contribution to 5% (or more) to maximize the match. You don’t have to do anything with the TSP for at least 60 days.
The pension calculation is complicated (and the Reserve/Guard system is even more complex). Don’t worry about the pension until you have at least 10 years of service.
Don’t get bogged down in the financial details until after you finish recruit training, and then ask me if you still have questions.
How does the housing situation work if you are living on base (especially with dietary restrictions)?
Enlisted: barracks. After recruit training t’s more like a Motel 6 with roommates than a WWII open-bay bunkroom.
Officer: space-available bachelor officer quarters or a housing allowance for living off base.
Are housing/food allowances available for single people with no dependents?
Enlisted: food yes (depending on the availability of the dining facility) but not housing until you’re more senior-- at least E-3 and probably E-4.
Officer: Yes.
Military pay is taxable, but military allowances are not taxed. You’re always supposed to get paid, but you do not always rate an allowance if the equivalent benefit is already at hand.
Since I have a degree, any suggestions for becoming an Officer or Warrant Officer?
It all depends on whether the military needs your degree. Once you’re in the enlisted ranks then you also have opportunities to apply for a commissioning program (officer or warrant) but these tend to be fiercely competitive.
What are some negatives people have had?
You’re joining a large professional bureaucracy. It has a lot of pride & tradition, and it commits to servant leadership, but it has a lot of rules. “Needs of the military” takes precedence over you and your goals.
Any advice on the ASVAB? Basic training? Officer training?
Use the ASVAB study guides. (The recruiters can tell you the latest/best options, both hardcopy and online.)
Get into excellent aerobic shape, and make sure you’re flexible enough to avoid repetitive stress injuries like pulled muscles, shin splints, or tendonitis/bursitis. Almost everyone can handle military physical training, but the issues arise when you twist an ankle or tweak a muscle yet have to keep training.