(10/20/2004)
I joined the Army today, 20041020. Why would I do such a thing?
- Duty to my country.
- It sounds cheesy, but I really feel that I can show my appreciation for my country by serving in any way I could. Civil service comes to mind, but those jobs just plain suck. So military it is.
- Disgust with the prospects of an "ordinary" life.
- I don't want to work an office job yet. I'm not ready to go out and jump through hoops for money. I am, however, ready to jump out of airplanes for nothing.
- Training/Experience
- With my college degree and my 4 years' maturity over most of the other new recruits, I should easily be able to work my way into favor with a commanding officer, and eventually get into Officer Candidate School. Officer experience in the military is arguably the best leadership training in the world. I'm probably going to receive language training, too, so I'll be able to speak Chinese like a FOB. And putting this stuff on my resume can't possibly hurt when I apply to law school and employment.
- Adventure
- Anyone who has talked to me in the last 3 months knows how ridiculously passionate I was about scuba diving. Give me the opportunity to jump out of airplanes, rappel from a cliff, and ride in helicopters, and I'll be happy to work for you.
Now I've decided to enlist as a Special Forces Recruit. Yes, it may involve combat (after 2007) and yes, I know what I'm getting into. If I wash out, I'll serve as an infantryman while I try to get work in intelligence or as a paralegal. Or OCS. I have too many options, but the absolutely most appealing job in the Army would be any of the Special Forces MOS's.
My law school plans are not over; I think I can use this military experience to get into a good law school. Plus they'll pay for me. And I'd have an easier time finding a good internship. Which would all translate into faster climbing of the corporate monkey bars - very little (if any) time lost during my military service.
Tell me what you think.
Update 12/13/04 - I've been criticized for this post, and justly so. I did feel this way in October, but some stuff needs clarification. For one, I know that moving around in the Army isn't that easy. If I wash out of the Special Forces pipeline, I fully expect to serve the rest of my commitment in combat infantry. Also, I wouldn't necessarily want to earn that commission. I might prefer going the noncommissioned officer route.
Update (04/27/06) - Wow. I just reread this during my redesign of the site. I was pretty freaking immature two years ago. By the way, for those keeping score at home, my first enlistment option fell through - my eyes apparently disqualified me from getting airborne school guaranteed in my contract, so I went with an intel job instead.
