Is enlisting in the military with a college degree normal?

[yangnome]

oh, thats real original...haven't heard that one before :rolleyes:

[tcsd1236]

We have a lot of enlisted personnel in my unit with degrees ; as an enlisted person, you still get a benefit for your degree in that you get additional STAP points towards promotion for your degree, so you'll climb the rank structure quicker with your sheepskin in your pocket.

[newtonjl]

quality of life will definitely be better as an officer. enlisted
personnel get crappy food, quarters, less pay, and attitudes
from young hotshot officers. check with the recruiter to see
how long you must serve as enlisted and officer. Beware-
dont enlist for two years and expect a good job, most short
term enlistments dont guarantee job ratings so you get stuck
with the jobs no one else wanted. The military is a great experience and one you will always be proud of; employers love
it on resumes too! Good luck whichever way you decide to go.

[Group9]

I had a friend in the Air Force who was an E-7 with a Master's degree. He was constantly approached about applying to be an officer but was just too happy where he was.

[WAMBAUGHREADER]

Being a Marine in the Security Forces and having been a cop with a lot of prior military co workers, ive got to say, comparing a security forces member to a Marine private is like comparing the tazmanian devil to a rock on the ground. The original argument was bout who one would want when the shoot hit the fan: Ive met some very good security forces guys including myself, but when it comes to the warrior lifestyle, training and mindset, the Corps has it hands down. Intel sits in side and sleeps peacefully because Security Forces is outside in constant vigilance And the Marines are taking it to the enemy. Man for man, compared to all services on the whole, Marines are simply the best warfighters there are.

[DltUNH]

My sisters boyfriend just enlisted. He's currently down at Ft. Jackson. If he graduates from basic which he really should do, he will automatically have the rank of E-4. He had a lot more MOS' open to him because in his four years of schooling he developed this quantitative reasoning skills. He has been out of school for 2 years and decided to do the enlisted thing. If I'm not mistaken he will become a warrant officer in about 2 years too. Not a bad gig if you ask me.

DLT