Everything is waiverable, including the age. You can be up to 34 and go to Army OCS on a waiver.

Waivers typically aren't a big deal. I came in with a few medical waivers that mattered for nothing more than a check in the box at MEPS.

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maybe even deploy

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Maybe? You know it's not a choice, right?

You're usually right about deployments being mandatory but for certain career fields they may be optional/volunteer only. We had a very long deployment volunteer list at Gordon and even those practically begging to deploy were looking at a 1-2 year wait to actually go.

That was AF specific. At Gordon, half the navy cats were in deploying billets and spent most of the time down range.

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You're usually right about deployments being mandatory but for certain career fields they may be optional/volunteer only.

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Okay. But that's not the norm and anyone who goes into the military saying they want to travel and "maybe deploy" needs to REALLY think about whether the military is for them or not.

State Department Foreign Service hiring is at pre 9/11 lows. The time to get in was 2008-2011, when we had the budget to hire above attrition and while we were trying to grow the FSO ranks by 25%, and double the number of USAID members.

My advice: Treat your State Department wish as your mid to long term plan, not your short term plan. If you want to enlist, enlist but DONT do that for the primary reason that it will make you more competitive for the Foreign Service or CIA/DIA.

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State Department Foreign Service hiring is at pre 9/11 lows. The time to get in was 2008-2011, when we had the budget to hire above attrition and while we were trying to grow the FSO ranks by 25%, and double the number of USAID members.

My advice: Treat your State Department wish as your mid to long term plan, not your short term plan. If you want to enlist, enlist but DONT do that for the primary reason that it will make you more competitive for the Foreign Service or CIA/DIA.

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Have you taken the FSOT, pirate? Most people I know who are FSOs or who made the wait list for a training class had to go through the process multiple times, and you can only test once a year. It is free to take, and the practice is worth it. There are also non FSO positions available at the consulates abroad. I have a friend doing that in central asia.

I have appreciated everyone's advice. My only request is that you please be respectful in your replies. Keep in mind I have given you very limited information about myself and this decision that is, afterall, my own to make.

Again, thank you all for the genuine sincerity in this, it means a lot.

Boots, I have not taken any tests. I had looked into taking the Foreign Services test right out of college but it wasn't a good time in my life. That is a great idea though! I'll definitely dig into that more. And working at a consulate would be ideal.

[This message has been edited by Pirate04 (edited 8/15/2014 9:08a).]

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My only request is that you please be respectful in your replies. Keep in mind I have given you very limited information about myself and this decision that is, afterall, my own to make.

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You're gonna need thicker skin if you enlist.

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I have appreciated everyone's advice. My only request is that you please be respectful in your replies. Keep in mind I have given you very limited information about myself and this decision that is, afterall, my own to make.

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yeah. about that. The military is just that - the military. It's not about feelings and what you want and your emotions. As a woman, we think more with emotion and feelings versus logic and reasoning like a man. This is a mans world - no freaking doubt about it. Adapt and overcome. You'll have to learn not to do that nearly as much if you want to join. Fact of life. While some sh**bags earn promotions on their knees, you'll be labeled as such and ALL respect for you will go out the window. Ditto if you can't hack it physically.

I tried to help you and tell you something was incorrect, and you immediately came back with some link on the internet and said "no, I can't because of this." Fine. Don't ask for help if you already know the answers.

You'll need to learn to listen better, learn to take advice from people who know more than you do; all the while you're growing that thicker skin.

Good luck.

jesus, calm down chick. it's not unreasonable for her to take something she read off the actual army website and ask for clarification.

Someone (who has an idea of what the deal is) tells her that's incorrect, she comes back with "well, I read on the internet, therefore it's right."

Ok then. Use the internet. Get info that may or may not be correct. No skin off my back. I was trying to help. The "be nice to me" comment also rubbed me the wrong way.

These are the types of people readiness NCO's have come to know and love.

[This message has been edited by TXAGChick06 (edited 8/15/2014 3:07p).]

Have you looked at the Marine Corps? An Officer Selection Officer, usually a Captain, meets with a prospective Officer Candidate. Upon completing a satisfactory interview, the OSO then makes the decision to move the prospective candidate onto the next step. The prospective candidate then must complete a short essay about why he/she wants to be a Marine Officer, provide identification (usually a birth certificate and Social Security card), pass a background check, provide five letters of recommendation, and complete a physical medical exam.

After successful completion of these steps, the OSO may then conduct the Officer Candidate through a Physical Fitness Test. Upon reaching a score on the test that the OSO deems to be acceptable, the Officer Candidate then signs the contract (including the contract to attend the course, the fraternization policy acknowledgement, and the Marine Corps drug policy acknowledgement).

All of this information is sent to a review board, which will vote to decide if the Candidate should be accepted to Officer Candidate School. These review boards generally convene only once a month. After receiving a majority vote of acceptance from the review board, the Officer Candidate is officially accepted into the Officer Candidate Program and scheduled for a class.



[This message has been edited by Burnetaggie99 (edited 8/15/2014 3:12p).]

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Ok then. Use the internet. Get info that may or may not be correct.

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uh...

yeah if you're a chick, ESPECIALLY if you happen to be black, and hint that you are possibly interested in going to IOC, you can pretty much write your own ticket into Marine OCS.

I forgot. Everything written on the internet is 100% accurate, and there are no deviations from that info.

My bad.

Mameluke - No woman has yet to pass the IOC yet but something like 15 have tried. Females are allowed now to choose ground intelligence officer






[This message has been edited by Burnetaggie99 (edited 8/15/2014 3:41p).]

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Have you looked at the Marine Corps?

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My only request is that you please be respectful in your replies. Keep in mind I have given you very limited information about myself and this decision that is, afterall, my own to make.

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This thread turned out well.

Best of luck OP. You have a goal and I hope you achieve it. Worry not about posters.

burnet, you missed my point

"I forgot. Everything written on the internet is 100% accurate, and there are no deviations from that info."

"You're right. I don't know what I'm talking about"

You are going to do well as a pilot when people ask you to clarify 95-1 or a -10.

[This message has been edited by Fly Army 97 (edited 8/16/2014 6:59a).]

Mameluke - I see what your saying, I was just pointing out a female has yet to complete the course. I honestly think she should look at the Marine Corps and I'm not just saying that because I'm a Marine. IMO I think the way the Corps does their OCS its the best in the world. Is it demanding, you bet it is but going through that Marine training and earning that title US Marine is forever.

Fly Army: electronic pubs are a tad different than a website with minimal info. Had she read actual Army pubs, she would know there are exceptions to the rules so to speak, and they are written in those pubs. They are not on the Army OCS website.

P.S. I already "get to do" what you speak of during check rides, being quizzed constantly by the FI/SIs, and during APARTs as a CE.

My only suggestion is that once you are in, your opportunities are increased.

I went in as a tanker (Armor Crewman). Assigned as a typist in Germany. Went to SHAPE in Belgium and I could have had an assignment there (they only recruited from active US Army Europe at that point).

I also interviewed with the Special Forces. I had several options but I chose to exit and go to college. I make way more money, but, (daily) I wish I would have said yes to other options.

[This message has been edited by Say Chowdah (edited 8/16/2014 11:00p).]

I'm talking about you mentoring young pilots down the road. Those posts give the impression (at least to me) you jumped on an Ag who referenced an Army website - which is about official as it gets when you have no reference point.

She edited her post, so maybe something I missed.

[This message has been edited by Fly Army 97 (edited 8/17/2014 12:30a).]

if you dont know anything about the military, which would you consider to be a more reliable source of information....the ACTUAL ARMY WEBSITE or some random chick who thinks she's hot **** posting on texags?

i'm with Fly Army on this one.

Marine Officer Recruiting missions mean that if you're not male or white, you can get in at the bare minimum standards. If you're a patriotic white male, you need to be extraordinary.

Nice for getting minorities in, bad for the effectiveness of the force, and down range you see the fallout (racial breakdown between combat and service roles, reduced retention/promotion rates for minorities, and the inevitable 'race conversation' which Marines have within the first week in the field)

Join the Corps if you want to lead more than a specific role, and think that you can be an asset to the Corps.

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Marine Officer Recruiting missions mean that if you're not male or white, you can get in at the bare minimum standards. If you're a patriotic white male, you need to be extraordinary.

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yep. and then they cant finish OCS, and the OSOs get slain. but that will be easily solved by lowering standards at OCS.

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if you dont know anything about the military, which would you consider to be a more reliable source of information....the ACTUAL ARMY WEBSITE or some random chick who thinks she's hot **** posting on texags?

i'm with Fly Army on this one.

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A random chick with a really bad attitude. I have no doubt that she'll have a run-in with an IP if she ever goes to flight school. IPs love know-it-alls.

Thank you again everyone!

To answer a few questions:
I have spoken with a Marine Officer recruiter and at this point, I am not in the physical shape it would take to join. However, I am using that as fuel for a new fitness regimen. If I still have not signed into another branch, I will retry the Marines once I'm in better physical shape.

I have been declined at this point from the AF for reasons I don't care to go into here. Again, I can look back into this branch after about 6 months if a decision has not already been made.

I meet with an Army recruiter this week, along with a retired Master Sgt who is a civilian still working for the Army, who is literally the most interesting man in the world. I am most excited about this meeting and the possibilities. I am currently researching the careers more in depth so I am prepared.

I have yet to set up contact with the Navy.


This process has been both exciting and personally revealing and I am very appreciative of all the advice that y'all have offered.



PS, in case you were living under a rock....only 10 days until KICKOFF!!! Gig 'em!!

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Marine Officer Recruiting missions mean that if you're not male or white, you can get in at the bare minimum standards. If you're a patriotic white male, you need to be

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Not entirely true anymore, but pretty close. Probably also depends on the OSO's moral compass. People who make the minimum standards are often submitted, but are rarely selected (there was an issue with that for minorities a few times in the USMC officer recruiting history) because like it was said, OSOs are 'held accountable' for OCS attrition.

I don't want to derail this thread further, so I will close with saying good luck to the OP. The USMC does not give you much favor due to your gender; if you are physically fit and a good leader, you will have the respect of your peers and almost all the opportunity.

I work in the intelligence field in support of US Army South. The officers there that speak Spanish regularly get travel opportunities in South/Central America and the Caribbean regardless of branch (intelligence, logistics, medical, engineering etc). My experience is that this is true in most ASCCs (regionally aligned Army components). If you want overseas assignments in the Army then I'd start working on your foreign language abilities.