hey guys. ive been reading posts from these forums for a while and decided to get involved.
so heres the story, i am going to be a freshman at SUNY Brockport this fall, and am currently enrolled in Army ROTC. ive been seriously considering the coast guard, however.
one of the plans i have been considering was to recieve my associates degree, and then enlist in the USCG active duty. i am interested in the new ME rate, so i figured it would be good to go for my associates degree while letting things calm down from the new rating.
i would then spend a year or so as a non-rate, and then try to get into the ME A school. once i get settled, i would get involved with an online college to finish my education, getting my bachelors or maybe even masters, while letting the Coast Guard help me out with tuition.
does that sound like a smart plan? let me know what you guys think. thanks!
My initial plan: Join, go MK, get out at 4 years, and use GI Bill for college.
What happened: Joined, saw what MK's do and went TT, loved it, re-enlisted for 6 more and then indefinite. AAS at 9 years and working toward BS, all on the CG.
Anyway, gotta have a plan, but life happens. Good luck in whatever you do!
hey thanks for your input. yea, im just trying to do a little planning, but at the same time keep as many of my options open as i can.
ive heard many of you got degrees from online colleges, and i think that they sound very convenient, as i would be able to progress at my own pace.
right now, i am going in as an athletic training intent, but im not sure if im going to stick with that, so i think the online courses would have a wider variety of courses available to me if i do decide to switch majors, than a regular college.
im in the Army ROTC program, and i didnt take the scholarship, so its not like they are paying for my schooling. and im not sure if the Army is what im really interested in, regardless of whether im an officer or not.
if i join the Coast Guard after recieving my associates, i will only have 2 years worth of loans to pay back, plus the Coast Guard can help pay for me to continue my studies, plus i think i will enjoy the Coast Guard a lot. im trying not to base my life decisions on how much money i will be making, im trying to find out what i think i will enjoy. i dont want to wake up every day being ****ed off because i hate going to work. i would rather make less money and enjoy what i do.
It is great to know that sometimes there are people out there who look want to do a job because they like it and not for the money.
As far as your planning goes, you are light years ahead of many people who are planning on going to college. When (or if) you decide to go Coastie, don't just settle on online schools. There are many schools who will work around your military schedule (at least a little bit).
QMCM is correct however you do need to talk to a CG recruiter. There are many options available to you as both an enlisted member or an Officer.
You need to talk to a Coast Guard recruiter.
