So, I am a 25 year old married woman with a bachelors degree in business management. I have been working as an administrative assistant in the corporate world for 5 years and I all of a sudden hate it! I want to do something great with my career that will have a life long impact. So, I started to think about the military or serving as a police officer or firefighter. I spoke with a friend who is a cop and he says my past drug use will disqualify me from joining the force. I am thinking the same will occur for firefighting. So, that leaves me to military.
My main concern is that I am too old, a female, married, etc. Can someone tell me a little more about my options. I don't necessarily want to be shipped off to fight in the war but I am interested in other things like fixing helecopters or doing administrative work.
Is the reserves an option? I just want some input. Thanks!
2010-03-10T11:44:19Z
I have not used drugs in almost a year and that was just marijuana. I was never really bad into drugs...just occassional, leisure use.
freetibet132010-03-10T11:18:33Z
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If you have a bachelors degree, you should look into becoming an officer. If you don't want to be deployed into a combat situation, stay away from the Army and the Marines...and probably the Air Force. The Navy or the Coast Guard might be great options for you...provided that you don't mind ships and water. In the Navy, you'll spend your deployments, for the most part, on a ship. As an officer, you won't specialize in fixing helicopters or something super technical. Rather, you will organize and lead the sailors under your command. There are a great deal of officer careers - from public affairs to pilots to administrative workers. Find more information here: http://www.navy.com/officer.
You are not too old, nor does being married or a woman present a problem. I wouldn't be too forthcoming about your prior drug use. Just make sure you have been clean for a while.
If being an officer doesn't sound compelling, you are eligible to enlist. Enlisted jobs are much more specific - fixing helicopters, landing airplanes, filing paperwork - and might be frustrating for someone with your experience. Officer or enlisted, you can join the reserves...but you will have to keep your day job.
You might consider watching the documentary Carrier - it is available on Hulu - it might help you decide if the Navy is of interest to you.
The military is exciting and very different from the corporate world, but it has its own set of issues.
Well first of all, a bachelor's degree will make you eligible for a commission- I'm not sure what your history with drugs are but you may need to obtain a waiver. Keep in mind that this going to be a four year commitment, and desire to, or reluctance to, being deployed will have little impact on whether or not you ARE deployed. At 25 you will still be eligible for service, and again even if you are over waiver's can be obtained. Marriage would be more of a personal obstacle, even if you join the reserves you're initial training can take you away from home for over a year depending on the job, and deployments could take you away longer. Also your branch of service will determine your options. The Marines for instance, will not let you take a commission and go into the reserves without first being on active duty. You should also talk to a recruiter or Officer Selection Officer to discuss your options, as an enlisted you'll have jobs such as fixing helicopters, while an officer will lean more towards more administrative options- Keep in mind that's very generally speaking. I would recommend looking at your options as an officer in something like the Army or Air National Guard, you would be making more money to help support your already established household, and while it may be a small thing, your peers will generally be you're own age, while enlisting you will be with mostly recruits 18-19 and you immediate superiors are likely to be a few years younger than you as well.
1. Past drug use can be disqualifying, but if it can be characterized as experimental and sufficient time has passed since the last use that concern can be mitigated. It might close certain opportunities to you, or it might not even slow you down.
2. With a bachelor's degree you may be eligible for Officer Candidate School. If the idea of leadership appeals to you, you might want to consider that.
3. The reserves are an option. If you join the reserves, you'll have to keep your "real job," which it sounds like you hate. Or you could take time off to do a master's, letting the military and VA foot part of the bill. If you go active, you'll belong to the military 24/7. You will leave your old job behind, but if you decide you hate your new job, too, you're out of luck because you're stuck. There are pros and cons to both you will need to balance.
4. If you have kids, you'll need a family care plan to ensure that their needs are met while you're deployed.
5. Practically everyone gets shipped off somewhere eventually, even the administrative types and helicopter mechanics. Speaking of helicopters, if you want to fly them, you can join the Army as a warrant officer candidate and go to flight school.
25 isn't too old and I can't think of a drug history that would DQ you fully.. as long as your pass the urinalysis at MEPS and the asvab. There are however some jobs within the Military that having a drug waiver you will not be able to get. Also, during times when recruitment is high, drug waivers may not be available and accepted so it's best to ask the recruiter which waivers are currently being granted prior to wasting his/her time a well as yours. I think currently the USAF and USCG aren't taking drug waivers.. But don't let that discourage you. You had mentioned law enforcement, I'd go that route. Start the process of getting in to the academy, you already have a degree and having a degree assures you that someday you can be promoted to Detective. In law enforcement, a degree guarantees that you wont hit that "Glass ceiling" Good luck!
If you're wanting to live together right away, then yes, you will probably need to get married. Most commands don't allow E-3 and under to live off base without being married. And it's just easier all around, since you have a baby together. I like the Navy for family things, but I'm sure that the Air Force is just as good as well.