Career after the Marines

[Lord Doog]

Hey guys

I was wondering how realistic it would be to get a good job in engineering after 6 or 8 years as an AD Marine pilot, as opposed to getting a job right after I graduate and join the Reserves at the same time (not as a pilot - I know I can't do this). I'm a little worried that I won't be competitive in the civilian world if I go AD first because I'll be around 32 when I get out competing against 22 year olds for the same job. There's also the issue that I'll be seeking an entry-level job, therefore being years behind others my age.

Also, if I end up not going active duty, how good/reasonable is my reserves plan?

Thanks!

By the way, I found a thread that was very similar to this question, but it was geared towards Navy. Since the Navy is more technically minded than the Marines, I didn't know if the same answers held true for the Corps. Here's the link in case anyone's interested:
http://www.airwarriors.com/forum/sh...or-engineering?highlight=career+after+marines

 

[jtmedli]

I was wondering how realistic it would be to get a good job in engineering after 6 or 8 years as an AD Marine pilot, as opposed to getting a job right after I graduate and join the Reserves at the same time (not as a pilot - I know I can't do this). I'm a little worried that I won't be competitive in the civilian world if I go AD first because I'll be around 32 when I get out competing against 22 year olds for the same job. There's also the issue that I'll be seeking an entry-level job, therefore being years behind others my age.

By the way, I found a thread that was very similar to this question, but it was geared towards Navy. Since the Navy is more technically minded than the Marines, I didn't know if the same answers held true for the Corps. Here's the link in case anyone's interested:
http://www.airwarriors.com/forum/sh...or-engineering?highlight=career+after+marines

I'm no expert, but having experience in the military as an officer will only help you. I doubt there will be very many 22 year olds with 8 years as a Naval Aviator and Officer under their belt when it comes time to apply for a job. Going from aviation to a standard engineering job might be a little weird, but you could always do something with an aviation oriented company.

I don't really think that the difference between Navy/USMC aviation matters a whole lot in this sense so that other thread is probably still a pretty good read. My degree is in Elec. Eng. by the way...and I stayed at a Holiday Inn Express last night. Believe it.

 

[phrogdriver]

I'm not up on current events, but there you can't go directly into the Marine Reserves as an officer in any MOS. You have to do at least your initial obligated service on active duty. Granted, in ground MOSs, that time is shorter, only 4 years, vice 8+, but you still have to do it.

In my mind it all comes down to what's important to you. Do you really want to be a Marine pilot? If so, do it, knowing you'll be behind your peers in your field should you go back to it as a civilian. If that's not what you really want to do, then don't bother.

If you want to stay more-or-less with your civilian peers but still have some jones to serve your country, then by all means, go into the reserves and do the military part-time (deployments notwithstanding), just know you won't be an officer of Marines. Some of the other services let one join as an officer and go directly into the reserves. Of course, you can enlist into the reserves in any service.

Yes, the Army National Guard and Air National Guard do let some guys fly in the reserves from the get-go. That's a whole other bag of worms that I claim no expertise in. The National Guard is a strange animal and I'll defer to others on it, but just be aware that it's harder to get those spots than just showing up and filling out an application.

 

[craftingraptor]

words words

I'm clearly not an aviator yet, but I am an engineer and I can speak to a few things that the OP has asked and generally opened for discussion.

Mr. Lord Doog, I would have to ask you point blank what it is you hope to get out of your Navy experience if you want to return to the Civ world as an engineer. The reason I ask is that there are two generally accepted paths in engineering. The one that takes you into management and the one that continues to put you in charge of designing things (i.e. engineering). I would proffer that 10+years as an aviator in the USMC/USN/USAF will most likely prepare you for the former, that of management. And I bet you'd be damn good at it by that point. Now, if you'd said you really just want to do engineering all your life and you want nothing to do with leading groups of people in projects, I would guess you would get a limited amount of benefit from the awesomeness that will be being an officer and (hopefully!) flying.

There's also the difficult to nail down truth which is every industry has its own quirks and even as an engineer that never became a naval aviator, the experiences you have in each job define what you know and how marketable you are to the next company. So, you still have a lot of limitations regarding how "free" you are to pursue high paying engineering jobs.

In my opinion, the key to job success is easier said than done, do what you love and if you can't, work hard until you can. The rest falls into place.

 

[PBF]

Well let's all hope the economy has improved before the 6-8 years you're looking at. It's smart to have a plan for the future, concerning a career change. If competing for an entry-level job against recent college grads, you'll have quite an edge on them, what companies are really looking for in new employees, beyond "educatable", is Passion. You've got to be able to demonstrate your enthusiasm and excellence in your work.
(just my two cents).

 

[usmarinemike]

This is, in a way, not really limited to engineering. Whenever you get out of the military, particularly as an officer short of twenty years, you have to be able to use what you got in service to leverage yourself into your next career. As a Marine officer that is leadership skills and experience. What you're talking about doing is giving all of that up to get a college kid job where they won't trust you with the copy machine. Eff that. You would be able to find something in an engineering field that respects your talents and a skill set that very few people possess. Especially the people that you gave up the eight years with. In eight years time, they'll need a mirror to slap their own asses.

 

[m26]

I'm not up on current events, but there you can't go directly into the Marine Reserves as an officer in any MOS. You have to do at least your initial obligated service on active duty. Granted, in ground MOSs, that time is shorter, only 4 years, vice 8+, but you still have to do it.

Maybe I misunderstand you, but it is possible to go directly into the reserves (less OCS, TBS of course), or at least it was when I was looking into these things a while back.

OCC-R (link)

 

[phrogpilot73]

I spent 10 years on active duty as a Marine CH-46E pilot. I left active duty in May, 2007 and had an offer for a job as a senior software engineer in April, 2007. I started working as a senior software engineer two weeks before the end of my terminal leave, supporting the CH-53K. I'm currently a reservist, flying CH-46's...

What was the question again?

 

[Lord Doog]

Thanks for all the reply's guys!

Phrogpilot, did you sign up for active duty right after you graduated college, or did you work first? I also assume you started looking for jobs towards the end of your terminal leave, correct? The company that hired you didn't offer a job out of the blue?

 

[phrogpilot73]

Phrogpilot, did you sign up for active duty right after you graduated college, or did you work first? I also assume you started looking for jobs towards the end of your terminal leave, correct? The company that hired you didn't offer a job out of the blue?

I went to the Naval Academy, so active duty was part of the deal... I hadn't worked in the civilian sector since I was 18 (I was prior enlisted first).

I posted my resume on a bunch of websites while still on active duty, and an HR rep from the company I worked for pulled it from Monster. I got (and accepted) the offer before I even started terminal leave.

Being an engineer and being a pilot can't compare. I'd have rather had a flying job - but my circumstances prevented it. Now I'm a civil servant, a reservist, a dependent, and a culinary school student. I wouldn't trade my life for anything.

 

[Lord Doog]

My friend, you have just given me a little bit more hope for my future should I decide to go active duty, and for that I thank you. I still have to see where my life will take me, but until then, what you, and everyone else for that matter, has said has given me a lot to think about. Thanks a bunch guys!

 

[phrogpilot73]

Just to put it even more into perspective. This was the interview with my department manager...

"You're a Naval Academy graduate and a Marine Officer? Are you going to move down or commute?"

Spending a couple years on active duty opens doors...

 

[KBayDog]

Now I'm a civil servant, a reservist, a dependent, a culinary school student, and a brewmaster. I wouldn't trade my life for anything.

Details, details, details!

 

[jtmedli]

Just to put it even more into perspective. This was the interview with my department manager...

"You're a Naval Academy graduate and a Marine Officer? Are you going to move down or commute?"

Spending a couple years on active duty opens doors...

That's pretty much what another Academy grad and Naval Officer said happened to him. It's hard to beat that kind of work experience.

 

[SWACQ]

That's pretty much what another Academy grad and Naval Officer said happened to him. It's hard to beat that kind of work experience.

That has been my experience as well with 2 different civilian jobs. OK, well, not the Academy thing, but you put the words "Marine Officer" and "Naval Aviator" on a resume and it opens doors. Some are more impressed with the former, some more with the latter. Both are held in high regard in many, many more professions than just those that are military/aviation related.

Put the words "fighter pilot" on a resume and the doors fall off the hinges as you walk up to them. kidding