Dillemma..

[jmiller82]

I have a bit of a problem.. I have been working on an OCS Application package since around the 24th of July.. I submitted initially for Intel, got non-selected and was told to resubmit for SNFO, which I hadn't really gave any thought to. After three months (not sure exactly what took so long to submit), my package was resubmitted with my 1st Pref as SNFO. Today, I received a call from the recruiter stating I had been Pro-Rec'd for SNFO and I would need to prepare some documents for Final Select (FINDOCS). I am very excited about this and can't wait to finish the EPSQ and all other necessary documents (did I just say that?!)..
However, because of the length of time that the NRD had taken (and the reluctance to get it done quickly and way they treated me), I was told to check into the Army OCS program by a family friend. I have pursued an application with the Army for OCS and I have a date with the interview board (the Army sits you in front of a three officer panel and determines then and there your future as an OCS candidate) on July 12th. I am currently undergoing MEPS (tomorrow actually ) and then I will have completed my requirements and documents to be processed. I am told that within 72 hours (by July 16th), I will know whether or not the Army has accepted me as an officer candidate. My problem, however, is that I have been contacted by my Navy recruiter now and been told that it would be around mid July before I would probably hear back from a Final Select board for Aviation. What are my options in terms of delaying my swearing in for the Army (assuming I'm selected) and waiting for the Navy to go ahead with a Final Select? Also, if I waited until the next board with the Army, it wouldn't hurt.. Any tips or advice on how to let the recruiter (Army)know that I want some time to think over the results of a decision that will impact the next 4 years of my life, maybe even longer? My wife and family agree that the Navy (NFO) would provide a more solid background for a family and possibly kids in the future, as opposed to being an Infantry Officer in the Army. Don't get me wrong - the idea of being a platoon leader in the Infantry seems very appealing..

 

[XeroCool]

Well it goes like this, my father had a similar problem when he went into the Army. He was really interested in going for infantry becuase he wanted the excitement and he figured he loved scouts so why not go camping for a living. He got started talking to some people who were currently infantry and had a few years under them already. In a nutshell he was told: @ 20 years you love it, you cant get enough of it. You cant understand why anyone would want to do anything else. @25 You still love it and you can still kick ass but its starting to take a lot more time to heal after every deployment/exercise/jump. @30 Your feeling it, your joints ache, you've lost a few inches in height from the extreme hard landing,you are developing back problems from the compressed discs in your back. @40 if your still doing it hopefully, your doing it behind a desk but when a pressure front comes into town you feel it all the way from your knees to you back.
This is where my father decided he would go avaition and fly UH-1, then Mohawks, and finally end up with Blackhawks(UH-60)....although he still was able to go to jump school and ended up hitting the ground hard and losing 2 inches of height from old age combined with hard impacts.
I would say both are equally fulfilling, and if they are not in your minds eye, and if they arent then you already have your answer.
I would dare say that you might even have a more market-able skill after you retire to transition into the civilian sector more seemlessly.

~X
I appologize for the fact I don't know how to use paragraphs

 

[jesse5730]

Dude, don't let anyone tell you what choice to make. If you can, start searching for anyone you can talk to in the Army and/or Navy. When I wanted to fly, I went down to Yuma and meet some of the F18 pilots, they were more than happy to show me around and talk to me. I find this is the best way to really learn about a potential job I am interested in. Either way your joining the United States Military!! OHHRAH!! GOODLUCK!

 

[FMRAM]

There are plenty of aviators and NFOs in this forum by the way...
Start a thread and ask some questions in under "Millitary Aviation in General".
My 0.02 worth would be to jump on NFO if you are final selected, but I understand your wanting to look into other options.

 

[jmiller82]

My reluctance to jump right back into the NFO (Navy Recruiting) route is only because it took 7 months for my recruiter to "send" my application packet. It was my first choice, and I had all of my paperwork ready when he said he needed it. The OPO and my recruiter were both retiring within a month of my application packet's submission to CNRC, hence their reluctance to send it. They were probably exploring other civilian career options (rightfully so, I guess).
Anyway, my dillema now, however, is that I need to "postpone" or let the Army recruiter know that I want to sit before the interview board at a later date (in the hopes that my Navy packet is finished or final selected by mid July). These guys at the Army station, however, are chomping at the bit and are ready to get their credit for pushing me through the gauntlet of Army OCS recruiting (they've been great). I just feel like a jerk for doing that to them.. However, IT IS MY LIFE, not just some recruiting bonus that I'M WORRIED ABOUT, so that is how I will sleep at night! Any advice or tips on what excuses I could use to tell the Army I need to postpone my date (mid July) with the Interview Board? I know that they already know about the Navy, but they think the Navy is just blowing smoke and trying to get me back on board.. They have no idea how the Navy OCS process goes. I was thinking of just saying I'm just not ready for it, or saying I couldn't make that date do to a family problem or crisis. Anyway, any advice or insight into this would be greatly appreciated..

 

[Purdue Jones]

First I would say you should be honest with them. They have even went through the same things you did not to mention they have probably spent some time for your OCS work so they deserve your honesty. As far as what branch just think what you really want to do. Navy -> Boats....Army -> Camping to oversimplify it was told to me once from an o-5.

Also as far as family life you should probably talk to senior infantrymen/NFO's. Some family life in naval aviation sometimes also depends on the community. Example, some people with families want P-3's because the fact that they do not have to go to a ship. But when you fly something carrier based you will be on a ship.

Good luck.