I keep on hearing that you can actually sign up for less than four years active duty. One person who comes to mind is Erik Prince (the founder of Black Water, who only served three years). Is it possible to serve less than four years active duty? I'm more interested in using military services as a possible boost to transfer into a federal law enforcement position and as a way to discipline myself mentally and physically (nobody wants to be a "blunt" object).
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four year duty?...Is contract negotiation a possibility
- Thread starter cui bono
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No, you can't sign up for less than four years as an Officer. Prince ended his contract early because of his father's death and the inheritance that went along with it, not some upfront negotiation. I would suggest that you keep your 'motivation' for serving and your desire to serve for the shortest possible time to yourself. Everyone has their reasons for serving, but seeking an in and out term of service to use as an immediate springboard to better things strikes me as rather disingenuous for a prospective Officer. Granted, you wouldn't be the only guy to have taken that route, but most guys I've run across with similar motivations are douchebags that barely contribute to the team. Just my .02
Concur with others that if you are only looking for a springboard into something else, then perhaps you should move on. Maybe you should consider a DCO path into a reserve outfit if you aren't interested in serving but a few years.
You all do make valid points. To be honest, I never looked at the military as a life long career path. Don't get me wrong, I know I'm going to enjoy any government oriented career because it would be benefiting communities as a whole (or at least I hope that's what really happens) and I do view the military as a very important government career and, in that case, the community would be international audience. I just feel as though military is a duty; something that all citizens should participate in while they are young and smart so that we can give our early years in and thus help contribute to ourselves and our communities when we grow older. Maybe that's my problem, the way I view the military as being something when can only contribute to in our youthful (18-24) years. I should reconsider going in full time and consider doing reserves or maybe even americorp. Thanks, guys. Sorry, I'm pretty sure I came off as a jack ass who only cares about himself. Instead, I think I just encountered a really bad bout of logical fallacies.
Oh I'd say that's just one of your "problems." You obviously have zero comprehension about how the military functions.
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1. Do you leave out a key word in your typing haste? Who can contribute? You?
2. If you enlist, you can certainly contribute starting at age 18, but if you are planning planning to complete college and go the commissioned officer route, most folks are age 21 and in case of aviators don't even typically get to a squadron and deploy by age 24. Both Marine Corps and Navy expect a little more out of training you than to let you go by age 24.
cui bono said:
What's so special about age 24, are you looking at a federal law enforcement position that specifies that age as a minimum? (note: there is no "transfer" into such jobs BTW).
-What can I say. I subscribe to that youthful arrogant boast of main stream, high school/college students (if it starts to "sag" it will be a drag or being young and cocky is in and everything else is hackneyed. As if that line of thought was not hackneyed in itself.) A rising star, yes I would suppose so. Maybe I'm jesting for no other reason than to jest. Or maybe I'm prodding for something and just haven't found the right spot?
-Enlighten me. Teach me about what you found to be important, in your experience (and I'm not being sardonic)
-Sorry about that. My thoughts often come out as garbled even spastic and they transfer immediately to my fingertips.
-Once again I apologize. I did not mean a direct transfer. I simply meant that a background in military allows one to carry more weight when applying to government positions.
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What have I found to be important? Personal initiative.
Keep in mind that federal LE is pretty hard to get into (some agencies more than others I suppose). I looked at some of your past posts and if I were you I wouldn't count on getting hired by any of the big name agencies.
I get where you're coming from- I have no idea whether I'm going to do 20- but it would suck to 'suffer' through 4-10 yrs in the military to find you have no shot with the feds.
Pick another 'entry' field that you might enjoy more...
I get where you're coming from- I have no idea whether I'm going to do 20- but it would suck to 'suffer' through 4-10 yrs in the military to find you have no shot with the feds.
Pick another 'entry' field that you might enjoy more...
Be sure to communicate this to your chiefs. They'll love to hear this.
Spekkio
He bowls overhand.
In my home county in NY, in addition to NYC and the county next to mine, military service gives you a whole 5 points on the civil service test. 5+ years is a long time to do something you hate for a 5% boost. Beyond that, they don't give a shit. If you get the requisite score, pass the background check, and your name comes up on the list, then you're hired. Other precincts will vary, but it's not like one NEEDS military service to get picked up.
I actually met an FBI rep at my university's career fair. The guy didn't really pay attention to anyone, just casually taking resumes. I almost got the same treatment, then I told him about my background. He pulled me aside and asked me a 'personal' question (a.k.a. you ever tried out marijuana?). I answered truthfully (I had) he told me to come back in three years (FBI policy). In the mean time, he asked me what I was planning on doing. I told him I was considering law school. He told me to get my JD and to work on becoming literate in Farsi. I told him I would do all that. He pulled out a piece of paper that outlined what a special agent was, gave me his number and that was that. I'm currently teaching myself Farsi. As for law school.......I'm having funding issues, especially in this economy. Recently, I met some enlisted navy guys through friends (early twenties) and they seemed very genuine and disciplined. I admired that discipline and decided that maybe substituting law school with the navy wouldn't be a bad idea. But, I'm reconsidering now that I have gotten feedback.
This entire thread can be taken as an affront, in certain contexts. Plus, I have an uncanny ability to always put my foot in my ass (or so everyone says). Essentially, being blunt in a very negative manner. If you ever get the chance to meet me, you would understand. I'm still waiting to get my ass kicked. I'm sure ass kicking is going to happen pretty soon. Until then, I'm going to be one of those socially estranged, eccentric people who never really knows what to say at any time.
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