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<p>Here’s my short take on this entire 5 year post-graduation commitment. I’m currently a 1LT Infantry Platoon Leader with the ARNG. When I was applying to colleges, I also applied to WP. Long story short, I’m glad I did not go.</p>
<p>The big question I asked myself was if I decided to only serve the initial commitment, what would I do after I left the service? Who would hire me in this economy? What skills do I have that are transferable to the civilian workforce? The days of being an commissioned officer and settling into a middle management position in the private sector are largely over. You need to bring real expertise to the table.</p>
<p>As for me, I graduated with a BS Computer Science. State Tuition Waiver allowed me to go through undergrad with zero educational debt. I currently work as a software engineer for a defense contractor but I’m transitioning to a government technology/management consulting position in the Mid-Atlantic region. </p>
<p>I wondered at that time what would have happened if I went to WP and got out? And over the years, I can tell you that there are many Captains that left Active Duty with no real prospect of finding any employment that matched their earnings on Active Duty because Active Duty simply didn’t provide them with the opportunities and assignments to make them competitive in the private sector. The economy these days demands more than a pretty alma mater on your resume. The days of cushy jobs without real technical expertise and experience are over.</p>
<p>How does someone like that compete in the private sector against the reservist that has the same rank, similar tactical/staff/command assignments, etc. as well as a Master’s Degree in a STEM field and 3-5 years of experience?</p>
<p>Think about the opportunity costs of service academy and a 5 year commitment afterwards.</p>