<p>Which branch of the Armed Services is most favourable for women and people of color? </p>
<p>I never thought in a million years that I would be thinking about a future in the military. But, lately, I have. I am a rising junior, so it’s starting to hit me that I have to prepare for the next step of my life. Granted I come out of the military relatively unscathed, I think the armed services offers a lot of benefits to those who make the commitment. </p>
<p>This could just be a phase, but at this point I do not want to throw out any options. I know several of you parents know people who were in the armed services, so it will be great if you chime in.</p>
<p>You might want to consider one of the Armed Services Academies such as West Point, Annapolis, or the Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs. The education offered is first rate and free, but you will be required afterwards to serve as an officer for a minimum of five years; all in all, a great opportunity.</p>
<p>There is an active Service Academies forum on CC that’s well worth checking out.</p>
<p>You can also look at the U.S. Coast Guard Academy and the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy. All present outstanding career opportunities after graduation as well as after you leave the military. Additionally, the academics are outstanding. As a rising junior, you have the time to investigate all of the service academies while also looking at civilian colleges with strong ROTC programs/scholarships. You may want to consider applying (this winter) for the summer programs at the academies. This is a great way to see if academy life is for you. Good luck!</p>
<p>I joined the air force right out of high school (female) and it was an awesome experience. I was able to use the GI Bill to put me through school (although that program has been changed there is still help). I didn’t experience any hint of discrimination against women back in 1976. My brother just retired as an officer after 20+years. I really don’t think you would have any problem as a female or as a minority. The academies are great, but about as selective as the ivies, so not an option for most.The job opportunities for enlisted can be fascinating. I was a “voice processing specialist” which was essentially someone who broke codes and then translated the Arabic text into English. Required hard duty in Monterey, California for a year to learn the language and then three years on the island of Crete.</p>
<p>Please, please remember that an education obtained at a military service academy is NOT free. </p>
<p>Son just made one of the hardest decision’s in his life in declining his appointments to the academies. His very best buddy is in the middle of Beast at the Point. There is no tuition at the academies and room and board is covered, however the committment asked of all the cadets and mids is far away from being free.</p>
<p>If you’re unsure about such a long-term commitment, you can enlist for as little as two years. There are numerous college programs to motivated enlisted personnel, such as the Enlisted College Program, Seaman to Admiral (for the Navy), PACE, etc. Of course, in return you must give them more years of service, but if it’s a fit then go for it.</p>
<p>I hope that our military is both sex neutral and color blind. Any other alternative would negate much what the nation has been striving for the last century. If and when you do serve the nation, do so for the nation, your fellow soldier, and for yourself.</p>
<p>Definitely look into ROTC. If you are not on a scholarship, you will have a couple of years to decide if it is really what you want. The military offers great benefits but as someone else said, it’s not for free. So only do it if you are really interested in being an officer, not just for the scholarship money. </p>
<p>I can only speak for Navy ROTC as that’s what S is in, but I know even if you are on a 4 yr. scholarship in NROTC, you can quit after Freshman year with no obligation if you find it’s not for you.<br>
At S’s school, he has noticed that there are more people of color in Air Force and Army ROTC than Navy. Don’t know that it means anything, just his observation.
You can find lots of good info. on each services ROTC webpage.</p>
<p>After having served as an officer in the Air Force for 17 years, I will tell you that the military is NOT color or gender neutral. There is, and always will be (IMO) an institutional bias against women. I encountered too many systematic and subtle consequences of gender discrimination for me to count. I frankly thought that if I just held on, as a colonel I could make substantial changes in the system for the women that followed. I was wrong. The party line is that the military does not discriminate on the basis of gender, race, or religion. That said, every member of the military is an individual who arrives in uniform with their own biases. This is no different from any other organization. Don’t fool yourself.</p>
<p>Serving in the military is a privilege and an honor. However, you need to know without ANY misconceptions what you are getting into and CHOOSE it as a life and career move. Good luck.</p>
<p>P_J - As QuiltGuru wisely observed, serving in the military is both a privilege and an honor. It WILL change your life. IMHO, service experience and college experience are distinct experiences. Yes the service academies are terrific, but they don’t epitomize “the college experience.” And yes money for college is nice, but it’s a pretty small reward all things considered. So please think carefully about this decision. “I’m joining the Army/Navy/AF to get money for college” is probably joining up for the wrong reason. Good luck with your decision!</p>
<p>It is also the main reason why so many kids fresh out of high school join the military, including myself three years ago. I wouldn’t necessarily call it the wrong reason, after all, many teenagers go to college and waste the experience only to look back with regret years later. As the cliche goes, hard work forms character, and I feel myself much readier to make the most out of college having had responsibility thrusted upon me, as well as having released a lot of the antics out of my system in the military.</p>
<p>P_J - My daughter’s FRIEND enlisted in the Army because there was no money for school. He was determined not to have debt.In my opinion- the wrong reason to join the military. Military service is and honor and a privilege. The Army’s signing bonus was generous IF he enlisted for 5 years + 2 in the reserves.When he gets out he’ll be 23 years old - with no college degree. He is making $14,300/y before taxes as a E2 Private. Yes, EVENTUALLY there MAY BE benefits, but there is no guarantee.The political situation of Veterns Affairs is labile at best. </p>
<p>FRIEND is now at boot camp training to be a soldier. His letters tell us this is the most difficult physical and mental challenge of his life.FRIEND’s spirit is changed. He screams “Trained to KILL- KILL WE WILL” at the top of his lungs. The tension of this situation has driven some guys to attempt suicide. He has to earn a 5 min phone call which he makes to my daughter. If she’s not there his call is wasted. He gets 4 hours to sleep which he steals time to write to his friends and family. We can’t send care packages of with cookies or other goodies cause he is on a muscle building diet. I spoke to the local recruiter about what I could send this kid. He told me if I sent food, it would be taken away.Anything I might send in a box is subject to confiscation for no reason. It’s about discipline. It’s about becoming a warrior. He expects to be deployed to Iraq by Oct. My daughter is not excited about shopping for extra long bed sheets or new computers or moving across the country to start college. </p>
<pre><code> Please understand my heart and my soul supports the men and women who protect our freedom. I also urge you to think carefully.
</code></pre>
<p>Thank you, for all the responses. They really put things in perspective for me. I was especially stunned at crabbylady’s post. I could never do that - train to kill, no way. That’s probably what the military is all about, but I always thought it would be more strategic, more behind-the-scenes work, not exactly in the combat field, not to say I couldn’t do that, too, and more virtuous in terms of ruthless killing and humane practices. </p>
<p>Initially, military and privilege together didn’t register for me. That the government was bestowing to me a gift to enlist and essentially risk and well-being took me off guard. I looked at it as a service to my country, my gift to America. </p>
<p>All things aside, I realize that the military may not align with my goals. I don’t know what to do with my life or even the next two years. It’s juvenile of me to jump into military service without any sort of direction. No doubt, I still think military service could open up amazing opportunities and career choices but maybe not the ones suitable for me. I’d always feel the risk of that commitment, and I wouldn’t be able to live with that bargain. </p>
<ul>
<li>Sorry for the numerous edits. I accidently pressed the submit button long before I was done with my post.</li>
</ul>
<p>The Military is certainly not gender blind. AFAIK the Coast Guard is the only branch that has all careers/jobs open to both males and females. Army restricts females from potential combat MOS’s (infantry, armor, attack helicopter, etc, although they allow women to become MPs), while AF and Navy have restrictions as well. Still plenty of opportunities for women in the military in intelligence, flight, and support. Bottom line is that even though not everything is open for you, you could probably still find something that would please you. Just keep in mind that your desires may not be equivalent to the Army/Navy/AF’s needs so there is always the potential of getting stuck in a slot that you don’t want. However, I recently read a statistic that students who do well in ROTC and academically at college have a 90% chance of getting one of their top 3 choices for careers.</p>
<p>Just think everything through and I’m sure that you will make the right decision. No one on this board can decide for you, but we can give you the information that you need to make the most informed decision possible.</p>