I know I’ve asked question about getting an economics degree, but also have an interest in software engineering as well as interested in becoming a military officer. I’ve done my research and found pros and cons of both. Military officers get paid more, but you really have no say so of what mos you want, enlisted members actually do what they want and do most of the work, and as you climb up ranks politics are involved. As for software engineering the pay is good as well, but you work long *** hours and you have alot to learn. Should I stick to computer science so I can become a software engineer or join the military as an officer?
You could always join the military after graduating in CS, if you still wanted to.
The military would love an officer with a CS degree.
If you want to become an officer because you like to be an officer, join the army.
If it is because you want to “get paid more,” don’t. It may or may not happen. Joining the army is a big decision, bigger than any amount of money.
A co-worker of mine is a retired officer. His work in the army was essentially systems analysis. “Software engineering” and “the army” are not mutually exclusive.
You can major in CS at a military service academy or a school with ROTC. Surely the military services would find use for an officer who knows computer software.
Military services DO use CS majors (all of them - not just Army). And you will work long hours in the military (in a different way from a coder). Yes, you can join as an officer.
You need to clarify the various computer majors and jobs for yourself. The software engineering major would be more concerned with computer hardware while the computer science degree (the school/college within a U depends on how the U assigns various majors) is all about software, including programming. For jobs the same work could have different titles- my son has been a software developer then became a software engineer when he switched companies while still doing computer software development work.
You need to decide if you want to be in the military, your CS major would work. Consider the pros and cons, including lack of choices.
Actually, at the few schools which offer a software engineering major, it is similar to computer science, but it tends to have more courses in software engineering methodology. At schools which offer a computer engineering major, that major typically includes more hardware course work.
ucbalumnus is correct.
oops- shouda said computer engineering- software implies, well, that not the physical realm.
While it’s true you can’t choose your specialty field (MOS, AFSC, whatever), and it’s true that past experience doesn’t guarantee future experience, it’s also true that technical fields have been in demand all over, including the military. Air Force, Army, or Navy particularly, with the AF and Army having more labs and technical opportunities that don’t involve being on a boat, as I recall.
From 2nd lieutenant through captain (or the naval equivalent of ensign through lieutenant), there ought to be several opportunities to immerse yourself in science - computer or other. After 4-6 years of active duty that used to be harder to do, as the services tended to push people out of technical and into supervisory roles at about that stage.
FWIW, my first engineering job after the military was a small contract firm made up of mostly other ex-officers with 4-7 years of active duty. Even the owner/founder had been a company grade officer before founding a start-up. The military -> engineering path can be an excellent way to satisfy one’s sense of obligation, I think.
I also heard that army officers have a better chance of getting promoted than marines or any other branch. Is this true?
It’s almost certainly going to take 2 yrs to make 1lt, another 2 to make capt, and mostly don’t look for major until around 10 years of service. As far as pinning on birds or stars, I have no idea, but be a Marine only if you really want to be a Marine. There won’t be a lot of engineering options there, but the experience should be memorable all out of reason.
Software Engineer, but I’m being bias because that’s what I’m going to be. :-B
ROTC is the path to take. The military will pay your way through college in exchange for 4 years of service. There is a great need for CS trained officers with the constant attacks on our infrastructure by hostile groups and nations.
Also is I plan l also want to get into quant. Is CS the right degree fro that or should I take up another major or minor in something like mathematics, applied mathematics, or actuarial science?
If you think long hours in software engineering or most civilian jobs are bad, the military isn’t likely to be better. Especially during deployments, high intensity training/drills, or when your group is otherwise needed to solve an emergency issue.
Incidentally, the long hours and being away from one’s family in harsh conditions for several years during deployments is one reason many folks I knew who were in the service, including officers opted to leave/resign their commissions when they were able to do so.
One former colleague, in particular, who served 8 years in the army, did a stint as a drill sergeant, and served at least one tour in OIF turned down an offer to go to OCS to become an officer because he said “8 years in the army is enough. I’m ready to move onto another phase in my life.”
I come from a military family, My dad is a retired high ranking AF officer. Who ever told you that E’s do all of the work is sadly mistaken and or delusional. You can be a CS major in the military as an officer, there is currently a high demand in cyber warfare and in fact the Air Force just started the Cyber Command a few years ago. Military officers work long hours and have immense responsibly. Generally speaking you will have more responsibly sooner in your career as an officer in the military in regards to value of equipment and number of people managed. Not to mention the fact that your decisions impact the physical lives of your people and your enemy.
As far as deployments and war. You should make that decision before you join. Both are realities in this world. France is bombing Syria right this moment. Good luck, get some more information about the military because you seem to missing a lot of facts.
Where did you ever see that an Officer for one of the US Services “gets paid more” than a Computer Engineer? An 2nd LT earns $50K per year. A MAJ earns $110K per year.
The avg salary of starting Computer Engineers is about ~$70K with fantastic upside potential.
Join the military because you want to be in the military. Do not do it because of salary.