I'm torn b\w Airforce and Navy ROTC.

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deshawnjamison

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I potentially want to run for office in federal gov'(congress, senator, president). I'm going to a SMC in the fall of 2013, and am trying to see which of these two branches, would help me pursue my dream.
Comments, tips,etc are welcome.
 
I don't see how it would make any difference... Air Force, Army, Navy, Marines. There are elected officials with prior officer service from all branches.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_United_States_Presidents_by_military_service

Overall, there are more Army, but since Truman, the President of the US count is 6 Navy, 3 Army, and one National Guard. The Air Force, being the smallest of the three, and having only been formed as a separate Branch after WWII out of the Army Air Corps, doesn't show any on that list.

6 of the 7 Presidents immediately following Abraham Lincoln had been Generals in the US Army.

Between Army and Navy ROTC, the one that would help you the most would be the one you like most, since liking something is a big factor in motivation, which is a big factor in performance, which is a big factor in success in all fields.
 
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True

But for an MOS I was thinking
1) Intel
2) Aviation
3) communications

Could I get elected with this or should I change MOS
 
If you're interested in intelligence, i'd suggest AFROTC. I recently commissioned through AFROTC and will be heading to intel training this fall. Its much harder to go into the intel field out of NROTC. When you commission through NROTC, the Navy usually wants you to go to an unrestricted line field (surface warfare, aviation, subs, special warfare). Very few NROTC grads go straight to intel - I believe most of them have to spend a few years as SWOs before switching.

In the AF, intel officers are line officers just like the rest. Its also a severely under-manned career field, so a lot of people are getting selected lately.

Now with all that said - when you pick a service/career field, the potential help to your hopeful political career should not be a primary factor in the decision. That could possibly set you up for a miserable 4+ years of active duty, and it would not be fair to the airmen/sailors you'd be leading. You should pick a service or career field that you think you'd enjoy and would be willing to excel in. If you go into it with a purely self-serving attitude, you will fail.

Good luck!
 
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Well, there technically isn't "MOS" at the officer level, but rather Branches. Army has 16 Branches available to newly minted O1s, and Intelligence is one, as is Signal Corps, and Aviation.

I am not familiar the details of Air Force branching, though I agree with Nick that in Navy, at least 90% of Officers wanting Intel must first serve as Surface or Submariner officers, then put in for transfer to Intel. As far as Aviation and Communications, I don't know whether Navy or Air Force offers greater flexibility.. I suspect Air Force does.

Now, I've answered your specific question, but the problem is that the answer to your question makes no practical difference. They both position you equally well for future elected office. So it comes back to basic life advice: find something you care about, that you like, and that you have some natural skill for, and pursue it with all your emotional, mental, and physical energy.
 
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6 of the 7 Presidents immediately following Abraham Lincoln had been Generals in the US Army.

As well as a former West Point grad and US Army Colonel who served as president at the same time as Lincoln. :wink:
 
Time out for a second.

Am I the only one that understood his motive?
Cadet2017 said:
potentially want to run for office in federal gov'(congress, senator, president). I'm going to a SMC in the fall of 2013, and am trying to see which of these two branches, would help me pursue my dream.

Have we all lost sight that this poster does not want to serve in the military, they are only doing it for political advancement? And OMG at 17, naive to say the least.

He is going to jump as soon as he can. I am not saying he won't change his mind, I am not saying he will not be a great officer. I am saying he has declared at this point, that he is doing this to fill a square for political gain.

He couldn't care less what job he gets, all he wants his military service. Fill the square. Tell me how you will all feel in April when the last board meets how you will feel when you didn't get a scholarship and only wanted to defend our country, but he got a scholarship and has his exit plan already?

You all may be okay with that, but I am not.
 
^ Pima, no, I didn't interpret that the same way you did. GIVEN that he is going to be at an SMC in 2013 (stated), and GIVEN that he wants to serve in some Branch of the miliatary (implied by going to an SMC), which ROTC would better prepare him for future elected civil service? That's what I thought he meant.
 
He is going to jump as soon as he can.

So what?

The law says he owes 5 years active and 3 years reserves if he attends a SA.

As long as he fulfills his commitment, he is doing nothing illegal, immoral, sneaky, or contemptible by exploring options for his post-military career.

Not everyone who joins/enlists or commissions is in for the long haul lifer option, and there shouldn't be any derision or scorn cast upon someone who is planning to leave as soon as their obligation is fulfilled.
 
Luigi,

I have absolutely no issue with what you are asking. He serves 5 yrs, go for it.

You did your time, and I respect it. However, if you think I am going to vote for you because you were in the AD military you are a fool!

20/30 yrs ago military service meant something in the political arena. It doesn't now.

Serve because you want to serve, not because you think somewhere down the line you will get elected.

As far as my jumping comment is concerned, we as taxpayers should be concerned how fast they jump. It takes a lot of money to train them. It is an ROI.


Dunninla,

Re-read his post along with yours.
GIVEN that he is going to be at an SMC in 2013 (stated),
deshawnjamison said:
I'm going to a SMC in the fall of 2013

Do you know any SMC that has accepted anyone for fall 2013? I think not, thus, it is not a GIVEN he will be at any SMC in 13 months. He has not given any stats academically, nothing regarding ECs or sports.

The poster is 16 at best. I just think that this conversation is BS and a waste of time. Determining which branch is a better edge 15 yrs from now for political office is inane.

Seriously, that was his question. It wasn't which branch I should join military career wise, it was which branch help me politically.

Re-read the OP
I potentially want to run for office in federal gov'(congress, senator, president)....am trying to see which of these two branches, would help me pursue my dream.

Please illuminate to me he wants to serve in any branch for the sake of defending the country. What I read was I want to be a politician which branch is my best shot to be elected? Obama, and Clinton never served.

Luigi, again, leave after your commitment is due, I have no issue or problem with it. You served admirably.

I think it is a better use of our time to explain what AD life is like.
 
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Pima, the OP has posted his stats ad nauseum in several different areas of the forum. And, Norwich and North Georgia are already releasing decisions for next fall, so it is conceivable that the "givens" are just that.

I would assume, though, that the OP would have announced his acceptance already had it been received.....
 
I have no issue with the fact that the OP is giving the impression that he will serve his minimal time and then move on. He's willing to serve as part of his prep for a political career, something not many of our current politicians were willing to do.

I do, however, have an issue that he's basically looking at this from a "what are the best squares to fill" perspective, and is not realizing the huge committment he will be required to undertake if this is indeed the path he chooses. The calculation part has me just a tad concerned, and I honestly hope he knows what he is signing up for.

I've seen too many folks with the "I'm jut here to do my time, and I won't be doing a dang thing more" attitude. If that is the case here, I highly suggest the OP look into some other career path / stepping stone towards a Congressional seat.

I hear the foriegn service may be hiring....
 
To clear up controversy.

I do want to be in the military. I do want to serve my country. I do love my country, and I want to learn the nessessary skills to lead my country. Yes The military is one of our greatest teachers, and I want to learn everything and more so that we can rise to the great state of yesterday. I stand and live by strong moral and ethical values that I believe will demonstrate what a leader can be. I believe I have what it takes to do so. Being that my platform is S.T.O.P.

S.topping
T.he
O.ppression of the world's
P.eople.

I just want to lead.


Respectfully,





Deshawn Jamison
 
Your acronym might need a little work before you kick off your campaign.
 
I do want to be in the military. I do want to serve my country. I do love my country, and I want to learn the nessessary skills to lead my country. Yes The military is one of our greatest teachers, and I want to learn everything and more so that we can rise to the great state of yesterday. I stand and live by strong moral and ethical values that I believe will demonstrate what a leader can be. I believe I have what it takes to do so. Being that my platform is S.T.O.P.

S.topping
T.he
O.ppression of the world's
P.eople.

I just want to lead.

Glad you cleared that up. Some folks were getting into a lather. An ambitious goal, to be sure, and one that will garner a lot of votes. But which people? Anyone who is oppressed, or claims to be oppressed? Oppressed by what standard? Religious, ethnic, national, color, gender, sexual, economic, geographic, intellectual, political? What about people who were oppressed or worse and still have grudges that go back a while?

By the way, why stop at people? What about dolphins?
 
As far as my jumping comment is concerned, we as taxpayers should be concerned how fast they jump. It takes a lot of money to train them. It is an ROI.

Yes, and the US Govt has decided that 5 years of active duty service, and 3 years of service in the Reserves, is a proper return on the investment.

True, military service is no longer a "requirement" for elected office, even 2 of the last 3 POTUS had no military service whatsoever. But I think we all agree that the leadership gained in serving as a military officer is valuable to the future candidate when he runs for office - not for "the check mark" but for the values and lessons that he learned while serving and leading.

And it doesn't always guarantee a good politician, but I think many of us who respect and admire the military would give the edge in our voting choice to an ex-military officer over a non-military service candidate, all other things being equal.

That being said, however - One of the worst presidents of all time (IMHO) had a military academy education and served as a active duty military officer before entering politics.
 
Great question.

This will be great practice on that I need to expect when pursuing public office.
Well to S.T.O.P., we need to break the acronym into small subdivisions. The fact that people, not only in this country are being oppressed, but people all over the world. In the sudan and other places in Africa, are being with withheld from food. Why? Because they can't afford it. Or in third world countries when they are ruled by a totalitarian gov't. Or even in America, an african american male, goes into a corner store , he is already profiled, because of the color of his skin. In this same country, determining by where you live, who your parents are or where you are from, your education is lessened to those who are "privleged". Oppression of the mind. Oppression of the soul. I stand for equality, and the coming together of mother earth. For we are held down; Why? For the love of money. Oppression politically, intellectually, etc-
All can go back to money, which needs change.
 
This will be great practice on that I need to expect when pursuing public office.
Well to S.T.O.P., we need to break the acronym into small subdivisions. The fact that people, not only in this country are being oppressed, but people all over the world. In the sudan and other places in Africa, are being with withheld from food. Why? Because they can't afford it. Or in third world countries when they are ruled by a totalitarian gov't. Or even in America, an african american male, goes into a corner store , he is already profiled, because of the color of his skin. In this same country, determining by where you live, who your parents are or where you are from, your education is lessened to those who are "privleged". Oppression of the mind. Oppression of the soul. I stand for equality, and the coming together of mother earth. For we are held down; Why? For the love of money. Oppression politically, intellectually, etc-
All can go back to money, which needs change.

Civil Affairs would be the ideal branch for you if you want to gain first hand experience in humanitarian operations. Gaining a proficiency in a foreign language such as Arabic or Swahili will help you get selected for Civil Affairs. Most officers do not get CA qualified until mid career.
 
Marist College ROTC

So would entrust me with my fellow airmen/sailors life, if you had any say to it?
 
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