Enlisting

Patriot95

5-Year Member
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Sep 29, 2012
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I'm only a junior in high school and was just considering my options for the military. I really want to go into the Army and at first I was planning to try and attend a service academy, but if I wasn't accepted to do AROTC in college. Recently I have been looking up information about enlisting and getting an 18x contract or option40 because I really want to try out for the Army Rangers. I know it's very hard to get into too, so I'm not just assuming I would get in. I have been wanting to do go into the Army for several years, but I don't know if enlisting is the right thing? I know people who enlist get paid less than officers or those with college degrees, but it's something I really want to do. In addition to that, can enlisting ever lead to a long career in the military because I don't just want to be in the military for several years?
 
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From what I understand, if you do well in the military, they will pay for you to go to college while you are enlisted. I'm not sure how that works, though. I'm sure it's possible to have a long career as an enlisted soldier as well, maybe even become an officer after 4yrs of college?
 
Enlisting is a great way to serve the nation. I do not know of the options you speak of specifically, but you can definitely serve a long career as an enlisted Soldier. If you do well, you could serve 20 years or greater.

There are also routes to a commission as an enlisted Solder, such as Green to Gold and OCS.

Additionally, you could go to West Point, but you should only enlist if you want to be an enlisted Soldier and not if you just want to go to West Point.

ROTC could be an option as well. They have the SMP program where you enlist in the National Guard and also enroll in ROTC. You drill with your local National Guard unit and then attend ROTC training and go to classes and when you graduate you receive a commission if you met the standards.

Good luck!
 
What kind of career do you want?

Officers are more leaders and managers.
Enlisted stay in the "hands-on" roles a lot longer.

*That is a generalization, because there are some pretty serious exceptions to that rule.
 
I want to do infantry, but I really want to try and become an Army Ranger.

You will need to get somewhere around a 110 GT Score to get Option 40 in your contract if you are enlisting.

If your heart is really set on being in the 75th Ranger Battalion then enlistment may be your best option. There are far more enlisted in the Rangers then commissioned officers. If you complete college and finish high enough in ROTC to be able to branch Infantry, which is not easy, you will automatically go to Ranger School, realize that this just gets you the tab, you would not be a Ranger. You would need to be a Captain or a 1LT Promotable to apply to the 75th, this could take between 3 1/2 to 4 years. Enlisting is the only way you can get the option 40 in your contract.
 
Does anyone know how long an enlisted soldier could serve as an Army Ranger in the 75th regiment? Also how long would it take for an enlisted soldier to become an Army Ranger?
 
Maxpatty, I think you need to back up and decide whether you want to be an officer or enlisted trooper. They are 2 different paths with vastly different responsibilities. They work together but their jobs are in different directions. You need to find out which of those two you would find the most satisfaction in, pick that path and THEN go for Ranger or whatever specialty excites you.

Research the difference between the enlisted and officer corps on the internet and talk to as many veterans as you can for their descriptions of the jobs. This is your first military assignment. Go for it.
 
Our training NCO and SMI were both career Ranger batt enlisted guys and they definitely have the "hand-on, no guts no glory" mantra. They are great leaders and very professional when need be. I am getting the feeling you want to go enlisted but for some reason are hung up on the fact that officers have college degrees. Guess what? A ton of enlisted men and women have degrees especially in the reserves/NG. I can't tell you how many NCOs I have met who have masters degree but stayed enlisted reserves to serve their country and maintain their job/benefits.

Seeing as you are a high school junior who's already decided to be an infantryman and seem very attracted to the action lifestyle I am going to SUGGEST you look towards the enlisted side of things. Enlisted servicemen can have lengthy careers (MSG, SGM, CSM etc) and SNCOS are some of the most respected members of the military who can easily make most new LTs quiver in their boots if need be.

My only real suggestion is to really research infantry (not what you see in the movies or video games) by talking to guys who have done it before and hear their side of things before you decide to make it a career at 16/17...

Enlisted to Ranger with Option 40

Basic with infantry OSUT (14ish weeks)
Airborne (maybe) (3 weeks)
RASP (8 weeks?)
You are now a "Ranger"
Sit in the batt for while then go to Ranger school to get your tab (pretty much required if you become a Ranger NCO but not all Rangers are immediately tabbed)- (2 months)

(Source: My instructors...)

Obviously the focus of this site is the OFFICER path, but I feel the enlisted path (not even with the purpose of commissioning eventually) gets downplayed a lot...
 
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Our training NCO and SMI were both career Ranger batt enlisted guys and they definitely have the "hand-on, no guts no glory" mantra. They are great leaders and very professional when need be. I am getting the feeling you want to go enlisted but for some reason are hung up on the fact that officers have college degrees. Guess what? A ton of enlisted men and women have degrees especially in the reserves/NG. I can't tell you how many NCOs I have met who have masters degree but stayed enlisted reserves to serve their country and maintain their job/benefits.

Seeing as you are a high school junior who's already decided to be an infantryman and seem very attracted to the action lifestyle I am going to SUGGEST you look towards the enlisted side of things. Enlisted servicemen can have lengthy careers (MSG, SGM, CSM etc) and SNCOS are some of the most respected members of the military who can easily make most new LTs quiver in their boots if need be.

My only real suggestion is to really research infantry (not what you see in the movies or video games) by talking to guys who have done it before and hear their side of things before you decide to make it a career at 16/17...

Enlisted to Ranger with Option 40

Basic with infantry OSUT (14ish weeks)
Airborne (maybe) (3 weeks)
RASP (8 weeks?)
You are now a "Ranger"
Sit in the batt for while then go to Ranger school to get your tab (pretty much required if you become a Ranger NCO but not all Rangers are immediately tabbed)- (2 months)

(Source: My instructors...)

Obviously the focus of this site is the OFFICER path, but I feel the enlisted path (not even with the purpose of commissioning eventually) gets downplayed a lot...

Great post.

Glad to brought up the fact that many enlisted service members have both 4 yr degrees and Masters.

I still get shivers up my spine when I think of a certain Master Chief, I saw many a Ensign and LTJG cringe from just one of his famous "looks"
 
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