turtlerunnernc
5-Year Member
- Joined
- Dec 17, 2014
- Messages
- 619
I am not very familiar with the military, so please understand if this is a dumb question. My son plans on attending VMI as an Engineering major. Currently Mechanical, but thinking he may want to switch to Civil. He is hoping for an AROTC scholarship and to commission as a 2nd Lt upon graduation.
My question is what will his AD options be. In surfing ( the all knowing ) internet, it seems that most of the actual engineers are civilian, not actual army. In looking at MOS with Engineer in description none of them seem to be doing what I would consider the engineering aspect. One of them, involving building bridges etc seems the most engineer like, but would be more classified as civil.
Maybe I am just confused. If he spends 4 years working his rump off to be an engineer then doesn't actually get to be one? Or am I way off base. Just wondering once he commissions what he can expect. Is engineering a good career path within the army? Is one ( mechanical or civil) better over the other, long term career wise?
I guess when I imagine him as an engineer in the army, something like say Combat Engineer ( dealing with setting/ clearing mines) or Horizontal Construction Engineer ( using bulldozers etc). The Technical Engineer or Engineering Officer, maybe are the closest. Again being unfamiliar with the military I'm just not sure, are these jobs using the degree he studied for?
Thanks for helping a confused mom.
My question is what will his AD options be. In surfing ( the all knowing ) internet, it seems that most of the actual engineers are civilian, not actual army. In looking at MOS with Engineer in description none of them seem to be doing what I would consider the engineering aspect. One of them, involving building bridges etc seems the most engineer like, but would be more classified as civil.
Maybe I am just confused. If he spends 4 years working his rump off to be an engineer then doesn't actually get to be one? Or am I way off base. Just wondering once he commissions what he can expect. Is engineering a good career path within the army? Is one ( mechanical or civil) better over the other, long term career wise?
I guess when I imagine him as an engineer in the army, something like say Combat Engineer ( dealing with setting/ clearing mines) or Horizontal Construction Engineer ( using bulldozers etc). The Technical Engineer or Engineering Officer, maybe are the closest. Again being unfamiliar with the military I'm just not sure, are these jobs using the degree he studied for?
Thanks for helping a confused mom.