I'd like to address the idea of "not using your degree." My perspective comes as an Army wife of 24 years. My husband is retiring in 50 days (!!!) after more than 25 years of service. He was a 4 year scholarship winner and earned a degree in Aeronautical Engineering. He was commissioned into Aviation. His understanding of aircraft dynamics, etc that he learned in college while working toward his degree gave him a learning advantage over some of the other flight school students. His learning curve was definitely less steep. His ability to solve complex problems in addition to his aerospace/flight experience helped him be a strong leader while he was a Company Commander for an Apache Maintenance Company and while working directly with maintenance test pilots. His recommendations based on the understanding of aircraft frames led to a DoD level change in the way helicopters are deployed into war zones. His military successes led him to being chosen to attend the Naval Postgraduate school as a full time student for 2+ years (while of course still being paid his regular pay and benefits) to earn a Master's Degree in Aeronautical Engineering, and resulted in his thesis being published by Janes Magazine. His extensive knowledge of aircraft dynamics and his experience as a pilot was critical when he was working as an Army Aircraft Accident Investigator for the Combat Readiness Center. He was then placed in the Acquisition Corps and has spent the last 12 years working directly with industry partners (Boeing, Lockheed Martin, etc) on DoD contracted programs that have been vital to Army Aviation and the Warfighter. Now, as he is getting ready to transition to the civilian workforce, that degree that "he never used" is a selling point for future employers. That, along with his experience flying, working with industry, and putting everything he had into his military career (starting in ROTC) means that he already has several job opportunities in the wings and just has to decide which one he will accept. He still won't be working as an Aeronautical Engineer... but that degree has been invaluable to him.
"Holy Sikorski, inSANEmom."
Given inSANEmom's post and the fact that you will be surrounded this summer by folks with all kinds of association with the Army (Veterans, Reservists, Guardsmen, probably some active duty) there is very little to add.
One thing I would add, however, is that in a large corporation you will start at the bottom and be responsible only for your own work. As a newly minted 2Lt, in the right branch, you will be managing people from the get go and be responsible for their work as well as your own. The management experience after 4-5 years will count for a whole lot when either entering the private sector or re-entering University as a graduate student.
An Army Officer is a different career title than Engineer for a reason. Doesn't mean an engineering degree doesn't come in handy to help figure stuff out in the field, but I've learned from my last JRTC rotation there's a reason even my Field Maintenance Company has plenty of copies of FM 3-21.8 laying around.
I have no idea what FMB just said, but his attitude says it all. There are plenty of opportunities to use critical thinking skills and broaden your skill set. Of course, getting to blow things up would improve anyone's attitude.
My DS is a Signal 1Lt who as a STEM majoring MS 3 and 4 occasionally wondered the same thing as you. He saw friends walk into sexy jobs, unshaven and in street clothes. His approach was, "I'm not paying anything back to anybody, so I'm giving it everything I've got." He is still shocked, 18 months into it, at how often his critical thinking skills are sought out by smart people from whom he can learn. This is how you fill your bag of skills. Somehow, I can't visualize this happening 18 months after your first paycheck at Northrup Grumman.
@djames you seem to be taking a mature honest look at your future, so I wish you the best of luck. Never underestimate how little uncertainty can be a very mind opening and motivating.