long term Opportunities

[dohdean]

This is probably a stale posting at this point. But -- so many parents on this site have no military background and are looking for answers as to what it will mean for their son or daughter to go to an Academy. We are not a military family. Our daughter, a C1C, at Air Force is not (by any means) the first person in our family to serve -- I have an ancestor who served in the Revolutionary War at Yorktown. But our daughter is the first in our families to attend an Academy. She, and we, put alot of thought into what career options might be available to her when she had nominations to both USAFA and West Point. In the end, she (not we) choose Air Force. Though it was her choice, we discussed her options, we helped her find men and women who had served in both the Air Force and the Army to talk to about what her options might be during her career. Her major: Business Management -- is not as flashy as some of the others. Her job assignment (received yesterday) was her first choice: Financial Management. She has her eyes on an MBA, maybe a PhD and a career in the Air Force. I don't think it is a bad idea at all for an applicant and their family to look at the different branches of the service and what might be available to them in the future. Of course, a young person's ideas might change over the period they are at an Academy.Or their situation may change -- they may discover that although physically qualified for service they can't be a pilot because of their eye sight, etc. But they can and should think about what they may want in the future -- for some being on a ship for long periods may cut against a Naval career. For others, that might be a good fit. As a non-military parent, if I have any decent advice on this -- it is -- see if you can help your son or daughter find someone to discuss their options with. Maybe that is their ALO, maybe it is someone at your church who went to an Academy -- maybe a friend of a friend is an officer. Or make an appointment with the head of ROTC at your closest university and have that person talk to your son or daughter. There are ways to get this information even if you do not come from a military family and do not have any active duty friends.

[Dad]

^^^^ +1

[Christcorp]

Remember too: Just like many came to the academy with preconceived ideas and opinions of "What they were getting into", and for many, those opinions changed. For many, who supposedly wanted the academy their entire life, it wasn't what they thought it would be. Some even left the academy.

Same applies for once they graduate. There are some who believe that they want to make the military a "Career". There are others who sincerely have plans to do a "5 and dive". Yes, these plans too may change. There are even some who have always wanted to fly, but come their C2C year, they start having 2nd thoughts and aren't sure if they want to commit for 10 additional years. I know when I first got into active duty, I was thinking 1 or possibly 2 assignments and then I was gone. Well; I woke up one day and had gotten married, had 2 kids, and had done 21 years in the military.

Guess what I'm saying is: Yes, it's good to look at the military as possibly being a career. But that doesn't mean you will necessarily want it to be a career in another 1,2,3,,,5 years. Maybe the spouse you marry affects your decision. Maybe after going to active duty you realize it's not what you thought it was going to be. In other words; definitely look into options, but don't be surprised if what you want changes.

[AF6872]

DD loves her job and thinking of five + Grad School and stay for more. Originaly thought five and dive but now thinks may stay. Once you are there it is a whole new experience and a new family.