Does Major in College determine your job in the Military?

sjbd94

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I have applied for all 3 ROTC scholarships and am in the process of doing my Air Force and Naval Academy Applications and I am just kinda curious on how my major in college will affect my career field in the military. As of right now, unless i get into AFA, i want to be an intelligence officer. But during college I want to major in a since of some sort of science( Comp Sci, Biology, Clinical Science, etc.) because it interest me and of course I need a tech major for AFROTC and NROTC. But i feel if I was going into the filed of intelligence a degree in something like international business or international relations would be a better fit for this. So I was just wondering if I majored in Clinical Laboratory Science would I have just as good a chance as becoming an intelligence officer as if i majored in something more related to the field of intelligence? Thanks!
 
I have applied for all 3 ROTC scholarships and am in the process of doing my Air Force and Naval Academy Applications and I am just kinda curious on how my major in college will affect my career field in the military. As of right now, unless i get into AFA, i want to be an intelligence officer. But during college I want to major in a since of some sort of science( Comp Sci, Biology, Clinical Science, etc.) because it interest me and of course I need a tech major for AFROTC and NROTC. But i feel if I was going into the filed of intelligence a degree in something like international business or international relations would be a better fit for this. So I was just wondering if I majored in Clinical Laboratory Science would I have just as good a chance as becoming an intelligence officer as if i majored in something more related to the field of intelligence? Thanks!

Unless you're going the nursing, pre-med, law route, your major has nothing to do with your career. A guy from my battalion commissioned in May with a degree in Recreation. He's a pilot.
 
Unless you're going the nursing, pre-med, law route, your major has nothing to do with your career. A guy from my battalion commissioned in May with a degree in Recreation. He's a pilot.

Well in AROTC it really doesn't matter unless you want some extra OML points or are on a pre-professional path like you said.

For AF and Navy I am not completely sure but I think it plays a bigger factor scholarship wise.

I have funny story about a recreation major cadet at my CTLT. The troop CO went around asking about our majors and when one said recreation the CO just laughed and said, "what the hell do you do with that?......."plan some YMCA intramural volleyball matches or something?"...at least you get branch I guess". Well, I thought it was funny at least.
 
I have applied for all 3 ROTC scholarships and am in the process of doing my Air Force and Naval Academy Applications and I am just kinda curious on how my major in college will affect my career field in the military. As of right now, unless i get into AFA, i want to be an intelligence officer. But during college I want to major in a since of some sort of science( Comp Sci, Biology, Clinical Science, etc.) because it interest me and of course I need a tech major for AFROTC and NROTC. But i feel if I was going into the filed of intelligence a degree in something like international business or international relations would be a better fit for this. So I was just wondering if I majored in Clinical Laboratory Science would I have just as good a chance as becoming an intelligence officer as if i majored in something more related to the field of intelligence? Thanks!

I was just selected to be an intel officer through AFROTC so I can shed some light on the AF side of it.

The only way major will play a role is if you're going to major in something technical. If you don't go for a rated AFSC, then an engineering degree will most likely cause them to make you be an engineer. If you have a computer science degree, then they will most likely force you into cyber warfare. This is just because the AF always has a high demand for engineers, and the cyber field is ramping up right now. A LOT of my friends wanted other AFSCs, but got forced into engineering or cyber b/c of their majors. Their GPAs and commander's rankings DID NOT matter at all. The needs of the AF dictates always.

Now if you have a liberal arts or business related major, then you'll have a better shot at intel. This isn't because they think that lib arts or business majors will make a better intel officer - its just b/c all the other guys are being taken up by engineering/cyber.

Edit - also FWIW I'm an int'l relations/Russian major
 
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Pretty spot on words above concerning the Major vs. Career Field question for AFROTC.

Just one bit to add on: if you really are interested in an Intel career field and want to major in something technical, I would MINOR in a foreign language in demand in the intel field. Either Chinese or Farsi.

Three caveats:

1) It needs to be something you WANT to do. Taking a foreign language just for the sake of taking it, and you end up hating it to the point where you don't get good grades in it? It will hurt you more than help you, and can lead to you losing your shot at an AF career because your GPA suffers.

2) It needs to be something you have the TIME to do. Do you have enough time to take these classes ON TOP OF your technical classes AND your ROTC commitments and still keep up the grades?

3) It needs to be something that adds value to your future career plans. Minoring in a foreign language as a future Intel officer? Pretty much a good fit. Minoring in French Renaissance Art history as a future Intel officer? Not so much. I'm not saying to not study the Masterpieces if that is what you really love. You just have to ask yourself if you have the time and desire to do so without it impacting your top priorities (technical degree and ROTC). Ask yourself, "Is it worth it TO ME?" because it ain't worth it to Uncle Sam. (But even I realize Uncle Sam sometimes has to take a back-seat to our true passions :wink: )
 
In addition to what Bullet is saying regarding language, not only can learning a language help you as an Intel officer, but the army also pays cadets big bucks to be proficient in a strategic language. I'm not exactly sure how the program/pay works, but I have a friend in ROTC that is about to start making an extra $1600/semester (If I remember right) to learn Arabic. Additionally, as Bullet said, only do the language if you enjoy it, not for money or anything else.
 
One thing to realize if you want to become a Test Pilot someday your major does play a big factor.

TPS requires a STEM degree, non-techs are immediately out of competition. You can still be a pilot for the Thunderbirds, but just not a pilot that can go to Edwards AFB for TPS.

Additionally becareful of that language thingy :wink:...remember you serve at the needs of the AF and if you major in a language that has high demand, but low supply they can and will pull you into that career field, especially since they have been giving you extra pay in college to major in it.

As everyone has stated major in something you want to major in, don't try to game it for a scholarship or a career path. As others have stated the reason why is that the easiest way to get a low gpa and risk not only a scholarship, but a career is to major in something you hate!

sjbd94 said:
unless i get into AFA, i want to be an intelligence officer.

Out of curiosity why are you assuming that the AFA has career paths that AFROTC doesn't? What career path would you chose if you get AFA? Are you going on the fallacy that AFROTC equates into no chance for UPT? If so, Bullet and I are a proud parent of an AFROTC12 cadet that is dual majoring in non tech (govt and Intl relations), who as a C400 at his college wears a flight suit for ROTC. It happens alot. At his school they had 100% get rated ( 1 will go CSO due to eyes). Nick's college had 100% all going UPT.
 
ROTC that is about to start making an extra $1600/semester (If I remember right) to learn Arabic. Additionally, as Bullet said, only do the language if you enjoy it, not for money or anything else.

My MS I son is taking arabic, and he told me that the additional payment is $1500 per year (both semesters). Do you know for certain that your friend is getting $1600 per SEMESTER? Perhaps he is taking an advanced course? My son is taking an introductory course this semester since he is just starting.....
 
My MS I son is taking arabic, and he told me that the additional payment is $1500 per year (both semesters). Do you know for certain that your friend is getting $1600 per SEMESTER? Perhaps he is taking an advanced course? My son is taking an introductory course this semester since he is just starting.....

Clip money is paid per credit hour, it is not just a set amount per semester, it also depends on whether the school is on quarters or semesters. For the semester of Arabic my son took last year he received $250.00 per credit hour, 4 class credits 1 Lab credit, total 5 credits, payment of $1250.00 for the semester.
 
Clip money is paid per credit hour, it is not just a set amount per semester, it also depends on whether the school is on quarters or semesters. For the semester of Arabic my son took last year he received $250.00 per credit hour, 4 class credits 1 Lab credit, total 5 credits, payment of $1250.00 for the semester.

Speaking of CLIP, does anyone know where I can find the current list of eligible languages for AROTC? I've only found lists from a couple of years ago...
 
I majored in Nursing....would you believe the Army made me a Nurse?.....;)
 
Unless you're going the nursing, pre-med, law route, your major has nothing to do with your career.

The Army is starting to make some changes to this process. A % of Signal Corps slots and Engineer slots are being "fenced off" for students with applicable majors. Not sure if the implementation date is 2012 or 2013. I'll update if I can find the source email.
 
The Army is starting to make some changes to this process. A % of Signal Corps slots and Engineer slots are being "fenced off" for students with applicable majors. Not sure if the implementation date is 2012 or 2013. I'll update if I can find the source email.

I thought the 50% Engineer allocations for engineering majors (as well as IT systems/comp sci allocations for Signal) was already in effect. That is what we were briefed at the LDAC accessions panel for FY 12.
 
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