Army Career Intermission Program

J

Jacobko75

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Nov 16, 2021
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71
Hello,

I am currently a senior in high school, have an army rotc scholarship and waiting on USMA. I ultimately want more information on CIP (Career Intermission Program). Have any of you guys had personal experience with this, I have read the overview of it from the army's article on it, however I still have many questions that went unanswered from it.

I want to do a trip at some point in my life where I hike across the entirety of Europe. I already have the route planned, and it's roughly 7,700 miles, and would be nearly 1.5-2 year long trip. CIP claims you could take up to 3 years off, but just how competitive is it to be selected for this? Will taking a 1-2 year "break" from the army harm my career progression? I'd wait till full retirement, but I doubt I'll be of the same physical capabilities by that age.

For context, I intend on becoming an officer in the infantry, and intend on staying in for 20 years (or more if they let me).

Any info will be appreciated, I primarily just want personal experiences with it, as I've read nearly every article there is on it, and none truely addressed my main concern: career progression and competitiveness of being accepted for it.
 
I doubt that anyone can really give authoritative info because you need to look at how things work out AFTER the career is complete. All of the services seem to be working on something like this for a number of reasons, most notably women who want to start a family. The best I'll say is that you'll be leaving your peer group and taking on another that is a couple of years junior and it will already have its own "front runners" in it.
To me it is a career risk but everyone has their own priorities.
 
I see, thank you for the insight. I did not consider the possible risk of being plucked out of the race with contestants you know then being placed back in with an entirely new group of people.
 
Jacobko75 said:
I want to do a trip at some point in my life where I hike across the entirety of Europe. I already have the route planned, and it's roughly 7,700 miles, and would be nearly 1.5-2 year long trip
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The Army used to have such a program.... a hike from the Coast of France to Berlin in about a year, but they stopped that program in 1945 ! :)

Seriously, I haven't heard of such a "sabbatical" program, but I know businesses are doing it, and suspect the military service will follow. Society is kinder gentler world, and the younger generation is expecting more work-life balance. I don't know how that fits with a military career, particularly in career paths where your skills have a shorter shelf life, like aviation. I am sure there is a way to make it happen, but I'm with SWO ...you are stepping out of the race when you should be running the hardest.
 
Jacobko75 said:
Hello,

I am currently a senior in high school, have an army rotc scholarship and waiting on USMA. I ultimately want more information on CIP (Career Intermission Program). Have any of you guys had personal experience with this, I have read the overview of it from the army's article on it, however I still have many questions that went unanswered from it.

I want to do a trip at some point in my life where I hike across the entirety of Europe. I already have the route planned, and it's roughly 7,700 miles, and would be nearly 1.5-2 year long trip. CIP claims you could take up to 3 years off, but just how competitive is it to be selected for this? Will taking a 1-2 year "break" from the army harm my career progression? I'd wait till full retirement, but I doubt I'll be of the same physical capabilities by that age.

For context, I intend on becoming an officer in the infantry, and intend on staying in for 20 years (or more if they let me).

Any info will be appreciated, I primarily just want personal experiences with it, as I've read nearly every article there is on it, and none truely addressed my main concern: career progression and competitiveness of being accepted for it.
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CIP is a relatively new program. To answer your question on career impacts basically you are grouped as you enter by what is called a year group. Consideration for promotion and assignments tends to be based on your year group. CIP would basically pull you out of your YG for 1 to 3 years and you would report back with that subsequent group for future promotion boards. So you would still have 16 years in the Army when you are up for lieutenant colonel they would just be non consecutive. Hope this makes sense.
 
emwvmi01 said:
CIP is a relatively new program. To answer your question on career impacts basically you are grouped as you enter by what is called a year group. Consideration for promotion and assignments tends to be based on your year group. CIP would basically pull you out of your YG for 1 to 3 years and you would report back with that subsequent group for future promotion boards. So you would still have 16 years in the Army when you are up for lieutenant colonel they would just be non consecutive. Hope this makes sense.
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I see, so your competing against that same initial group, who's got now a 2 year head start on you? I will likely hold this trip off till retirement from the army, then after the trip continue into my next career.

Thank you for the advice
 
Jacobko75 said:
I see, so your competing against that same initial group, who's got now a 2 year head start on you? I will likely hold this trip off till retirement from the army, then after the trip continue into my next career.

Thank you for the advice
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Take the long view. If you decide to stay in (and get promoted, an essential element, which gets more challenging as the competition stiffens) and make the rank of Colonel and retire in your mid-forties after 26 years, you will not be teetering at grave’s edge just yet. If you maintain a fit lifestyle, plan strategically and align your priorities, you can do all kinds of things.

Be open to the journey and the choices along the way.
 
Capt MJ said:
Take the long view. If you decide to stay in (and get promoted, an essential element, which gets more challenging as the competition stiffens) and make the rank of Colonel and retire in your mid-forties after 26 years, you will not be teetering at grave’s edge just yet. If you maintain a fit lifestyle, plan strategically and align your priorities, you can do all kinds of things.

Be open to the journey and the choices along the way.
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I intend to stay active, however I fear I'll be too active. I've heard from vets the damage that ruck marching and other various activities day in and day out can do to the body. That is ultimately why I was considering doing it before retirement.

Thank you for your response, it's much appreciated.
 
Jacobko75 said:
I intend to stay active, however I fear I'll be too active. I've heard from vets the damage that ruck marching and other various activities day in and day out can do to the body. That is ultimately why I was considering doing it before retirement.

Thank you for your response, it's much appreciated.
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You can also think out of the box. I had friends on AD who used chunks of leave time to hike portions of the Appalachian Trail every year, until they got it done. They couldn’t afford to take an entire summer to do it all. One of them, to celebrate a milestone half-century birthday, did go back and do it all in one summer, when she took a deliberate break between corporate jobs. Of course, she was one of the early USNA female grads, as tough and athletic as they come.

The point is, you could have some fun strategizing a different approach to your dream, while still targeting a longer trek down the road. Not many people have the funds and flexibility to fully step away from their “regular lives” for a year or more. Real life happens, along with other people and things you commit to. If you want something bad enough, though, you will figure it out.
 
LT360 said:
My Grandfather completed this race. He prepared by hiking in the sands of Norths Africa followed by some more hiking around the Island of Sicily!
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Was he chasing some guy named Erwin? ;)
 
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