Took the ASVAB - got a 94 AFQT!

"DollaMoneyAve" (DollaMoneyAve) 01/08/2014 at 21:59 • Filed to: None

0

49

Still not sure whether to enlist with the Army or the Marines though. My scores essentially qualify me for anything I want, which is nice. Originally wanted to try for something under the SOCOM umbrella but I'm keeping my options open. I can almost max out a PFT as of right now as well. Advice appreciated!

KB Garage > DollaMoneyAve 01/08/2014 at 22:06

2

I was army, brother was marines. Join the Air Force.

THOMAS5 > DollaMoneyAve 01/08/2014 at 22:07

1

Coming from somebody with absolutely no military knowledge at all. Fly planes, I like planes

sporkasporka > DollaMoneyAve 01/08/2014 at 22:08

3

go to college (academy maybe). be an officer.

with those scores you will be wasted as an enlisted guy. if you can score that, you are probably a 95%+ SAT score type.

do yourself and your country a favor. go to college, be an officer.

DollaMoneyAve > KB Garage 01/08/2014 at 22:11

0

Could you please elaborate a bit? Thanks

PatBateman > DollaMoneyAve 01/08/2014 at 22:11

1

Wife's cousin is MARSOC. He friggin' loves it.

ttyymmnn > DollaMoneyAve 01/08/2014 at 22:13

0

Look up Dukie or Dan Mosqueda. They're two of our resident military types. Both AF, though. Me? I'd go USCG. I just think rescuing people would be an incredibly rewarding mission. Though they're doing a lot more police work these days.

lone_liberal > DollaMoneyAve 01/08/2014 at 22:13

0

Navy here. Nuclear power school was fun. If you consider learning physics, engineering and chemistry at an absurd pace fun.

DollaMoneyAve > sporkasporka 01/08/2014 at 22:14

0

I dropped out of college after earning 72 credits. It's not exactly free. You're 100% right though.

DollaMoneyAve > lone_liberal 01/08/2014 at 22:18

0

That sounds interesting, but those were my worst subjects in school. I couldn't wrap my head around a lot of what I learned in physics.

DollaMoneyAve > PatBateman 01/08/2014 at 22:19

0

I've been leaning towards the USMC. Thanks for sharing

Brodieman > DollaMoneyAve 01/08/2014 at 22:21

3

As a former US Navy SB1 who got a 98, I would highly, highly recommend going into the Intel field. It has a great assortment of duty stations around the world and an even better, and great salary jobs in the civvy world that highly value a military intel background once you get out.

Nevertheless, best of luck.

sporkasporka > DollaMoneyAve 01/08/2014 at 22:21

1

ROTC? they will pay for your college (and sometimes pay off loans if you study the right thing). you are half way there. talk to the ROTC detachment at your school.

KB Garage > DollaMoneyAve 01/08/2014 at 22:21

2

If you're enlisting, choose Air Force or Navy (if either are actually accepting recruits). Sleep in a hotel or nice cozy bunk when deployed instead of in the dirt or on a cot. That hardcore gung-ho crap that younger me thought was so amazing tears up your body (and mind) quick. For clarification, I was not deployed, my brother was. If you would like to sleep well in the future, please heed my advice.

If you're going to be commissioned, then any branch should be fine after you make 1LT or CPT. Amenities for Air Force and Navy are typically better, but you're still joining a big machine and you'll just be a cog in the wheel.

For reference, I scored in the upper 90s on mine and had the same options available. I wished I had chosen something that was more of a mental challenge. The physical isn't hard to overcome. (If it's a challenge for you at all).

edit: this is from some random guy on the internet. Do what you want, it's *your* life, not mine.

Nothing > DollaMoneyAve 01/08/2014 at 22:22

2

When I was in, it was tough to beat the AF. I had other enlisted friends that wished they had gone AF. At least check them out if you're undecided about which branch to enlist in. I went because my dad was in the AAF in WWII on a B17.

lucky's pepper > DollaMoneyAve 01/08/2014 at 22:23

3

From an Army vet: join the Air Force or, if you like the water and want to remain in the U.S., Coast Guard. You do not want to be stuck living in some tent in the woods or desert, eating MREs, unable to shower for days and taking shits in a hole.

As for your MOS: assume you are not staying in the military and will have a civilian career afterward. What would you like to do for a living? Do that job in the military. The practical experience will serve you well down the road. Jumping out of airplanes or being able to shoot a man from a mile away may be badass but there isn't much demand for those skills in the civilian market.

PatBateman > DollaMoneyAve 01/08/2014 at 22:23

1

For clarification, I do suggest getting a degree before you serve. If you're that good, you'd be better as an officer.

KB Garage > sporkasporka 01/08/2014 at 22:24

0

This 100%

DollaMoneyAve > Brodieman 01/08/2014 at 22:24

1

Thank you! Intel is definitely on the short list right now. I guess my decision is really whether I want to use this opportunity to set myself up for after I get out, or have as much fun as possible while I'm in. It's nice having options right now.

KB Garage > lucky's pepper 01/08/2014 at 22:25

1

I hope he's seeing a pattern here.

DollaMoneyAve > PatBateman 01/08/2014 at 22:28

0

That's what the USMC recruiter said - he out me in touch with an Officer Selection Officer and I explained that college isn't cheap though and I'd have to pay for it myself. That's one of the several reasons I'm enlisting.

KB Garage > PatBateman 01/08/2014 at 22:30

0

Agreed. His scores are much to high to be a grunt. I went that route and hated it.

/sorry for commenting all over this one. It just hits a nerve with me. Especially because if you get injured and don't end up making it to your optional specialty OS, you're defaulted to your original OS or worse, they pick one for you.

DollaMoneyAve > KB Garage 01/08/2014 at 22:32

0

I did 6 semester in college. First three were 3.0 GPA. I don't really remember the last three. With my current cumulative GPA, ROTC won't touch me.

lucky's pepper > KB Garage 01/08/2014 at 22:33

1

I'm not holding out hope. At 17, doing high-speed military stuff seemed awesome to me too.

DollaMoneyAve > KB Garage 01/08/2014 at 22:34

0

Don't apologize, you're correct, but my current situation doesn't really allow for me to finish my degree for a number of reasons... My best bet is to be a warrant officer with the Army and fly something.

KB Garage > DollaMoneyAve 01/08/2014 at 22:34

0

What about enlisting with OCS in the contract? Go to school and serve. Is that even an option anymore? With scores like yours I don't know how they'd say no

KB Garage > lucky's pepper 01/08/2014 at 22:35

0

Lol I was the same way. If I could show my teenage self how my femur felt when it rained, maybe he would change his stupid mind. And I'm only 31.

DollaMoneyAve > KB Garage 01/08/2014 at 22:37

0

They have enlisted to officer programs, but from what I've heard it's not as easy as the recruiters make it sound. The Army green to gold program is one example of such a program that I'm looking into.

KB Garage > DollaMoneyAve 01/08/2014 at 22:37

1

My cousin is a warrant officer. Flies helicopters. Forgive me I don't remember what kind. I think he's a W3 or 4 so probably any damn kind he feels like. This is not a bad route, but I've never seen anyone I know deployed as much as him. And I know a lot of military folks.

Just remember, you won't be single forever.

Jeff-God-of-Biscuits > DollaMoneyAve 01/08/2014 at 22:44

0

I constantly kick my own ass for not transitioning into Psy-Ops when I had the opportunity. That security clearance alone after you get out is practically a license to print salaries.

DollaMoneyAve > lucky's pepper 01/08/2014 at 22:46

0

I'm 22, but yes that aspect does appeal to me right now. I've always been an athlete so that has something to do with it. I can't sit around an office all day, at least not yet.

Jeff-God-of-Biscuits > lucky's pepper 01/08/2014 at 22:46

0

pretty much this. You see the guys flying the commercial jets? They went the intellectual route. You see those guys over there? The ones guarding the armored car? They were the ones doing all that high speed military shit and blowing stuff up.

DollaMoneyAve > Jeff-God-of-Biscuits 01/08/2014 at 22:48

0

From what I'm told the only thing that might prevent me from getting a secret or top secret clearance is the fact that my father was born outside the U.S. and is not a naturalized citizen. I've never had any trouble with the law though, so I should be fine.

doodon2whls > DollaMoneyAve 01/08/2014 at 22:52

0

USAF enlisted veteran advice... Go Air Force. Get a degree. Pick an AFSC that is applicable in the civilian world, but good luck getting a specific commitment.

I hear you about school costs, but if you have your shit together, you should be able to swing a ROTC spot at an in-state school and get out with minimal debt that the military will help you pay down.

Most important: Very carefully read any enlistment paperwork that you sign, and get as much input from veterans as possible before you make any decision or commitment.

Best of luck !

Jeff-God-of-Biscuits > DollaMoneyAve 01/08/2014 at 22:58

0

to put it another way... if you or a company wanted to get a top secret security clearance, you would have to spend somewhere around $20,000 to get all the background work done. Suffice it to say, they aint exactly thick on the ground, and therefore, all the more desirable on ETS (End Time in Service)

Jeff-God-of-Biscuits > Jeff-God-of-Biscuits 01/08/2014 at 22:59

0

as far as the branch goes, it's been a while, but the Army had the advantage in that you could pick the job you wanted when I went in. All the others would place you in accordance with your scores and their needs, not always where you wanted to be.

lucky's pepper > DollaMoneyAve 01/08/2014 at 23:08

0

Well good on you for being willing to serve (I don't think I would under the current regime), whatever branch/MOS you chose. Less then .5% of the population have been willing to put on a uniform.

M54B30 > DollaMoneyAve 01/08/2014 at 23:34

0

Lots of experience here. I grew up an AF brat on an Army installation in Germany. Their life is terrible. Long hours, shitty duties, high stress. Leadership is 50/50 good/bad (pretty much military wide). They tend to love their jobs and the army does promote faster than AF. The flip side of that is a lot of supervisors (higher percentage) were promoted too fast and maybe don't have leadership skills fine tuned.

I did AF ROTC in college. I wanted to enlist after HS, went to college and ROTC to make my mom happy. If you don't have a technical degree they won't look at you for scholarships. I scored high on the ASVAB and AFOQT, only my poor eyesight prevented me from fun jobs (aviation, CRO, STO, etc). I didn't have a scholarship and student loan'd my way through 5 years of college. About 6 months out from commissioning I developed stress fractures and shin splints in my leg. By the end of the week, I was removed from ROTC, AF consideration and absolved of service requirements. I was kicked out, and it sucked.

My wife had an ROTC scholarship but failed a chemistry class (her very last class of college) and lost her scholarship a week before commissioning. She was heartbroken. She was forced to enlist but loves her job.

AF way of life and quality of life are superior than all other services in every aspect. Nobody will likely disagree with that. Army and Marines might seem cool, but you have to look farther down the road. What impact will these choices have on future spouse and children? When I'm 40, are my knees and back going to be destroyed because of the daily stresses? Yeah, it's the military but nobody wants that. That stuff follows you.

And if you think you want SOCOM, the AF has the toughest Special Operations selection of all the services - Pararescue has something like a 95% fail rate. You want a challenge? Do that. The AF has several SOCOM-related jobs - Pararescue, STO, CRO, Combat Weather (don't laugh, it's legit), Combat Controllers, Intel units and TACP.

The AF is in a state of change right now. The old joke was "har dee har har, the AF never deploys" but we are evolving into an Expeditionary AF right now. We deploy nearly as frequently as the other services and with outstanding support facilities. The AF specializes in rapid-deployable forces such as PRIME BEEF units (first to deploy, they set up and secure bases and runways with required Comms and mission equipment before tenant units and personnel arrive. Try paving a runway while being shot at...). TACPs attach to Army SF units and call in air strikes.

I guess what I'm saying is don't be so quick to rule out the AF. We have lots of Special Operations but we can offer a much better quality of life.

Gizmo - The Only Good Gremlin, but don't feed me after Midnight > sporkasporka 01/08/2014 at 23:36

0

As the resident USAFA grad, try for one of the Academy Prep schools. They'll help you assess the school, curriculum, and your military acumen for a year and if you survive you're guaranteed a slot in the next years Academy class (no competition/begging). Wish I had gone prep school first. Academies are no joke, in my easiest semester my load was 26 credits. Yeah, that was an easy semester. Just before graduation, if you can find someone to trade you can switch services. I tried to trade my AF commission for Marines so I could fly F-18s, but got no takers.... in hindsight, "Thank God!"

You can also go for it after enlisting, but the competition is huge.

coqui70 > DollaMoneyAve 01/09/2014 at 00:00

0

Speaking as an Army veteran I respect my fellow veterans tremendously and appreciate the men and women serving in the armed forces but you have to think about your future. With scores that high definitely consider going back to school and becoming an officer. If your eyesight is awesome and you have good "situational awareness" you could be a fighter/chopper pilot (although competition for those positions is high). Then afterwards if you get tired of the bullshit/politics from the brass you can go be a highly paid airline pilot (there is going to be a huge shortage soon). Nothing wrong with seeing the world from the cockpit of a 777 and banging hot flight attendants.

SteyrTMP > DollaMoneyAve 01/09/2014 at 02:06

0

Wish I had been that lucky... Scored 96, but was disqual-ed by technicality in MEPS three times. Finally gave up. Was fixed for 18X enlistment option (Army), with an overall goal of 18B.

Damn the Army surgeon general. I still wish I had made it. Life would be very different.

DancesWithRotors - Driving Insightfully > DollaMoneyAve 01/09/2014 at 02:18

0

I remember when I did my ASVAB with a 98 AFQT... The recruiters were beating down my door, until I mentioned I'm damn near blind without correction...

That being said, I went the college -> DoD contractor route, mostly because my eyes immediately disqualified me for active service. Sometimes, I wish I had been able to go into the service, though.

DollaMoneyAve > KB Garage 01/09/2014 at 16:29

1

I just left the Army recruiter. I got my docs SPF'ed over from the USMC to the Army. That's been decided. I'm definitely going with the Army. Now I have to determine which MOS I want to enlist with. I'm currently deciding between Op 40 and 18x, that is, Ranger Regiment or Special Forces. If I don't qualify for those, I'll fall into the 11B infantry, which I can then use to become a Warrant Officer and fly.

KB Garage > DollaMoneyAve 01/09/2014 at 16:47

0

Welcome to my exact footsteps. Rangers and SF are tight knit bunch. You'll probably be happy with either. May want to consider going to jump school prior to the other two. It's a good step if you ever want to be triple tabbed. Whatever you do, stay safe, stay healthy, and I wish you the best of luck.

DollaMoneyAve > KB Garage 01/09/2014 at 16:54

1

Thanks man, I really appreciate you taking your time out to give me your input. Also, it's really cool see other Opponauts jumping in with their opinions on the matter. I'll definitely miss Oppo and Jalopnik.

KB Garage > DollaMoneyAve 01/09/2014 at 17:06

0

No problem. And you'll be back soon enough.

Icarus8 > DollaMoneyAve 01/11/2014 at 03:28

0

It really depends what kind of experience you want. I enlisted as infantry in the USMC because I wanted to be Recon. I succeeded, and I had the time of my life in the Marines, but with my high ASVAB and DLAB scores, I could have enlisted as a cryptolinguist. Then they send you to Monterey, CA for 12-18 months to learn a language, and you can still go Recon via the Radio Recon unit in Kaneohe Bay, HI. Sweet. My brother-in-law joined the Navy and gained valuable IT skills working at the NSA. That led to a good-paying career in IT that didn't require a college degree. My military skills, on the other hand, while awesome, don't translate well to the "real" world.

My personal opinion is, if you're going to join the military, be either a pilot or an operator. Operator means Marine Recon or Navy SEAL or Air Force Pararescue or Army CAG (Delta). To be a SEAL or pararescue, you need to be very comfortable in the water. A 50 meter underwater crossover is a requirement and a good test of your ability there. (Recon water skills are slightly less demanding.) Also, I wouldn't join the army for any reason except to go Special Forces or Delta. The Marine Corps has a superior ethos, and the Navy and Air Force offer high-tech experience and training. Sorry, but the army is the least focused and least professional branch. The signing bonus and extra college money they tempt you with is the red flag that tells you to steer clear. Unless, again, you want to fly an Ah-64 Apache or you favor their special ops units over the others.

Hawkstrike6 > DollaMoneyAve 01/11/2014 at 08:43

0

Good choice. Good luck with MEPS & the physical — don't take that one for granted. Lots of promising applicants run up against a physical problem and end up running through a bunch of consults before gettind cleared, so don't panic if that happens.

Between the two choices: what are your long term goals, and what are your immediate reasons for enlisting? If you're doing it for the excitement and the enlistment is more of a short-term thing, go the Ranger route. They're the assault force; you'll get all your gung-ho high speed excitement there.

SF is the more mature, thinking man's route. Much harder in the long run (SFAS, Q course, language school) so it's a bigger commitment and much longer before you can do your "day job". Very independent, and very rewarding, but also ultimately very different than the Rangers.

I've served with a lot of those guys (cav guy myself), and served in recruiting. I know quite a few Rangers that went SF/Delta later; no one goes the opposite direction.

DollaMoneyAve > Icarus8 01/11/2014 at 10:20

0

Thanks for sharing, thanks for your time in service. I am basically deciding between being an operator or a pilot. I have no doubt that I can meet and exceed the standards fr both; I just have to decide whether I want to fly helicopters or jump out of them.

Ansel > DollaMoneyAve 01/12/2014 at 18:47

0

my airforce MAGE score was 99 99 99 99 lol the recruiter said he had never seen that before
good job bro!