Dropping a cushy Software job for the military
Im an unhappy software engineer seriously considering dropping my career for the next 5 ish years and joining the military. My reasons are as follows: 1. I want to be a part of something bigger than myself. 2. Though my job is challenging, don’t feel that I am challenged in a way that is growing me into a desirable direction. 3. I played D1 college athletics and miss the camaraderie, physical challenge, ‘blood sweat and tears’ aspect, triumph, defeat and everything that comes with high stakes events 4. I am reaching the age in a few years where joining may not be an option, and dont want to live on asking myself ‘what if’ A friend told me that joining the military sounds scary. And not in any way to discount the incredible sacrifice the armed forces members make, I thought to myself: doing what I am doing now for the next 10 years terrifies me even more. If any veterans/active duty members/reservists want to chime in with their experiences I’m all ears. TC 125
Leave Amazon first
DM me. 12 yoe AD mil Also, check out https://m.goarmy.com/army-cyber/cyber-direct-commissioning-program.m.html
DM’d
Yeah I was in the 82nd airborne as a cav scout in the army If you think Amazon or any cushy tech job has bad WLB, ahahahahahahhahahaha prepare for the military. Frequently would have to give up weekends to train in the field, holidays weren't a given, and had to work consecutive 20 hour work days. That shit simultaneously makes you stronger and destroys your mental health a little with the lack of sleep and the nonstop BS Go Air Force because it's usually just another cushy office job. But also don't do it. And the pay sucks but free housing if you have a degree and go officer or if you're married
That being said, if it wasn't for the comp and my relationship, I would totally reenlist. It's fun having such a structure that the military has, and the friendships were great
I’m not a citizen so I can’t go officer. As for Air Force I’m not looking for an office job - the opposite actually. If I do go Air Force is try hard not to stay in an office haha and If I join and get out I’ll probably get an office job anyways but I want adventure and to embrace the suck while I still can.
1- the military will give you this for sure. I still talk to my old salt dogs and sometimes when I've had a few drinks, I even miss the bs. It was never about me, it was about the Corps and that felt cool at the time. 2 - you'll want to direct commission for a challenge. Dont get me wrong being an officer can be a challenge but if you dont go direct commission you'll probably hate your life if you end up as an admin officer. Youd be a glorified manager for a bunch of high school kids and their drama. 3 - this honestly sounds like youd want a combat MOS. Combat is a rush unlike any other and it feels like a gamble on speed. Going out to the field and embracing the suck. Training and puking and hiking 20 miles at 5am with 100lbs of gear sucks but that's a good workout. You most likely wont get this in a non-combat job. 4 - you could go reserves and get the best of both worlds. In the Marine Corps, and probably every other branch, you can volunteer for hot fills. These are jobs reservists can do full time for a year overseas. You get to serve, scratch your what if itch, and still have your job waiting for you. I dont think joining the military is crazy but that was my ticket out of the lower class. You're going well for yourself and the scary part is the drop in TC if you go to OCS, which is why direct commission sounds like the best path for you, even if you most likely wont be jumping out of planes or calling in airstrikes on enemy positions. My experience was I served my 4 and like 80% of first term enlisted Marines, I hated the Corps so much I did not reenlist. My issue was the micromanaging, beauracracy, and lack of responsibility/growth in my job. Part of that comes with age and lack of experience. I thought I could do better with my life and left. Sometimes I miss it, but I am also happy I got out. I wish there was a way to really do both but I also dont think it's for me anymore. I'm not a "yes sir" and I'd probably get myself into trouble as an officer and honestly cant go back to being under some dumb Staff NCOs who know nothing outside of the military.
Thank you for taking the time. I’m not a citizen so I’d have to enlist. If I were to join active, I’d probably do my 4 and get out as I can’t see myself doing a lifetime career in the military.
Dang dude Go to the reserves then. Dont enlist active duty. I was trying to be PC because I thought you were going officer. Enlisted are treated like children. I remember being 21 with multiple combat deployments under my belt getting woken up at 0500 to clean my room so it could be inspected every day at 0530. Then our blonds had to be halfway raised until at least 1700 or else get in trouble. Battalion formation is at 0800 so the company formation is at 0730 so they're accountable before battalion and then the platoon formation is at 0715 which means squads want you there at 0700 so you can stand there with your thumb up your rear for an hour. That's probably why most enlisted smoke. You do what you think is necessary but you're making 125k. If you go active duty you'll make less than 24k a year. The best part is the "free housing" where you and 3 other dudes share 150sq ft.. I'll admit I miss the free food when we weren't out in the field. Youd probably have a TC of around 36k if you enlist.
MMA my dude.
Wait, you're not even a citizen and want to serve in the military? What are you high on?
Permanent Residents can serve in the armed forces - Armies recruit folks from my college back then if you have a green card!
Green card is the minimum requirement to join the service. To be an officer, then you must be a citizen.
how do you get 125 TC? don’t even new grad SDE1s get more than that?
Why not try competing in marathons or iron Man it some other physical competitions?
Yea might do a marathon when I’ve got more miles under my belt
FUCK NO DUDE. Let me describe the reality. I'm sorry but you have a romanticized idea of the military. 1. The "bigger" thing you will be apart of is a highly disorganized organization which takes advantage of under educated young men and women and uses their lack of intelligence to teach them to "kill". But in reality they're just there to justify political and bureaucratic nonsense. The vast majority of service members don't see combat and just train on their jobs, unless they're something actually functional like a cook or laundry specialist. If you're infantry, you will maybe deploy once in a 4 year stint, and during that deployment you may do your job a few times, but more than likely you will be deployed to a noncombat zone like Kuwait in order to fill a roster, and your task will be to not blow your brains out in 120 F heat. Unless you're an apache pilot or army ranger you're probably not going to be apart of anything that feels "big". 2. Run a marathon 3. You don't need to ruck 12 miles with 50 lbs on your back for camaraderie. You can foster camaraderie at your workplace. Play competitive sports and work part time, you will still earn far more than E4. 4. I will tell you what if: if you join you're going to be metaphorically sucking your commander's/sergeant's/boss's dick until he busts a nut of bullshit down your throat. You will spend more time sweeping the floor than you will your actual MOS. Then you will get out after 4 years because you realize that the only people who stay in the military are so bought into the propaganda that they don't behave rationally, they "love the pain" of being separated from their family for months and months at a time, enjoy damaging every nerve, muscle and ligament in their body, enjoy doing inconsequential tasks day in and day out, and telling under-educated kids age 18-25 what to do all day. Do not under any circumstances fall for the propaganda that is joining the military. There is no honor in doing something for a higher cause when that higher cause is directly tied to the bank accounts of your congressmen. You will be disrespected by your superiors every day. You will leave the military and a lot of things in your body that used to work, won't. Including your mind. If that's the price you are willing to pay, you're a fucking idiot. Source: 6 year army vet
Sounds like you just want to play a sport...
I do. Not the same as competing high stakes, and I’m still unfulfilled at my job
Competing + training as a team ect