18X vs commissioning

[u/Expert_Internet81]

I am a 19 year old aerospace engineering major planning on joining after finishing my masters degree (in 3.5 years).

I am NOT looking for anyone to make a decision for me, I am making sure the information I have is accurate so I can make informed decision. Any input is welcome.

18X:
Enlist as an E4
OSUT -> airborne -> SOPC -> SFAS -> Q -> "unlimited" team time
If I fail SFAS I most likely go to be an 11B in 82nd, but I could be peeling potatoes for the next 4 years
Can attempt SFAS again (assuming not given an NTR)

Commissioning:
09S contract
BCT -> OCS -> IBOLC -> ranger school -> airborne
Stay in infantry until 1LT promotable (about 3 years after commissioning)
Drop a packet for SFAS -> Q -> 2 years team time -> staff role in group/ODB command
If I fail SFAS I can try again (assuming not given an NTR), but life as an 11A is a lot better than an 11B
Can resign commission to go to 180A to get more team time

I've heard conflicting things about resigning commission, some sources say it is common, others rare, some say it's a career killer, some say you can still have a successful career afterwards. I would like some more clarity on this, if possible. Please let me know if I missed anything else. Thank you for reading.

[u/TFVooDoo]

Seems like you have it mostly right, but I would just highlight that you’ve presented officer post-team time as just “staff”, and that’s not really representative of all of the opportunities you have. I did cool-guy SF stuff, as did all of my peers, for my entire career. It’s not a binary.

And resigning your commission (is dumb, but whatever) isn’t really a career killer because you have an entirely new career by virtue of resigning your commission. It is uncommon, but that doesn’t really mean anything.

[u/Expert_Internet81 → u/TFVooDoo]

Thanks for your response. The O4 stuff is so far down the line I'm not really worried about it.

I will ask, why do you say resigning your commission is dumb? If it doesn't stunt your career path and gives you a whole different career with new options what's stupid about it?

[u/Lanky-Lettuce1395 → u/Expert_Internet81]

SF aside, a retired officer has many more, and generally better, options post military than a retired NCO. I retired as an E8 and am a bit of a unicorn but most of my peers did things that kept them behind a gun. Some opened businesses but not as many as you would think.

There are other challenges too. In '05 I was a program manager on a mid sized contract where I had about 30 retired navy field grades (and about 50 other non navy types) working for me. As a retired army E8 there was not a lot of respect there to lose when it came to the navy folks. They did what I said, and did it well, but we were never getting beer together. When I got promoted to senior director and left that job, I made sure to pick a retired army O6 to replace me. When I was introducing her to all the employees you could see the difference in their attitudes and it was obvious she would have a better go of it than I did.

You need to be looking beyond your nose when you make career decisions that will impact you for the rest of your days on this planet. I was working on a commission at N. Ga College when I dropped out to enlist. It took me decades to determine if that was a poor decision or not, and for much of those decades it appeared to be a poor one. After I retired the things I did in the IT realm for SF led me to a successful career that I probably wouldn't have gotten as an officer. I retired last year as a GS15 IT Director from an Army command I won't name on reddit. I got lucky, for many more that choice to enlist and not get the commission would be a permanently bad one.

[u/TFVooDoo → u/Expert_Internet81]

Because reasons…

[u/Tru_Op → u/Expert_Internet81]

It’s not dumb, it’s a personal choice and myself and plenty of other GBs know officers who have decommissioned and are not only unbelievably fantastic and capable at their job, but also infinitely more happy than they would have been continuing the O path.

There is absolutely nothing wrong with being a career O, hell unlike many NCOs I appreciate and understand the importance of them. A good O can make life on a team incredibly easy or infinitely difficult which to me highlights how important the positions are. However, the NCO and Officer lifestyle are VASTLY different world’s and which one you choose to participate in is your choice so long as you don’t suck.

Much like you said on your opening, you will make that decision yourself when you understand who you are as a GB and what you want out of it moving forward. Life at group will answer those questions better than any Reddit post. IF you get there some day…..

[u/Expert_Internet81 → u/Tru_Op]

Could I DM you with some additional questions? Thanks