Son wants to be Navy/Marine officer

[jzucker]

He's currently a junior at OSU working on a marketing/business degree. He's considering trying to get into the JAG program. I guess there's a program where he can take 6 weeks of OCS prep this summer and another 6 weeks next summer after he graduates. In that program he wouldn't have to make the commitment until he accepts his commission.

Another option would be him going to law school, then going into JAG.

Yet another option would be getting accepted into JAG and having the military pay for law school. He doesn't necessarily want to be a lawyer but wants to serve his country and wants to be an officer and knows that being an attorney in the JAG program would make for a fantastic career.

He knows there's always a chance he could be reassigned to a forward position (read combat) and he's ok with that.

Any thoughts, suggestions and advice would be appreciated but please keep the negativity out.

Thanks in advance,

Jaz

[ImmortalSix]

My brother in law, a 4th year junior at WVU is taking almost the same path. He's getting a degree in something or another and decided earlier this year to go Air Force. He's a hard-working, tough, fit, courteous, and thoughtful guy.

We all asked him to pump the brakes early on, but now it's clear that his decision is not (as we had originally thought) rooted in the tough entry-level job market --- he simply wants to serve something greater than himself.

We are all 100% behind him now.

He did the 6 week thing (boot camp or OCS training or rainbows and butterflies month or whatever the lawyers call it these days) this past summer and he did fine. He's not got an attitude or chip on the shoulder at all, so he was A-OK with doing what was asked of him and doing it well.

He'll graduate WVU with a management degree or something and then commission as a 2nd Lieutenant, USAF.

The decision alone is an achievement. I say congratulate your son and ask what you can do to help him prepare.

-Hunter

[PUCKBOY99]

NO: Another option would be him going to law school, then going into JAG.

YES !!!: Yet another option would be getting accepted into JAG and having the military pay for law school.
Jaz

Hey, there are worse things out there for ours kids to aspire to. The fact that he wants to serve his country during war time means you did a good job with him Jack.

Be proud...be supportive....teach him to keep his head down & come home in one piece (should that time come) !!! :aok

[BIGGERSTAFF]

He's currently a junior at OSU working on a marketing/business degree. He's considering trying to get into the JAG program. I guess there's a program where he can take 6 weeks of OCS prep this summer and another 6 weeks next summer after he graduates. In that program he wouldn't have to make the commitment until he accepts his commission.

Another option would be him going to law school, then going into JAG.

Yet another option would be getting accepted into JAG and having the military pay for law school. He doesn't necessarily want to be a lawyer but wants to serve his country and wants to be an officer and knows that being an attorney in the JAG program would make for a fantastic career.

He knows there's always a chance he could be reassigned to a forward position (read combat) and he's ok with that.

Any thoughts, suggestions and advice would be appreciated but please keep the negativity out.

Thanks in advance,

Jaz


If he can get Law School paid for by the military, then that's what I'd recommend to him. I have a friend that's in the USMC, who is in law school now(who was a prior Infantry Officer).

[twinrider1]

If he can take orders, I'd say do it, 100%.

Yes, being a soldier in any position can be dangerous. But I'm guessing, as a JAG officer, chances are he won't be taking point on patrols.

Pension. Disappearing in the corporate world. Still a good pension in the military.

A friend has been in the Army National Guard since college (ROTC @ OSU). Through a number of civilian jobs he always had the Guard. Now he's a Major, working full-time for the Guard working with the state on emergency management. Served 2 tours in Iraq.

[JamesT]

GO NAVY if he wants law school. if he wants to "serve" go marines. Navy has doctors and lawyers (((and PRSes ;) ))) the go to different OCS than ship drivers. Marines is same for all and lawyers are a grunt first so no guarentee he will get to be a lawyer. 10 weeks at Quantico summer of 79 in PLC program... we had a guy DOR because he wanted to be a lawyer and recruter lied to him and so he went the navy route.

[Luke]

I would ask him if he has thought about the possibility of having to move numerous times through out his career and if he is ok with that, and the implications it will have on his family when he would enter that stage of life. The career military people I've meet seem to have had numerous major moves over their career.

[derekd]

I have a buddy who enlisted in the Army out of college, went to OCS, and eventually applied and was accepted to JAG, with the Army paying for law school. With our current conflicts, the Army has applied for most of the deployments in order to increase pay, and update/upgrade equipment, etc.

He has spent a chunk of time in Iraq, mostly dealing with stuff like the Abu Grab situation and the like, when guys cross the line. He has also been in forward postitions doing training on rules of combat, etc. He is stateside now after a couple of deployments. It certainly is a fast track to free school, benies and pension. He has to serve 8 years I believe since Uncle Sam paid for law school.

I admire guys who choose this route.

[PinoyBoy]

No real advice to give...

... but would like to say congratulations on raising a son with a solid head above his shoulders!

[Dickie Fredericks]

I applaud his desire to serve. I know you must be proud of him.

[unoguitar]

GO NAVY if he wants law school. if he wants to "serve" go marines. Navy has doctors and lawyers (((and PRSes ;) ))) the go to different OCS than ship drivers. Marines is same for all and lawyers are a grunt first so no guarentee he will get to be a lawyer. 10 weeks at Quantico summer of 79 in PLC program... we had a guy DOR because he wanted to be a lawyer and recruter lied to him and so he went the navy route.

Jack - I am a formal naval officer (ship driver, i.e Surface Warfare) and JamesT has the facts here.
If your son has found an avenue to have the Navy/Marines pay for his school then he has struck gold, IMO. As far as which branch he chooses to serve, keep the above quote in mind. Each path has its merits, but the differences are quite distinct.
One key: As a Navy JAG he would never be reassigned to a combat role.

[stratzrus]

Any thoughts, suggestions and advice would be appreciated but please keep the negativity out. My mom's a lawyer and I grew up around them. The only thing I would suggest is that if he does go go law school he should go to the best one possible; it will have a positive effect on his long term career either in the private sector or in the military.

[Bankston]

When I was in law school, I applied for the Navy JAG Corps. This was about 14 years ago. At that time, they did not have a program for the military to pay for school. The best you could do was to get a forbearance on student loans until after leaving the service. It might be different if you go into the service first.

I went through the application process, a couple rounds of interviews, got a physical and after about 9 months, found out I was non-selected.

It seemed to me back then to be a good way to get some immediate trial experience, kinda like going to the D.A.'s office, and serve your country at the same time. The pay is not very good compared to the private sector, but the experience might make up for it if that's what he wants to do.

Just make sure he knows they don't all look like Demi Moore.

[GovernorSilver]

I guess the rest of my family is similarly torn about my cousin's decision to go to The Point - torn between pride for his achievement and desire to serve the public (ultimate goal not being lifelong service as a military officer, but joining the FBI or DEA in the fight against drug-related crime) and the desire to not see him get hurt. I don't mind pretty much dropping everything when he calls - which can come anytime because of his seemingly random schedule - because I want to support him.

I can't offer any advice either than best of luck to you and your family.

[Bobby D]

Hey, there are worse things out there for ours kids to aspire to. The fact that he wants to serve his country during war time means you did a good job with him Jack.

Be proud...be supportive....teach him to keep his head down & come home in one piece (should that time come) !!! :aok


i think that's AWESOME, and i think you have a son to be PROUD of. :bow

[gainiac]

One thing to keep in mind. The Navy is really ready to wheel and deal if your son has the goods. They are having difficulty retaining officers for the last 5 - 10 years. My brother is a nuclear officer and has been getting 20K retention bonuses for the last 4 years. The Navy was giving my brother 2K a month on top of paying for his rent while he went to college to finish his degree for his commission. I don't know much about JAG.

[pcutt]

Yet another option would be getting accepted into JAG and having the military pay for law school. He doesn't necessarily want to be a lawyer but wants to serve his country and wants to be an officer and knows that being an attorney in the JAG program would make for a fantastic career.


Since he doesn't have the fire in the belly for being a lawyer, I wouldn't recommend he pursue it then.

[jzucker]

bump for additional comments. I know there are a ton of military and ex military guys here.

[unoguitar]

Aside from JAG, with a business degree he really ought to consider the Navy Supply Officer route. Perfect degree to career field match (marketing, not so much per se). He will serve in the fleet, shipboard, but not exclusively over a career.
Having said that, even as a SWO with a business degree he will get volumes of real-world experience of people and materials management, and all the subsequent headaches and stresses thereof. And forge some of the best friendships he will ever have.
Yes I'd do it again, only I would stay in longer.

[James M]

I have a buddy who was a JAG (Army, I believe), and he said he spent a lot of time helping guys write thier wills before going into combat. He found it really depressing.

I know another JAG (Navy) who spens her time defending the enlisted ranks who get arrested for DUI, drugs, etc....she doesn't really seem to love it either. But these are just 2 people, and YMMV. Just thought I'd pass on what little information that I've heard. And no debt beats debt any day.