Which branch to join?

[brighamr]

Mods - not sure where this should go but I figured THR would be able to help me make a decision.

I'm 31, single, no children and want to serve my country. According to my research, I'm only eligible for the following branches:

Army
Navy
Army Reserves
Army National Guard
Air Force Reserve
Air National Guard
Naval Reserves
Coast Guard Reserves

My ultimate goal would be to serve my country, however if I could learn to fly anything (chopper/plane) that would be a benefit. Not a requirement however. My only limitation is that I have two dogs... not sure if you can bring dogs with you or what I would do with them if I was sent overseas.

Anyone with ANY experience, can you please tell me which one of the branches you would join given a choice and why? Benefits? Minimum length of service? Best chance of learning to fly?

I appreciate your help. I've tried this same thread on armed forces forums and the recruiters just hounded me to death. I'd like to hear from actual members of these branches, their experiences, good and bad.

Also, while I don't have a college degree - I do have 12 years of cyber security experience... is there any chance of being an officer in any of these branches given this specialized experience?

 

[ugaarguy]

At 31 you're unlikely to get a pilot slot anywhere. Your best bets are enlisted flight crew or working on aircraft. To do that I'd first look for Army reserve or guard aviation units that are recruiting UH60 crew chiefs / flight mechanics. IIRC the USCG guys that hoist the swimmer in and out of the helo hold the rate of flight mechanic as well.

Secondly, I'd look at AFRC and Air Guard aviation units. Much of the AF's heavy lift capability is Reserve and Guard units. All those cargo planes have load masters that fly with the plane.

If you're willing to do something like be an aircraft mechanic then look at the AF Reserve. Look on usajobs.gov for ART positions. These are Air Reserve Technicians. In most ART positions you're a civilian employee during the week and then you do the same job in uniform as a Reserve Airman one weekend per month and two more full weeks out of the year. You get to serve your country in a military reservist capacity, and you have a DoD civvy job as well if you can get an ART position.

You will need to board your dogs while your in basic training and in specialty school. If you go active duty you cant have pets in the enlisted dorms / barracks. If you go active as an officer you should be eligible for on base non-dorm officer housing. The Air Force was pretty dog friendly in base housing while I was in from '03-'07.

 

[USAF_Vet]

With your cyber security background, you may meet the requirements for any branch of service for cyber security. Obviously, I am biased on which branch of service, but at 31, you are too old for active duty without prior service. That may apply to all branches, with the possible exception of the USCG.
So unless you can get an 'old man' waiver, you are probably looking at guard or reserve functions. Reserves limit which specialties you are eligible for, but guard/ air guard offer a wider range of careers available.

As for your pets, they would have to be boarded or stay with family during Basic and Technical/ Advance Individual training.

After I separated, I wasn't eligible for returning to the Air Force, so I looked into the Army Reserve. I ended up not going back in, but I was 30 at the time with 10 years active duty.

I'm going to go ahead and state the obvious, go talk to recruiters.

 

[Tejicano Loco]

In general most services will take intitial enlistees up to age 40 - enough time remaining to be able to do 20 years before mandatory retirement age : 60. So, depending on other circumstances, you should be able to enlist until you are 40. One guy in my Marine Boot Camp platoon was 36 - but it took him about 5 months to complete it and graduate.

I don't know if you want to stay in your current field or try something new - that will be a big point for this decision. Probably easy to stay in your field after learning how to do it the "Army", "Navy", or "Air Force" way.

Active duty is quite a bit different from the reserves. I have 4 years active duty (USMC) and 12 years reserve (US Army) under my belt. Active duty becomes your lifestyle - even if you don't "appreciate" it all. Reserve duty will always conflict with your day job - and you will need a day job to pay the bills.

The Army is tedious and bureacratic - though all services are this way to some extent. The Navy generally involves more travel. The Air Force usually has better training opportunities and better facilities - something to consider if you are looking for a different career.

Understand that all services are cutting down on headcount so getting in at your age could be an issue. Your background could be a strong selling point in that case.

There is no way to be a commissioned officer in any branch without a college degree. You also have to be a US citizen to be a commissioned officer - there is no way to waiver that (your signature indicates Utah and Canada so I don't know your status). There are warrant officer programs for certain technical fields (yours might be one - I don't know). Otherwise you would be enlisted - most warrant officer programs I have heard of require you to start as enlisted and work up to warrant officer.

 

[SimplyChad]

We had a 44 yr old spc in my basic in 08 for army. I think your age does remove certain MOS's from your ability but I cant recall at the moment. FWIW I loved my time in service. Also as to the dog situation until you make E5 or go as an Lt you cant have them with you.

 

[Trunk Monkey]

Clearly there are people that are better qualified than I am to help you decide which branch but I will throw this out; no matter what branch you join you make certain that they give you a slot that has real civilian job prospects.

The National Guard unit I was in hired every single mechanic in the unit as a full time AGR slot. They had the benefits and job security of a military career and they got to go home to their civilian lives every night and they never had to worry about PCSing

 

[HoosierQ]

Lots and lots of aircraft in the Navy! One of my coworkers did 20,000 hours in a P3 Orion. Chasing Russian Subs, mapping the seafloor. We have a game at work..."Find a place on the world map Ken has NOT been to"...it's a tough game...iron curtain countries notwithstanding. The only place in the free world (there are 1970's and 1980's terms of course) he hasn't been is Antarctica.

 

[wgaynor]

Regardless of what Branch you join, remember, if the recruiter doesn't put it on paper, it will not happen.

 

[hso]

Sorry, but military career field advice isn't within our scope.