Hi, I'm a soon-to-be college grad and I'm considering enlisting in the military. I've got a degree, but I'm not sure what kind of job opportunities would be open to me because of that. Like, will my college degree give me a leg-up when it comes to being assigned a military specialty? What kind of roles could I potentially land if I've got a degree? Anybody in here got any insight or been through this?
Firstly, hats off to you for considering serving in the military following your graduation. It's a significant commitment and can indeed offer numerous career opportunities. As a college graduate, you actually have the chance to join the military through a commissioned officer program, which means you could start off with a higher rank and potentially higher pay as compared to those who enlist without a degree.
The type of role you'd be assigned, however, would be determined not just by your degree but also by factors such as your physical fitness, leadership potential, obtained scores on the Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery (ASVAB), and the needs of the service at the time of your enlistment.
That said, having a degree could definitely open doors to specialization areas that relate more closely to your field of study. For instance, a degree in engineering might lead to a role as a military engineer, while a degree in computer science could align with a role in cyber security or technical support. Meanwhile, a graduate from a healthcare-related program might find opportunities in the medical corps.
On the other hand, if your degree does not align closely with a specific role, you might have a wider range of choices based upon your personal skills and interests. Leadership, communication, strategic thinking - these are all skills that are valuable in numerous military roles.
Remember, roles in the military go far beyond combat. They have legal, healthcare, technical, administrative, intelligence, and several other divisions. Regardless of your degree, there would likely be a role suited to your unique skills and interests.
I would recommend reaching out to a recruiter from the branch you're interested in. They could give you more specific advice based on your degree and career goals. Let me know if there's anything more you'd like to know!
CollegeVine’s Q&A seeks to offer informed perspectives on commonly asked admissions questions. Every answer is refined and validated by our team of admissions experts to ensure it resonates with trusted knowledge in the field.