What to expect when joining the military with a degree?

Hey peeps. I'm thinking about joining the military after getting my degree. For those who've been through this process, what changes when you join the military with a degree? Do they give you higher-ranked positions or is it based completely on training and experience? Really appreciate all thoughts and tips!

Joining the military with an undergraduate degree can set you on a different path than those who join straight out of high school. Let's start by saying that having a college degree primarily opens up the opportunity for you to join as an Officer, especially in the US military. This is a higher rank with more benefits, responsibilities, and respect than an enlisted soldier, seaman, airman, or marine.

First off, Officers are typically responsible for leading troops and making strategic decisions, while enlisted personnel are tasked with more technical and tactical duties. This is a significant variance in roles and responsibilities. You'll also likely get a higher starting pay grade than enlisted personnel.

Secondly, having a degree might also enable you to enter into specialized career fields which could provide a unique military experience. These fields can include law, medicine, or engineering, depending on your degree.

However, regardless of having a degree, all military personnel will still go through Basic Training or Boot Camp, which is a physically and mentally challenging process meant to prepare recruits for military life. After that, officers attend Officer Candidate School (OCS) or Officer Training School (OTS) which is where the foundation of leadership is instilled.

Remember, though, that while having a degree opens up the opportunity to join as an Officer, acceptance is not automatic. Other factors are considered, such as physical fitness, leadership potential, and sometimes specific academic majors or coursework.

Keep in mind too that the military values and prioritizes real-world experience and results. The structure is very much one that values merit: the better your performance, the quicker your promotions. A degree can facilitate that, but it's certainly not a guaranteed fast track to high rank.

So, to sum it up, having a degree could potentially start you off at a higher rank with more pay and responsibility, but it doesn't supersede the value of military training, experience, and performance in determining your career path in the military.