re: **Update** Enlisting if older than 28

A guy in my unit (Air National Guard) enlisted at 36 and he loves it. He's traditional, but can go active whenever he wants. At least in Guard terms, it's considered AGR (Active Guard Reserve). As far as going active Air Force or Air Force Reserve, I'm not sure of the cut off age but the Air National Guard is 39. Our unit has deployed twice since 2014 as well so the opportunity to go down range will be there.

Thanks man. I assume you're in or were in the AF. When did you join? What did/do you do?

Didn't read all ten pages before writing, but I don't see it in the first five pages.

Make sure you are OK with the pay scales before you decide to join.

As a 2LT you will have a base pay of around $30K a year. When you are 50 years old and at peak of your career you will be making just over $100K in today's dollars. Yes, there are other benefits such as BAS and BAQ and free medical insurance also, but from my experience those benefits don't make up the difference in benefits that you receive working for a good company as a civilian.

If you go the enlisted route than you will have a base pay of $25k per year as an E-4 (since you will enlist with a degree) and will probably end your career making $65K a year in today's dollars.

Many have already mentioned that there are several cool jobs that you can get but as an officer you have very little control over getting these really "cool" jobs. Sure you can be a 2LT Platoon Leader in a Ranger Regiment, but you could also end up having a career as a Finance, Quartermaster, Ordinance, or some other officer in a combat support unit.

20 years ago it seemed that ROTC and OCS commissioned officers rarely got one of their Top 3 choices for branch assignments. Also know that most agreements that you sign up for with Uncle Sam will also have the caveat of "or needs of the Army."

Do your research before you decide to join and know that you will put up with a ton of stupid bullshite to satisfy that craving to do something patriotic.

With that said I do not regret the five years that I served and wouldn't change it if I could.

Quality of life for an officer is hands down better than quality of life for an enlisted soldier.

Single enlisted guys will be stuck in the barracks rooming with the person they are told to room with and eating in the mess hall since your barracks room won't have a kitchen. You don't care for your roommate tough shite. Single officers are typically living off post at the apartment complex they choose with roommates that they choose to live with or get to live by themselves if they so choose.

Officers can typically come and go as they please during the duty day as training cycles dictate. Enlisted soldiers are picking up trash, cutting grass, or some other bullshite post beautification project during red cycle details.

The politics that officers have to play aren't that big of a deal especially if you are single. These politics typically mean that you "have" to go to an after hours dinner once a month, get drinks with the CO on a Friday evening, have a standard breakfast meeting with your CO and LT buddies during SGT's time while the NCO's are training soldiers on various tasks. Real tough politics. The other politics is getting the good assignments that help further your career. No different than the politics that you deal with in your current civilian career.

I'd come meet you, but I live in VA. I clicked your links. What's the difference between TACP, CCT, and STO? I realize that STO is officer. But still, the don't see the spotlight like the rest of the SOF community, which I'm fine with, but there's also far less reading material on what these guys do.

Thank you in advance.

Thanks man. Can you go straight from the civilian world to STO? And just a heads up, there's a good chance I ask you a ton of questions.

One last thing, understand that the old retirement system, 20 year pension, ends for anyone enlisting after Dec 31 of this year. If you enlist prior to that then you have the option to opt in to the retirement or keep the old one.

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I have a desk job now, would rather be on feet moving around every day, and doing something worth a frick like serving my country.

Oh and MAGA

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First, congrats on wanting to serve, second don't enlist. What's your degree in?

It is called the Blended Retirement System or BRS. I don't know all the details but it is no longer a guaranteed pension. I believe it is going to similar to the Federal Retirement System.