[Vanity] I'm considering OCS instead of Grad School.

[John Will]

It's been a while since I've posted but I'm just finishing up my First year of a PhD in Chemistry and so far I'm hating the academia, I've talked with a Recruiter and So far Army OCS looks good. I'm looking for some advice on what to do. I'm 27 so I'm reaching the end of eligibility so it's now or never for me. I already have B.S. and M.S. degrees in the subject.

[Gay State Conservative]

One might think that with your level of education and field of study you might qualify for a direct commission for work in a lab.For example,my sister lives in eastern Massachusetts not far from what's called "The Natick Labs",which is an Army research center.Of course if you're specifically looking for front line action that wouldn't apply.Having risen to the lofty rank of SP5 a long,long time ago I certainly know little of such things but serious investigation might serve you well.

This link might be of interest (yes,it's Wikipedia,but...)

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_Army_Soldier_Systems_Center

[John Will]

Well thank you everyone. I’m taking a week vacation tomorrow as you’re right I’m really burntout.

[TexasNative2000]

One of the very few regrets in life that I have is choosing graduate school over a commission to Quantico for USMC OCS.

Grad school will always be there. This opportunity will not. Simple as that.

[xzins]

Do OCS and a stint in the military.

It won’t hurt you. (But there’s always a low probability it could kill or maim you.)

Aside from that, you’ll serve your country, learn leadership like no place else, and see the world.

[gundog]

That’s not quite a peonage.

If you don't mind running into a ceiling at colonel, go for it. Just can't help remembering my sad-sack OIT with his degree in art history.

[HamiltonJay]

Academia can be frustrating, but you are still your own person... like it or not, once you are in the military, they literally own your ass for the duration.. something to think about.

Not knocking the military, its a fine career choice, but you are going to have frustrations in any career path.. you need to decide what you want to do and go from there.

[bagman]

We can’t all make flag rank. Some aren’t really interested in the politics inherent in flag rank.

[Tahoe3002]

I would encourage you to go Army (or Navy) but for the fact that we no longer have actual military forces.

They’ve morphed into uniformed social experiments. (And not very good ones.)

Your response is much more tactful than what I was contemplating, so I will just heartily agree with you.

Myself, USMC, from Private to Major. But I no longer recommend the military to anyone, especially during bho’s regime.

[gundog]

Maybe it was because I worked on the flight-line. The pilot/non-pilot, academy/ROTC/OCS divisions seemed pretty stark. Of course, being an enlisted puke, I found the whole thing pretty amusing.