Met with a recruiter... Deciding on a job

[Jherexx]

Get a job you are interested in that requires a TS clearance. The clearance alone will open up a whole lot of well paying job opportunities not available to you before or the general public.

[jerrymrc]

One thing about a Medical Corpsman's that is nice is after a certian rank and time you can transfer to a biomed. A small but secure career on the outside. over 50% of biomeds came from the Military. One of the few fields that all 3 services train together for.

[claimbuster]

Engineering Aide---I've been in construction and construction management for 40 years and have only been out of work twice. The longest of those two stints was three weeks. I am less than a year away from retiring and I've never been sorry for any of the choices I made. I can travel around and point to a lot of interesting projects I've worked on. If you like building things, traveling, working outside all or part of the time, etc, etc, you can't beat it.

[Seamonkey]

As Joseph Campbell said: "follow your bliss".

I agree with the comments to find a rate that will allow you to transfer to the civilian sector and to stay away from the deck hand type jobs unless you enjoy 20 hour days, always on watch, chipping rust, painting, polishing brass and general ship husbandry. The Boatswains Mates do learn how to tie cool knots and blow the most annoying whistle in the world but again, follow your bliss.
A guy I knew in boot camp joined to be a Quarter Master (QM) so he could learn to pilot ships. He was going to do his 4, get out and become a harbor pilot. Two guys I served with were BM's and are still in doing the same thing.
My first couple choices didn't work out and I ended up being a Radioman, I think they are called IT now but it gave me a clearance and basic training in Communications systems. Got my first job when I got out based on the clearance and basic skill set but again, do what you want to do and what interests you.

IMO the two choices you listed are quite different. Both have potential in the civilian sector. Which one will you be happy doing for the next 30 years?

Another thing to consider is the deployment cycle. When I was in the different rates had different rotations so might want to check that out. If you a hospital tech in a specialized area you may only go to large bases with big hospitals or as a CB you may deploy to BFE with a rifle to build an ice cream parlor while getting mortared.

[ghettodub]

Thanks for the replies, folks. Appreciate your input! I'll have to see how things go as I progress with the recruiter, but I think that either the CB or med route is the way to go for sure, and something that can keep me interested and provide opportunity in the civ sector.

[Inconel710]

Ghettodub - I'm a Navy Resevist so feel free to PM with any questions. I started out on active duty and just switched last year. I have to second alot the guys here - "Choose your rate, choose your fate" is true.

By going Reserves, you'll be somewhat limited in rate choices (nuclear isn't an option for example). You also need to find out where you'll do your reserve drills. There's a CB unit and a medical unit at NOSC Denver (Buckley AFB), so your first two choices will keep you local. Both choices also have frequent mobilizations, but then again most rates do these days.

Bottom line - choose carefully. I went nuclear machinist mate twenty years and was bored to tears by it once I got aboard ship. But it did motivate me to apply for officer programs, which is something else you should look into. If you don't have a degree yet, you could still jump up later on if you do get one. I know the Medical Corps has a sweet program to send active duty folks to school to become Physicians Assistants. Maybe there's something like that on the Reserve side if you go Corpsman.

Fair winds and following seas!

[ghettodub]

Ghettodub - I'm a Navy Resevist so feel free to PM with any questions. I started out on active duty and just switched last year. I have to second alot the guys here - "Choose your rate, choose your fate" is true.

By going Reserves, you'll be somewhat limited in rate choices (nuclear isn't an option for example). You also need to find out where you'll do your reserve drills. There's a CB unit and a medical unit at NOSC Denver (Buckley AFB), so your first two choices will keep you local. Both choices also have frequent mobilizations, but then again most rates do these days.

Bottom line - choose carefully. I went nuclear machinist mate twenty years and was bored to tears by it once I got aboard ship. But it did motivate me to apply for officer programs, which is something else you should look into. If you don't have a degree yet, you could still jump up later on if you do get one. I know the Medical Corps has a sweet program to send active duty folks to school to become Physicians Assistants. Maybe there's something like that on the Reserve side if you go Corpsman.

Fair winds and following seas!

Appreciate it, and I'll take you up of the offer on picking your brain a bit. As I get a little more info and closer to this, I'm sure I'll have more questions.

On the officer thing, I'm working towards finishing my degree now, so that is something I would be interested in down the road a bit!