Posted on Mar 19, 2018
For the Army, does it matter what academic discipline your degree is in?
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Let me introduce myself as this is my first post. My name is Quinton Shipley and I enlisted in 2017 as a 14 month senior for 11x and ship this summer. Now that is out of the way let me get to the point. I have gotten mixed answers on this. The answers I have been given from my recruiter and from my meeting with the Captain at the recruiters office. They both said without a doubt in their voice that your degree doesn't matter. So my question for you enlisted and officers is does it matter what your degree is (ex. History)? Confused on degree choices until I get this all figured out.
Officer
ROTC
Green to Gold
Enlisted-to-Officer
Posted 7 y ago
Responses: 40
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PFC (Join to see) If you want to be an Infantry officer the degree may not matter; however, all people must engage in critical thinking to solve problems. Make sure your chosen degree provides enough exposure to resolve problems using people and tools (mechanical devices).
West Point uses the philosophy of Engineering as the basis for their degree. Looking back at my career I would advocate for STEM or Engineering degree to provide the background necessary to get into specialized branches that require high technical competence.
You spoke with enlisted recruiters, you need to talk to the Officer recruiters, this is the ROTC department in any University around your location, even if you don't plan on going to school there.
If you go to the Air Force & Navy ROTC, the first question they will ask if what degree you are pursuing? If you say anything but Engineering, they will become luke warm or even stop recruiting you.
Army ROTC, if you are in Engineering then Combat Engineer, Aviation, Signal, ADA become much more open to you. We can use almost any degree, but your GPA and performance need to be as high as you can make it. The Army will compare you to thousands of other officers and there are only a so many active duty slots in Infantry and the West Point graduates will get first choice over you.
So while the degree may not matter, your choice of degree will have an impact and start to limit your options.
West Point uses the philosophy of Engineering as the basis for their degree. Looking back at my career I would advocate for STEM or Engineering degree to provide the background necessary to get into specialized branches that require high technical competence.
You spoke with enlisted recruiters, you need to talk to the Officer recruiters, this is the ROTC department in any University around your location, even if you don't plan on going to school there.
If you go to the Air Force & Navy ROTC, the first question they will ask if what degree you are pursuing? If you say anything but Engineering, they will become luke warm or even stop recruiting you.
Army ROTC, if you are in Engineering then Combat Engineer, Aviation, Signal, ADA become much more open to you. We can use almost any degree, but your GPA and performance need to be as high as you can make it. The Army will compare you to thousands of other officers and there are only a so many active duty slots in Infantry and the West Point graduates will get first choice over you.
So while the degree may not matter, your choice of degree will have an impact and start to limit your options.
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COL Dana Hampton
Concur. STEM is critial to success in today's environment. My regret, not taking more of these type of courses over the years.
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A1C Ian Williams
Very good advice, sir MAJ Alvin B. By completing the degree, you should have more competency in a skill and also know how your brain learns in order to gain new competencies.
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COL (Join to see)
Infantry was my #2. Somebody said Aviation was the hardes branch to get so I said- Oh ya, watch this! I can’t back down from a challenge.
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