I am currently a SPC in graduate school for Healthcare Administration. Many are telling me I would be silly if I didn't commission. Truth?

SPC Private RallyPoint Member — Sat, 10 Sep 2016 17:31:55 -0400

I came in the Army with a bachelor's degree and was told then that it wasn't a smart decision that I enlisted. Now that I'm going for my masters, some are telling me that I really need to consider commissioning. But I'm not sure. I'm 26 so I have a little bit of time but I was wondering if there were any enlisted that stayed enlisted after their degrees and what made you not want to go officer

Response by 1LT Private RallyPoint Member made Sep 10 at 2016 5:55 PM

1LT Private RallyPoint Member — Sat, 10 Sep 2016 17:55:45 -0400

SPC Private RallyPoint Member - You may be perceived as a leader . . . paid better . . . and be more marketable in the civilian marketplace with an officer's commission. Then again it may cost you a number of years in the service if you did not intend to remain. Best Wishes, Sandy :)

Response by Capt Private RallyPoint Member made Sep 10 at 2016 7:02 PM

Capt Private RallyPoint Member — Sat, 10 Sep 2016 19:02:43 -0400

Just check the pay scales.

Response by LTC Jason Mackay made Sep 10 at 2016 7:53 PM

LTC Jason Mackay — Sat, 10 Sep 2016 19:53:36 -0400

SPC Private RallyPoint Member there is a specific officer functional area for that particular degree and skill. You would be highly sought after once you finish the basic branch assignment. I would recommend you seek a commission if it is something you want to pursue. It is certainly open to you.

I would recommend you seek out a MSC officer and an one that is specially a 70B for mentorship/advice.

Response by LTJG Private RallyPoint Member made Sep 10 at 2016 9:10 PM

LTJG Private RallyPoint Member — Sat, 10 Sep 2016 21:10:53 -0400

Same story for me. Same age even. I came in with a bachelors.... Now in graduate school at age 26. I believe your best move in regards to commissioning depends on your goals. Say for example your terminate goal is to work IT as a civilian. Commissioning wouldn't help that as much as staying enlisted or warrant in that mos.

All that being said. I'm in the process of commissioning haha
Not everybody should be an officer but maybe you're always getting those comments because your leadership sees potential in you. Just do some self reflection, figure out which route fits your needs best and execute. Good luck!

Response by SFC Jeffrey Port made Sep 10 at 2016 10:32 PM

SFC Jeffrey Port — Sat, 10 Sep 2016 22:32:57 -0400

If would be a good move to get commissioned before your too to meet the requirements. I am sure someone on here can advise you with updated information on this., I have not looked that information up for a long time. I think you had to complete everything by age 28 or 29 and if you were older, you had to stand a board to determine if you could get a waiver.
If your planning to get a job in the private sector afterwards, they look to see if you were officer or enlisted. If you are hired, many companies will pay you far less as enlisted compared to officer for the same exact job.

Good luck,

SFC Port

Response by SMSgt Roy Dowdy made Sep 10 at 2016 10:34 PM

SMSgt Roy Dowdy — Sat, 10 Sep 2016 22:34:18 -0400

Why not! More money, further education opportunities and upward mobility!

Response by LTC Kevin B. made Sep 11 at 2016 7:19 AM

LTC Kevin B. — Sun, 11 Sep 2016 07:19:03 -0400

I think you should follow your interests. If serving in uniform is important to you, and you enjoy the enlisted career path, then stay as an enlisted soldier. Getting a commission will bring more money, responsibility, and authority, but those three things don't motivate everyone. Only you can determine if they are worth it to pursue a commission. If/when you eventually get out, the work you'd do as a commissioned officer will probably lead to higher-paying jobs in the private sector. But then again, we're back to considering what factors really motivate you.

Lastly, you should get your faculty to join RallyPoint! Dan Dominguez, Kevin LaFrance, and Chris Garcia are all veterans.

Response by CPT Private RallyPoint Member made Sep 11 at 2016 9:02 AM

CPT Private RallyPoint Member — Sun, 11 Sep 2016 09:02:56 -0400

Best move I ever made!

Response by SGT David T. made Sep 12 at 2016 8:30 AM

SGT David T. — Mon, 12 Sep 2016 08:30:01 -0400

You are limiting yourself by staying enlisted. If you are good with that and enjoy being enlisted then have at it. Just remember at some point you will get out. Having officer experience under your belt with the education will make you more marketable. Of course, you must decide what is right for you.

Response by Maj Pamayla Darbyshire, MSN/CNS made Sep 14 at 2016 12:02 PM

Maj Pamayla Darbyshire, MSN/CNS — Wed, 14 Sep 2016 12:02:34 -0400

that is totally up to you. i know many senior NCOs with dual masters and have decided to stay enlisted. their comment: to mentor the younger troops and set an example.

Response by LTC Paul Labrador made Sep 14 at 2016 12:55 PM

LTC Paul Labrador — Wed, 14 Sep 2016 12:55:41 -0400

It would be if you are planning on staying in. Not much use for an E-4 with a graduate degree in Healthcare Admin, because you will never be placed in a position to utilize your education. As an Medical Service Corps officer, you WILL be placed in positions that will fully utilize your education. Now if you are planning on getting out and going into the civilian healthcare market, then it doesn't matter if you commission or not....although staying in and working as an healthcare administrator will give you valuable practical experience that can give you an advantage when applying for jobs.

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Sep 15 at 2016 12:48 PM

SSG Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 15 Sep 2016 12:48:03 -0400

Yes! Commission!

Response by Capt Daniel Goodman made May 8 at 2019 7:13 AM

Capt Daniel Goodman — Wed, 08 May 2019 07:13:59 -0400

http://www.usphs.gov

Trust me, look at their Jr and Sr COSTEP, the USPHS analogues to ROTC, also, they and ROTCs can apparently be used for grad school, I've seen stuff on here about it, I'd definitely try riding that gravy train all the way to your phd, honest...would you want it in health admin also? Also, look up the USUHS not USPHS grad programs, PhD level, you'll find them of interest, I don't know if they'd be for you, I'm just mentioning them, I don't think they have health admin per se, I know they have doctoral nursing, also doctoral bioscience, the latter can be done also as a civil servant, not just as active...Trust me on the USPHS, though, call their toll free and chat with their recruiters, they do occasionally use IT, as well as engineers and comp sci (CS), for health record mgmt stuff, not just pure clinical, I'd wanted to go that route, I couldn't as I'm total perm disabled, I trained in an externship for my allied health doctorate before the disability he was O-6 USPHS.....

www.usphs.gov

Response by Capt Daniel Goodman made May 8 at 2019 7:14 AM

Capt Daniel Goodman — Wed, 08 May 2019 07:14:43 -0400

And I'd definitely also think about warrant, as well, whether Army or another svc, honest....

Response by Capt Daniel Goodman made May 8 at 2019 7:18 AM

Capt Daniel Goodman — Wed, 08 May 2019 07:18:07 -0400

Purely also as a thought, you might also think about public health, either PhD or DrPH, honest...and I'd read a story about an enlisted airmen with a PhD in analytical chemistry, she hasn't commissioned yet, which is found interesting, I'd I can find the stuff on her I'd seen, I'll try to send it, though you should be able to find it, she's at a lab is read in FL, from what I'd seen, look her story up doing a search, you'll see stuff about her, interesting analogy to your own circumstances, honest....

Response by Capt Daniel Goodman made May 8 at 2019 7:18 AM

Capt Daniel Goodman — Wed, 08 May 2019 07:18:29 -0400

Sorry for typos, clumsy tablet....