Expert: Aaron Shifferly - 4/11/2009

Question
QUESTION: I just joined the U.S. Army active duty as Military Police. I dont want to be reserves but i would like to stay in Oklahoma. What are the chances that i can get based at Ft. Sill after i get done with my training at Ft. Lenordwood Missouri for my MP training and how do i improve those chances of that happening? Thank you for your help and time.

ANSWER: Timothy:
I'm afraid your chances of being stationed in Oklahoma after OSUT at Leonard Wood are slim, due to the fact that there are very few Military Police positions there.  Have you signed your contract yet? If not, then you have some leverage in asking for it to be put in there as a 'Station of Choice' option before you sign up.  If you have signed up, then you will be assigned a duty post after OSUT based on the needs of the Army which, unfortunately, isn't always considerate of personal desires when choosing where to put people. Good luck and remember that MPs are the best in the force!




---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Thank you very much for your help.I have not signed my contract yet,so do i just tell them i would like to do the station of choice at MEPS or the station? Also i read that you were enlisted then to officer. Im also doing college so i was wandering what the process is and how difficult it is to do it. Thank you very much for your insight.

Answer
When you go to MEPS you will speak with a career counselor who assigns your job and prepares the contract for you.  Insist that it be offered to you then but ensure that it says it explicitly in your contract before you sign it or you're out of luck.  Enlisted to officer isn't difficult. Depending on how much college you have, you could enlist right away for the chance to go to Officer Candidate School and then on from there.  If not, keep completing your college classes and put in a request for OCS, Green to Gold Scholarship, or apply directly to the United States Military Academy at West Point (www.usma.edu) as long as you meet the criteria. All 3 are viable options as long as you are motivated and a good Soldier that can get the recommendations of his superiors.

Good luck.