Expert: Howard Lorenz - 10/26/2007

Question
Dear Mr. Lorenz,
                I am currently a senior in college who will be graduating this spring with a bachelors degree in history.  I have been looking at careers I might pursue after graduating, and I have been thinking about joining the military, possibly the Navy or Air Force.  The question I would like to ask is, is it normal for someone with a bachelors degree to enlist in the military instead of attending an officer school?  I've done some research on the sort of qualities that the military looks for in officers, and I'm not sure that I would make a good one, since I'm not much of a leader or type A personality.  The military recruiting websites I've visited seem to imply that a person with a college degree should really focus on getting into officer school, and that only high school graduates should enlist.  If a college graduate has weak leadership skills and does not want the responsibility of command, is it acceptable to choose enlistment over officer school?  If you could let me know your opinion I would be greatly appreciative.

                                          Sincerely,
                                                     Chris

Answer
Chris,

No its not odd that someone with a BA would enlist at all. Infact having that BA will give your enlisted career a boost. By enlisting in the Air Force, you are automatically enrolled into the CCAF or the Community College of the Air Force. Your transcript will transfer into the CCAF. When you achive a 5 levrl in that careerfield, you will ba awarded your CCAF. You can also take some of the credits and go after another BA. When you reach higher levels of rank, a BA is not mandatory, but highly encouraged. So the possiblility of you reaching E8 & E9 will be already inplace.

Later on there will be some commissioning opprotunities when you feel that you are of leadership quality.

I have placed in the AF several who had all different types of BA's. I believe that it is a better career move. I am an enlisted man to the end, but Officers who were enlisted prior make better officers, mainly because they know both sides of the house...

You are on the right track!!!

HW