Expert: Bill Taylor - 10/4/2009

Question
Hello Mr. Taylor,

I am currently a junior in high school.  I am ranked in the top of my class and pursue many diverse extracurricular activities from sports to music to being head of my high school's robotics team.  I am interested in attending the Academy, but would like to pursue a career in science, particularly physics and mathematics, and eventually work for the FBI.  Would it be possible to spend my years of active duty as a scientist and, if so, what is the probability that I will be assigned to this line of work.  Thank you for your time.

Answer
It's good to hear from you, Mac.  Thanks for your interest in West Point.  I apologize for the extended delay in responding as I have been slammed with work.

Very directly, Mac, you need to be introspective about why you want to attend West Point.  West Point exists to produce leaders of character to serve our nation in the US Army for at least five years on active duty and a total of eight years including Army Reserve duty.  Those first five years are critical to your development as a leader, particularly in the first two years as a platoon leader and then later as a company commander.  Those life experiences are incredibly valuable and are only available at the beginning of your career, however long or short it may be.

Yes, the Army certainly had scientists on active duty, but those roles are typically reserved for later in your career (between 5 and 15 years) when you have had the benefit of junior officer leadership roles such as platoon leader and company commander.

I'm not saying that it is not possible to serve as a scientist in the first five years of active duty.  I am rather saying that those who do that miss out on tremendous life experiences that are not completely reproducible later.

Good luck to you in your quest, Mac.

Best Regards,

Bill Taylor
Gambrills, MD