Hey there. I have a bit of experience in what you're considering so I may be able to help you. I graduated HS in 1999 and college in 2003. Towards the end of my senior year of college I decided on a career change and enlisted in the army under the 18X (special forces recruit) program after graduation. My idea was to be a SF medic and hopefully get myself assigned to a SCUBA-capable unit. Plus, the army paid back my student loans. I went through infantry basic training, airborne school, a SF pre-course, and ultimately SF selection. Unfortunately I failed SF selection (by one little land-navigation point) and was reverted to my initial MOS, which was infantry. I was miserable. Having that little extra rank as an E4 made no difference to my unit, I was treated like any new guy they don't trust or respect. Plus, my work was not exactly stimulating (it ain't all like you see in Black Hawk Down) and I was subject to NCOs who frankly had the IQ of a retarded tree-sloth, and a chip on their shoulder because I had more education than they did. This is where having a college degree saved my butt. My CO, PL and Platoon Sgt recognized that I was actually a fairly intelligent individual and assigned me some of the more intelligence-oriented (and cushy) jobs you can have in an infantry platoon. More than that though, with my degree I had options. As someone who was already an E4 I could have gone back to SF selection anytime and pursued that route again. I could have put in a packet to go to OCS and become an officer (my CO and battalion commander would have put me through in a heartbeat). Even if I had decided to ride my enlistment out and to get a government job after the army (FBI, CIA, etc) I would have already had the degree required. Ultimately though I decided to go to medical school under an Army Scholarship program (since I already had my degree and had taken the MCAT before I enlisted). I was accepted to a school and my Battalion Commander recommended me for the scholarship even though I had 3 years left on my initial 5 year enlisted commitment. Now I am a 2LT instead of a SPC, essentially living a civilian life going to medical school on the army's dime. If I play my cards right I may still find myself in a dive-capable unit as their Dive Medical Officer.
The moral of this little story is that I was miserable as an enlistedman, but having that degree opened up options to do other things that I will enjoy much more while still serving my country. Whatever you decide to do, ROTC or enlist, get the degree first. You won't regret it.
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