[luv2swm]

I have been looking around here for a few days now and have found an awesome wealth of knowledge, I have no real idols or role models that I have always strived to be or looked to model my own behavior from, but I usually look to people who demonstrate good human behavior. I know that I have to judge myself and choose for myself (not to good at asking for advice, I guess I have viewed indecision as weakness), but I have been observing SOF guys and their behavior for some time now and have come to appreciate your views and inputs.

It's a career question that will have a pretty big effect on my life in the long term as well as the short term. Here's some background info--sorry in advance for the length. I graduated and commisioned into the Army Reserves, I wanted RD because of the unit and I wanted to work on my grad work. The unit is an Aviation unit, but I was branched Engineer (couldn't ask for Aviation at assessment because my flight physical wasn't done). I'm AD prior service, I was invited to an info briefing in the 90s and was sold on the job, but wanted a degree first (high school dream to get a degree in physics). If I follow through with the Aviation path I will do flight school for a year and then drill with the NG and work on my doctorate. If I chose the Engineer path I will do a 4 month OBC and hopefully sapper and ranger, then push for active duty and work on grad school later.

One thing going for me is my wife will support me in anything I choose. Her dad is retired and her brother is a pilot so she understands the life. Anyone I dated before hated that I was military esp. pre-9/11, it's nice to have civillian support, I couldn't possibly imagine the Vietnam era.

Anyway, if I do Aviation and want to go operational in the future I don't think that I would have as much fun in the clouds as I would on the ground and after speaking with members at the SOF Ball, they say that it's hard to change over due to the money already spent on flight school, other guys I have spoke with in and out of teams, seem to think that since Aviation is a once in a lifetime thing that is the route to follow. So, you can see I'm at one of the most significant crossroads in my life, personally I know that whatever I choose I will have fun and Army-wise I'm a lifer and hoping to retire with it, active or reserve. After seven years and a six year break I still love to break starch and shine my boots (kiwi and water, only way to go, that's what made me go back in 02 and Lasek, I hated my BCD's). Thanx for any input you may have.