Graduate or dropout?

[Moc]

Let me start by expressing my gratitude to all who have served and to all of those who will serve. I hope this post will help others in a similar situation as myself. Also, this will not be a short post, apologies in advance.

Which course of action would you personally recommend? I am attempting to hear as many different opinions on this subject as I can. My intention is not to be spoon-fed specifics, and if in my post questions arise that have already been answered, then please feel free to let me know. I honestly appreciate everything you all do on this website. It is an invaluable resource. Thank you. I realize that I have a long way to go, and a lot to learn. Which brings me to my current situation. I will get to it:

I know I want to enlist in the Army and pursue Special Forces. That is my goal. I am currently nearing the end to the first semester of my sophomore year in college. I have had an increasing desire to dropout and pursue an 18X contract. I know I am capable of completing my degree (GPA 3.8), and I have also been blessed with aid and scholarships that are allowing me to pay for school.

My problem is, I am not passionate about my studies. I simply do not see the worth in attending classes that I am not engaged in, when I know I could be pursuing a dream. I do not feel like I am getting the most out of my education. I know that I am going to pursue Special Forces, and at this point college is in the way.

I feel if I enlist (which is my plan regardless of whether or not I have a degree) my experience in the Army will give me better perspective on what I want to do for the rest of my life. If I am fortunate enough to make it to a team, and love it, then I will stay in the Army. If not, I will be able to return to school after my enlistment, finish my degree with a better clarity of what I want out of my education.

I understand that ultimately it will be up to me to decide what I do, but I was hoping to receive some feedback from you all.

I want to challenge myself. I am not challenged here at school. I want to be a part of something bigger than myself. I want to make a difference. I want to be a soldier and one of the few. I have been researching this for months now, and I know it is what I want. I know that if I do not try, that I will regret it. I am as aware as I can be that the road is long and not easy. I will not act like I know what it takes. I know that I have a lot to learn. I also know, that be it now, or after school, I will be trying to make it.

So, stay in school or dropout?

Thank you for any feedback. I apologize for the long post, I tried my best to completely flesh out my thoughts. If you notice any flaws in my logic, or have any observations, they would be greatly appreciated.

Thank you.

-Moc

[Pete]

No mater what you'll have to finish your degree. Harder if you make it into SF and decide to make it a career.

But a Big retirement change is coming so if you go in after another 2 years you'll be under the new system.

You could look at an 18X ship date and take as many core classes for your degree as you can before you ship. That way if you decide to stay in you'll be chasing more fluff classes.

But in the end it's your decision and you'll have to live with it.

[Santo Tomas]

Decide what you long term goals are and set your marks.

Do you always quit when you get bored or it gets difficult?

[head]

Maybe I missed it, but what are you studying? It should be possible to link your passions for wanting to be Special Forces with some field of study in academia. I mean, unless it's merely a passion to "jump out of planes and shoot somebody in the face" in which case you should attempt to join the Rangers instead. However, if you are passionate about being part of an unconventional warfare effort, many studies should enhance your contributions to a team - and I don't mean "security studies" or getting a degree in "special operations", but an actual degree in science, economics, finance, etc.

As an 18X, don't show up to a team as useless as a box of rocks. Remember the prior service guys at least bring experience from elsewhere in the Army. My studies in computer science paid off dividends for my team - the knowledge gained from my studies, not necessarily the degree (unless you count getting paid immediately as an E-4). Now, you don't need a degree - I self-taught most of my classes to myself since I wasn't keen on actually attending, but still got straight A's.

If you're going to spend the time learning, you may as well get a degree. You will need one once you leave the military or if you decide to go the ossifer route since those guys now put their greasy paws on everything

[craigepo]

I was in the same boat at your age. I got tired of spending money on an education that I wasn't excited about at the time. So, I went the Ranger battalion then SF route. I finished college and law school after my active duty time (while in Guard/Reserve SF).

Pros and cons to both sides. One con is this---I was in a patrol base one day, pulling security rather close to the slit trench (you'll find out what this is later). A captain came over to use said trench. I realized then and there that we were using the same slit trench, doing essentially the same work, but he was making about three times the money I was at the time.

Pros----while your friends are sitting in philosophy class mentally masturbating to Kant, you will get to go jump out of airplanes and blow shit up.

[kalanis]

Originally Posted by craigepo

I was in the same boat at your age. ...same slit trench, doing essentially the same work, but he was making about three times the money I was at the time.

Pros----while your friends are sitting in philosophy class mentally masturbating to Kant, you will get to go jump out of airplanes and blow shit up.

I have a similar experience to craigepo.

My philosophy was that I could always go to college in a wheel chair, but I would not always be a healthy 20 something year old. I was right. But it's much harder to finish later, night classes, no real learning, etc. So it depends on how far along you are. Also most schools put a 10 year clock on classes so you may find yourself taking intro to computer science or American history all over again. Of course colleges keep changing history, so you may "learn" something you never heard of before.

I was required to take intro to computer science at each new school I enrolled in. Took it 4 times.