Question about 18x

[fng13]

Sirs,

Do you foresee the 18x contract option ending anytime within the next few years? I have not been successful in finding an answer to this anywhere on the forum. If this is just a failure of my search-fu please tell me the proper query. I am concerned of this because while I will be graduating soon with my BS in Business and a minor in philosophy I think I would like to get my masters before signing my 18x. I also hope to gain the valuable maturity and experiences that are so highly spoken of throughout this forum before enlisting, so that I don't "waste the Army's time and money," . I am asking this question because I know that the 18x option was not always around, and I don't want to miss my chance by continuing my education.

Thanks,
fng13

[Pete]

Originally Posted by fng13

...Do you foresee the 18x contract option ending anytime within the next few years? .......

It's the Army. It could end at any time, and then again, it might not.

The SF enlistment option, called many things over the years since the 1960s, has come and gone many times. All based on the needs of the force.

Same thing with an SF Bonus.

Plan your life and then roll the dice.

[Scimitar]

Just to add some information in the mix...

USASFC has a current force growth mission that will likely be achieved by 2013/14. From the numbers I've seen it is unlikely that this can be achieved without the 18X program.

They are just starting to see the first 5 year 18X contracts come up for re-up and apparently the resign rate is very high, which I've been told was one of the programs major KPIs.

I imagine you're looking at a Mid 2012 MBA Graduation?

Here's an idea, enlist with the ARNG, get selected (try), do the Q course, you can complete your Masters while in the guard....you'll need to make sure thats possible though, my understanding is that it can be done, but I wouldn't take my word for it.

HTH

Scimitar

[The Reaper]

Why do you need a Masters degree to be an SF soldier?

TR

[noefexus]

Originally Posted by fng13

Sirs,

Do you foresee the 18x contract option ending anytime within the next few years? I have not been successful in finding an answer to this anywhere on the forum. If this is just a failure of my search-fu please tell me the proper query. I am concerned of this because while I will be graduating soon with my BS in Business and a minor in philosophy I think I would like to get my masters before signing my 18x. I also hope to gain the valuable maturity and experiences that are so highly spoken of throughout this forum before enlisting, so that I don't "waste the Army's time and money," . I am asking this question because I know that the 18x option was not always around, and I don't want to miss my chance by continuing my education.

Thanks,
fng13

FWIW, I waited too long to join, I'm kicking myself in the ass because I didn't see the light sooner. Higher education will corrupt your mind. Think I'm crazy? Well maybe so. Join Now.

Once you get into the Grad School society you'll change as a person. You'll begin to not only think that you know everything, but truly believe it. That education will get you absolutely nowhere when faced with a life or death situation.

I trodded through 5 miserable years of civilian employment after I graduated college. I realized that this bullshit 9-5, wife and kids, ain't the way I wanna live. I want to push myself beyond all of my self-created limits. I want to know what it feels like to face death. I want to destroy myself--all of my "known" self--and recreate a new person out of the ashes...Only out of self-destruction will you truly evolve and become who you are meant to be.

Only when I give up everything and reach down into my core do I feel truly alive. This is why I joined.

[pjg45]

Originally Posted by noefexus

I trodded through 5 miserable years of civilian employment after I graduated college. I realized that this bullshit 9-5, wife and kids, ain't the way I wanna live. I want to push myself beyond all of my self-created limits. I want to know what it feels like to face death. I want to destroy myself--all of my "known" self--and recreate a new person out of the ashes...Only out of self-destruction will you truly evolve and become who you are meant to be.

Only when I give up everything and reach down into my core do I feel truly alive. This is why I joined.

I did 3.5 years of civilian employment (started when I was 18) including a stint in Washington, D.C. One day I woke up and decided that isn't the the life I wanted anymore, walked in to the local recruiting station and signed up. Before I did that, everything in my life was all screwed up and out of order. Fast forward 3 months to the present and everything is falling back into place. As a 1SG told me when I wasn't sure about signing up or not, either shit or get off the pot.

I work out at the rec center locally because they let military personnel in for free and every morning 2 other soldiers and I always hear stories from guys telling us they "almost" joined and if they go back they would do it in a heartbeat and then we always hear the regrets.

I guess what I am trying to say, and my opinion on this subject doesn't matter, is that it is better to do it now and not like it than to have never done it and always have the "What if?" in the back of your mind.

Plus there is all kinds of older people in college, and from my college experience, it was a lot of wasted time and money. I learned more in Washington, D.C. in 3 months than I did in 2 years of Economics classes. If you are thinking about doing it, get up, do some PT and do it.


Going back under my ruck
pjg45

[Utah Bob]

Grad school's not gonna help ya. Get off the fence and cowboy up.
"He who hesitates is lost".

[ZonieDiver]

Originally Posted by Utah Bob

Grad school's not gonna help ya. Get off the fence and cowboy up.
"He who hesitates is lost".

Ditto!

20 years from now in your life, it will not matter to you if you got your master's degree or not. What will keep you awake at night is IF, when your country needed you, you answered the call or not - SF or track mechanic - did you come when your country needed you?

[fng13]

The Reaper.

I did not mean to imply that I had to have the masters degree to go sf. I was wondering if there was a real chance of them closing the 18x program by the time I finished school. As for the rest of the replies I appreciate the advice, however, I think higher education has significant value and I do not believe it will "change me as a person," (at least not negatively) I am not so easily swayed by the values of others that the atmosphere will change me. I just would like to finish my education before joining. I am not trying to use this as a crutch or excuse not to join I am going to join when I get out of school. From what I have read on the threads maturity and experiences are a revered quality of SOF recruits. I am only 21 now, and would only be 23 or 24 by the time i finish my masters program. I am hoping that extra time for pt and greater maturity will help me to succeed. However if this is not recommended by actual QP's I will heed their advice and consider not entering a graduate program.

with great respect
fng13