College degree and enlistment

[Alex Nenadic]

Hi, I am currently in my junior year of aerospace engineering in the US. If I am not able to get the green card through employment or other means, I'll return to Canada to join the CF.

Now my question is, would having a degree in AE cause a problem with enlisting? I have no intention of going the officer route at this point in time, but I most definitely do not want to be placed in anything but a combat arm MOC (the infantry being my sole area of interest). All of my US Army ROTC friends who've commissioned with engineering degrees have been given the Corps of Engineers as their only branch choice, which is not something I am terribly excited about.

Any thoughts from you guys would be greatly appreciated.

 

[GO!!!]

Engineers (provided that they stick to the Combat Engineer route) are the most often deployed and "been there done that" units in the CF.

They are in demand and present on patrols, operations and all deployments, they also use all the weapons that the infantry does (except the sniper weapons) and get to blow $hit up all the time.

If I could do it again, I would be an engineer - they get to do waaay more cool stuff, more often than we do.

 

[geo]

Alex,
Do you have to go Engineer?... uh - no... but is there a reason why yoiu aren't interested in going that route?... There are engineering specialties in the Navy and Air elements.

As GO!! has pointed out - the Green (land) CME branch is probably one of the busyest in the Combat Arms. The Combat teams and battle groups that are currently being deployed are composed of Infantry, Armd recce, Arty AND Engineers. We are what can best be described as "force multipliers"... and most other trades are usually pretty happy to have us around.

First in & last out... that's us

 

[SHF]

Recruiting folks will try to encourage you to use your degree and accept a commission.  If you are fit and stick to your guns you will wind up in a combat arms unit as a Pte.  All your choice.  Good luck.

 

[geo]

Alex..... your studies are in Aerospace engineering.
you could be of interest to people in the Airforce,
you could be of interest to people in the Ordonnance (Ammo & Weapons) if you can bend your knowledge to balistics & that kind of subject matter.

Look at it this way, you've paid for (or gotten into debt) for your own education and the Gov't does not own you and should not be in a position to dictate where you go.

Take your time.

 

[Alex Nenadic]

Alex,
Do you have to go Engineer?... uh - no... but is there a reason why yoiu aren't interested in going that route?... There are engineering specialties in the Navy and Air elements.

I could work for a civilian engineering firm and make a lot more doing a similar job, if that was my intention. I am deadset on being an infantryman, and its highly doubtful that anything will change my mind about that. Just don't want my degree getting in the way.

Alex..... your studies are in Aerospace engineering.
you could be of interest to people in the Airforce,
you could be of interest to people in the Ordonnance (Ammo & Weapons) if you can bend your knowledge to balistics & that kind of subject matter.

The job itself wouldn't pose a problem.

I should say at least a little bit about what I am doing here at the school, that way it'll be easier for you guys to see where I am coming from.

For the past 2 years I've been participating in US Army ROTC, even though I don't have a green card. As per the rulebook, this is a big no no but the cadre at my school like me well enough to allow it anyway. During this time I've been on several FTXs, with the highest position being a squad leader on STX lanes. I am familiar with (if not propertly drilled in) squad battle drills, the very basic squad reconnaissance etc. Last year as a candidate for the cadet "ranger company", I had the chance to participate in a nighttime raid on a simulated Al Qaeda training camp, which was a freaking blast!

Also got to qualify with the M16A2 once. 8)

This year I am no longer able to participate in the classroom/field training portion of the program because to do so one needs to sign the commission contract, which I cannot do for obvious reasons. I still PT with them however, 5 times a week during the "Ranger Challenge" season and 4 times otherwise.

I am well aware of the fact that this is a pretty limited exposure to the military, however it has given me a very clear idea of what it is I want out of a career in the army.

Since I am not sure what level of fitness is required for infantry guys in the CF, could you please tell me where I stand? The APFT down here consists of 2 minutes of pushups, 2 minutes of situps, and a 2 mile run. My highest scores so far are 96, 104, and 13:03 minutes, respectively.

 

[kincanucks]

Okay time for the balloon buster.

If you want to be a NCM in the CF go for it and your PT is fine.  However, if and when you apply you will be required to go through the pre-security assessment process that can take up to 18 months to complete.  Something that you can do to facilitate the process is to bring a current police and credit check from the area you were living in.  Good luck.

 

[combat_medic]

Alex:

The short answer; if you are firm with the recruiters, and tell them right off the bat that infantry is the only thing you're interested in, and you HAVE considered all other options, then there shouldn't be a problem. I know one guy who went through recruiting with a pilot's license, and they tried to sway him into the AF, but he stood his ground for the infantry, and is now doing it. Just be clear about your intentions, don't let them try to push you (which they might, because of the high demand), and let them know that you are aware of and have considered all options, and that this is your choice.

 

[Pieman]

Alex, how many more years are you going to be there?   Three more? I suspect it will take less time for you to get your green card than it will to join the CF. I also studied outside of Canada and my application took about 2 years to process. Mind you, a lot can change in three years.

 

[Alex Nenadic]

Rgr that guys, a few of my friends have been talked into BS contracts by recruiters down here already, I won't fall into that trap.

Alex, how many more years are you going to be there?  Three more? I suspect it will take less time for you to get your green card than it will to join the CF. I also studied outside of Canada and my application took about 2 years to process. Mind you, a lot can change in three years.

I've been in the US 2.5 years, however this time doesn't count because I am a student. I'll need to find a civilian job with a company willing to sponsor me, at which point the counter starts from 0.

To illustrate the point, my Mechanics of Materials professor is a Canadian citizen. It took him 10 years to get the green card from the moment he started his postgraduate degree. .

 

[Pieman]

To illustrate the point, my Mechanics of Materials professor is a Canadian citizen. It took him 10 years to get the green card from the moment he started his postgraduate degree

Bugger, they don't make it easy do they?

 

[Alex Nenadic]

Bugger, they don't make it easy do they?

They go out of their way to make it as difficult as possible. In order for an employer to even become eligible to sponsor a foreign employee for a green card, they must prove that they could not find an American to fill the role. The employer basically has to advertise the position for a certain period of time, and then show that no suitable candidates applied.

Only then does the USCIS review the immigration application.

Legally speaking, it is no easier for a Canadian to immigrate than for someone from Zimbabwe, Mongolia or some other place.