Current Graduate Student Thinking about Joining

[saxman717]

Hey, I am currently a PhD student at Duke University for electrical engineering. I'm 24, with a BS from Cornell University and MS from Duke just this past May. Probably 2-2.5 years til PhD. With this education already, people might call me crazy for thinking about joining the National Guard, but I have this little thought in the back of my mind that is really making me want to serve my country in these turbulant times, at least for 3-6 years. It's not like I am lacking for job opportunities and am not looking to join up because I feel lost or anything.

Can anyone provide some good information on opportunities for someone in my situation/with my experience? Where would I wind up in terms of position/ranking etc? I have many other questions, but does anyone know of people who have joined up from similar positions that I am in right now?

Thanks in advance....

[Echo]

The following 14-part article is a good place to start:

What The Recruiter Never Told You (http://usmilitary.about.com/cs/joiningup/a/recruiter.htm)

[AbnMtn]

Hey, I am currently a PhD student at Duke University for electrical engineering. I'm 24, with a BS from Cornell University and MS from Duke just this past May. Probably 2-2.5 years til PhD. With this education already, people might call me crazy for thinking about joining the National Guard, but I have this little thought in the back of my mind that is really making me want to serve my country in these turbulant times, at least for 3-6 years. It's not like I am lacking for job opportunities and am not looking to join up because I feel lost or anything.

Can anyone provide some good information on opportunities for someone in my situation/with my experience? Where would I wind up in terms of position/ranking etc? I have many other questions, but does anyone know of people who have joined up from similar positions that I am in right now?

Thanks in advance....

You are not crazy at all. A good friend of mine who has a PhD from Harvard and still works there as a professor is in the National Guard as, of all things, an infantry officer and loves it. If you want detailed information about what's available for you as an officer contact the following person: matthew.ritchie@us.army.mil from VA. He frequently posts on the "Service - As an Officer" topic in this forum and had helped people who bring as much as you do to the table.

[Sally]

With that much education this should be a no brainer. Joining is always a good thing, however make sure you review all your options. You do meet the educational requirments for Officer Candidate Course, but you may also find an enlisted MOS will offer more educational benefits.

Make the leap of faith, and take every opportunity they offer, you will never regret it.