Anyone want to leave their job in Finance to go to Officer Candidate School? Pretty much no relevance to the CFA Program… and definitely a pay cut… but it would be nice to actually add some value to society.
The key is to get into one of the service academies.
samnyc Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > The key is to get into one of the service > academies. Once you’ve been to college and after you hit a certain age, you are not eligible for an academy and thus you can’t get a ring. You will need to do OCS if you wish to become an officer. I was enlisted for 6 years, I was a quickly advancing petty officer, making E-6 by the time I got out. In the world of finance, while to your face you get all sorts of hand shakes and thank yous, I believe it can actually hurt your chances to land interviews and internships. I thought about this in college, and more lately until I went on an interview a few months back, and the person I spoke with kept coming back to ‘regimented’ thinking in the Navy, ability to multi-task, and creativity. This particular guy was a huge Navy booster, and loved hearing my stories, but he had this idea in his head and I wasn’t going to shake it. Now, of course, the Navy isn’t exactly known to produce the next Pablo Picasso, but in its own way there is plenty of creativity, and I would think multi-tasking goes without saying. I posted about this on these back when the interview happened. I’ve ran into this before, and it’s hard to place, but the more time I spend talking to people, the more I wished I would have gone straight into college. I mean, I’m 32 years old, 2.5 years out of college, and I’m no better off than a 24 year old and in some ways worse (but in some better, I will admit). That said, if what you want to do is join the service, you should. It’s a great experience and an excellent way to hone your leadership skills, especially as an officer.
Go read “One Bullet Away” by Nathaniel Fick. Dude majored in English at Dartmouth, then graduated and said “f banking, I’m going into the Marines”. Did tours in Afghanistan and Iraq before leaving to get degrees from both HBS and HKS. Baller.
I’ve read One Bullet Away and plenty of other military history / current affairs books. Excellent book… Lone Survivor is also a great read. Military service would definitely take my life down a different path… could always do my 3-5 years and go to B school. I’m almost 24… almost getting too old to pursue a stint in the military… and the opportunity costs only get higher… but still would be an experience.
How does military service add value to society that is greater that they value finance adds. I would say it is much less, and may even destroy value.
If we keep fighting wars, we should just bring back the draft. Then maybe people will think about beating the drums of war. My entire mothers side of the family is military and I considered it 3 years ago if I didnt pick up a job after a disasterous company.
If you want to do military service - pick something fun. There are so many fun things to do in the military (at least I think there are).
i think about this daily… when I was in hs I almost enlisted… no money for college and my pop was in the service… gave myself to x mas then would sign the papers. week after thanksgiving I get a full ride to play a sport in college. 3 years later… no job offers and thinking of ocs school… gave it to spring break… got an offer at a great firm… so never quite made it and wish I would of gone… i make a ton more money then a 2nd lt but the honor and vaules I would of learned would of been life long… not for b school or anything other then myself. i am 27 and talk to my wife about this a lot. she is behind me and its something I should do. so no your not too old… if your heart is in it… go… if you hear taps and a chill does not run down your spine… then your better off doing something else. i spent the first 11 years of my life in camp P and always wanted to return as a marine not a guest.
FUNancialAnalyst Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > I’ve read One Bullet Away and plenty of other > military history / current affairs books. > Excellent book… Lone Survivor is also a great > read. > > Military service would definitely take my life > down a different path… could always do my 3-5 > years and go to B school. > > I’m almost 24… almost getting too old to pursue > a stint in the military… and the opportunity > costs only get higher… but still would be an > experience. Lone Survior by Luttrell and Flick’s book are awesome/great reads. Have read Lone Survivor a few times because it is motivating and inspirational.
I’m with Goldenboy on this one, really thinking about doing OCS. If you’re 24, go for it. Do your 4 years, then hit a top MBA and do whatever you want. If you’re willing to sign on for 6, the marines will let you fly (they only maintain combat aircraft so it would be in a cool vehicle). They’ll let you now before you sign on for OCS if you get a slot in flight school. Be warned, the physical standards are very high for officers, especially marine officers. You’ll have to get in peak shape, probably train for several months at a severe rate before applying. OCS is application based, not just sign up like enlistments.
Rydex Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > How does military service add value to society > that is greater that they value finance adds. I > would say it is much less, and may even destroy > value. How does finance add value (and don’t mention capital allocation via IPO’s as that’s such a miniscule portion of the overall industry in terms of career allocation)? I love how sh*t heads like you take for granted the hard won freedoms and the security you enjoy in this nation free of your own personal sacrifice with such pompous arrogance, all while belittling the people and organizations that gave so much to provide them to you.
I’m going to go one step further and point out that the general naive hippie / leftie belief seems to be that without militaries, the natural resting state of society is peace. Show me an instance where this utopia has existed in history? Since the beginning of time there has been documented violence in society, even before the rise of organize militaries. It exists in nature and it will always find harbour in backwater corners of the world, weather it comes from the mongols, the barbarians of germania, or taliban. The world has only ever seen stability and forward progress within the havens provided by strong military organizations such as those of the Chinese dynasties; the Roman, Greek, Persian and Egyptian empires and the US. Like it or not, peace is not the steady state, it is established via a strong threat deterrent. The French & the continental European’s love to disagree, but then again, they’ve been overrun and occupied twice in the last 100 years and haven’t lead world civilization in progress since they fell from power.
Black Swan Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > Rydex Wrote: > -------------------------------------------------- > ----- > > How does military service add value to society > > that is greater that they value finance adds. > I > > would say it is much less, and may even destroy > > value. > > How does finance add value (and don’t mention > capital allocation via IPO’s as that’s such a > miniscule portion of the overall industry in terms > of career allocation)? I love how sh*t heads like > you take for granted the hard won freedoms and the > security you enjoy in this nation free of your own > personal sacrifice with such pompous arrogance, > all while belittling the people and organizations > that gave so much to provide them to you. Well said and totally agree.
Totally agree with Black Swan. When it gets down to it, the world is shaped by the players with the most superior firepower. Not saying that’s ideal or that I like it, but for better or for worse, it’s the reality that pure raw force is what rules at the end of the day. Speak softly…and maintain 11 aircraft carrier battle groups (2 to 3 forward deployed at all times). That’s the way to go if you want peace and prosperity for America. To all ex- and active military that post here: Thank you for your service.
Rydex-moron for that statement. You should note that if you are you trying to go for OCS, at least for the Marines, it will most likely be around a year before you even get to OCS…this is even if you are selected. I was told that the Marine Core doesnt need officers right now, and that they have people waiting two or even three OCS classes out. I was told this back in June of 2009 before deciding against OCS…best of luck in either decision.
.
Obviously some sort of military is useful to have around. Even if there are no wars, you need an army for disaster relief or other stuff like that. I think what Rydex was trying to say is that it’s bad if a military is too large relative to the country. It’s just like any kind of government spending. He also seemed to be bothered by the insinuation that financial services add no value to society. We obviously need banks for a healthy economy to operate.
My brother graduated from Naval OCS 1.5 years ago. He then was transferred to Special Warfare (Navy SEALs) training in Coronado, CA. He was hurt badly, twice, during Hell Week and was subsequently medically rolled back each time. He really started to question his passion for the SEALs and starting looking into their fighter pilot program. He just got accepted into the March class in Pensacola. He’s pretty pumped about it. I would trade any job paying mid six figures for a chance to fly hundred million dollar jets. It’s been a long journey for him. He had lymphoma in his throat when he was 17. Graduated Summa Cum Laude w/ a minor in Arabic. He joined the Navy Reserves so that he would have a better chance of getting into the SEALs and spent 2 years with them. It took a while but he was finally accepted into OCS. The Navy wasn’t too keen on the lymphoma thing. He said OCS was the most miserable 3 months of his life, much worse than the beginning of BUDs. He then spent about a year in Coronado in and out of training. He just turned 28 and is finally living the dream. The Navy will pay for his MBA wherever he wants to go and will pay him his full salary while he goes to school. He owes the Navy 8 years but, I think it’s a hell of a deal.
I have two ex military guys in my new MBA group. They are very driven, strong willed, and have demonstrate leadership experience. I admire them as role models. Likewise, despite all of their accomplishments in the service, they are very humble. This may not be true for all, but I really respect their nonegotistical personality when it would be so easy to let all that bad@ss training go to their head.