Hopefully Signing Thursday

[MielkeS]

Hello everyone, my name is Scott and I am joining the Navy! I have a few questions here about joining..

Since I was a sophmore in highschool I have wanted to join the united states military. My dad was a combat medic in the army and that has played a major influence in my decision. Due to weight concerns I postponed my enlistment and took the college route. I graduated with an Associates Degree in Information Technology-Network Specialist from Chippewa Valley Technical College in Eau Claire, Wisconsin. I also have a year of their programmer/analyst course under my belt. I made the decision to pursue a career in the Navy and that an officer route seemed ideal. Now to the questions:

A recruiter told me that becoming an officer of Information Warfare, that I should join as an enlistee. I am not aware that there was alternative ways of joining and why would that way would be better?

I was also told the navy can pay off loans that I have, what are the chances of that actually happening? I have loans from college and it would be really nice to have them gone :)

I'm a big guy, but physical exercise is not my concern, my concern is that bigger people just seem to be considered dumb/slow and I REALLY want to be taken seriously. Are there things I can do to add recognition to my name. I see all these acronyms on this forum and I am wondering if there are classes/training/special assignments or volunteer work that I can do that will help me progress my career and make me a better leader.

[armysc_25b]

A few things:

1) You'll probably get a better response in the General Military Discussion area; this area's geared moreso towards cadets.

2) As far as the loans go, IIRC there is an enlistment option to pay off student loans (uncertain if it's an Army only thing or if it's service wide). Otherwise, no loans will actually be paid off, but instead have the interest rate lowered to 6% if I remember correctly (for the life of me, I can't remember the name of the act that grants this, otherwise I'd provide it).

3) There's different routes to take to reach different places. Unsure how it works in the Navy, but there are programs in the Army to take you from enlisted to officer and fill in whatever requirements you may need to meet (such as a degree). A recruiter should be able to provide you this kind of information.

[Billyd]

2) As far as the loans go, IIRC there is an enlistment option to pay off student loans (uncertain if it's an Army only thing or if it's service wide). Otherwise, no loans will actually be paid off, but instead have the interest rate lowered to 6% if I remember correctly (for the life of me, I can't remember the name of the act that grants this, otherwise I'd provide it).


Soldiers and Sailors Relief Act (http://www.defenselink.mil/specials/Relief_Act_Revision/)

Go forth, read, learn.