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My wife works for a security company that deals mainly with clients in the high-tech industrial field, and at her latest placement, recent layoffs meant that half of the security contractors were no longer needed. She's been doing this for three years, mainly just front-desk security (data entry, camera monitoring, asset tracking, etc.) but it has never really held any long-term career potential - it was just a paycheck. She is still employed by the security company, but they won't have another contract available for a month, and she has been giving a lot of consideration to something more than sitting at a desk. Her original plan was to go to college for a psychology degree, but she had to work full time to make ends meet, and once we got married, she didn't qualify for any financial aid. This has meant no education beyond high school, and not many career opportunities. Even if she gets a good contract by this time next month, the security gig isn't something she wants to do forever. She fortunately has a part-time night job as well, so there is some money coming in, but it was meant to be strictly supplemental.
A couple weeks ago, she talked to an Army recruiter about joining the reserves and pursuing their mental health specialist program. She would be gone for 7-8 months of training, and then her reservist obligations (and possibly civilian placement after training) would be here in Minnesota, a few miles from home. This started out as a "last resort" option if job opportunities remain the way they are, but is admittedly looking more attractive. We're not very enthusiastic about being apart for several months, and the possibility of overseas deployment is very realistic, but the pay is definitely more than she was making when working two jobs, training would cover quite a few college credits, and the college money afterward is nothing to sneeze at.
There are definitely negatives, but the positives make a lot of sense for my wife in terms of education and job opportunities, and financially for both us. I've been at my current job for 12 years, with 15 years into my IT career, and got a promotion that is working out really well for me, but I also had the opportunity to get my degree and jump right into a job after college. I considered the military (my dad and uncles were all drafted, so there was a "don't do it if you have the opportunity to do something else" vibe) and various other family members and friends of ours have done the guard/reserves thing as well, but they were at different points in their lives. We have a house and two car payments, but don't have kids now and are OK with waiting a couple more years. My wife's idea was to pick up another security contract if one is available, do that for the spring/summer, and potentially join the reserves in August. She'd be 28 by then, gone over the winter (maybe I should come along!) and ideally be home and attending college by spring of 2010. Then there is the typical reservist weekend obligations, and of course the possibility of being called up and deployed.
Everyone I mention this to immediately brings up the prospect of deployment to Iraq or Afghanistan, and the obvious time apart, but I'm more interested in hearing about the actual training (specialized, not basic/combat) and the educational side. Anyone have any first-hand experience?
A couple weeks ago, she talked to an Army recruiter about joining the reserves and pursuing their mental health specialist program. She would be gone for 7-8 months of training, and then her reservist obligations (and possibly civilian placement after training) would be here in Minnesota, a few miles from home. This started out as a "last resort" option if job opportunities remain the way they are, but is admittedly looking more attractive. We're not very enthusiastic about being apart for several months, and the possibility of overseas deployment is very realistic, but the pay is definitely more than she was making when working two jobs, training would cover quite a few college credits, and the college money afterward is nothing to sneeze at.
There are definitely negatives, but the positives make a lot of sense for my wife in terms of education and job opportunities, and financially for both us. I've been at my current job for 12 years, with 15 years into my IT career, and got a promotion that is working out really well for me, but I also had the opportunity to get my degree and jump right into a job after college. I considered the military (my dad and uncles were all drafted, so there was a "don't do it if you have the opportunity to do something else" vibe) and various other family members and friends of ours have done the guard/reserves thing as well, but they were at different points in their lives. We have a house and two car payments, but don't have kids now and are OK with waiting a couple more years. My wife's idea was to pick up another security contract if one is available, do that for the spring/summer, and potentially join the reserves in August. She'd be 28 by then, gone over the winter (maybe I should come along!) and ideally be home and attending college by spring of 2010. Then there is the typical reservist weekend obligations, and of course the possibility of being called up and deployed.
Everyone I mention this to immediately brings up the prospect of deployment to Iraq or Afghanistan, and the obvious time apart, but I'm more interested in hearing about the actual training (specialized, not basic/combat) and the educational side. Anyone have any first-hand experience?
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