I want to reiterate my thanks to everyone who has replied here.

these responses are part of the reason I'm ready for service. I've always felt a call to the military, I just had no idea this is how it would come about for me. I'll be 25 when I receive my commission instead of 18 (as I almost enlisted in the Army out of HS), so it's been a while in the making, but I think this will be the best way for me to serve this country.

Thanks again everyone, it's quite heartwarming. Now I just hope we have a good meeting tomorrow, and that they don't find out I'm defective at my physical next month :-)
[Reply]

Good luck at your meeting Tim.
[Reply]

Apparently there's no loan repayment for pharmacists this year, and that really throws a wrench in things... Hard to pay off loans on a third of a civilian salary :-)

not sure what to do now
[Reply]

Call the officer recruiter of a different service branch, see if that branch will repay the loan.

It might sound harsh, but the reality is that recruiters and services get played against each other all the time when it comes to people signing up and wanting certain guarantees.

If not that, do they have an option for delayed? This would put you at the top of the list for when the slots open up.
[Reply]

No questions or words of wisdom to give from my own personal military experience. If I can say anything, it's that famly and spouses often have an even harder time with the "military experience." (Moving from base to base, deployments, procedures etc) Remember your family and take extra special care of them when you can. If you've got a significant other, really pay attention to their needs and let them know how important they are to you.

Congrats on the degree and Thank You for what you are about to do.
[Reply]

Ouch.... Not sure what a Pharm. makes but a third of is rough.
[Reply]

Start by not mentioning that you are just trying to get your school paid off. America needs PATRIOTS right now, lol.:-)
[Reply]

The problem is, I can't pay off roughly 130k on 45k a year. So the loan repayment was pretty much a necessity. The amount paid last year still would not have covered all of it. But would have been about 3/4. Now I don't know what to do. The navy has been all that I've wanted to do for about 3 years now. Now it's not looking like a feasable option.
[Reply]

Congratulations, Tim. The Chief nailed it with advice. The only thing I would add is when following point #1 above try to experience as much as possible on the ship, by that I mean spend time out of your workstation. When serving on the USS CALIFORNIA I had a chaplain that qualified several of the bridge watchstations. He didn't have to, obviously, but by doing so he gained a lot of respect. It wasn't uncommon to have him relieve the helmsman for an hour or so just so the kid could hit the rack early.

One other thing - take an overseas post if given the opportunity. Living in Japan is one of the best experiences from my time in the Navy.

Good luck to you, sir.
[Reply]

Update

I have spoken to the Air Force, and they apparently not only have loan repayment available, but pretty healthy bonuses for pharmacists. So I am finishing up my application and getting my things in order for them. It looks promising, so here's hoping
[Reply]

Good news Tim. :-)
[Reply]

Excellent!
[Reply]

There is a world of difference between the Navy and the Air Force. I spent ten years in the Navy and currently wear AF blue, so I can offer some contrasts if you want.

Good luck to you, whichever branch you choose.
[Reply]

Qs


1)Is there an enlistment bonus you are eligible for. (they give them away..IDK about officers but it never hurts to ask)

2)Are there other bonuses you are eligible for?

3)Can they help you pay off some debt?

4)How do duty stations get assigned?

5)Where are my options to get assigned? (Don't take a vague "anywhere you want" answer) Have her give you specifics.

6)How long is training?

Ask everything under the sun...I focused on the $$ because when I went in there was $$ I didn't know to ask for. Then again I went enlisted so you might not have anything like that.

Best of luck.
[Reply]

I'll add to this already good advice: Whatever guarantees that they SAY they have, make sure you get it in writing. Recruiters are professional sales people and are very good at telling prospects what they want to hear. And you should be able to enter in the Air Force as an O-3 as well. I believe everyone with doctorates of some sort (chaplains, doctors, lawyers) are commissioned into the O-3 pay grade.
[Reply]

Image

HOORAH!
[Reply]

update again, my recruiter emailed me and said it was very likely they would approve loan repayment for me, and she's handing me off to a recruiter that actually handles pharmacists, so the new person will know what they're talking about.

Good news on both fronts.
[Reply]

The Air Force recruiter? Or did the Navy execute a williamson turn?
[Reply]

Sorry, the Navy person

I'm still in the application process with the Air Force
[Reply]

Very likely is not a garrentee, be careful.
[Reply]