Hmmmm.

[winterbadger]

So, something else had me looking at Navy websites, and I think, "You know, the Army Reserve and National Guard recruiters are always telling me that their cutoffs of 29/34 (USAR commissioned/enlisted) and 35 (ANG) are hard limits. But what about the Navy Reserve?....

If you're between the ages of 21 and 38*, you can begin the experience of a lifetime in the Naval Reserve. Your local Naval Reserve Recruiter can answer your questions and prepare you for a basic aptitude test (ASVAB: Armed Services Vocational Abilities Battery) that will help to determine how your skills will best be used in uniform.

*Maximum age limit can be waived in many situations. Check with your local recruiter for more information.

(Italics theirs, emphasis mine.)

Officer Opportunities: Intelligence

Intelligence officers are the technical experts in the collection, analysis and dissemination of information that directly supports the intelligence requirements and needs of operational warfare commanders. Advanced systems and analysis techniques are used to locate, identify, analyze and disseminate real-time intelligence information. Typically this includes using tactical and space-based imagery, computers, radar, acoustic sensors and electronic signals surveillance to analyze intelligence data.

BASIC EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE REQUIREMENTS:
A bachelor's degree from a regionally accredited institution is required. You can, however, come from a wide range of technical and non-technical academic backgrounds, including political science, engineering, computer science, history, physical and natural sciences, and the liberal arts with emphasis on language skills. Degrees in veterinary medicine, theology/divinity, any of the healing sciences or music are not accepted. You should possess a balance of experiences that demonstrate strong leadership and technical skills related to either military or civilian intelligence occupations. Additionally, expertise in foreign area studies, international relations and languages is desired.

Hmmmm.......

Comments

Re: No.

[winterbadger]

there are lots and lots of things you can do to serve both your desire to do something for your country and your love and knowledge of foreign affairs and the military. DC is a think-tank-infested swamp.

Yeah, which is why I do what I do. But most of the work in them isn't actually doing something real; it's fannying about, and for a profit. Plus, it's still going to take a lot of work that I'm going to have to pay through the nose to do in order to get the credentials to get anywhere in my field, to be able to actually choose what *I* want to do. And this would pay *me* (well, in practical terms, it would be a wash, but it wouldn't cost me thousands of dollars) for some of the same experience.

I think you're wonderful and brilliant and all that good stuff.

And I think you're crazy, but I'm grateful you feel that way :-)

i hope i haven't offended you with my gut reaction.

Sweetheart, it's going to take a lot more than that to offend me. That's an honest opinion. You'd have to be nasty and hateful and stupid to offend me, and I don't think you have it in you to be any of those things. *hug*