Several questions about Army service?

I recently decided that Army service would be both the most sound plan financially for me, but would also provide the best future career paths, but still need some questions answered that I don't fully trust the local recruiter to answer.



1. Should I trust my local recruiter? He seems like a pretty good guy and I think I have a pretty well-tuned BS detector. He's told me, with my degree from a locally prestigious school and high test scores, any job I want, I could get.



2. I am currently leaning toward Intellegence Analysis and have the option to enter OST after basic. Would the assignments be more interesting as an officer than as an enlist? I ask because it would require me to forgo the army's offer to pay for student loans.



3. How natural a transition would it be from Intel within the army to a job with the CIA?

(bonus question! I do not meet the FBIs drug policy, I have a long-past history with drugs, does the CIA have similar restrictions?)Several questions about Army service?
These people who are telling you to get in writing are idiots. There are no such thing as open contracts in the Army so yes you will get everything in writing before you enlist. This is not the 70's people.



As for your recruiter telling you that you will qualify for any job is misleading.



You can have a 99 AFQT on your ASVAB and exceptional lines scores, but what it's going to come down to is job vacancy. Will the job you want be open?



Where you went to school is irrelevant when it comes to qualifying for jobs. All the Army cares about is whether or not the school you attended was a TIER 1 school.



If you choose to disclose your drug use that may disqualify you from any intel jobs based on how the security interviewer feels about you after conducting a security clearance interview.



If you choose to disclose the use of drugs during your physical, the doctor may disqualify you or recommend you for a psychiatric consult to ensure you are not a habitual or drug dependent user.



Being an officer has it's obvious perks, most notably the better pay. If you had the option to go OCS I would go that route, but again your use of drugs will probably disqualify you from that route as well.



I choose not to answer the CIA question because I do not know.Several questions about Army service?
1. Don't ever trust your recruiter. His job is to get you in as soon as possible without keeping your best interests in mind. That's a fact, get EVERYTHING in writing.



2. Absolutely! However if your troops fail then you get to take the blame. Being an officer has its perks, but also its downfalls.



3. Its a fairly easy transition, assuming you are one of the stars of army intel.



Bonus: Yes, the CIA has similar drug use restrictions.
1. Most recruiters are pretty straight. However make sure you get everything in writing. It depends on how well you do on the ASVAB to determine your job.



2. Officer is probably a better option. Do a bit of research of your own.



3. Not sure. However with a long history of drugs you might not get a clearnance for the Army or may not be able to get in without a waiver. Your recruiter will be able to help you out.
to define this in simple terms



YOUR GONNA BE SOMEONES ***** IN THE MILITARY!!
Your recruiter is correct..Just make sure you read all the fine print and ask alot of questions.Yes you will test high because most of the test are for high school graduates..Go for the officer for sure...They pay more and also looks better on future resumes...You,ll also get special training that the enlisted persons do not get..Yes,the cia and fbi do have the same restrictions for drug policies..You could still go into the private sector for security..Or even work for your local state...
CIA does. CIA positions require a full scope polygraph, which includes a question about illegal drug use.



Army Intelligence specialties require a complete background investigation. They'll go back 15 years or from your 18th birthday. If you are under 20 years old, they'll go back at least 2 years. Any drug history during that time would probably show up. I seriously doubt that you'll get into an intelligence specialty, although I could be mistaken.



The same thing with drug use and becoming an officer, If it turns up during your security background investigation, it could be a disqualifier.
Once you've decided that you want to be in the military, decide what you want to do in the military. Then see, from the recruiter, if that job is available and if you qualify. If it's not available or you don't qualify, get a list of what's available to you. Then leave the recruiting station. Do your own research to see if you'd like any of those jobs. Hold out for a job you want.



Keep in mind a recruiter: first wants to put you in and second, wants to put you into a shortage specialty. You need to hold out until you can get into a speciality that you want and qualify for.