u/Puzzleheaded-Cat2299

Hey!

So I am looking for a book on a niche era of history.

I really enjoyed Ghengis Khan: making of the modern world.

Thanks for any suggestions ahead of time

Hey!

I’m active duty Army, and yesterday I attended a briefing for soldiers interested in commissioning into a medical branch.

The recruiter was cool, but he told us the most competitive branch is dental. He said you’d basically have to cure cancer to commission as a dentist since it is so competitive.

I asked why, and he said, “People want to become dentists, just not with $700k in student loan debt.”

How accurate is that?

Hey dad!

I’m going home on Friday. I am going to check out a school I got into for my msw.

I asked my ma and three sisters to come, but everyone was busy. I know I shouldn’t care or take it personally, but I need to learn to be happy with myself and my choices.

Hey!

Active duty army here and looking to do NG after this contract.

I am a 68x (behavioral health specialist.) I enjoy what I do. So much so I am going to get an msw after this contract.

That being said - I am probably going to reclass to 17E just for shits and giggles.

Anyone else have an MOS different from their civilian job?

Hey!

Background

• I joined the army because I wanted to do "more."
• so far I have enjoyed the army and the people I have met.
• but there has been some issues
• in basic - I had a DS ask me if I have ever been tested for Autism because I reminded him of his special needs son.
• I did get tested and I am on the spectrum lol!

Currently

• I currently work in a 68-series
• I have been counseled multiple times for performance.
• I struggle with appearing professional, getting overwhelmed, and rushing through tasks.
• I am fully cognizant of what is required of me and what the standard is, but sometimes I get overstimulated, and my brain "turns off."
• my command is cool and is working with me, but I feel like the army is not the place for me.
• I have about 18-months left on my contract.

Next steps

• I have been asking my command for feedback and they have been helpful, but I still get overstimulated. I just want to finish this contract strong and move on.

What would you recommend I do? My supervisor said an article 15 is a possibility if things don't change.

Hey!

Background
I used to be a data engineer, but I quit to join the military.

Summary
I am currently active duty army and work in mental health. I am finishing up my masters in public policy (mpp) and looking to do my masters in Spanish linguistics after

I was looking at my options post-army:
- just got into my masters in social work (msw)
- want to do national guard for continued benefits

I was looking at being a case manager for the VA, but it got me thinking about other opportunities

Next steps
In your experience: what are social work type roles that exist in your agency?

Hey!

So I recently got into Loyolas fully online bilingual msw program, but I was also looking at UIC’s PM part-time program.

Loyola would be fully online, while UIC would require two in-person nights per week. Both are fully funded.​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​

A bilingual program is appealing, but since I already speak English, Spanish, and conversational Mandarin, the added value may be limited. I’ll likely pursue a master’s in Spanish linguistics soon, and I currently do medical interpretation in Spanish at work.​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​

I was talking to my therapist (who is a LCSW) and she said it’s personal preference, but if single, and can make the commute in-person would be ideal.

Question: is there anything I should take into account when making this decision?

Hey!

I could really use some support right now. It’s been a rough one.

Background

- I walked away from a six-figure tech job because it was making me miserable, joined the army, and lost 150 lbs to do it.
- Basic was incredibly hard on me physically. I almost didn’t make it through the ACFT.
- I was on profile all of AIT and most of my first year in the army.
- Since then I’ve been doing everything I’m supposed to: PT, physical therapy, health and wellness. Joined a running group on Strava that my installation has. All of it.
- But today my back completely gave out during the plank and I failed the AFT.

Next steps
- The people around me are supportive and they see me working hard, and I appreciate that. I literally have a journal of positive things people have said about me.
- In fact, one of the physical therapist saw what happened and told me to come to his clinic today to do an exam and see what is going on.
- Now I have to meet with my first sergeant and potentially retest in a few days.

I keep pushing and pushing and I’m still not where I want to be.

Hey!

So I have my ba in history and I became a data engineer. I was completely self-taught.

I did not like that kind of work so I joined the army and I currently work in military mental health.

I enjoy this line of work. I don’t think I’ll work in therapy long term since I get overstimulated, but I’ll probably move into case management or policy.

Part of the reason I made this change is because my coworkers accommodate my neurodivergence, and the work doesn’t overstimulate me.

Hey!

I am active duty army and my state offers free tuition for veterans. Right now I am doing my mpp, will do a masters in Spanish linguistics, and eventually I will do my MSW.

I was talking to one of the providers at work and she suggested I look at my DSW since I like school and the army will not only pay for it, but also pay me a salary while I’m in school.

I don’t know anyone with a DSW. I don’t really have a “goal.” I just like learning new things.

If you have a DSW what do you do?

Hey!

I know that a DSW is not for everyone, but as a thought experiment I was curious - if you were going to do a DSW what would your research be about?

I guess mine would look something like this:

Intergenerational Trauma Transmission in Military Populations: Examining Frameworks for Intervention with Service Members, Their Children, and Unit Cohesion

Hey!

I am active duty army (68X) and I am half-way done with my contract.

I am currently using the Illinois veterans grant (IVG) to get one masters paid for and will use it to get another. I want to maximize my state benefits/TA before I even touch the GI Bill.

That got me thinking:

- how is the Illinois guard? I know there is stipulations, but I could theoretically use the IVG and Illinois National Guard (ING).

- I am near Chicago. So I am not sure what armory I will drill at.

- any 68X on here? What is your experience?

- how hard is it to transfer to another state?

Thanks for reading

Hey!

Long time lurker. First time poster.

I currently work in an outpatient mental health clinic on a military base. I enjoy it so much that I was just accepted into an MSW program and plan to pursue it.

Before my current role, I was a data engineer. People are usually flabbergasted when I tell them why I left.

Yes. It was AI. But let me explain lol!

In my opinion, AI is not what people think it is. In my opinion it’s a corporate psyop to mask layoffs and outsourcing while making a CEO look like the second coming of Steve Jobs. AI itself is not taking people’s jobs, corporate greed is. Shocker? Right?

Although I enjoy the material and I care about people on a clinical level I just see social work as more of a recession and AI resistant role.

Does anyone else feel the same way?

Hey!

So I recently got into Loyola for there bilingual msw program!

I am going to defer for a year, but in the meantime I am looking at a few other options.

If I attend UIC or UIUC, I have two separate sources of funding: Illinois state military benefits and my Army education benefits.

The advice I received is to use the Illinois state benefit to pay for my MSW, and save my Army benefits for later — that way, if I decide to pursue a DSW or another advanced degree in the future, I still have funding available for it.

Has anyone gone to UIC or UIUC for their msw program? For UIC I will be doing their PM program and for UIUC it will be for their online program.

Hey!

So I got into an MSW program at Loyola (private school). My plan was to use the Post-9/11 GI Bill + Yellow Ribbon to cover the full cost since Yellow Ribbon would cover what the GI Bill doesn't.

But somebody told me I should just use VR&E for the MSW instead, and then save my GI Bill for a doctorate later.

That actually makes a lot of sense to me. I do not have a disability rating, but I am making sure to go to sick call and getting everything documented.

My questions:

1. Will VR&E pay for a private school like Loyola?

2. Does it make sense to use VR&E for the MSW now and save the GI Bill for a doctorate later?

3. Can you even use VR&E after your GI Bill, or do they have to go in a specific order?

4. I’m from Illinois and can go to any state school for free, but I won’t get BAH. Would it make sense to just use my that state benefit or just apply to VR&E and see what happens?

I'm still active duty with about two years left so I'm not in a rush, just want to plan this out correctly.

Any advice from people who've navigated this would be hugely appreciated!