u/Level_Pear1738

Hey everyone,

*Sorry for the Long Text, but I really need some advice* 

I'm looking for some honest advice because I've been going back and forth on this for a while. I'm currently in the Army DEP as a 27D (Paralegal Specialist) and I'm about 70 days away from shipping. Lately, I've been wondering if I should try to pursue Marine Corps OCS instead. For some background, I'm 24 years old, 5'6", 132 lb, married (no kids yet), and a naturalized U.S. citizen born in Cuba. I have an A.S. in Cybersecurity (4.0 GPA) and a B.S. in Cybersecurity (3.96 GPA), both from Southern New Hampshire University.

One of my biggest concerns is honestly my size. At 5'6" and 132 pounds, a lot of OCS candidates I've seen online seem much bigger than me. I know leadership and fitness matter more than size, but it's still something I've thought about. I'm in the gym consistently and working on improving my fitness.

I've been working since I was 15. I started with physical labor jobs, and since I was 18–19 I've worked in the legal field doing immigration, bankruptcy, debt defense, and now energy litigation. I've worked as a Legal Assistant on federal, state, and international matters and have had leadership opportunities at work and through sports. A big reason I wanted to serve was attending a high school with mandatory Marine Corps JROTC. I had some incredible Marine instructors, including combat veterans, who really inspired me.

I signed with the Army because it made the most sense at the time. I was able to secure a 27D contract, enlist as an E-4, work toward my master's degree while serving, and later use the GI Bill for law school. Army OCS wasn't realistic for me because of the timeline, so I enlisted instead.

For reference:

• AFQT: 78
• Army GT: 113
• Marine GT: 108
• EL: 102
• CL: 119
• MM: 97

I'm training consistently, but I haven't taken an official Marine PFT yet, and I also haven't spoken with an OSO or Marine recruiter. Even though I had a good civilian career, I decided to enlist because I genuinely want to serve the country that gave me and my family opportunities we never would have had otherwise.

Originally, my plan was to complete my 3-year Army enlistment as a 27D and then apply for OCS afterward. But lately I've been questioning that plan and wondering if I should try for Marine OCS before I ship instead.

Another factor is my family. My wife will be working while attending law school and earning around $80k a year. As an Army E-4 I'd expect to make around $60k–70k (this includes BAH) with military compensation, while an officer would earn more. I'm not chasing the money, but it's something I have to consider as a husband when thinking about our future.

Has anyone here been in a similar situation?

Based on my background, do I seem like a realistic OCS candidate, or should I stick with the Army plan and revisit becoming an officer later? Is it worth leaving the DEP program to pursue OCS now, or would you finish the enlistment first and prepare for OCS afterward?

I'd really appreciate any honest opinions, even if it's something I don't necessarily want to hear. Thanks in advance.

Hey everyone,

*Sorry for the Long Text, but I really need some advice* I'm looking for some honest advice because I've been going back and forth on this for a while. I'm currently in the Army DEP as a 27D (Paralegal Specialist) and I'm about 70 days away from shipping. Lately, I've been wondering if I should try to pursue Marine Corps OCS instead.

For some background, I'm 24 years old, 5'6", 132 lb, married (no kids yet), and a naturalized U.S. citizen born in Cuba. I have an A.S. in Cybersecurity (4.0 GPA) and a B.S. in Cybersecurity (3.96 GPA), both from Southern New Hampshire University.

One of my biggest concerns is honestly my size. At 5'6" and 132 pounds, a lot of OCS candidates I've seen online seem much bigger than me. I know leadership and fitness matter more than size, but it's still something I've thought about. I'm in the gym consistently and working on improving my fitness.

I've been working since I was 15. I started with physical labor jobs, and since I was 18–19 I've worked in the legal field doing immigration, bankruptcy, debt defense, and now energy litigation. I've worked as a Legal Assistant on federal, state, and international matters and have had leadership opportunities at work and through sports. A big reason I wanted to serve was attending a high school with mandatory Marine Corps JROTC. I had some incredible Marine instructors, including combat veterans, who really inspired me.

I signed with the Army because it made the most sense at the time. I was able to secure a 27D contract, enlist as an E-4, work toward my master's degree while serving, and later use the GI Bill for law school. Army OCS wasn't realistic for me because of the timeline, so I enlisted instead.

For reference:

• AFQT: 78
• Army GT: 113
• Marine GT: 108
• EL: 102
• CL: 119
• MM: 97

I'm training consistently, but I haven't taken an official Marine PFT yet, and I also haven't spoken with an OSO or Marine recruiter. Even though I had a good civilian career, I decided to enlist because I genuinely want to serve the country that gave me and my family opportunities we never would have had otherwise.

Originally, my plan was to complete my 3-year Army enlistment as a 27D and then apply for OCS afterward. But lately I've been questioning that plan and wondering if I should try for Marine OCS before I ship instead.

Another factor is my family. My wife will be working while attending law school and earning around $80k a year. As an Army E-4 I'd expect to make around $60k–70k (this includes BAH) with military compensation, while an officer would earn more. I'm not chasing the money, but it's something I have to consider as a husband when thinking about our future.

Has anyone here been in a similar situation?

Based on my background, do I seem like a realistic OCS candidate, or should I stick with the Army plan and revisit becoming an officer later? Is it worth leaving the DEP program to pursue OCS now, or would you finish the enlistment first and prepare for OCS afterward?

I'd really appreciate any honest opinions, even if it's something I don't necessarily want to hear. Thanks in advance.

Hello everyone,

I'm planning to apply to the Georgia Tech OMS Cybersecurity program (Policy Track) after I complete my Army training. I'll be using Army Tuition Assistance, and I'm trying to decide if this is the best fit for my long-term career goals.

A little about me:

• B.S. in Cybersecurity (3.96 GPA, Summa Cum Laude)
• A.S. in Cybersecurity
• Both degrees are from Southern New Hampshire University.
• Before joining the Army, I worked in the legal field for several years as a Legal Assistant.
• I'll be serving as a 27D (Paralegal Specialist) in the Army.

After my first enlistment contract, I plan to use my Post-9/11 GI Bill to attend law school with the goal of practicing Privacy, and Incident Response.

I originally considered completing my master's at SNHU since I already attended there, but even with Army Tuition Assistance, the out of pocket cost would be noticeably higher than Georgia Tech's OMS Cybersecurity program, making Georgia Tech a very attractive option.

I have a few questions for current students or graduates:

1. How technical is the Policy Track? I have a cybersecurity background, but I am not a software developer. I don't mind learning some Python, but I don't want a program that's heavily focused on software engineering, I do have some knowledge of C and SQL and I'm comfortable working with both.
2. How difficult is CS 6035 for someone with a cybersecurity background but limited programming experience? I've heard it's one of the toughest courses in the program.
3. How much programming is required throughout the entire Policy Track? Is it mostly scripting and security labs, or should I expect larger software development projects?
4. How manageable is the workload while serving on Active Duty? My plan is to take one course at a time while working full-time in the Army.
5. Are exam proctor or is this degree mostly project base? I ask because at SNHU ALL my classes where project base which definitely made it easier to manage time wise.

I'd really appreciate any help and information I can get.

Hello everyone,

I recently enlisted as a 27D and will be shipping out soon. I had a few questions for current or former 27Ds regarding quality of life, job satisfaction, and career opportunities.

For some background, I'm a 24-year-old male and married (no kids yet). My wife and I are both Legal Assistants on the civilian side, and I've been working in the legal field since I was 17. I also have an Associate's Degree and a Bachelor's Degree in Cybersecurity with a 3.96 GPA (3.7 LSAC GPA). I decided to enlist rather than go straight to law school because I wanted to serve, gain military experience, and support my wife while she attends law school first. I am also considering law school myself in the future, although I haven't taken the LSAT yet.

I'm interested in learning more about the FLEP program, but I'm not sure whether I would pursue FLEP, apply for law school on my own while serving, or attend after my military service.

My questions are:

1. What is the day-to-day life of a 27D like?
2. How is the overall quality of life and work-life balance?
3. Do you generally enjoy the job, or would you choose a different MOS if you could do it again?
4. Has anyone here gone through FLEP or known a 27D who was selected for it?
5. What are the deployment and duty station opportunities like for 27Ds?
6. For those who stayed in the legal field after the Army, did your experience as a 27D help your civilian legal career?
7. Are there any opportunities for continuing education, tuition assistance, or pursuing law school while serving as a 27D?

Overall, I'm excited about the opportunity and feel that 27D aligns well with my civilian legal background. I'd appreciate any advice, experiences, or things you wish you had known before becoming a 27D.

Thank you!