u/Temporary_Mall3760

Hi everyone,
I’m currently a 19-year-old active duty sailor in the U.S. Navy, and I plan on serving one contract before separating in 2028. After I get out, I plan on using my Post-9/11 GI Bill to attend a university in New York for my bachelor’s degree.

The problem is that I honestly have no idea what I want to major in yet. Right now I’m interested in finance, business administration, construction management, information systems, data analytics, computer science, and AI/technology, but I don’t feel confident enough to commit to any one of them.
Since I don’t qualify for Navy Tuition Assistance yet, I’ve been looking into USNCC so I can get a head start on an associate degree instead of waiting another year. My goal isn’t to start a career with the associate it’s simply to complete as many transferable prerequisites and general education courses as possible so I have a strong college transcript and hopefully a lot of my first year completed before transferring to a bachelor’s program.

The degrees I’ve been considering are General Studies with AI (UMGC), General Studies with Computer Studies (UMGC), Organizational Leadership (Arizona State University), General Engineering Technology (Alexandria Technical & Community College), and Computer Science & AI (Arizona State University).
If you were in my situation, what would you do? Would you focus on getting the broadest associate possible, or would you choose something more specialized? Has anyone transferred USNCC credits into another university, and if so, which program transferred the best?

I’d really appreciate any advice or personal experiences from people who have been through USNCC or transferred to a four-year university afterward. Thanks!

Hey Everyone,
I’ve been trying to pick what degree I would like to pursue over the next couple of years and I just can’t seem to figure out what to do, I want a decent income 70-80k yearly, and work life balance. What are some degrees you would recommend?

Hey Everyone,
I’ve been trying to pick what degree I would like to pursue over the next couple of years and I just can’t seem to figure out what to do, I want a decent income, and work life balance. What are some degrees you would recommend?

Hey everyone,
Today I got an email that I’m off the waitlist for the robinhood gold card and I have been pre approved for a 10k card limit. I’m 19M my current setup is the navy fed cash rewards, navy fed flagship, AMEX platinum, AMEX gold, and the AMEX cash preferred. I am in the military so I get fees waived for the AMEX cards. I have a 755 credit score, 6 active accounts, never had debt, 1 year and 7 months of credit history and 4 hard inquiries on my Experian Fico. I currently investments in fidelity and have over 20k+ with them. I was planning on replacing my cash rewards with the robinhood gold because it’s 1 percent higher than the cash rewards. Also I don’t have any investments with robinhood so that’s also something I have to consider. What do you guys think.

I’m currently a 19-year-old active-duty Navy Aviation Structural Mechanic (AM) and I’m planning ahead for my transition out of the military around 2029.
My current plan is to separate, move to the NYC area, attend college full-time using the Post-9/11 GI Bill, and work part-time while earning my degree. I’m interested in fields such as Construction Management, Civil Engineering, Construction Engineering, and potentially continuing to work in aviation while in school.
I’ve been trying to build a solid financial foundation before I get out, but I’m struggling to determine what a realistic savings goal should be.
Some of the expenses I’m expecting are:
• Apartment application fees and security deposits
• Moving expenses
• Furniture and basic household items
• Potential delays in receiving GI Bill housing payments
• Emergency fund
• General transition expenses from military to civilian life
One thing I’m concerned about is that I’ll likely need to find an apartment before I’ve established civilian employment, since my plan is to attend school and then find part-time work after relocating.
Questions
If you were separating and moving to a high-cost area like NYC, how much cash would you want to have saved before getting out?
How many months of living expenses would you personally want available before making the transition?
Did you experience any delays with GI Bill housing payments, and if so, how much of a buffer would you recommend?
For those who attended college after the military, what were some expenses you didn’t anticipate?
Looking back, do you think you separated with too little cash, too much cash, or about the right amount?
If you were in my position with a few years left before separation, what financial goals would you prioritize before getting out?
I’m trying to build a realistic plan and would appreciate hearing from veterans who have already gone through the transition, especially anyone who attended school in a high-cost area after separating.

I’m currently an active-duty Navy Aviation Structural Mechanic (AM) working on C-130 aircraft and I’m trying to learn more about the civilian side of aviation before I separate from the military.

By the time I get out, I’ll have around 4 years of aviation maintenance experience, a security clearance, and experience working in a military aviation environment. My plan is to attend college after separation using the Post-9/11 GI Bill, but I’d also like to work in aviation while I’m in school.

Because I’ll be a full-time student, I’m primarily interested in part-time opportunities, although I’d still like to understand the long-term career paths and pay progression available in the industry.

I’m curious how well military C-130 experience translates to civilian airlines and aviation maintenance jobs.
Questions
How valuable is Navy C-130 maintenance experience to airlines and civilian aviation employers?

Would you recommend getting an A&P before separating, after separating, or not at all?

Based on my background, what types of aviation jobs should I be looking at?

How difficult is it to get hired by a major airline with military aviation experience?

What kind of pay would you realistically expect for someone with around 4 years of military aviation maintenance experience?

Are there part-time aviation jobs that would fit well with a college schedule?

Are there certain airlines, contractors, MROs, or aviation companies that tend to hire veterans more than others?

If you were in my position, would you stay in aviation while attending college, or would you focus on gaining experience in the field you ultimately want to work in?
Where would you recommend looking for jobs when the time comes?

I’m still a few years away from separating, but I’d rather start learning now and build a plan instead of waiting until the last minute.

Any advice from people who made the transition from military aviation to the civilian side would be greatly appreciated.

I’m currently an active-duty Navy Aviation Structural Mechanic (AM) and I’m planning ahead for when I separate from the military around 2029.

By the time I get out, I’ll have around 4 years of aviation maintenance experience working on C-130 aircraft, a security clearance, and college credits completed. My plan is to move to the NYC/NJ area, attend school full-time using the Post-9/11 GI Bill, and work part-time while earning my degree.

I’ll also be looking for an apartment around the same time, so one of my biggest goals is finding a job that can help me establish income, qualify for housing, and provide some financial stability while I’m in school.
Because I’ll be a full-time student, I’m primarily looking for part-time work that can fit around a college schedule. Ideally, I’d like to make at least $25/hour, but I’m open to hearing what’s realistic.
Some jobs I’ve been considering are:
• Airline maintenance helper
• Aircraft maintenance technician
• Ramp agent
• Airport operations
• Defense contractor work
• Construction or project management internships
• Any other jobs that would value military experience

One thing that interests me about working for an airline is the flight benefits, but I’m not sure how realistic it is to get hired part-time while attending school.
A few questions:
If you had my background, what jobs would you target in NYC?

Are there any airlines, airports, contractors, or companies that hire a lot of veterans?

How realistic is it to find a part-time job paying $25+/hour while attending school full-time?

Would you stay in aviation while in school, or use that time to gain experience in the field you ultimately want to work in?

For those who attended college in NYC, how difficult was it to find housing while relying on GI Bill benefits and part-time income?

Are there any jobs I’m overlooking that would fit well with my military background?

If you were in my position, what would
your game plan be for balancing school, work, apartment hunting, and long-term career growth?

I’m still a few years away from separating, but I’d like to start learning what opportunities are available and what I should be doing now to prepare.

I’m currently a 19-year-old active-duty Navy Aviation Structural Mechanic (AM) with a few years left before I separate. I’m trying to plan ahead and learn as much as I can about SkillBridge so I can make the most of the opportunity when the time comes.
My military background is in aviation maintenance, specifically working on C-130 aircraft. By the time I separate, I’ll have around 4 years of aviation maintenance experience and a security clearance.
Right now, I’m considering a few different long-term career paths:
• Construction Management
• Civil Engineering
• Construction Engineering
• Aviation Maintenance
• Defense contracting
My current plan is to attend college full-time after separation using the Post-9/11 GI Bill, but I still want to take advantage of SkillBridge if it can help me gain experience, certifications, networking opportunities, or improve my career prospects.
Questions
If you were in my position, what type of SkillBridge program would you pursue?
Would you stay in aviation and use SkillBridge to transition into the airline or defense contractor world, or would you use it to gain experience in the field you ultimately want to work in?
Are there any SkillBridge companies or programs that consistently stand out from the rest?
Has anyone used SkillBridge to get into construction management, engineering, project management, or a related field?
If your goal was to attend college full-time after separation, would you still pursue SkillBridge or focus on preparing for school?
What certifications would you try to obtain before separating?
Looking back, was SkillBridge worth it for you?
What mistakes should I avoid when researching or applying for SkillBridge programs?
I’m still several years away from separation, but I’d rather start planning early and hear from people who have already gone through the process.
If you were in my position, what would your game plan be?

Hello everyone, Im 19 I currently make $3480 a month. I don’t have many expenses besides paying for my own personal groceries, car insurance, gas, and personal thing which adds up to about $900-950 a month in spending for expenses. With the remaining $2530 how much should i put into savings? how much should i invest. I currently have 16k invested in brokerage, 8k invested for retirement, and 16k saved in my hysa. I know that’s a decent amount for my age but I keep changing the way i’m saving some months i’ll put more in my hysa the next month i’ll invest more. I want to stick to a plan for the foreseeable future to stay consistent with my income. Any help on this will be greatly appreciated!

I’m 19 and interested in getting into the Chase ecosystem so I can eventually work toward the Sapphire Preferred/Reserve line.

Right now I have a 750+ credit score, low utilization, and over $60k in total credit limits. I also already have relationships with Amex, Navy Federal, and Capital One.

The issue is that I’m currently over 5/24. However, Chase keeps showing me “Respond now”/“Selected for you” offers for the Freedom Unlimited in Credit Journey with the elevated bonus offer.

I know Chase is usually strict with 5/24, but has anyone here gotten approved while over the limit from one of these targeted offers? Are these actual preapprovals or mostly just marketing?

Trying to decide if it’s worth risking the hard inquiry or if I should just wait until I naturally fall under 5/24.

I’m 19 and interested in getting into the Chase ecosystem so I can eventually work toward the Sapphire Preferred/Reserve line.

Right now I have a 750+ credit score, low utilization, and over $60k in total credit limits. I also already have relationships with Amex, Navy Federal, and Capital One.

The issue is that I’m currently over 5/24. However, Chase keeps showing me “Respond now”/“Selected for you” offers for the Freedom Unlimited in Credit Journey with the elevated bonus offer.

I know Chase is usually strict with 5/24, but has anyone here gotten approved while over the limit from one of these targeted offers? Are these actual preapprovals or mostly just marketing?

Trying to decide if it’s worth risking the hard inquiry or if I should just wait until I naturally fall under 5/24.

I’m 19 and interested in getting into the Chase ecosystem so I can eventually work toward the Sapphire Preferred/Reserve line.

Right now I have a 750+ credit score, low utilization, and over $60k in total credit limits. I also already have relationships with Amex, Navy Federal, and Capital One.

The issue is that I’m currently over 5/24. However, Chase keeps showing me “Respond now”/“Selected for you” offers for the Freedom Unlimited in Credit Journey with the elevated bonus offer.

I know Chase is usually strict with 5/24, but has anyone here gotten approved while over the limit from one of these targeted offers? Are these actual preapprovals or mostly just marketing?

Trying to decide if it’s worth risking the hard inquiry or if I should just wait until I naturally fall under 5/24.