Anna1111 wrote:
Well, you need to do some serious research, then.
1) which branch does he plan to join?
2) in that branch, is Cyber security work done by enlisted folk or by officers?
3) if it is done by enlisted folk, he won't need college first - the military will train him to do it. in fact, the 4-year-degree might have him end up with an officer's commission where he CAN'T do the technical work an enlisted person does in this field. Check out the actual facts in the field.
4) if done by officers (which I suspect is unlikely), will the branch want to have a degree in Cyber security first, or will they want a degree in something officer friendly, like management.
5) is he ELIGIBLE to join the military (good physical health, clean record, high ASVAB score etc)
6) remember, military security is very different from civilian security - only so much of the fancy degree might transfer over. And, many civilianemployers would be quite happy with a gifted, experienced 2-year-degree holder. The military generally doesn't care too much whether your 4 year degree is an outstanding one or not - as long as you have one. In computers - in the civilian world, perhaps more than most any other field, actual skill can be valued more highly than the piece of paper on the wall.
Remember, "Many a slip 'tween the cup & the lip" - what he *hopes* to do as a mid-teen could well change before enlistment/commissioning - I'd encourage training for ANY computer job - not JUST a military one.
Three things to consider 1) the military will almost certainly pay less for this job than does the civilian world 2) military training in this field probably won't benefit him much in the civilian job market when he's done- in fact, there's a good chance he'll have to promise not to use what he knows and 3) the military is EXCELLENT at promising you that you'll get to work in Cyber security (in writing!) or whatever job you say you want - and then putting you in some job that has nothing to do with that. I know - they did it to me.
I think he would benefit FAR more from actually learning to DO cyber security in community college and discovering if that is the thing for him and learning the actual skills - and acquiring a trade he can market - rather than fluffy "business theory" classes that will qualify him to say "want fries with that?" if his career plans change between now and age 25.
What he would like to do is join the Navy Reserves. Do his boot camp and one year of A school. Then, he would be required to come back to our town. He then wants to move out to AZ to the cyber security university while he finishes his 4 year degree. Then, that will be the big decision, to stay in or get out. But he does want to go "civilian" at the point and time for the job. He may stay in the Reserves and do both, civilian job and Reserves, but that is to be seen. He is eligible for the military.
Thanks for the advice. Your last paragraph reinforces what I was already thinking.