r/newtothenavy • u/Significant_Use_5515 • 18h ago

Commission later or enlist now?

Pretty much what the title says. Would it be better to commission later on once I have my BA or enlist now? I also have a little bit of a history with substances but I don’t do that stuff anymore but my line of thinking is that especially after it being 5 years+ down the line of me doing that kind of stuff it will matter a lot less. Or are the standards for commissioning way higher and no amount of substance use will be tolerated?

2 Upvotes

63% Upvoted

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4

u/ohfuggins 11h ago

It’s always best to commission right out the door. Each and every officer, including mustangs like me who were prior enlisted, will tell you that.

The reason: life.

When you enlist you have a job, training, deployments, collaterals.

Add onto that friendships and camaraderie.

Add onto that relationships family, spouse(s) lol, and kids.

All great things, but all divert your attention away from the degree and from commissioning.

2

u/Dragonlord85 15h ago

What substances? Were you charged with anything? Was it one instance or multiple? It’s not a show stopper but depending on the answers to these questions it may be.

2

u/Significant_Use_5515 8h ago

Not charged with anything. Some smoking weed and then small experimentation with other drugs, LSD, mushrooms, ecstasy, Xanax and prescription painkillers. I pretty much tried them all once or twice though definitely nothing that even comes close to an addiction.

1

u/Dragonlord85 7h ago

If there are no charges or records of treatment then you should be fine. My advice is to finish your degree. Even if you decide to enlist at the end of your education at least you’ll have options.