i'm really close to getting an army rotc scholarship (worth about $40,000). i'm a bit afraid of what comes after the military though. i'm a finance major (will be trying to work as a finance officer in the army) and hopefully double minoring in military science (if i choose to accept the scholarship), and political science. is that a good combination of education and military experience for life after the military?
does anybody specifically knows what a finance officer does in the army? is it an office job, or do they go secure foreign money? (pamphlet and websites doesn't tell much)
I have known some airborne ranger pathfinder finance officers. So you never know.
Others have mentioned some good information.
Most important issue for you at this time in your life, is to decide if you want to serve your country or not. You will be subject to the needs of the Army whatever they may be. And you might just end up in Iraq or where ever because finance folks are everywhere. Having said that, serving your country is wonderful. Of course I am biased.
But don't confuse Resource Management (RM) known as S-8/G-8 with finance. Different ball of wax. So are contracting officers. Now many finance officers become contracting officers. But they do different functions.
Maybe this simple explanation will help:
- Contracting officers contract for services, supplies, etc.
- Resource Management folks manage resources -- mainly funds and manpower.
- Finance officers dole out the funds based upon orders, contracts and funding documents.
Here's an example. A military person receives orders to travel TDY to somewhere to conduct business and return. This trip was programmed and planned by his organization"s RM folks based upon their budget plan. When he travels he may travel on contracted airlift support that was coordinated by the contractor folks. When he returns, he must settle up his TDY costs which he does with the local finance folks at the finance office.
So all three aspects are different but interrelated. And a finance officer could be in each one of these positions (RM, contractor, finance office).
Then again, you could end up in the infantry!
That is why I believe that you need to want to serve your country first, then look at your options. Because you will always serve at the needs of the Army whatever they may be.