Name: 

Date:

This unit project assesses your decision-making skills and your ability to evaluate and analyze from another person's perspective. Your project will be scored by your teacher. Follow the instructions and be sure to correct any spelling, punctuation, and grammatical errors before you submit to your teacher. This project is worth up to 65 points.

Part 1: Christl's Decision

Christl must make a decision about her future educational plans. Here's her situation:

• She is 23 years old, married with one child.
• She is a part-time college student. If she went full-time, she could graduate in one year.
• She's currently taking classes at the community college that will transfer to the university.
• Her husband is a mechanic and in the National Guard.
• She is currently a reservist in the military.

Career goal: Christl wants to be an officer.

Life goal: Christl wants economic security and to provide rich educational experiences for her child.

To become an officer she has basically three choices, all of which have different requirements for education and impact childcare requirements and proximity to family:

Option 1: ROTC--Commission upon graduation from RPTC program Short term fit with goal: After two more years of college she will graduate with a commission of $32,000 per year and full military benefits for herself and her family, assuming activity duty commission upon graduation. She will need full-time child care while she is in school and after graduation. Long term fit with goal: She will achieve her goal to be an officer. She will provide full benefits for her family and travel experience for her child. Doors that this option will open for her: She will have leadership opportunities and military benefits that carry over into civilian life after retirement. She can get training in many fields within the military. Doors that this option will close for her: She will have to move away from her mother and siblings, all of whom help to care for her child. As an officer she will always be "on call" in case of national or international conflict.

Option 2: Officer's Candidate School--Reserve Officer upon graduation Short term fit with goal: Christl can get her bachelors degree after one more year and go to Officer's Candidate School (OCS). Long term fit with goal: She will then be a reserve officer and get full reserve pay, approximately one/third of what an ROTC graduate officer would make, assuming a reserve commission upon graduation from OCS. Doors that this option will open for her: To supplement her income she would need to have a job in the private sector. She will need to pursue another career since reserve service is part time, so she can continue to build her professional and social network. She can also stay home with her child instead of finding another career. Doors that this option will close for her: She will have no benefits (medical or dental insurance, retirement plan, etc.). Her time will be limited since she will be busy with school and work. She will need full-time child care for 13 weeks while she is at OCS, and her baby is very young. As an officer she will always be "on call" in case of national or international conflict.

Option 3: NCO--Noncommissioned Officer upon completion of Leadership Development course Short term fit with goal: Christl can become a non-commissioned officer at any time, with or without graduation from a 4 year institution. Her pay will increase by about $50 per month. Long term fit with goal: She will achieve her goal to be an officer. Responsibilities and rewards will be reduced. Doors that this option will open for her: She will have leadership development training that will result in being in leadership positions within the military. She will have more flexibility to stay home with her child for a few more years. Doors that this option will close for me: NCOs do not share the same privileges as commissioned officers. Pay is lower and benefits are reduced.

How would you advise Christl?

You are a career advisor. Your role is to advise Christl of her options in relation to her goals. Write your statement of at least a total of 300 words in the spaces provided. Check your work for correct spelling and sentence completion. Use correct grammar.

In your statement, include the following points:

2. Which option do you think Christl should choose?

3. On what criteria do you base your decision?

4. Examine your decision. What values and goals that are yours influence your decision?

5. Are your goals and her goals the same? If your goals are the same, why do you think that your decision would be the best choice for her? If your goals are different, why do you think that your decision would be the best choice for her?

6. Describe your understanding of how two people faced with similar decisions may make completely different decisions about how to proceed.

Part 2--Apply to yourself

Choose two of the following six choices. Analyze how each choice fits your short-term and long-term career goals. Then try to predict what doors of opportunity will be opened and closed for you as a result of your choice. Write your analysis in the space provided.

four-year college

two-year college

Military

Technical college

Apprenticeship

Home

State your personal career goal:

Option 1:

Short-term fit with goal:

Long-term fit with goal:

Doors that this option will open for me:

Doors that this option will close for me:

Option 2:

Short-term fit with goal:

Long-term fit with goal:

Doors that this option will open for me:

Doors that this option will close for me: