Leaving IB For Military Thoughts/Advice
For context, I’m graduating college (undergrad) next semester and I secured a spot as an Analyst at a solid Investment Bank a while back. I was very late to finding out about IB, but I worked hard and managed to still secure a position. College has been great for me because I got to mature and get a lot of things in order in my life.
These past few months I’ve had an intense, unwavering desire to pursue a dream that I had as a child of being a special operations operator in either the Navy or Army (SEAL or GB specifically). This dream, I believe, had been suppressed for years by following a standard life path of going to college to satisfy parents, so I never really thought it was feasible; but I’ve had MAJOR mindset shifts in life the past 1–2 years through various life events.
Has anyone (or does anyone know somebody) who has LEFT banking to pursue military aspirations? I want to do this to serve a higher purpose/faith, serve my country, and protect the lives of those who are weaker. I would enlist as opposed to going the officer route. I want either a Navy SO/Warrior Challenge Contract or an 18X Contract with the Army.
I am training seriously right now with 6 months left before graduation. I’m debating whether to leave banking maybe after a year of trying it out to avoid “throwing away” a high-paying career, and also to confirm that the fire for the military won’t go away because I figure if it’s still there and the longing grows, then the calling is “real” and not something I would regret leaving IB for after working hard to land an IB role.
- Does anyone have any advice/comments/concerns about stuff I may not have thought deeply enough about (for the record, I have thought deeply about this for months every day)?
- Should I enlist BEFORE even working a single year as an analyst because I’m aware it’s absolutely not possible to train to be a SEAL in IB? To be clear, I’m training to surpass the competitive PST standards in the next 6 months, then, best case, my fitness will only slowly deteriorate after some short time in IB (after which I could then take some time off to solely train for some months again before shipping ideally).
- Am I being a moron by not considering the officer route more seriously? (I want to solely be an operator and not switch to more administrative and less hands-on roles eventually as an officer.)
- I would greatly appreciate if anyone who has left finance for the military, or transitioned from military to finance, could tell me about their experiences.
I think you should only consider this option going the officer route. This will get you responsibility and put you in a position to lead - it’s not to be taken lightly and will demand every bit of focus at all times especially when it’s inconvenient. It doesn’t mean you won’t be kicking in doors it just means you will learn a set of leadership and strategic skills that will set you apart.
You should probably consider that the old days of SF fighting insurgents with total manpower equipment technology and air superiority are over. The odds of a conflict with a major global power are higher now than probably since the Cold War. Plus, drones. Just things to think about.
If you have an offer I imagine you have good internships which would set you up nicely on your eventual way out of the service if that ends up being the path (good to have an exit plan..). I know some people who saved up leave and went directly from military to an internship or other opportunity (bank of America is very friendly to transitioning veterans), but more often people get an MBA. As to timing, you need to prepare for at least a several month lead time to get approved and contracted for whatever program, likely longer going officer. So it might make sense to do the year of ib if the timeline works out. Caveat being your body will take a beating and you’ll be in worse shape going into training, but it’s doable. Most importantly you need to be absolutely crystal clear on your why - they will weed you out if you’re there for the wrong reasons. Sounds like you have a decent approach. Good luck.
I would also encourage almost anyone to be an officer over enlisted due to a higher quality of life and level of respect. With that said, officers are not and never will be door kickers. If you want to be an operator, enlist. Also, I'm only saying this because I personally know him, there is a active duty SEAL who did his analyst years at a BB, then 2 years in PE and then enlisted in the Navy. I wont say his name but he's an absolute stud in every sense of the word, good athlete, former D1 football player, and a great guy. This is not a path I'd recommend (I would go 18X and not to BUD/S) but it can and has been done. BUD/S is a huge gamble and you're risking going to the fucking fleet if you fail (you might even get hurt and get dropped). I've seen too many good guys who were d1 athletes or went to a great school who end up in the fleet chipping paint for less than $2k a month with a burning desire to jump off that floating prison and end it all. Finally, I personally think 25 is a better age to attend a selection than 22/23. Good luck, and don't end up in the fleet!
Army vet -> MBA -> IB here.
Serving can be incredibly rewarding and will give you experiences you will carry for life. That said, the direct ascension pipelines into Special Operations (Army 18X, Navy SO contract, etc.) are brutally difficult. In many ways they are harder than the traditional accessions because you are expected to meet elite physical standards on an accelerated timeline, often without the seasoning or preparation time that prior service candidates get.
For the Navy specifically, if you enlist on a SEAL or SO contract and do not make it through BUD/S or the follow-on pipeline, you can get reclassed into a non-rated billet. That often means two years doing whatever the ship needs. One of my friends ended up mopping decks and chipping and painting bulkheads for an entire deployment cycle. It is not a punishment, just the reality of how manpower works.
I am not saying this to scare you off. I just want you to understand the downside risk. The officer route I took is different, but it comes with its own constraints. To pursue Army SF as an officer, in your situation you would need to go through OCS first, and then you realistically only have one or possibly two shots at attending SFAS depending on your branch, timing, and performance.
If you choose to serve, there is still a clear path into high finance.
Banks like BofA and Lazard have dedicated veteran hiring programs for analysts and associates. If you serve at least 36 months you will qualify for the Post 9/11 GI Bill, which can cover most or all of your MBA tuition. From there, the Military to MBA to IB pipeline is extremely well defined. Every major business school has a strong veteran presence, and nearly all banks recruit veterans directly through MBA hiring.
One more thing to highlight: in my experience, MBA programs and banks do not differentiate between former Officers and NCOs when evaluating leadership experience. I have seen both succeed in recruiting, and the veteran community is supportive regardless of rank background.
TLDR:
If Special Operations is a genuine calling rather than something that simply sounds exciting, it can be an incredible life chapter. Just make sure you understand the real odds, the fallback roles, and the timelines involved. And if you later decide IB is the end goal, that door will still be open.
This caveat when it comes to direct SF routes like 18X is very important. The cynical way of looking at those programs is the military wants a way to entice candidates into a sexy career - some will make it which is great, others won't - and for those who wash out the army/navy then has complete freedom to meet random personnel needs anywhere which you may find to be an undesirable posting. Just make sure you are at absolute peak performance and absolutely mentally committed going in.
Thank you for your service. I really appreciate the insights.
Great comment, also wanted to say thank you for your service.
I would watch some Jake Zweig videos on going GB/SEALs with a college degree.
Also, what’s your athletic background? Are you going in as an officer? If so, it’ll be best case scenario 5 years before you get to an ODA.
If you’re planning on going enlisted on an 18x contract with an IB offer in your hand, that might be the dumbest fucking thing you can do. The attrition rate for 18x’s off the street in SFAS and the Q course are absolutely DISMAL. Like ~1-2% make it. Most people going through that pipeline have served in the military for quite a while before starting. SEALs are probably worse, and at least with SF you might get to go do infantry if you fail.
Do you have a girlfriend? Are you prepared for her to leave you?
For reference, I’m in PE and am shipping to EOD school for the National Guard soon. I considered taking a chance at being an operator but got some sobering words from a mentor and decided against it.
You really have to be a knuckle dragging pipe hitter to succeed in these pipelines. It’s not a nice place filled with smart, educated, capable people. It’s people that want to kill other people legally. God bless them. Hope this helps
Appreciate the response.
“Also, what’s your athletic background?”
In recent years in college it’s been boxing, a lot of weightlifting, and now jiu-jitsu. I grew up around the ocean, I’m a strong swimmer, and I’m confident in the water. I’m working on getting my run times into an elite range right now.
“If you’re planning on going enlisted on an 18X contract with an IB offer in your hand, that might be the dumbest fucking thing you can do.”
Fair opinion, but I wouldn’t call it dumb if your goal is to earn the opportunity to attempt selection as soon as you’re eligible, and you want a contracted shot at the pipeline.
“Like ~1–2% make it… SEALs are probably worse.”
Genuinely curious—what are you basing the 1–2% figure on? The historical BUD/S enlisted attrition rate is often cited around ~80%, and officer completion tends to be higher. Don’t get me wrong, I’m not by any means downplaying the absolute crucible of a challenge that is BUD/S both mentally and physically, and I’m very aware of the extreme risk I would be taking of leaving IB and potentially ending up scraping barnacles off a ship for 2 years if I get med or performance dropped.
“For reference, I’m in PE and am shipping to EOD school for the National Guard soon.”
Best of luck — that sounds awesome. I’m curious how you find balancing Guard commitments with a full-time PE role.
From a Reddit thread a guy with the username u/TFvoodoo. He makes excellent content about the SOF community and was a GB.
“The success rate of 18Xs from OSUT to donning the Beret is incredibly low. Shockingly low.
A cohort from Spring 2023: ~ 180 18X report to OSUT ~ 80 18X report to SFPC ~ 20 18x get Selected ~ 10 earn the Beret
A cohort from Fall 2023: ~ 190 18X report to OSUT ~ 90 18X report to SFPC ~ 25 18x get Selected ~ 12 earn the Beret
A cohort from Spring 2024: ~ 175 18X report to OSUT ~ 65 18X report to SFPC ~ 20 18x get Selected ~ TBD earn the Beret
So if you do the math that’s 5.5%, 6.3%, and 11% (to get selected…half that if the trend plays out). This doesn’t account for recycles and returns, but the number between OSUT and SFPC is a hard number. Those numbers are 44%, 47%, and 37%. And that’s just getting out of Benning. OSUT and Airborne school should be the most insignificant hurdles you clear in your whole career, and nearly half of 18Xs can’t do it!
So, what does this tell us? 1- Signing the contract is easy. And many of you struggle just earning the contract. 2- Talk is cheap. Lots of “motivated” guys signing on the dotted line and showing up to Benning. Not many “disciplined” guys willing to actually do anything. I’ll take discipline over motivation any day. 3- Your pre-OSUT prep is more important than you might think. The PT standards at OSUT are very modest. You won’t get in shape there and nearly half of you can’t even pass the modest test to get out of there. 4- The actual matriculation rate, from enlistment through Regimental First Formation, is harder than any other SOF pipeline.“
Also, what are your stats right now?
2 mile time,
Pull ups,
500m swim, etc? Just curious as it would definitely impact my opinion on this.
What is your mile run time, max pullups, mile swim, etc? At face value, I don't know if you're athletic/fit enough to justify not going the officer route. Take my word with a grain of salt but I had a lot of my D1 athlete friends try the same, and a good chunk failed.
Did a combat mos in the Guard all through college and a bit after and even that is a bit of a committment. I went to a target and received a dismal GPA because of the military obligations I had while in school (was also working) of course HR doesn't take these kinds of things into consideration.
I had very similar aspirations in college and almost went down the same route you're considering.
It wasn't until I sat down with a former Green Beret who had been a POW for over a year that I changed my mind. I thought the same - that I had thought deeply enough about the realties of war and the nature of a career in special operations, but something about hearing his stories firsthand changed my perspective. I'll never forget the line that solidified it for me:
"The guys you train with and deploy with become your brothers. When we were deployed, I went out on a mission with 12 of my brothers; 4 of us came back."
I couldn't shake that. I ultimately decided it wasn't for me.
I guess my advice would be to network similarly to how you probably did for IB and get as many firsthand perspectives as possible.
Best of luck!
Thanks for the advice. I’ll try to network more. I’d love to talk with a current or former operator and listen to their perspective.
I cannot speak to the exact numbers, but the 20 percent figure you quoted is for the entire BUD/S class. Most of those candidates already have several years of military experience.
The same pattern shows up in the Army’s 18X and Option 40 pipelines. Attrition is higher for direct ascension candidates because the training sequence is essentially nonstop. Basic Training, Airborne, SFAS or Ranger School, and then the Q-Course or RASP come in quick succession. It is absolutely achievable, but it is a long, mentally and physically draining stretch.
The typical candidate background gives them more preparation going into something as tough as joining Special Forces. They have spent years operating under stress, with limited sleep, limited food, and constant physical demands. That experience builds mental endurance that is hard to replicate anywhere else. As a direct ascension candidate, you simply will not have that foundation yet, and that is completely normal. It is also not something you can recreate on the outside.
Just for context, I was not a Green Beret myself, but as an Army officer I seriously considered that route and spent a lot of time training for and researching the SF assessment process around 2015–2016. That experience gave me a pretty clear view of what the pipelines look like.
Based on what you have shared about your background, I will say I think you may be a stronger fit for the officer path. You already have IB internships and possibly potential offers, which tells me you excel in high-responsibility, structured, and performance-driven environments. Junior enlisted life is honorable and essential, but it often involves repetitive tasks, very limited autonomy, and long stretches of routine duty. Given your academic and professional trajectory, I do not think it would play to your strengths or keep you engaged.
The officer route gives you more responsibility, more upward mobility, and more control over your career from day one. It also provides an additional two years or so to mature physically and mentally before attempting any special operations assessment. That extra time can make a difference in your readiness.
Again, none of this is meant to steer you toward one answer. My goal is to give you the most complete picture possible so you can make an informed decision. I served for nine years, and I would do it again without hesitation. Service is rewarding no matter the path, but choosing the right entry point for you will shape your entire experience.
The military will change you for better and worse. You will go through some messed up stuff in war, and also at home. It creates habits in you that are worse than IB habits. It’s bad when you ah won work life balance but now imagine no work life balance and also when you hear certain noises you feel like you are being shot at. I’m not one of those luckily I had a easier path in the military but I can assure you that marines SF, seals rangers, they go through the shit and it causes some really bad long term social and mental problems. Even normal military causes problems, tbh if I wasn’t desperate to escape a really bad area then I wouldn’t have joined. I would highly suggest you truly think about all of this before making your decision
Go reserve sof ca (38 series) - way better use of your education and skills while still being “SF” technically. Attrition isn’t as crazy. Might have to go basic branch reserve first. If you have a large userra compliant employer it’s doable to do some time IB save up and take time off for training (regardless will be 4 months for any BOLC + additional transition time for unit assignments, language schools, etc.) try staying on payroll throughout this time as you should absolutely exploit your employer and be willing to burn that bridge. Spend some time deploying, see how you like it. If you hate it pivot to corpdev.
Best risk reward ratio imo and still lets you serve in a “higher” capacity without becoming an enlisted grunt. You’ll still ruck plenty, and your individual PT will always benefit you and earn you preference for schools/deployment opps.
I did exactly what you did, now getting out next year and recruiting for IB. Feel free to PM. I went the enlisted route. Totally depends on your goals. Looking back on it i definitely wish i would have considered O route.
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A junior on my team in EQR did this just over a year ago. Just quit one day and now he’s an ensign in the navy. DM me and I can connect you
I did 1 year of IB, absolutely hated it, went to Army OCS, did 3 years in a very vanilla military unit, got into HBS, did the Blackstone military transition program and am in an infinitely better seat now. Joining the Army was the best decision of my life and I would not change a thing about it. Feel free to PM me.
Hi, I am interested in IB / Military service, if you would be willing to chat I'd be super grateful. How can I reach you?
Kill em up shoot em up!
Military and service can be a super rewarding experience. Realize it is exactly that, service, so would do the work to try to get a well rounded view of what that may entail (a LOT of training, down time to prepare for brief stints of activity and a lot of politics and mixed bag on duty stations) and agree with a lot of the posts here with focus on officer route, being realistic about acceptance rates / paths re SF / other Tier 1/2 units (have met many Supply/Comm/Admin Os who also had visions of zero dark thirty like work to push paper and are hating life).
Also realize in certain ways it may detract from a longer-term plan as your peers will have 4-6 more years experience in business which was fine for me but just something to think about as you reflect on it longer-term.
with all that said I had an amazing time but it’s not for everyone. Good luck to you
only path is to enlist military, get 10 years of experience, and join Constellis (formerly Blackwater)
thye get paid 200k per year, but it's for the love of the game / those guys live for action
May I ask how old you are?
I served and did banking afterwards. The adventure you seek as an operator becomes habitual, and the higher purpose you feel today may not last when you are shoulder-deep in shit.
If you can provide for yourself doing something outside military/special forces/ops, I would, especially if you don't plan to become an officer. Being an operator is a young man’s game, not a sustainable career or long-lasting career. You either stay long enough to get banged up and parked in an office, or you choose the officer track early and accept that kicking down doors or boarding vessels is not a long-term way to make a living. You never really know who or what is on the other side, and one day you will get it wrong.
I left banking to go to the military (officer candidate school not enlisting) to be a reservist, it's more common than you might think. I liked the idea of doing corp dev after IB and the military part time.
Corporations love people from the military, and they have to let you serve if you want to be in the national guard or reserves under federal law. You won't be John Rambo, but I would encourage you to think about a non special forces roles part time you can have while not walking away from your career. You can't be a reservist while in IB though.
I know two dudes who became SEALs - the training is so miserable, you have to want it so badly that it is hard to even put into words. You will be sleep deprived, hungry, be getting yelled at, and hurting every single waking moment for months on end. It is way more than just being physically fit - the mental part of that training is probably the most difficult. Some people show up to training and can't stand it for more than a few days, so you really need to try and think about that.
And yes you are being a moron by not considering officer route. Besides getting treated / paid better after training, Officers ARE ALSO WAY MORE LIKELY TO GET THROUGH BUD/S because they have better preparatory training. You need to stop talking to the shopping mall enlisted recruiters and go talk to officer recruiters, they will give you much more thoughtful advice and are really nice people. Don't enlist, you have a degree.
If you're enlisted and drop out of BUD/S, the Navy also will probably put you into a horrible job like being a fry cook lol. As an officer, you would likely land on your feet a bit better - but they fill a lot of less desirable roles with BUD/S dropouts. I don't know anything about the Green Berets in the Army honestly.
I think you should either 1) do your 2 year analyst program in IB and then do it (maybe the reserves) or 2) if you REALLY want it and have thought about it for more than a few months, just go for it. Life does start catching up with you the longer you wait though, your priorities may very well change.
Feel free to PM me. I am a combat veteran and medically retired after multiple deployments during the peak of GWOT. I was stopped for my last deployment and was later injured by an IED and medically retired. This was peak GWOT, when guys were finishing 11-series OST, RIP, and meeting their units in Iraq, only to turn around 9 - 12 months later and deploy for another 12 - 15 months. After I medically retired, I went to college, did a Master's right out of UG, then an MBA, Strat consulting, then PE.
What I will tell you is that transitioning from the military to civilian life was hard. I went to a college with no to little veterans, which was good because I needed a break from the military. I was medically retired at 23, turning 24. I found myself in college, made new friends, and discovered finance.
When I interviewed, being a veteran was actually looked down upon a lot. Nobody in MBB or in PE gives a shit about military experience. I've had one person ask me about my military service outside of other veterans. Our managing partner asked me, and it really only came up because he saw my Purple Heart license plates, and his son was applying to the Naval Academy.
I think the transitioning part, especially when I started working in PE, is that I met some very insecure people who are assholes with giant egos who have no reason to have a massive ego. Guys, I could beat the shit out of them, and they probably need to have their ass beat for their own good.
Now what I got from the military is A) perspective, B) Confidence, C) Networking. A) My life can never be as shitty as my 2nd deployment. It sucked from the time we got in country until we left. When I first got into consulting, it was awesome traveling the country. B)It also gave me the confidence to have a voice with an organization. C) The last thing it gave me was the ability to network. The military is the most diverse pool of people. My platoon had guys from all walks of life; you have to get along to get along. Even if you don't like someone personally, you still rely on them and let personal differences go.
No, I was enlisted before starting my career in finance. I rarely recommend it if you have a degree or unless you have guaranteed OCS in your contract. I was an SSG, but I was medically retired at 24. This was peak GWOT, and promotion was quick. I deployed 3 times and was stop-lossed for the last one, and unfortunately, an IED injured me on my previous deployment, and I medically retired. I went to college and B-School and never looked back.
I only recommended it to a guy I went to college with who could not go to OCS because he had a DUI.
Being enlisted, especially as a junior, nothing is expected of you so the expectations are lower.
When I went to B-School, I was one of two prior enlisted veterans. The other had a college degree before enlisting. Being enlisted does not have the same external appeal. I know the value of NCOs, but most employers have no clue what NCOs do. The idea of an office is much more appealing to employers.
I would say I had my time in service looked down upon in quite a few interviews. Including one interviewer at a major bank, "You chose to go to Iraq? Why? You have no other options?"
I did some cool stuff in Iraq and Afghanistan, but nobody in the civilian world cares about that. There were also some absolutely horrendous days.
Similar background to you. Did finance in college and commissioned through OCS.
Don't know much about SOF but I can say that enlisting with a college degree isn't the best idea. Worst case scenario as an officer not passing BUDS is becoming a SWO/Intel/Crypto officer. Not ideal but not the most horrible outcome. On the other hand, an enlisted person not passing BUDS can see themselves chipping paint on a ship. In other words, you have more downside protection going through BUDS as an officer.
Also, have you ever considered applying for an aviator position through Navy OCS? Last I heard there was lots of demand for NFO's and pilots.
Good luck with your decision, I've no regrets so far with the transition. Feel free to DM if you want to chat more
why is SWO/Intel/Crypto officer not ideal? is it not good for mba applications/ associate recruiting?
If you want to be a SEAL, I’m just assuming that not making it thru BUDS and having to redesignate would be unideal. The point I’m making is that yes it would blow to have to pick another job if you don’t pass BUDS, but at least the fall back jobs as officers give you a solid cushion.
As for MBA opps, Intel and crypto have performed well depending on the career path and how it’s spun. No idea about SWO. Feel free to PM for more info
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