Posted on Jan 12, 2016
If I loved being enlisted, will I like being an Officer?
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Officer Candidate School (OCS) (USMC)
Officers
Posted >1 y ago
Responses: 19
It depends on the person. I really enjoyed being enlisted. It was a great experience. I wouldn't take it back for anything but I also really enjoy being an officer. I don't think it is better than being enlisted but I really enjoy my experience that I am gaining as an officer and my ability to further take care of the soldiers as a prior service officer. I don't know many that that commissioned and regretted it. You have to ask why you wanted to be officer. I don't have issue when some want to say enlisted and they don't value the role of the officer. That is fine. We need great NCOs. Being an officer is not for everyone. For me it was. But I wanted to stay in positions where I could lead. Once I hit squad leader I felt the next position of progression was Platoon Leader. I just didn't really want to be a PSG.
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MAJ (Join to see)
Sometimes I really miss the enlisted side of the house. Officers spend so little time with Soldiers doing Soldier tasks that there is a great deal lacking in terms of why I joined the Army. Particularly after company command. That said, I'm still glad I commissioned. It is really nice to help solve some of the problems rather than deal with them.
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CPT (Join to see)
I will find out soon. I'm finishing up my PL time. I might be moving to staff soon. I think I really enjoyed my time. I don't really miss it much. I try not to dwell on it.
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As much as I'd love to say otherwise...no.
Being an officer means being accountable for a wide range of things you've either no formal training on...or woefully incomplete training on. We all know who REALLY runs the services, but that has never once in history kept a JO from facing the wrath of superiors when things go south. I can't speak from experience, but I imagine its only harder coming from any significant amount of enlisted experience-which you clearly have. Your men will expect you to be "immune" from the "mistakes" new JOs make (though a few of 'em are unavoidable for anyone), and your superiors will be looking for more from you from the very first day. You'll lose the connection and fraternity with the "grunts", and have serious challenges in adapting to the new "rules" of the commissioned side of the house.
That said...
I hope you continue to consider it because one thing the services sorely need are officers who love their service and have the maturity and dedication to be of use. You sound like someone who would be a true asset and a well respected officer in time.
The right question to ask isn't if the pay is worth it, because in the long run, it isn't. Neither is whether or not you will like/love it...because there's so much you won't. The correct question to ask is if you're willing to make the sacrifices for the better of your fellow Marines and the Corps, because in the end, that's what its all about.
Best Wishes and Good Luck
Being an officer means being accountable for a wide range of things you've either no formal training on...or woefully incomplete training on. We all know who REALLY runs the services, but that has never once in history kept a JO from facing the wrath of superiors when things go south. I can't speak from experience, but I imagine its only harder coming from any significant amount of enlisted experience-which you clearly have. Your men will expect you to be "immune" from the "mistakes" new JOs make (though a few of 'em are unavoidable for anyone), and your superiors will be looking for more from you from the very first day. You'll lose the connection and fraternity with the "grunts", and have serious challenges in adapting to the new "rules" of the commissioned side of the house.
That said...
I hope you continue to consider it because one thing the services sorely need are officers who love their service and have the maturity and dedication to be of use. You sound like someone who would be a true asset and a well respected officer in time.
The right question to ask isn't if the pay is worth it, because in the long run, it isn't. Neither is whether or not you will like/love it...because there's so much you won't. The correct question to ask is if you're willing to make the sacrifices for the better of your fellow Marines and the Corps, because in the end, that's what its all about.
Best Wishes and Good Luck
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Cpl David Smith
That's answered a lot, and I can see how all that is. I think from all these answers I'm getting is I might put that idea on the shelf unless I stay for life and get to Gunny, that's what my Senior Drill Instructor did he's in school now. I think it might be for me, but not the right time.
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LCDR (Join to see)
Either way, the comments you've made seem to indicate that your asking the right questions. I had a shipmate as an ensign who became a Navy officer after having made E-5 in the Marine Corps. At first, he struggled to adapt to the differences...not only coming from enlisted to officer, but from the Corps to the Navy. Within a year, however, he was one of the most respected officers in the wardroom for the way he consistently led his division from the front, and took care of his people while demanding nothing short of the best from them. Last I heard, he was in zone for promotion to O-5 and having a great career.
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I always hate to respond to the same question more than once, but I remembered an advisory note that General "Chesty" Puller wrote to me when I got him to sign his biography. He first said some nice things about me, but then wrote "Be a leader, not a commander." Can't improve on that.
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