What was your reason for wanting to be an officer?

SFC David mCgILLIS Doing what you love matters and not everyone should be an officer. We always need competent NCOs. Congrats on the career.

When I was a 2LT writing a performance review of my MSGT NCOIC, I noticed that every officer that reviewed him since Basic had rated him down the right hand side and had recommended that he apply for Officer Training. I asked him why he never had applied, and he said that he couldn't give up the power.

He was a born leader, and I was fortunate to have his guidance during my first leadership assignment. The experience was valuable to me for the rest of my military service and I continued to draw on that experience throughout my civilian career.

Capt Seid Waddell - Capt Waddell and what you saw on his fitness report reflected what everyone saw in this individual from nearly day one. I'm not certain he brought the "power" thing up to deflect further questioning or put you on notice that he had more than you! Bottom line is, this MSGT NCOIC knew what time it was and had the knowledge and ability do do his job and make you look good. That's his real job - to make sure the unit runs, insulate the officer ranks and do all the other things required of him in the unit without compromising himself by respecting and not usurping officer command authority. Remember the 2LT platoon leader portrayed in the movie, "Heartbreak Ridge" and the Major portrayed in the same move? Well there it is, a fine example. Almost everyone of us can relate in one way or another to those characters.
I will bet you dollars to donuts that you learned a whole crap pot of stuff from this NCOIC that you carried on to your next command making you a better officer in the process. As a CSI supervisor for the Honolulu Police Department and the only Firearm and Tool Mark Examiner in the state of Hawaii, I would regularly collaborate with the morgue and lab personnel at the Tripler Army Medical Center. I would routinely run up against SP4, SP5, medical personnel who had Masters of Sciences degrees and a couple with PhD degrees! These were always the most unassuming people in the bunch who knew their jobs, worked requiring little supervision and were well aware of their position of rank in the military structure. I asked them, why not go for the commission? The answer was, I'm getting my training and experience so I can be marketable when I get out. Just sayin'. . .

I didn't join the Army until 2 years after I graduated from college. I enlisted after being accept for OCS (Benning School for Boys). So I went to Basic Training at Fort Bliss with all the other enlisted and then went to OCs at Fort Benning, which at the time was the only Army OCS. 50% of the OCS class did not pass and I was one of the lucky ones that did pass and got a commission into the Army Corps of Engineer branch (1977). I was in Combat Engineers, Topo Engineers, and Civil Engineer units, however after 13 years I got caught in a RIF, which the Engineers hard. I decided to remain and went into the Reserves as an IMA assigned to active duty units within the Engineer Branch. I was activated several times, with the longest being for two years from Sept 2001 to Oct 2003. Overall I ended up with 34 years with 21 years active service and 13 years Reserve. I never served in a Reserve unit, was always in COE active units with the last being at the Pentagon, Chief of Engineers Office. Retired from USA, not USAR.

ZING!! (Prior enlisted myself, for the record.)

Good One!

I have only made three mistakes in my life. 1. When I enlisted in 1957, I was asked if I wanted to go to OCS. I was 21 years old and dumb. I said no. 2. After 9 years, 2 month, and 20 days, I left the Army. 3. I married my 1st wife. After that, everything was a minor error. Wish I had gone to OCS. As dumb as I was, I would have made a good 2nd LT.

This!
So much this!!
Hahahaha!!

Oh.. payback can be hell.. and that works both ways,.. eh CPT Jack Durish

Capt Christian D. Orr - O-3, thus the Capt Jack. Actually Army Captain and Coast Guard Licensed Captain

CPT Jack Durish I can just see you...

CPT Jack Durish I have to say, hearing "the needs of the service prevailed" surprises me way more than it should.
Then again, instead of transferring me bact to Intel after my required year as an E5 back in the infantry, the promoted me again, and I still have not made it back to Intel.
I'm a rocket scientist.