Can someone help me with understanding transition from enlisted to officer?

2015-05-28T10:26:35-04:00

I want to eventually go officer, but am curious what the transition is really like?

Response by MSG Morgan Fiszel, CPCM, CFCM made May 28 at 2015 10:29 AM

2015-05-28T10:29:24-04:00

I am familiar with Army OCS ,not AF. Your culture is different.

Response by CPT Bob Moore made May 28 at 2015 11:06 AM

2015-05-28T11:06:43-04:00

I've made the transition. Here is my take:

As an NCO, I spent a lot more time with troops, training specifically on warrior tasks and job skills. While I did have staff time as an NCO, even my staff time was spent with the troops in my section and in training with them.

As an officer, I spent more time in meetings and planning, away from the day to day tasks with troops. I was definitely more of a generalist and spent all of my time as an officer outside of my branch (signal). I did get to spend time with the troops, but it was always in a supervisory role while the NCOs actually conducted the training.

Response by Capt Private RallyPoint Member made May 28 at 2015 11:18 AM

2015-05-28T11:18:53-04:00

I have seen this topic several times now. Here is my take.

I enlisted in the Air Force at age 17 right out of HS. I took college classes at night and became eligible for the Airman's Education and Commissioning Program (AECP). I finished college as a Ssgt (E-5) and was commissioned. After 8 years I was discharged with 14 years 8 month and a day of service. I then enlisted in the Army Reserves as an E-6, made E-7 and retired into the gray area with a total of 23 1/2 years of service. At age 60 I began drawing retired pay and am officially a retired Army Captain even though I would not know how to wear the uniform of an Army officer. So I have "transitioned" a couple of times and ways.

The transition is mostly a matter of you. You need to learn your job and perform it to the best of your ability. You need to observed and identify the differences and deal with them. You need to do the new tasks whatever they may be to the best of your ability.

Never forget where you have come from, and always maintain respect for the NCO's you will lead and work with.

If you do that the transition will be successful.

Response by COL Charles Williams made May 28 at 2015 11:18 AM

2015-05-28T11:18:57-04:00

Yes! Initially, being enlisted will be all you know and will be your comfort zone. You need to actively work to leave that experience behind, and focus on your new role(s). Use your experience to help you be a better leader and officer, and to benefit your unit and your organization. But, don't dwell on the fact that you were enlisted first, and try to live/stay in that world. Being prior enlisted has benefits and drawbacks. Focus on your new role, and being the best leader and officer you can be; never stop learning and improving. Eventually, you will pass a point when you have been an officer longer than enlisted, and your enlisted time will be a fond but distant memory. Good officers come from all commissioning sources. Once commissioned, you success (or failure) largely depends on your effort, commitment, heart and whether you walk the walk, or just talk the talk.

Response by MAJ Robert (Bob) Petrarca made May 28 at 2015 11:23 AM

2015-05-28T11:23:15-04:00

NCO = Supervisor. Troops and their issues, problems, improvements, performance and conduct

Officer = Manager. Units and their issues, problems, improvements, performance and conduct

The NCO insures each member of the Platoon/Company, etc. does their job so the Officer can make sure the Platoon/Company, etc. can perform its job.

Response by 1SG Patrick Sims made May 28 at 2015 11:27 AM

2015-05-28T11:27:57-04:00

As a senior NCO your responsible for the equipment maintenance and troop training---The officers job is to execute the mission---The men and equipment are the tools an officer will use to accomplish his mission. Sometimes it means ordering you men to risk their lives---If you don't have it in you to order someone to their death---don't become an officer.

Response by LTC Stephen C. made May 28 at 2015 12:24 PM

2015-05-28T12:24:47-04:00

SrA Johnathan Kropke, for me this happened so long ago, it's hard to really remember what the transition felt like. Frankly, I always perceived myself as an officer. When I enlisted, I already had two years of college and had participated in ROTC while there. When I went to basic training, I remember seeing the basic training company commander (twice at the most) and thinking, "one day I'll be an officer." By the time I was commissioned, I had been a sergeant for almost two years, and had almost four years time in service. I was not returned to the unit where I had served as enlisted, so I didn't have to deal with the perception and relationship issues that can occur when that happens. For me, it was just another step in my career, or maybe time has dimmed the actual pitfalls and issues I faced! I made many mistakes, I'm quite certain, but there were good NCOs there to help.
Not sure if this is really what you're looking for, but that was my experience as I remember it.

Response by COL Mikel J. Burroughs made May 28 at 2015 5:56 PM

2015-05-28T17:56:41-04:00

I transitioned to the Officer Corp after spending 9 years enlisted. I can say that 9 years enlisted service gave me a great appreciation for the NCO Corp and Enlisted personnel. I agree with a lot of the comments made on this subject and I disagree with some. We all have opinions and we are entitled to them, but I would recommend that you never forget where you came from and what you experienced (good and bad) when you are making decisions down the road that will affect your organization and the lowest ranking individual. I have always kept that perspective in mind when working with my senior enlisted advisors (Platoon Sergeant at the LT Level, 1SG at the Company Command level, CSM at the Battalion and Brigade level). If you know and understand where you came from you can use that experience to your advantage when it comes to your relationship with your senior enlisted advisors and making joint decision that will filter down throughout the ranks. One of the reasons that I became an officer is to make better management/leader decisions that would change the way we do business for the enlisted soldiers and our NCO Corp.

Response by Lt Col Scott Shuttleworth made Feb 1 at 2017 12:10 PM

2017-02-01T12:10:26-05:00

Transition is great. Worked well for me.As of this minute, the AFROTC program is accepting people in their commissioning programs both one year and two year programs. If you already have your degree you can work towards your masters. At the end of the two years you are commissioned. One year program, if you have an undergraduate degree you just have to be enrolled in a program and attend Field Training (ROTC's version of OTS) and then you are commissioned. Contact your local AFROTC detachment at your nearest college and they can assist but this is one of those short term good deals that probably won't last. Air Force is at max capacity right now at OTS because they are projecting a shortfall in the coming years. Now is the time to jump. GET CRACKING!!! https://www.afrotc.com/

U.S. Air Force ROTC Official Website

Air Force ROTC is a rewarding program that offers scholarship opportunities to pay for college while preparing you to become a leader in the U.S. Air Force

Response by MAJ Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 8 at 2017 9:12 AM

2017-02-08T09:12:04-05:00

At the time of my Commissioning...I had 2 yrs USAR as a Medic, 4 yrs as a Tanker Active Duty and nearly 10 yrs as a Medic in the National Guard...I got stuck at E4 and E5 for multiple reasons...some my fault, but mostly due to the lack of open authorizations (slots) for E5/E6.....anyway...1n 1998 I was approached by an Army Medical Department Officer Recruiter (I finished a 2yr in 1992 and 4yr Degree in 1995) so I was eligible for a Direct Commission....I was faced with this initially...Stay in the Guard for another 4 yrs and likely retire at E6/E7 in 2003..by then I would have 20 good years in the Guard..but wouldn't recieve any retired pay until 62 or take the Commission as a 2LT with the Army Medical Department and retire in 16 years and recieve retire pay in 2015 at the age of 49. I decided to take the Commission....

My biggest problem in the transistion was removing the NCO out of me....all of my experiences at this point helped...but like many here have already said...It's no longer your function to hang out with the troops...it's your function to keep them informed of Command decisions, YOU are now the Mission Planner, not the one who executes the mission..however; you are still part of it and expected to perform those tasks as an expert...Remember your Soldiers successess are yours as well as their failures...posturing your Soldiers for success is essential...getting them the right training and tools to do their jobs well...when I felt comfortable with my NCOs (didn't take long) (trust then verify)...I let them have a lot of lattitude to take care of the troops...I still observed and made sure standards were being met but rarely ever had to intervene...

In OBC (now BOLC, I think)...my prior training, made it easy b/c I knew what to expect...like as in nearly every NCOES and Officer Professional Development School...you have Basic Soldier skills you have to re-master....Land Nav, Basic Rifle Marksmanship, Military Customs, Drill & Cermonies...wearing the uniform, become a master of power point briefings.... etc etc etc...so this made my initial transition easy b/c I had training in all of it at one point or another...

Let me leave you with this....For me it was the best decision I have ever made professionally...The DoD does recognize and rewards prior enlisted officers (commonly refered to as a Mustang or Maverick)...you get a significantly higher pay...at the time of my commissioning I had pay credit for 16 yrs and the O1E pay....Keep your eye on the mission and the men and you will do fine.

Response by CPT Lawrence Cable made Oct 5 at 2023 12:54 PM

2023-10-05T12:54:42-04:00

These guys did a good job of giving you all the pro's, let me give you the one thing that I still miss some times even today. When you Commission, you will never be as close to a group as you were to your squad and platoon. I didn't experience anything as an officer that came close.
Still, Engineer Company Commander and Assistant Brigade Engineer were the two best jobs I had in the Army.