Choice between LDO, Warrant Officer, of Chief

2014-05-31T06:51:05-04:00

So I'm at a point in my career that I should start weighing options on which direction I should steer myself towards. There are 3 options that I am considering. Staying enlisted and making Chief, Senior, and so on. Going LDO (Limited Duty Officer) and possibly cap out at O3 or O4. Or going Warrant Officer and possibly cap out at CWO4. (If I go LDO/CWO then I will have the same job, EMO, but with a different rank and benefits of that rank. If I stay enlisted I will stay in the deck plates with my guys and get hands on with my subordinates and get some real "Sailorization" in!)

What are some pro's and con's you have found? Why did you choose the route you went? What should I start doing at this point, E5, to start building my "package" for the programs available?

Any inputs are greatly welcomed!

Response by CPT Jacob Swartout made May 31 at 2014 8:05 AM

2014-05-31T08:05:48-04:00

PO2 Gibson, I was a prior enlisted E-6, I decided to get my commission when I thought about the challenging myself more in a different capacity. I could have gone warrant officer but instead wanted to command a company some day. I enjoyed my time as a NCO and knew that I would eventually move on up. It's been great for me and I will have the opportunity for another career move once my command is done. It's what you make of it for most. You will need to decide where you want to be in a 5-10 yrs and come to terms on what is best for you and your family only. Weigh out the options and factors and narrow it down to what you can accept and not accept. It took me 3 years to really decide to change my career route and it paid off well in the end. Hope this may help out some.

Response by CWO3 Private RallyPoint Member made Apr 28 at 2015 8:36 AM

2015-04-28T08:36:19-04:00

ET2, in my opinion, strive to make ETC first. I say this for quite a few reasons. The biggest one is you will learn what true leadership is within the mess. I have many mentors that are both LDO and CWO EMO's and all of them have said that making chief first was the greatest thing they could have done. When they made LDO/CWO, they brought everything that they have learned into the wardroom and have great skills with training their fellow officers with what they have learned in the mess. I know I'm going to offend a few LDO's when I say this but, you can tell what LDO made chief before they went officer, they way they interact and send forth the workload is different. Another thing that my mentors in the EMO community have said, EMO, ETC, and ET1 (LPO) do 90% of the same job, lead the division, might as well get paid more by going EMO. On another note, as you know, CWO requires you to make ETC first. I myself am striving to make CWO2 in the near future. I hope my advise/opinion helps you make your decision.

Response by PO3 Nichalas Enser made Apr 29 at 2015 3:36 PM

2015-04-29T15:36:40-04:00

PO2 Private RallyPoint Member ,

Other folks have provided some great insights and will, surely, provide some better first-person, in-service experiences and recommendations as far as your package contents and such.

Looking from a long-view, your overall life-goals and aspirations, you need to decide where you want to end up, and if it will be okay if you do not quite make it, too. If you do not make ETCM, will ETCS be okay or if you stay in a bit longer, will that impair your ability to be a corporate VP, government SES, et cetera. If you are married or have a partner, be certain that they are on-board, as well. You need to really push for honesty, since 20+ is a long time to commit to the service for your current (and future) family, too. Without that 100% support, it will be nearly impossible to get to your desired destination.

Some do not care about the wealth-side and would, easily, die happy as a Chief/SC/MC PO. For others, the opportunities and potential post-service are of a bigger concern. Posting here is great, but would recommend reaching out, directly, to those on the inside *and* the outside, who hold the sorts of positions that you desire and take their advice into consideration, as well. Linked-In is a pretty decent tool for that purpose and have never been turned down when reaching out, via email and voice, and asking for advice on recommendations for reaching similar positions. Some may not respond right away, but the majority seem, genuinely, happy to lend their experience and guidance- once they are assured that you are not trying to sell them something, that is!

One of my greatest friends (we attended BEE and ET A, together, is now a LCDR via the Seaman to Admiral program. She was selected as an ET1(SW) and the Navy paid for the tuition, books, and normal pay and allowances as an E-6 for a BS and then the same deal, as an 0-2, for a Masters - all counting as active duty, too! Needless to say, that is an amazing deal, but she had 4.0-level evaluations, always goes above and beyond, and has done the same for FITREPs, too. Know a few others who are LDOs and they have enjoyed their time, as well, but she is an URL, SWO, who has had some amazing assignments, while they are fairly pigeon-holed. (NOT a bad thing, just something to keep in mind.) Have family that are/were senior enlisted, and each enjoyed their time, too. Even though knowing a whole basketful of military folks, do not know any that regretted the O-jump, but there are some who regretted remaining on the enlisted side.

You may, also, want to consider checking out the different commissioning programs from other services, too - most are nearly identical, but one of the idiosyncrasies may fit your situation. You should, also, figure out if you were to leave AD, possibly go ROTC or join the reserves, and obtain your BA/BS, if that would help you get to where you want to be, more expediently.

We all only have but one lifetime (at least as far as we can be assured), so get out there and do what is best for you and your loved ones. Lead by example, treat others as you would like to be treated, and do not forget from whence you came!

Wishing you the very best of luck,
Nikk

Response by LTJG Private RallyPoint Member made May 7 at 2015 2:33 AM

2015-05-07T02:33:18-04:00

Start building your application for LDO/CWO now, but you need to focus on making PO1 and Chief first. You can apply LDO as a PO1 of that is the route you choose. But definitely start building your application now. Attend the Mustang Applicant brief in your area of you can as well.