Commission or warrant: which would you pick?

PO1 Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 05 Aug 2014 17:19:10 -0400

If you're active duty enlisted thinking about stepping up, which route would you pick and why? As for prior service commissioned and warrant, why did you choose the path that you did, other than it was the only available option at a time.

As for me, just submitted commission package for Intel. Hopefully hear something back next month when the board convenes. The reason I chose that path is why not? About to finish MBA with concentration in Information Security, let my voice be heard further and wider, and far better retirement benefits.

Response by CPO Private RallyPoint Member made Aug 5 at 2014 9:46 PM

CPO Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 05 Aug 2014 21:46:39 -0400

Personally, I would go the Warrant route if I left the enlisted ranks, but that would just be my preference.

Every experience and every command is different, so I'd be remiss if I spouted off about not wanting to start at the bottom of the Wardroom as an Ensign when I could be part of it (but not really part of it) as a Warrant. I don't know anything about the frustrations of an LDO coming into a new community with mad experience but being considered a "junior officer." Nor have I ever felt ostracized by the Wardroom for not technically not having a commission and I've never been exiled from the Chief's Mess for having chosen the proverbial "dark side." These are just my unqualified, unfounded, almost-completely baseless suspicions.

But truth be told, I love promoting, recognizing, counseling, rewarding, punishing, and training junior Sailors in my command too much to give that up for a life of policy writing. Not to say officers don't do any or all of the above or that ALL officers do is write policy, but their leadership interactions are on a different, less personal level by necessity.

I couldn't leave that....despite a bigger paycheck. I'd rather be paid less to do something I love than be paid more to do a job I didn't like as much. But that's just me. Some people are just better suited to one corps or the other and I just love being a Chief too much to give it up. And hey, to each his own, I say!

Best of luck on your officer package, brother!

Response by MSG Wade Huffman made Aug 6 at 2014 7:47 AM

MSG Wade Huffman — Wed, 06 Aug 2014 07:47:37 -0400

If I had the choice, I would have loved to go Warrant (unfortunately my field wasn't a 'feeder'). Not to take anything from the Os, I respect them and have known many to be true professionals and experts in their field, but I have always admired and respected the technical expertise of the Warrant Officer community. The fact that they are all expert technicians in their field and still work closely with the soldiers and the mission is what would make it more attractive to me.

Response by 1LT Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 29 at 2017 3:03 PM

1LT Private RallyPoint Member — Sun, 29 Jan 2017 15:03:30 -0500

For me...I want to commission.

I want to be a medical provider.

Response by Capt Daniel Goodman made Feb 16 at 2019 6:03 PM

Capt Daniel Goodman — Sat, 16 Feb 2019 18:03:10 -0500

https://news.usni.org/2018/06/13/navy-implements-warrant-officer-1-rank-for-cyber-specialists

OK, I've got a reasonable clue what you want, and how much you've done...this just started recently, look at this first, honestly, if there's a shortage, I should certainly think you'd be well suited, by all means, I'll suggest other stuff, admin asks that I try to not bombard with too many suggestions all at once, so I'll keep it limited, till you have a chance to wade through what I send...it'd help to know more, though...associates? Bachelors? Majors in each? GPAs? Grades? Flight interests, if any? PhD aspirations, also? Hobbies? Reading interests? Any publications? Masters thesis at all? If so, on what? Lemme send this, then I'll try to send more, OK?

Navy Brings Back Warrant Officer-1 Rank for Cyber Sailors - USNI News

Navy pay can't keep up with private sector cyber jobs, so the service now offers a quick path to management as a way to keep talent.

Response by Capt Daniel Goodman made Feb 16 at 2019 6:05 PM

Capt Daniel Goodman — Sat, 16 Feb 2019 18:05:12 -0500

https://www.goarmy.com/army-cyber/cyber-direct-commissioning-program.html

This is the Army equivalent...would you be willing to go intersvc? Also, give as much as you can here on specific course titles you've done, esp. all the STEM stuff, math, physics, chem, bio, comp sci (CS), IT, engineering, all of it, try to be as exact as possible, the more you give all of us, the more we can suggest, OK?

Cyber Direct Commissioning Program

System admin, web developer, programmer. Put your civilian experience to work and become an officer in the Army through the Cyber Direct Commissioning Program.

Response by Capt Daniel Goodman made Feb 16 at 2019 6:06 PM

Capt Daniel Goodman — Sat, 16 Feb 2019 18:06:13 -0500

http://www.ocsfoundation.org

Join this, it's not necessaril all inclusive, it doesn't have Army OCS, or any of the direct commission indoc OIS programs, however, the forum about the five major OCS programs would certainly be of use to you, I should think....

OCS Foundation

SERVICES FOR: Candidates Alumni Officer Families

Response by Capt Daniel Goodman made Feb 16 at 2019 6:07 PM

Capt Daniel Goodman — Sat, 16 Feb 2019 18:07:42 -0500

https://search.aol.com/aol/search?q=uscg%20direct%20commission&s_it=loki-tb-sb

Look through these also, USCG has sevl direct commission programs, I realize you might not necessarily want that direction, I'm just suggesting ideas at the moment, just for you to at least mull over, OK?

uscg%20direct%20commission - AOL Search Results

New & Popular. Upcoming Skills Workshops & Events; View and Comment on the 2019–2020 Migratory Gamebird Seasons & Bag Limits Federal Frameworks and Preliminary Staff Recommendations

Response by Capt Daniel Goodman made Feb 16 at 2019 6:08 PM

Capt Daniel Goodman — Sat, 16 Feb 2019 18:08:59 -0500

All warrants and commissioned in all svcs can submit for this, I also saw YouTube videos on senior Army and USAF enlisted allowed to go there to finish their PhDs....

Response by Capt Daniel Goodman made Feb 16 at 2019 6:09 PM

Capt Daniel Goodman — Sat, 16 Feb 2019 18:09:29 -0500

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Air_Force_Institute_of_Technology

Sorry, left out the link....here it is...read what I said about it below....

Air Force Institute of Technology - Wikipedia

The Air Force Institute of Technology (AFIT) is a graduate school and provider of professional and continuing education for the United States Armed Forces and is part of the United States Air Force. It is located in Ohio at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, near Dayton. AFIT is a component of the Air University and Air Education and Training Command.

Response by Capt Daniel Goodman made Feb 16 at 2019 6:11 PM

Capt Daniel Goodman — Sat, 16 Feb 2019 18:11:02 -0500

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Naval_Postgraduate_School

You've probably heard of this one...I had a recommend for it, I couldn't get it...this one, I really did want to go to, honest...they also have a little known online PhD in comp sci (CS), if that'd interest you at all, I'll try to find the site....

Naval Postgraduate School - Wikipedia

The Naval Postgraduate School (NPS) is a public graduate school operated by the United States Navy and located in Monterey, California. It grants master's degrees, doctoral degrees, and certificates. Established in 1909, the school also offers research fellowship opportunities at the postdoctoral level through the National Academies' National Research Council research associateship program.[3]

Response by Capt Daniel Goodman made Feb 16 at 2019 6:11 PM

Capt Daniel Goodman — Sat, 16 Feb 2019 18:11:51 -0500

https://search.aol.com/aol/search?q=naval%20postgraduate%20school%20online%20phd%20computer%20science&s_it=loki-tb-sb

It should be somewhere in these....

naval%20postgraduate%20school%20online%20phd%20computer%20science - AOL Search Results

PAJuly%2DAugustCover08%2Eindd%20PAJuly%2DAugustCover08%2Eindd%201%207%2F22%2F08%2012%3A15%3A28%20PM%20 %20Help%20your%20flaring%20mild%20to%20moderate%20ulcerative ...

Response by Capt Daniel Goodman made Feb 16 at 2019 6:13 PM

Capt Daniel Goodman — Sat, 16 Feb 2019 18:13:41 -0500

Elaborate also on hobbies, interests, reading, sports incl martial arts, if any, it'd give a more thorough idea of your turn of mind, I tend to have an interest in career/educ stuff, that's why I always try to ask that, honest, it often genuinely helps suggest stuff....

Response by Capt Daniel Goodman made Feb 16 at 2019 6:15 PM

Capt Daniel Goodman — Sat, 16 Feb 2019 18:15:24 -0500

https://search.aol.com/aol/search?q=rotc%20graduate%20school&s_it=loki-tb-sb

I didn't know if you'd want this, however, I've seen stuff on here about ROTC being allowed for grad school, if you'd want to try to use that for you PhD at all, once again, I realize you might not want it, obviously....

rotc%20graduate%20school - AOL Search Results

WAYS TO ATTEND What Does ROTC Stand For? The Army Reserve Officers’ Training Corps (ROTC) is a way for young men and women to start strong in life. The college elective for undergraduate and graduate students that provides unrivalled leadership training for success in any career field.

Response by Capt Daniel Goodman made Feb 16 at 2019 6:16 PM

Capt Daniel Goodman — Sat, 16 Feb 2019 18:16:58 -0500

https://www.thebalancecareers.com/united-states-marine-corps-platoon-leaders-course-3332801

This is less well known than ROTCs, however, I should certainly think it could quite possibly also be used for grad school as well, if this might interest you at all, you know?

US Marine Corps Platoon Leader Course: What You Need to Know

The Marine Corps Platoon Leaders Course (PLC) is an alternative for NROTC or OCS for college students who wish to become commissioned officers.

Response by Capt Daniel Goodman made Feb 16 at 2019 6:18 PM

Capt Daniel Goodman — Sat, 16 Feb 2019 18:18:54 -0500

https://usnwc.edu/senior-enlisted-academy

I stumbled across this, I know Naval War College (NWC) is degree granting, I'm unsure if it's PhD level, I know I've seen masters level stuff from them, once again, this is just an FYI, obviously....

senior-enlisted-academy

Response by Capt Daniel Goodman made Feb 16 at 2019 6:19 PM

Capt Daniel Goodman — Sat, 16 Feb 2019 18:19:43 -0500

http://www.afcea.org

You might find this useful reading....

www.afcea.org

Response by Capt Daniel Goodman made Feb 16 at 2019 6:19 PM

Capt Daniel Goodman — Sat, 16 Feb 2019 18:19:59 -0500

http://www.crows.org

This is a comparable group....

www.crows.org

Response by Capt Daniel Goodman made Feb 16 at 2019 6:20 PM

Capt Daniel Goodman — Sat, 16 Feb 2019 18:20:55 -0500

http://www.mors.org

If you're inclined toward STEM, ops research for a Phd could be a good possibility for you, it's rarely considered, the journal this group publishes, PHALANX, is really quite good....

Military Operations Research Society

Response by LCDR Michael Pumilia made Jun 6 at 2020 12:04 PM

LCDR Michael Pumilia — Sat, 06 Jun 2020 12:04:11 -0400

Either one has its good points and limitations. It depends on your mind set and ambition. An officer starts at which the bottom in a learning position. It's a jack-of-all-trades. The person may advance as a line officer (ship driver) or gain a specialty (aviator, subs, SWO, etc.). Hang around long enough and you could go to post grad school. At O-4 and above, you should become a manager to advance. You could become an admiral, which has a whole lot of hassles. A Warrant Officer is a specialist. There are a number of specialties as a WO. They are valued for their knowledge and intelligence. They are managers in their own skill set. But the advancement is limited to four levels. But if one is happy to be THE EXPERT in a chosen field, go for it. Either way, officer or WO, the higher you go, the narrower the chances of promotion and the more demand made on your mind and health.