Did You Decide Not To Become An Officer Or Refuse a Battlefield Commission?

Sgt Tom Cunnally — Sat, 26 Sep 2015 03:56:52 -0400

I was selected for OCS but at the last minute just before leaving I decided I didn't want to be an officer. This didn't go over to well with the Marine Corps & was told I made a big mistake & would probably regret it. That was a long time ago and the Marines were right I do regret that decision. And often wondered "What If?" and my Dad was furious at me because I took a job that paid more money than a 2nd Lt with 8 years of service..

Your thoughts....

Response by Capt Seid Waddell made Sep 26 at 2015 4:02 AM

Capt Seid Waddell — Sat, 26 Sep 2015 04:02:16 -0400

You can never know where the road not taken might lead.

Response by PO1 John Miller made Sep 26 at 2015 4:03 AM

PO1 John Miller — Sat, 26 Sep 2015 04:03:41 -0400

Do you regret taking that job? It sounds to me that at the time you made the best decision for yourself. That is whats most important, what is best for YOU.

I was never an Officer, but at the same time I too had a few opportunities to apply for various Officer programs but honestly never had the desire to. So at the end of the day, to each his own and do what's right for you.

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Sep 26 at 2015 7:04 AM

SSG Private RallyPoint Member — Sat, 26 Sep 2015 07:04:07 -0400

There are those of us that have degrees and could have become Officers, but chose to remain an NCO. I never wanted to go to OCS, because I felt that I had an obligation to my soldiers to be there to train them and show them firsthand. I just felt that as an Officer I would be more removed from training my guys. Just my personal choice, and thankfully one that I do not regret.

Response by Cpl Dennis F. made Sep 26 at 2015 11:18 AM

Cpl Dennis F. — Sat, 26 Sep 2015 11:18:17 -0400

Yeah selected for OCS at PI. Turned it down to be shot at with RPGs. Shit happens...get over it and move on.

Response by MAJ Ken Landgren made Sep 26 at 2015 1:21 PM

MAJ Ken Landgren — Sat, 26 Sep 2015 13:21:52 -0400

You should not beat yourself over regrets and the past as it does nothing but irritate you.

Response by Sgt Jerry Genesio made Sep 26 at 2015 1:39 PM

Sgt Jerry Genesio — Sat, 26 Sep 2015 13:39:58 -0400

I was offered Naval Aviation Cadet School while in boot camp at Parris Island and shortly before graduation I was told the next NAVCAD class indoctrination would conflict with my boot camp leave. I was so crazy about the girl I had left at home that I withdrew my application for NAVCAD so I could get home to see her. After all, it had been three months. My orders were accordingly changed from NAVCAD to 3rd Div FMF Okinawa. For awhile I thought I'd made a big mistake. Then there was Vietnam. My older brother, a Captain in the Army Special Forces, was KIA in Vietnam in 1969. There is no currency in regrets. As Yogi Berra so eloquently said, "I came to a fork in the road, and I took it."

Response by Sgt Michael Johnson made Sep 26 at 2015 3:11 PM

Sgt Michael Johnson — Sat, 26 Sep 2015 15:11:53 -0400

Yes, I was offered to go to the Naval Academy because of high GT scores. I didn't want to sign the 10 year contract. Not too smart because I ended up serving way more than that. I should add that I applied to become a warrant officer two years and didn't get it. Affirmative action was strong in those days and people weren't promoted because of their skills or time in grade.

Response by Cpl Christopher Bishop made Sep 26 at 2015 3:42 PM

Cpl Christopher Bishop — Sat, 26 Sep 2015 15:42:44 -0400

I was never "offered" that as such, however my whole attitude in joining at all, and seeking the "Guaranteed 0300 contract" (I was an 0351) was pretty much about "Hey someone's gotta do their time on the line, and I'm wiling to man up and do mine", so the idea of hiding from potential combat under the mask of the college environment and delaying my entry just didn't work for me. Don't get me wrong I don't "hate Officers" per se, but we all know there were those few who went to college to avoid some potentially dicey action that may have been going on when they finished HS.

Response by LT Christopher Martin made Sep 26 at 2015 5:48 PM

LT Christopher Martin — Sat, 26 Sep 2015 17:48:44 -0400

I served 15 years as an Enlistedman and earned the rank of E-8 before being selected as a Chief Warrant Officer. After earning CWO4 I re-designated to regular commission and retired as a LT. I enjoyed my 30 years of service to the Navy and very happy with my decision to take a commission.

Response by Sgt Tom Cunnally made Sep 27 at 2015 8:52 AM

Sgt Tom Cunnally — Sun, 27 Sep 2015 08:52:20 -0400

Regrets I have had a few:
1. Not going to OCS .
2. Didn't save enough for retirement
3. Was an absentee father travelling too much with my job
4. Working for companies who rely on Government Contracts
5. Taking early retirement without a second career
6. Trading IPOs without doing more study and research
7. Not voting & no interest in politics
8. Smoking & drinking
9 Taking too many prescription drugs
10. Selling my 1962 Corvette in 1964

My hope is that if just one guy/gal here doesn't make these dumbs mistakes ..

Response by MCPO Roger Collins made Sep 27 at 2015 10:33 AM

MCPO Roger Collins — Sun, 27 Sep 2015 10:33:36 -0400

Only tried once, Tom. When I was an E-6 and wanted to become a helo pilot and go to VN. Due to my crypto repair and operational experience, along with being on Nuclear Subs, they said no. After seeing how the O's were treated as second class Officers by the Ring Knockers, I was glad it turned out as it did.

Response by MAJ Ken Landgren made Sep 27 at 2015 11:39 AM

MAJ Ken Landgren — Sun, 27 Sep 2015 11:39:44 -0400

This might be a situation that has regrets either way. The regret is like an anchor, you have to cut the chain as the anchor is doing nothing good for you.

Response by PO3 Private RallyPoint Member made Sep 28 at 2015 8:10 AM

PO3 Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 28 Sep 2015 08:10:21 -0400

well... commissioned officer's life is very different than the enlisted ... at least that how every officers I asked tell me. I am trying to get to the OCS ... but clock is ticking on me.

Response by CSM Chuck Stafford made Sep 28 at 2015 12:01 PM

CSM Chuck Stafford — Mon, 28 Sep 2015 12:01:18 -0400

I echo the majority of sentiments expressed already - don't dwell on regrets, it gets you nowhere. I received an appointment to West Point when I was in the 82nd. Didn't enjoy the plebe life and left, lol... If I had not left, I would not have met my wife and my kids. Nor would I have retired as a CSM. I just keep moving forward. Plan to win, prepare to win, expect to win!

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Sep 29 at 2015 5:56 PM

SSG Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 29 Sep 2015 17:56:56 -0400

I was offered to go to OCS back in the days.. I was young and just finished college and like to party. I refused it. Now looking back, why I didn't go. I could have been a full bird right now. If get an offer, take it.

Response by MSG Private RallyPoint Member made Sep 29 at 2015 6:34 PM

MSG Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 29 Sep 2015 18:34:39 -0400

I joined with the intention of becoming an officer. Made my E5 before I went OCS and knew I could never not be an NCO. Zero regrets. 21 years later and winding up my 2nd tour as First Sergeant. Only good thing about being an officer would have been for the money. I did not join for the money.

Response by CMSgt Richard B. made Sep 29 at 2015 8:19 PM

CMSgt Richard B. — Tue, 29 Sep 2015 20:19:54 -0400

You have to do what feels right for you, your family and your career. I originally joined the Army National Guard to become an officer, but decide to stay enlisted to give the Guard a return on its investment. Then I turned down a Direct Commission in the USAR (which I had applied for) back when I was an E-5. It was during the post-Persian Gulf War drawdown and there weren't many openings in TPUs for AG Corps 2LTs, never mind funding for OBC and other training. I also turned down a Direct Commission as an Ensign, Supply Corps, USNR in 2010 to reamin an ANG E-8. Make the best decision you can based on the facts at hand and never look back - keep moving forward. Everything usually works out the way it is supposed to. I've had a great career as an NCO and wouldn't trade it for anything.

Response by LT Private RallyPoint Member made Sep 30 at 2015 1:45 PM

LT Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 30 Sep 2015 13:45:52 -0400

Well my story is a little different. I was a Petty Officer Electronics Technician. Served 6 years in the Navy Reserves and got out in the late 1990s after the DOD draw downs, base closures and budget cuts. The Navy got really weird without having the evil empire of the Soviets as an enemy anymore. Ships got mothballed and bases closed. So I hung it up and got out. My civilian career was taking off in Emergency Management anyway and after September 11th 2001 it really took off. However, 10 years after I got out in 2008 a Navy recruiter came to my home, knocked on my door and told me the Navy needed me back. He then offered me a path to a Direct Commission since during that period while was out I went to college and night, finished my degrees and had about 20 years of experience in my field. In March of 2009 I was boarded with 159 other candidates (some currently serving and other prior service and non prior service civilians), Out of the 159 candidates they picked 5 to offer a commission to. I was number 4. Today Sept. 30th makes 6 years since returning to Navy duty. In those 6 years I have been to Africa, Germany, Italy and Brussels supporting the Navy and its interests overseas. If I hesitated when the recruiter came to my front door believing I was too old or I wouldnt make a good candidate I would not be an officer now. Bottom line is you need to be open to the possible. Sometimes life offer second chances. The difference between wisdom and knowledge is having either made the mistake and learned from it or learned from other poeple's mistakes and make better decisions later in life. I love being an officer but I always remember i was a deck plate sailor before.

LT. John MacLean "Die Hard"

Response by CPT Private RallyPoint Member made Nov 5 at 2015 2:07 PM

CPT Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 05 Nov 2015 14:07:19 -0500

Each experience is subjective and if different in unforseealble ways. It is impossible to tell what life would have been like if you had chosen a different path. I know officers who have resigned their commission, and NCOs who have become officers.

There are pros and cons to both sides, though I think I generally respect NCOs more because I've seen how political the officer side gets, while NCOs often do most of the real work that that needs done. It makes me me question whether we really need the siloed career separation between enlisted and officers in an age where education is widespread and communication technology allows information to be distributed easily.

Response by Sgt Dale Briggs made Dec 8 at 2016 10:46 PM

Sgt Dale Briggs — Thu, 08 Dec 2016 22:46:21 -0500

Seems to me you answered your own questions; If your heart wasn't into it....

Response by SPC Casey Ashfield made Nov 14 at 2017 1:33 PM

SPC Casey Ashfield — Tue, 14 Nov 2017 13:33:50 -0500

In a way, I went the opposite. I was going through Army ROTC while in school and was enlisted. A deployment order came down with my name on it but I had not yet signed my contract to become a commissioned officer. No one could tell me which would take precedence, either I deploy as an enlisted Infantryman or pin on LT bars. The 2 star cut orders for myself and 3 other soldiers to be released from the deployment to become officers. The LTC in charge of the ROTC battalion signed contracts for all of them except mine, defying the General's order. So I deployed instead and happy I was denied my commission.

After I came back from overseas I went back to school to finish my degree. That same LTC asked me to become a MSIV cadet instructor. He and I had words that should have gotten me an Article 15 at the very least.