Posted on Sep 26, 2015
Did You Decide Not To Become An Officer Or Refuse a Battlefield Commission?
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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....
Your thoughts....
Enlisted
Officer
Military Career
Posted 10 y ago
Responses: 19
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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.
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CPT(P) (Join to see)
I literally just made the switch. I loved being an NCO and used to think I wouldn't change it for the world but as a fire supporter I was fast tracking and was already at the company HQ level. The opportunity to train Soldiers had already relinquished some and it would only get worse in my specific mos. So I made the switch. Great for my family and a new challenge in a new branch for me. Never say never. I did and now I'm 2LT Everett...
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Sgt Tom Cunnally
CPT(P) (Join to see) - Good luck Lt...I always thought that Platoon Leaders who had served in the ranks were easier to work for & often asked for my opinion when trying to fix a Communication's problem with our Collins Radios..
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Sgt Tom Cunnally
SSG (Join to see) - I worked for an XO who was a West Point (Class of 1960) grad & was great. We remained good buds for years & attended a Marine Corps Birthday Ball in San Francisco at the Marines Memorial Club..
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Yeah selected for OCS at PI. Turned it down to be shot at with RPGs. Shit happens...get over it and move on.
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Sgt Tom Cunnally
SSgt Terry P. - Yea I remember we talked about this before. There's a new TV series "Quantico" and it got to remember having orders to report there for OCS & not going.
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Cpl Dennis F.
SSgt Terry P. Sgt Tom Cunnally. I was 2 months into 18 with a Av guarantee from initial intake. They wanted me to be an aviator! Young. dumb and immortal, Me and my buddy the only two selected from the series both said no.....I saw a few F4s fly over when I called for an air strike:)
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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."
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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.
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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!
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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.
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Sgt Tom Cunnally
Good Luck PO3 Thong... Have you applied & do you have a college degree?? You also have the military budget cuts to contend with which may have an effect on your selection
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PO3 (Join to see)
my wife is not US citizen and my age is slowly getting closer to the "end" of all officer program available. So I hold little hope that my wife get her citizenship before I am too old for any of it.
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LT (Join to see)
You are so right. Life and an Ensign and LTjg sucks. Its not until you make O-3 that you "might" not be the crappy little jobs officer. Stress the word might. The Navy wants its Junior Officers to be uncomfortable as they learn. Conversely, as an enlisted ET I was invested with the training to do my job well. As an officer it is go lead and get it done. If you screw it up you get flogged. If you do it ok then you get rewarded with more work. I fortunately had the experience of being an enlisted man as well as working aboard 36 different ships to fall back on when I put my butter bars on. I still took my lumps at times but at least I was prepared. I watched a few other officers fresh out of college fold like lawn chairs under the pressure.
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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.
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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.
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Sgt Tom Cunnally
Some days I wish I had done that Lt Martin ...30 years in the Navy sounds like a very good career.
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LT Christopher Martin
It was great marriage Sgt Cunnally. The Navy was good to me. I worked hard and the Navy kept rewarding me with promotions. We served each other very well. But in the end, it's all about how you serve. Not the rank you served with. I had a blast at every rank.
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Sgt Tom Cunnally
LT Christopher Martin - My cousin put in 30+ years with 26 in Submarines ..And his Navy Buds get together a lot to swap Sea Stories..
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Sgt Tom Cunnally
I made a decision based solely for financial reasons..I wanted to buy a new Corvette & for that reason I declined to become a Marine Officer... Everyone in the Marines told me "You got to be nuts"..
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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.
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.
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