Does the job of an officer really require a degree (excluding professional officers; Doctors, Nurses, Engineers, lawyers, etc..)?

I think you got a narrow view of what being an officer is all about. So what is that formula to Leonidas like company grade leadership? Was there a correlation between degrees and specific branches? I believe the degree requirement for commissioning is not tied directly to a success/failure of platoon leaders. The services need officers. Officers are needed to lead the services from the tactical to operational to strategic levels. The military skills and decision making are grown in house. The degree is not a certification in that regard, it is a box check to get into a commissioning program. A bachelors degree, codified by law, became the universally accepted standard. It was selected for many reasons. I believe among them are: you can stick to something for four plus years; you can apply intellectual rigor to problems; you have the capability to learn a foreign body of knowledge and be conversant in it; the service would acquire someone with your skill set to be repurposed for needs of the service later on. I was branched Ordnance (maintenance) with my Civil Engineering degree that the Army paid for (75% anyway) with the intent of branching me Combat Engineer. Couple truths. The majority of engineering at company grade, isn't. It is mobility, counter mobility, survivability...not designing things. In those days, CSS got the left overs from combat arms. My semesters of Steel Design, Intro to Design, project management, and Mechanics of Materials made me capable of understanding very technical welding and machining issues my Allied Trades shop was dealing with when I was a platoon leader and a shop officer. Growing up as the son of a mechanic helped me understand automotive-armament technical issues as a platoon leader and shop officer. Much later my civil engineering background helped me understand and prioritize public works projects and tangle with the EPA as a Garrison Commander. Nothing prepared me to get scuffed up by my first Troop Commander, counsel my Platoon Sergeant, lead non-cadets for the first time, investigate my first FLIPL, deal with a couple shady NCOs, deal with a couple inflexible seniors, handle a few spouses from hell, deal with death, command a world wide organization etc. nothing would have. What made that all work, was the preparation I recieved from parents that held me to standards; teachers that cared about me; early leadership opportunities as an adolescent (scouting, JROTC, sports, etc); development in my commissioning source by officers and NCOs; development by all ranks as an Officer ( I learn from everyone- good and bad); hard work; and being myself, not trying to be something I am not. If you are not Audie Murphy (alThough he was not well liked either) , you should not try to be him. I am not a proponent for thou must be an NCO first mentality. I have seen many that are incredible officers. I have seen some not make the transition and try to be O3 squad leaders and alienate their NCOs. You have to have a jumping off point to allow lateral entry of junior leaders you will then need to grow to fit the senior roles in the organization both in command and staff. So how do you filter out 20 somethings that you need to exploit in less than ten years, but are depending on fully harvesting the potential of in their early 40s before they retire? In a 20 year career, I spent 5 of those commanding organizations. The other 15 were staff jobs, making the Army keep rolling along. Real staff work, not ppt jackassery, coordinating, fixing problems, and breaking down barriers is what you have to apply intellectual rigor to, along with persistence, your influence, and experience to. So again, the degree is an entry requirement, not the sum total of expectation.

History proves you are correct, just look at the large number of Officers that were given commissions during The Korean War! Any good NCO can perform the duties oh a company Grade officer. Degrees are required for the same reason as Medical Schools requiring "would be students" to have done very well on their SAT. They, as a group, have a much better chance of going all the way through medical school. The fact that a student has applied himself or herself to obtaining a degree shows they have the determination to make it through the mirad of officer schools! Believe me, The War College is not for Undergraduates!

Who forced you to earn your degree? Who stood over you and made you go to class, or study for exams? Probably no one. There are no major consequences if you don't do those things-you just won't earn your degree. Its entirely up to the individual, and that was the value I derived from it. Earning a degree shows the military that you have enough maturity, self-discipline, and motivation to follow through on a long-term plan without someone forcing you.

Sarge, I completely agree with you. However, the only problem I see, is that the current bar set, to become an NCO, is quite low. Then again, the current bar to become an officer, other then the degree requirement, is not much higher.

Having a degree is simply a requirement. Just like you need 5 jumps at airborne school to get your wings. Does the guy who jumped 4 times not know how to do it a 5th time? Doesn't matter. Someone at some point said you needed 5 jumps. End of story. Someone else at another time said officers require degrees. That's just how it works. Having a degree doesn't make you any better of an officer, just like having a 300 APFT score doesn't make you a good squad leader.

The same question could be posed for many civilian positions. A Bachelor's degree has just become a commonly accepted "ticket" throughout our culture that is believed to indicate the ability to reason and interpret requirements as well as possessing a certain level of ability to interact effectively with a wide range of personalities. I noted the Code citation buy LTC Mackey was written circa 1995. Personally, I was commissioned through an enlisted commissioning program which allowed me to attend OCS (a group excepted from the O-3 restriction in the code). About a year after I made Captain (O-3), I received a letter from the CMC advising me that my record had been reviewed and it was noted I lacked a degree. I was pointedly advised, that while I could possibly be promoted to Major because of my war record, I should consider myself as limited to Major if I failed to get a degree. The symbolism of the degree becomes obvious if you consider how it is regarded when applying for a position, including commissioned status. Most employers care less if you have a degree in English, Psychology or Quantum Physics. Except for those "professional" positions cited by Sgt Dave, any old degree will do and, unless it is a degree from an Ivy League or other high profile school, most employers could care less where you got the degree. There are always a few exceptions where a HS graduate has worked hard and earned what would normally be considered a position reserved for the college graduate, but a degree is an indicator that opens doors. Does it make sense all the time, probably not, but it is just the way it is.

I was a second lieutenant in 1996 the Battalion executive officer in military police in the California guard was working on her associate's degree. I also know a full bird colonel from the Vietnam War era and he was one of the very very few captains that were retained when the Army switched over to an all-volunteer force in 1973. The only determinant was a bachelor's degree. If you did not have it, you were separated from service.

SGT Suraj Dave - The US Navy had a "Commissioning from the Ranks" program at one time for Chief Warrant Officers and Limited Duty Officers - without four Year degrees - but any such officers were strictly limited in career advancement opportunities. I am not sure - but I believe The US Army and US Air Force require a four year regionally accredited degree for regular officer appointments. The reserve components were a bit more lenient - you must be college senior - and graduate before receiving a regular commission, Warmest Regards, Sandy :)
CMDCM Gene Treants

I'm pretty new to the officer side of the house, but I actually agree with you.

I have pondered this for the past few years. The degree requirement may be tied to the caste system when feudal lords ruled and governed their vassals. Throughout history there is the case of those in power to seek appointments as officers and lead the commoners into battle. Think of our own history as well as European history and this would appear to be the case. Today, I wonder if the current all volunteer military no longer reflect our country or social norms. Many of the best officers I served under were prior enlisted (many, but not all). I have wondered if a reorganization of military should be proposed. As a recommendation, require that all service members begin their careers as enlisted members and attend the boot camp of their respective service. After a period of 3 years, those noted with potential may apply to attend a service academy for eventual commissioning as officers. Along with reorganization, require all service members to attend college classes and obtain an Associates Degree during their first enlistment. Officer candidates would complete a Bachelors degree during OCS training at their academy, a two year program leading to their commission. Those choosing to remain enlisted, may opt to continue their education during active service. Yes, this is a simplistic recommendation and needs work to take care of the specifics; but the idea is pretty straightforward. Classes could be a combination of online and classroom and the degree would be supervised and accredited by the respective service academy. Just an idea.