Have you ever thought about being an officer instead of an NCO and visa versa, and have any officers ever thought about being enlisted?

SSgt Private RallyPoint Member — Sat, 11 Oct 2014 01:11:00 -0400

I know there is a pay differential between officer and enlisted but there were times that I thought about becoming an officer and would be most proud to wear o-4 to O-6. I like the look of those insignia.

Conversely, how many officers have ever thought about how it might be to be an NCO and what ranks?

Response by CSM Private RallyPoint Member made Oct 11 at 2014 1:23 AM

CSM Private RallyPoint Member — Sat, 11 Oct 2014 01:23:00 -0400

Oh yeah..My dad was a retired CSM and set me straight though. I do this because I want to. Not because I have to.

E-9 to me is a distinct honor. I am humbled at the task, but love every day.

Response by Sgt Packy Flickinger made Oct 11 at 2014 1:33 AM

Sgt Packy Flickinger — Sat, 11 Oct 2014 01:33:45 -0400

I was offered A MECEP spot but turned it down. The money was tempting. I was mistaken for an officer once. I was in civis and somebody behind me kept yelling "captain, excuse me, captain". Ofcourse I didn't answer because I'm not a captain but he ran in front of me and saluted trying to get my attention. I looked behind me for a captain. I guess maybe I looked like someone he knew. It kinda felt good to be an "officer" for a second but I did have to correct him. And no, I didn't salute back.

Response by PO3 Shaun Taylor made Oct 11 at 2014 4:01 AM

PO3 Shaun Taylor — Sat, 11 Oct 2014 04:01:30 -0400

I've thought about it, but felt like I would be losing out if I crossed over. The officers in our units always looked so lonely on deployments.

Response by TSgt Joshua Copeland made Oct 11 at 2014 11:42 AM

TSgt Joshua Copeland — Sat, 11 Oct 2014 11:42:53 -0400

I had an appointment to the USAFA but choose to get married instead. Never regretted for a second. As I spent more time I the service I released unless you were medical or aircrew, you didn't really work, but really just did paperwork.

Response by MAJ Private RallyPoint Member made Oct 11 at 2014 1:50 PM

MAJ Private RallyPoint Member — Sat, 11 Oct 2014 13:50:44 -0400

Yes and I have been both. There are many positive sides to both career paths. Best rank I ever made and the one I was the most proud of myself for making was SGT/E-5. It took a lot of work due to cutoff scores being very high in my field at the time. I loved the day to day soldier management of being an NCO, the teaching, etc. But at times I wavered between wanting to move up the NCO channel or go back to school. Eventually got out of service and went reserves, started going back to school and turned down SFC board in favor of becoming an officer. Commissioned active duty now, and wouldn't change, and not just because of the pay and bonuses but because I absolutely love my job in the Army. I do surgical and obstetrical anesthesia, stateside hospital and currently in Afghanistan. Nothing gives me greater satisfaction than taking care of our service members, their family and dependents, the retirees and their dependents. I treat all patients the same, regardless or rank or status. I try to make them feel they are important to me.

Response by SSG Laureano Pabon made Oct 11 at 2014 1:51 PM

SSG Laureano Pabon — Sat, 11 Oct 2014 13:51:24 -0400

SSgt Private RallyPoint Member , from one vet to another, my answer is yes, if Warrants count. I wanted to be a Warrant officer flying the UH-1, but I never could pass the class 1 flight physical with an eye vision of 20/30, so I will have to live that fact. But that was then and now it's too late to even think of it (but in my dreams) and I can at least live comfortable with that. Choice of games : Flight Simulator 100%.

Response by 1SG Steven Stankovich made Oct 11 at 2014 3:23 PM

1SG Steven Stankovich — Sat, 11 Oct 2014 15:23:09 -0400

I remember when I was a young PVT, all I ever wanted to be was a Sergeant. Sergeant was the best job in the Army. When I became a Sergeant, all I ever wanted to be was a Platoon Sergeant. Platoon Sergeant was the best job in the Army. When I became a Platoon Sergeant, all I ever wanted to be was a First Sergeant. When I became a First Sergeant I knew this was the best job in the Army. Now that I am a chained to a desk in the 3 Shop, all I ever want to do now is put the Diamond back on and be a First Sergeant again...

Response by SGT Suraj Dave made Oct 11 at 2014 5:22 PM

SGT Suraj Dave — Sat, 11 Oct 2014 17:22:57 -0400

No. I earned the right to lead soldiers, it wasn't handed to me. Now, dont take this the wrong way, I am not saying that being an officer isn't hard, or that OCS isn't tough....

But the day you enter the real Army, you are "Entitled" to lead because of your rank. I had to be a good follower first, then demonstrate leadership, then earned the position and rank to lead.

I'm real proud I worked my way from a low level employee to middle management, Vs just jumping right into management....

But there's the flip side to it also. I know tons of broken and overweight NCO's. At least with officers, PT and weight is not much of an issue.

(I have only seen one officer whose was not Physically Fit what so ever, Sadly I ended up seeing him make it to Captain, even though he fell out of every single run we ever did, and "fainted" while standing in every change of command ceremony)

Response by MAJ Robert (Bob) Petrarca made Oct 11 at 2014 8:15 PM

MAJ Robert (Bob) Petrarca — Sat, 11 Oct 2014 20:15:18 -0400

Good question. There are several points in my career where I think I should have been an NCO, because I enjoyed the company and challenges of dealing with soldiers more than the management issues and bureaucracy of being an officer.

Response by SGT Private RallyPoint Member made Oct 12 at 2014 2:03 AM

SGT Private RallyPoint Member — Sun, 12 Oct 2014 02:03:29 -0400

I took two years of Officer prep courses. I am still ambivalent. I still qualify for a commission, but I like the interpersonal connection of being among the troops. It's an issue I grapple with daily.

Response by SFC Stephen King made May 8 at 2015 4:43 PM

SFC Stephen King — Fri, 08 May 2015 16:43:43 -0400

I have and then I realized it is not for me. My Father went from Seaman to LCDR. I saw all aspects of them both. I was more interested in standards and being the bearer of said standard. My goal is 1SG. I have 3 years until RCP. I am happy to be Senior NCO and lead from the front. I will continue to prepare for my transition but I will be happy to say I am NCO forever.

Response by SGT Jeremiah B. made May 8 at 2015 4:48 PM

SGT Jeremiah B. — Fri, 08 May 2015 16:48:52 -0400

I've asked myself if I would go for a commission if I had it to do all over again. I think no. I worked with NCOs that had 17-20 years in that were still working within their MOS. Sure, they may have done a few years on the trail or as a recruiter or in HHC, but a majority of their career was in a line company.

I felt bad for the officers who, after a stint as a PL got shuttled off to an S Shop, and noticed that after 10-12 years, if all goes well, you'll never see a line company again. Maybe you'll get a tank again, but it'll be cared for by someone else and if you're fighting in it, something has gone horribly wrong.

That simply did not appeal to me.

Also, no offense to the Majors out there, but O-4 seemed like hell on earth. From the enlisted perspective, it seemed no one knew who you were, cared what you thought or wanted you around in a combat arms unit. It's like this bizarre no man's land for officers where we get to forget about you until you're promoted or we need something. haha

Response by LTJG Robert M. made May 8 at 2015 6:02 PM

LTJG Robert M. — Fri, 08 May 2015 18:02:25 -0400

I was both! Enlisted 12 years, was an E-6, went to OCS, retired as LT(jg)! Both were very different experiences.

Response by MAJ Anne McGee made May 16 at 2015 10:25 PM

MAJ Anne McGee — Sat, 16 May 2015 22:25:06 -0400

I have to be honest and say that I would have been a terrible NCO - I am too opinionated and need the freedom and flexibility to run my own show. I loved being a Platoon Leader (4x), but the best job I ever had was Company Commander (2x). I never had more of a challenge or as much fun in my life. NCO's are a special breed and my first two Platoon Sergeants made me a better officer.

Response by CPT Private RallyPoint Member made May 16 at 2015 11:59 PM

CPT Private RallyPoint Member — Sat, 16 May 2015 23:59:25 -0400

I have been told more times than I have fingers and toes that I should have gone enlisted. Sometimes I think I would enjoy it more. I'm not good at politics and I'm very rough around the edges. Those two traits, from my viewpoint, seem to embraced in the NCO world, where as they are often seen to hinder careers on the officer side.

Response by CPL Eric Allen made May 17 at 2015 2:05 AM

CPL Eric Allen — Sun, 17 May 2015 02:05:27 -0400

I remember when I first got my multicam when my unit was deploying afghaniland. I was getting saluted and I was a pvt. I didn't salute back but did tell the SFC hey just a a pvt here and never wanted to be a officer and have to deal with all the paper work I just like to shoot and shooting was fun.

Response by LTC Private RallyPoint Member made May 17 at 2015 2:08 AM

LTC Private RallyPoint Member — Sun, 17 May 2015 02:08:03 -0400

I think Warrants have the best deal of all-- paid close to O1 to O5. Promotion much less competitive. Normally can stay in longer. Normally work in their technicial specialty rather than having to alternate between staff and command and deal with the bureaucracy and politics at headquarters commands.

Response by SrA Edward Vong made May 17 at 2015 12:39 PM

SrA Edward Vong — Sun, 17 May 2015 12:39:58 -0400

Yes, I have wanted to become an officer before I even enlisted. I chose to never become an NCO, instead would separate after my six years. After completing school, I may or may not choose to try to enter back into the service through commission. Depends on where my life takes me.

Response by CAPT Kevin B. made May 17 at 2015 12:57 PM

CAPT Kevin B. — Sun, 17 May 2015 12:57:37 -0400

Like most things we tend to do what suits us. I was enlisted for a while but wanted to do some engineering, not just stand behind a transit, and moved into officer-dom mostly because it was a better fit for my degree and the bump in pay was something I wanted.

That said, if you work at it, the decision you made is likely a good one. Same thing with marriage. Work at it and it can work well. For me the thing I grew into over time was the "taking care of people" piece. As an O-1/2 I started out giving orders and otherwise processing people. O-3 I discovered I had "permission" to take care of people and discovered that made a difference. O-4 on up I learned how ever humbling rank can be but I got to take care of more people.

Bottom line, regardless of officer, enlisted, warrant, getting the job done, keeping you people safe, and picking your buddy up are relevant pursuits.

Response by SSgt Ron Kilpatrick made Jun 20 at 2015 3:05 PM

SSgt Ron Kilpatrick — Sat, 20 Jun 2015 15:05:17 -0400

If I would have been an Officer, my father would have disowned me... He was Army Msgt.

Response by LTC Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 24 at 2016 1:20 PM

LTC Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 24 Feb 2016 13:20:44 -0500

I was enlisted for many years. If I could keep my O4 pay and go back to doing my E4 job, I'd do it in a heartbeat. lol

Response by LTC Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 24 at 2016 1:27 PM

LTC Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 24 Feb 2016 13:27:57 -0500

I, for one, think that all officers should have to spend some enlisted time. I've seen way too many officers that did ROTC or got commissioned straight out of college that don't have the first clue about being a Soldier.

Response by SSgt Private RallyPoint Member made Sep 19 at 2017 1:54 PM

SSgt Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 19 Sep 2017 13:54:16 -0400

I think maybe sometime down the road I'll go WO then to LDO. Right now I'm not confident enough with the administrative side of things in my field but I think if I do go that route eventually I will be able to make the changes I want to see in the field happen.

Response by CH (CPT)(P) Private RallyPoint Member made Apr 28 at 2019 1:15 AM

CH (CPT)(P) Private RallyPoint Member — Sun, 28 Apr 2019 01:15:59 -0400

I have been an E3-E7 and now I'm an O3. If you want to be an officer because the rank looks cool, you won't make it.

If you have the intelligence, leadership skills, and are committed to having more responsibility, then look at what it takes.

I'm guessing very few officers choose, or want, to become an NCO. I would have a difficult time going back to the NCO Corps.