How different is the enlisted life of a soldier VS. being commissioned

SGT Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 19 Nov 2015 12:26:04 -0500

I am currently enlisted in the Army Guard, but I will be attending Marion Military Institute with the Army ROTC Early Commissioning Program. How different is being enlisted versus being a commissioned officer

Response by LTC David S. Chang, ChFC®, CLU® made Nov 19 at 2015 12:28 PM

LTC David S. Chang, ChFC®, CLU® — Thu, 19 Nov 2015 12:28:44 -0500

Besides the obvious benefits such as pay and rank, the biggest is job responsibility. Officers do the planning, and as you move up through the ranks, will be in command and staff positions that the enlisted may not have. The biggest thing to note is what you want to do. You will have to get a degree to become an officer and a different set of standards are set.

You may hear a joke about "I am not an officer, I work for a living." To a certain degree that is true in the sense that NCOs carry out orders of officers. They execute, and if that is what you like, then staying an enlisted to NCO might be good.

Another option is a warrant officer, which is in between an standard officer and NCO. For example, if you like flying, and don't want to rotate through staff or command positions, then becoming a warrant may be a good fit. Ultimately it is your preference and what you are best suited.

Response by LTC Stephen F. made Nov 19 at 2015 12:28 PM

LTC Stephen F. — Thu, 19 Nov 2015 12:28:54 -0500

It is similar in many ways but much different in terms of responsibility SGT Private RallyPoint Member.
I enlisted as a Combat Engineer in 1974 and was accepted into the United Stated Military Academy at West Point in 1976 and graduated in 1980. Things were different at the end of the Vietnam war and in the early 1980s than they are now but i expect much is the same.
One of my son's attended Marion Military Institute and graduated in 2007. He enlisted in the infantry. Some of the MMI graduates go to to be commissioned; but, not all.
When I was enlisted I learned what I needed to learn and associated with my fellow soldiers and generally did what I was told to dod. Not much independent thinking was required of me as a junior enlisted man.
Once I became a commissioned officer and completed the Infantry Officer Basic Course I was sent to an Infantry Battalion as a Platoon Leader. I was expected to know a lot when I got there by the NCO's and soldiers under me as well as my superior officers. I learned as much as I could from the other officers, NCOs, and some soldiers and I trained them in what I knew. Most training was unit training as an officer. Independent thinking among officers and NCOs is expected. You will be expected to think on your feet. You will find that there ares soldiers and NCOs' that you can learn from. Don't be afraid to learn; but, you need to make friends among the officers not among the soldiers. That is challenging. It does not mean to avoid all contact. Be respectful and look soldiers in the eyes when you talk with them and listen to what they have to say.

Response by PO3 Private RallyPoint Member made Nov 19 at 2015 12:47 PM

PO3 Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 19 Nov 2015 12:47:40 -0500

I ask that question many time to a few officer .... they all said smaller social circle ... so that is all I know.

Response by 1SG Private RallyPoint Member made Nov 19 at 2015 1:00 PM

1SG Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 19 Nov 2015 13:00:32 -0500

A lot depends on what rank you hold.

Being a newly minted 2LT is much like being Private (you have a lot to learn), except you also have a lot of responsibility (Platoon Leader). Officers are in charge of planning and unless in a staff position, hold command.

NCOs are in the trenches with the troops, conduct training and are responsible for their welfare. Senior NCOs are responsible for the mentorship of junior NCOs, ensure training is conducted to standard, provide for Soldier welfare and logistics. Staff NCOs advise the officers and participate in the planning process.

Warrant officers are the subject matter experts in their branch specialty. They have come up through the enlisted ranks. They hold the "prestige" of being an officer, but generally without the headaches that come with command. They advise the officers and train the enlisted.

Response by LCDR Private RallyPoint Member made Nov 19 at 2015 1:11 PM

LCDR Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 19 Nov 2015 13:11:30 -0500

I'm a former naval officer, but spent some time working with both commissioned and enlisted Soldiers...I'm also the son of an Army NCO; hopefully, that qualifies at least some of my information. The most noticeable differences are in the amount of authority and accountability you will be given, relative to your experience, and in the changes in your relationship with the true leaders of the military-the senior enlisted.

As a junior officer, you will be administratively "leading" a platoon...and experiencing all of the headaches, heartburn, and concern that carries. However, you will also be "starting over", albeit in a new career progression, and will depend very heavily on the expertise, mentoring and at times, instruction, of your NCOs. They will likely expect much more out of you, at first, than a true "butter bar" coming out of civilian colleges or the Academy. Use your experiences as a junior enlisted Solider to the fullest extent, but be cautious about the required mindset of an officer...You'll be in a different position, with different "rules", both official and unofficial.

Don't over or under-estimate your new peers...Some will be new to the Army, and that will show. Others, will be coming out of four immersive years at West Point (and still new to the Army), and that too, will show. Learn what you can from wherever you can. Up to now, you've been told what to do, when to do it, and often, how to do it...As an officer, your superiors will expect you to find the answers from your available resources, implement them, and report accurately on results. If you're honest at all times, organized, and above all, mindful of the fact that you are learning...you'll find that senior personnel, both enlisted and commissioned, will help you.

Be careful of your professionalism. You WILL be put into awkward situations...you WILL be required to support orders, policies and regulations you yourself will find ludicrous. Don't take the "low road" of blaming superiors, but don't make it a habit of making your default position to merely "parrot" the minutes of Officers' Call. Make command policy your policy...be an example...when something isn't right, collect all the facts, and in the proper time/place, be prepared to defend your Soldiers' safety, morale, and promotion. Remember names...remember the names of your Solders' spouses and children.

When you "look good", it should reflect the combined excellence of your platoon, rather than your own. When they "look bad"...be prepared to accept the accountability for it.

Of course, you'll be paid more money of course...but expected to manage it well. Starting pay isn't as great as it may seem, and it's all too easy to over-extend (I know). Save when you can, invest where you can, put the same level of professionalism into your own life as you do your duty, and you'll be a-ok.

Be consistent...decisive...sober minded. At first, it will seem like you're the "tail" end of the dog. One day, however, you'll be the one making policy, advising on strategy, implementing commander's intent. After twenty years, a senior NCO and a senior officer may have very different sets of expertise...but they should both be masters of their craft.

Finally, become a student of military matters. Read books often and give yourself "exercises" of thought and planning to apply to your own experiences. Study ethics...read the classics. You'd be amazed at the sheer volume of material from Shakespeare to DOD periodicals you can draw from. Napoleon once said that the secret to success in strategy, was accounting for all possible scenarios, and having a plan to confront them. That said, you have to be prepared to remain flexible and dynamic when your opponent gets "lucky" with a muddy field and the high ground.

Best Wishes...and Good Luck!

Response by SGT Richard H. made Nov 19 at 2015 2:22 PM

SGT Richard H. — Thu, 19 Nov 2015 14:22:13 -0500

When did PVT (P) become a thing?

Response by LCDR Private RallyPoint Member made Nov 19 at 2015 3:31 PM

LCDR Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 19 Nov 2015 15:31:47 -0500

A lot different. I remember thinking about how great it will be once I am an officer to be saluted. Then I went from just saluting officers to saluting everyone. All seriousness you will have to take more of a leadership role and not just be one of the guys. Read my paper on PRP https://www.rallypoint.com/command-post/leadership-and-the-prp-program if you have not done so already. While everyone service is important and valuable we all have our role in the mission to play, you are just changing roles.

Leadership and The PRP Program | RallyPoint

PRPI gave a short discussion on this to a group of industry professionals that work primarily in the Federal Market place. This group was a lot of retired military and civil servants so the audience is similar to the people here at RP. Therefore, I felt like expounding the ideas into writing would be valuable. Many veterans will remember the Personal Reliability Program (PRP), this was a DOD program that included security, medical and...

Response by SGT Private RallyPoint Member made Nov 19 at 2015 3:37 PM

SGT Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 19 Nov 2015 15:37:51 -0500

Personally I'd have suggested being enlisted at least up until E5 so you have an idea of what your soldiers would experience and develop some early leadership skills. I've seen more than a handful of Lt's who may have been smart, but weren't very army smart.

Response by SPC Private RallyPoint Member made Nov 19 at 2015 3:41 PM

SPC Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 19 Nov 2015 15:41:18 -0500

Well to answer your question, they have very different tasks and responsibilities. Enlisted personnel carries out the orders of the officers appointed above them. NCOs manage, train and mentor the lower enlisted to be NCOs themselves on day. Officers are, for the most part, mission driven. They handle all affairs that go on within their charge of duty (from the platoon level to the theater level and so on). They are solely responsible for everything their unit does or fails to do. Enlisted personnel and officers absolutely need each other to accomplish the mission set forth for them. Hope this helped.

Response by SGT Dana Williams made Nov 19 at 2015 3:48 PM

SGT Dana Williams — Thu, 19 Nov 2015 15:48:50 -0500

With each advancement in grade you have an equal increase in responsibility. Whereas a junior NCO may bear the responsibility for a squad or platoon, a junior commissioned officer must bear that weight for a platoon or larger formation. I also had the chance of attending OCS, but declined. I still regret that.

Response by SGT(P) Private RallyPoint Member made Nov 19 at 2015 4:14 PM

SGT(P) Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 19 Nov 2015 16:14:06 -0500

Very

Response by SSG Todd Halverson made Nov 19 at 2015 4:41 PM

SSG Todd Halverson — Thu, 19 Nov 2015 16:41:12 -0500

First, the (P) is not a part of your rank, it is a status. Doesn't become a factor until you are going for SGT or above.
There are a lot of differences from the enlisted to officer. Big one is money. As an officer you need to let your NCOs run the show and you just sit back and enjoy. Being an officer you will need to learn power point to the extreme and be prepared for many long meetings. Never think that as an officer that you are more experienced than your senior NCOs. Main difference is that as an enlisted you actually work for a living and the officer learns to golf.....lol

Response by CPT Private RallyPoint Member made Nov 20 at 2015 1:04 AM

CPT Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 20 Nov 2015 01:04:22 -0500

I would say it is something that you really see everyday but don't realize it. If you have a job you can you can ask the difference between the a regular employee and a manager. It is pretty much the same. I have been enlisted for about 10 years then I commissioned. I won't say that being an officer is better. I believe each are vastly rewarding paths. I choice to commission due to really having no desire to be PSG and I really enjoyed leader operations. As an officer I have more time to do that and then I will still be planning operations. I enjoy being an officer more than enlisted. I just feel like I did my time and wanted to do something else. This is an individual decision that you have to make. Some enjoy being enlisted and have no ambition on being an officer and some just want to be officers. I will say the best thing you can do now is to put your time in first. Nothing is wrong with commissioning off the bat but you can't go wrong with getting some enlisted time in.

Response by MAJ Ken Landgren made Nov 20 at 2015 9:34 PM

MAJ Ken Landgren — Fri, 20 Nov 2015 21:34:27 -0500

You should get a lot of responsibility right away as a Platoon Leader. Remember the OPORD format, TLPs, Priorities of Work, work with the NCOs, take care of troops, and Risk Management when appropriate. Also learn the TTPs ASAP.