Posted on Jun 7, 2021
How often do Officers leave the military as O-2s?
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I'm looking down the barrel of another deployment (I'm looking forward to it). During my last IDT, the SXO approached me and asked if I was planning on staying in or leaving. I'm looking to move to Florida upon our return from this deployment and by the time we get backed I'll have 8 years in. Balancing life as an Officer in the Army (National Guard) and a Police Officer is quite the challenge. Add a family on the way and it's rather daunting. I could have promoted a couple years ago but found out that my current unit (in 2018) was possibly deploying to Afghanistan and I REALLY wanted to go as a PL (since my time as a PL was rather checkered). That mission got scrapped so I'm going where we are going now as the Troop XO. It dawned on me that a good part of me doesn't care about making Captain. My evals have always been good and I've always performed well at PT. But the way the SXO and a few other Officers talked about it made me wonder...is it considered bad if an Officer leaves the military as an O-2? I was curious what anyone here, Active, Guard, or Reserves thought.
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Responses: 135
I served as an officer in the active duty AF and left the service as an 02 to pursue a civillian career. 10 years later returned to the AF Reserve and served in an enlisted position until retirement. Upon retiring, I retired as an 02. Most unusual I know, but it just worked out that way. You have to do what works best for your situation.
I left the service as an O-2 and have nothing to be ashamed of. Admittedly looking back I wish I had stayed it, but at that time I felt it was the right decision for me. Just do what is best for your situation.
I knew a USMC officer who left the Corps as a 1Lt. He was a good officer but his last command hurt him with his fitness report because He was living with a female officer in the command. She did not get a bad fitness report as far as I know
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Gotta love the double standards these days
If you enjoy what you’re doing, stay put! The military needs officers who are willing to go the extra mile. And while your family on the way, you were Army when you married, right? You’ll never get the opportunities on the outside like now. Only you can make this decision so I suggest you might even ask your “higher power” for guidance. Good luck, friend!
Family First, Mission 2nd. They have always dangled a carrot in front of me, wanting me to stay and reenlist. I wanted to do 30yrs, but only did 26. I don't regret it! These new soldiers are promoted too young and have no Troop time. Plus they are all a bunch of drama queens when someone defriends them from Face Book. Bunch of Entitlement kids wanting things on a silver platter.
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Not gonna lie, SSG, that's a problem I see in some Troops. You've got one group that is old school, another that is somewhere in between but still reasonable enough, and then the other which is the stereotypical millennial. I see it in some of these younger Officers, too. It's strange to have to explain to another professional that is of the same rank the concept of an "order" and the concept of "an implied task".
Leads me to wonder where this military is going...
Leads me to wonder where this military is going...
Mustangs or any that augment but change their mind later. If you're not having fun maybe consider moving on.
I have a brother in law that was in that exact position as a Seattle policeman. He left the Guard as an 02, and didn't look back. He wanted more time to relax after duty. He recently retired with 35 years on the police force.
I saw a 2LT get a GOMOR for having a sexual relationship with a Specialist. He obviously didn’t make 1LT and was tossed out shortly after.
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