Posted on Jun 7, 2021
How often do Officers leave the military as O-2s?
Suspended Profile
45.4K
605
204
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.
Junior Officers
Promotions
Military Life
Posted >1 y ago
Responses: 135
Why worry about what others think? As long as you have completed your service obligation and you receive an honorable discharge, you will be fine. You have done your time and done more than 98% of the rest of the country. You have to take care of yourself and your family. Most future employers won't care if you served in the military unless your experience will benefit their organization.
Suspended Profile
My MS officer from my NG unit retired as an O-2 with 20 years.
He spent 17 as Enlisted first.
I stuck long enough to retire an O-3.
He spent 17 as Enlisted first.
I stuck long enough to retire an O-3.
Truth you're a part of the less than 1% of Americans who joined the military, and doing whatever amount of years and being honorably discharged, is all that matters in my opinion. With that said who cares what others think. I'd proudly call you me brother and I did 26 years. Hope this gives you a little peace of mind.
1SG Chad Mcdaniel
*my brother.
I left the active army as 1LT. Went full-time ARNG right away as a GS-9. Made 03 one year later and stayed another 5 years. The guard is very political. I wish I had known that my "reserve" time did not count for VA benefits unless you served at least a 6-month tour overseas on a mission or campaign. If you plan on doing it the whole time, until Reserve retirement time, I don't think it is worth it. You will not get retirement pay for a long, long, time. Focus on one career and do that well and you will get much better benefits and retire earlier in the long run. AND as for rank? Only you will care. If you can get the 03 easily and soon, do it (my opinion)
Upon entering the military, it was my intention to make it a career (at least 20), and as a Armor lieutenant, I was reasonably happy with my lot. Once I made captain, however, I found that being a senior junior grade officer made little difference in influencing my future in the Army. I left as an 0-3 with 6.5 TIS. My question to you would be: Who are you worried about thinking it was "bad" of you to leave the military as an 0-2? And as opposed to what rank? And why would you care what whomever it is thought of you leaving as an 0-2? I have sometimes thought over the years that I had made a poor decision resigning, but looking back now, it was probably the best thing I could have done.........to hell with what others thought.....
When I was in, it was quite common. They were called OBVs (Obligated Volunteers). The did ROTC, entered AD, had a two-year obligation to the Army of the United States and at the expiration of two years left for IRR. Depending on time, they were either 2LTs or 1LTs, as the TIG from 2 to 1 kept changing. 24 months, 18 months, 12 months, 18 months 24 months, etc.
Not everyone is built for a career in the Armed forces, THANK GOD! Some of us are here to make sure that when the SHTF we can train the people who need training and hold the fort until you get up to speed. Reservists and NG are there to help hold the line but not to be the brunt of the spear until the civilians can be trained to take up the shields and become new warriors.
If you have served your obligation and want to leave, do so. You will not be judged when you leave except by those who do not count. Thanks for your service, however long or brief. All of us served for what we felt was our duty.
If you have served your obligation and want to leave, do so. You will not be judged when you leave except by those who do not count. Thanks for your service, however long or brief. All of us served for what we felt was our duty.
Get promoted. You are almost 1/2 to retirement. You will kick youself later. If you want a break go the IRR.
Read This Next
Continue with Facebook 
Continue with Google