If I loved being enlisted, will I like being an Officer?

2016-01-12T14:52:50-05:00

Response by MSG Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 12 at 2016 2:54 PM

2016-01-12T14:54:25-05:00

Only one way to find out

Response by Capt Richard I P. made Jan 12 at 2016 3:08 PM

2016-01-12T15:08:20-05:00

Great question for prior-enlisted Marine Officers, might take a little creative searching here on RallyPoint but I bet you can find them. I'll ask you this you this: are you more excited about squeezing triggers and maneuvering tanks? Or are you more excited about developing and growing Marines?

Response by MAJ Ken Landgren made Jan 12 at 2016 3:11 PM

2016-01-12T15:11:53-05:00

Do you like to plan, coordinate, delegate, and work with an occasional asshole?

Response by 1SG Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 12 at 2016 3:20 PM

2016-01-12T15:20:01-05:00

No, you won't.
The reason why I stayed enlisted is the reason I still love it to this day, training Soldiers.
There is nothing like being in the mud and sharing the comradery. I'd do anything for my Soldiers, and they know it.
While officers certainly can (and should) get dirty, they by definition can't be close to the men anymore. They can canoodle in the Lieutenant mafia (blanch) or the Cabal 'o Captains, but it is not the same.
I wouldn't trade the experience of an enlisted man for the world, and while I'd have probably been a pretty good officer, I know that I made the right choice.

Response by LCDR Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 12 at 2016 4:29 PM

2016-01-12T16:29:58-05:00

As much as I'd love to say otherwise...no.

Being an officer means being accountable for a wide range of things you've either no formal training on...or woefully incomplete training on. We all know who REALLY runs the services, but that has never once in history kept a JO from facing the wrath of superiors when things go south. I can't speak from experience, but I imagine its only harder coming from any significant amount of enlisted experience-which you clearly have. Your men will expect you to be "immune" from the "mistakes" new JOs make (though a few of 'em are unavoidable for anyone), and your superiors will be looking for more from you from the very first day. You'll lose the connection and fraternity with the "grunts", and have serious challenges in adapting to the new "rules" of the commissioned side of the house.

That said...

I hope you continue to consider it because one thing the services sorely need are officers who love their service and have the maturity and dedication to be of use. You sound like someone who would be a true asset and a well respected officer in time.

The right question to ask isn't if the pay is worth it, because in the long run, it isn't. Neither is whether or not you will like/love it...because there's so much you won't. The correct question to ask is if you're willing to make the sacrifices for the better of your fellow Marines and the Corps, because in the end, that's what its all about.

Best Wishes and Good Luck

Response by CPT Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 12 at 2016 5:47 PM

2016-01-12T17:47:52-05:00

It depends on the person. I really enjoyed being enlisted. It was a great experience. I wouldn't take it back for anything but I also really enjoy being an officer. I don't think it is better than being enlisted but I really enjoy my experience that I am gaining as an officer and my ability to further take care of the soldiers as a prior service officer. I don't know many that that commissioned and regretted it. You have to ask why you wanted to be officer. I don't have issue when some want to say enlisted and they don't value the role of the officer. That is fine. We need great NCOs. Being an officer is not for everyone. For me it was. But I wanted to stay in positions where I could lead. Once I hit squad leader I felt the next position of progression was Platoon Leader. I just didn't really want to be a PSG.

Response by LtCol Robert Quinter made Jan 12 at 2016 5:59 PM

2016-01-12T17:59:59-05:00

I don't have enough enlisted time to brag about (PI, ITR then casual company waiting for OCS), but I know I enjoyed being commissioned more than enlisted. You'll have more responsibility and your seniors will expect more of you, but remember every time you would be waiting for something to happen, or wondering why you had to do something you didn't understand? As an officer you'll have a better understanding of the whys and an opportunity to make things better. You'll have one up on the young officers just out of school because you'll have a better understanding of what your people are thinking and what you can do to make their life better. Your restrictions will still be there, but at the same time you'll have more of an opportunity to influence what is happening around you and test those ideas you always had about doing the job smarter. Only one word of advice. Never forget you are the officer and have left your stripes behind. You'll have to make things happen and will be held responsible for the results; use the talents your men have and listen to your SNCO's opinions, but in the end, you are the one in charge.

Response by CAPT Kevin B. made Jan 12 at 2016 9:53 PM

2016-01-12T21:53:35-05:00

This is a classic "Results Will Vary" answer. It depends on what you want to do, but more importantly be. Everybody's clock is wound differently, so you'll get the whole range from hell no to hell yes. So if you're asking the question of yourself, look at the elements of both paths in the priority of enjoyment of this kind of work vs. that kind. Next is the ability to grow in capability and matching work to the capability. Third, visualize the endpoints and honestly tell yourself whether or not you'll be satisfied in the journey. If you only look at the endpoint, you never visualized the journey. Once that is done, start working in the secondary stuff like pay, benefits, etc. Now that you can see that mix, then you get to stir it in with how your family progresses. About here, you'll start seeing a much clearer picture.

Next step is to choose a path, set up how you'll measure progression (career, family, etc.) and implement. Where many go wrong is they "hope" things will work out. "Hope" is not a strategy. Like marriage, careers are an investment of yourself for returns that you'll enjoy and feel satisfied with when you look back. Johnny Carson, who hosted the Tonight Show for decades, would have a skit called Tea Time. In the persona of Art Fern, he'd show road a map which had a dinner fork on it. So when you get to the fork, TAKE IT. If you are diligent, any path will work out better than sitting back and "hoping". Eye on the prize. Good luck son.

Response by LtCol Robert Quinter made Jan 12 at 2016 9:57 PM

2016-01-12T21:57:37-05:00

I always hate to respond to the same question more than once, but I remembered an advisory note that General "Chesty" Puller wrote to me when I got him to sign his biography. He first said some nice things about me, but then wrote "Be a leader, not a commander." Can't improve on that.

Response by Sgt Aaron Kennedy, MS made Jan 12 at 2016 10:20 PM

2016-01-12T22:20:27-05:00

At my last command, I was lucky. We had a BUNCH of mustangs (and 3-4 CWOs). You couldn't throw a shoe without hitting one. I met them mostly at the Capt-Maj timeframe, so they had already been swapped over 8-12 years, and most were MECEP types.

As others have said "results will vary" but mostly it was based on the person. At that stage, you really weed out the ones who don't like it.

Response by 1SG Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 12 at 2016 11:20 PM

2016-01-12T23:20:50-05:00

I'm making fun of the image you posted, but it would be quite an impressive feat for a Marine Corporal to make it all the way to General of the Army

Response by 1LT Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 13 at 2016 11:19 AM

2016-01-13T11:19:44-05:00

Cpl David Smith Funny you should ask, as I have had this conversation with two of my Detachment's Soldiers in the last week. Officers, while they have an assigned MOS, are "generalists". Meaning, while they should be knowledgeable and proficient (to an extent) in their assigned MOS, they are also expected to be able to take on duties that they are usually not specifically trained on. I think its safe to say that as a Platoon Leader, you'll definitely be performing your MOS' duties, but really, that is where the fun would end. Enlisted personnel are referred to as "specialists". You are trained to be 100% proficient in your field... the subject matter expert. For the majority of your career, you'll be performing those duties within your MOS, that you've trained on. If you love being continuously engaged with your Marines, mentoring them, training them and developing them to be future leaders, then I think you'd like remaining enlisted more than you'd like being an Officer. Sometimes I regret having commissioned as I would much rather be working law enforcement/investigations than I would be tracking maintenance and logistics for my unit (as an XO). The leadership aspect, and increased levels of responsibility is something that I absolutely appreciate as an Officer but I do miss being in the field with my Soldiers, both learning from them and leading them.

Response by Lt Col Scott Shuttleworth made Jan 13 at 2016 11:46 AM

2016-01-13T11:46:39-05:00

I would say yes. I hive been both and there are great things I loved about being both. I loved being in the trenches doing the grunt work. Leadership from a O perspective is where it is at though in my opinion. I really enjoyed the switch form E to O but took me a little while to learn that I wasn't the hold the hammer doer any longer and I wasn't the buddy. I was the one that made the decision of where the nails should go, who does the nailing, budgeting for the nails and hammer, and ensuring it got done on time correctly and also taking the blame for my guy if he missed the nail and put a hole in the wall and then counseling when things got bad. Simple example and sounds crazy but officer leadership, with an enlisted mans background is exciting. brings a whole new perspective to leadership. For the first couple of years you will be with your men (and now women) in the mud training but eventually it will change slightly.

Response by LTC Paul Labrador made Jan 13 at 2016 6:08 PM

2016-01-13T18:08:48-05:00

It really comes down to the level you want to make your impact. As an NCO, you are going to make your impact largely at the individual level, working directly with your troops. As an officer your impact will be felt more at the organizational level, where you are driving plans and policy. Neither is superior to the other.

Response by LTC Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 14 at 2016 1:21 AM

2016-01-14T01:21:58-05:00

Cpl David Smith I would say maybe....first I would ask, has anyone ever sat down and truly explained the difference between being enlisted and being an officer? It is much, much, much more than the pay divide (which is a whole other topic that needs to be corrected).

As a NCO, if you like leading Marines, then I would say no, you wouldn't like being an officer. Although Officer do get "Some" time leading Marines, majority of an officers' career is spent on a staff at some level with minimal interaction with Marines / Soldiers. Don't get me wrong, being a platoon commander or company commander is great and I wouldn't trade my experiences for the world, but after that, it has been kind of downhill. The Marines I work with today our outstanding, but there are only a few of them in my section, and no where near the size I had as a battery commander. And, most of my time is spent planning while my Marines execute, but rarely are we together.

If all this sounds like fun, then sure you might like being an officer. Had I known then what I know now, I would have stay enlisted much longer, still switched over and had the fun at the Lieutenant and Captain levels, but probably stopped there.

Good luck with your decision.

Response by MAJ Raúl Rovira made Jan 15 at 2016 12:51 AM

2016-01-15T00:51:28-05:00

Like anything in life. It is all what you make of it.

Response by MAJ Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 15 at 2016 9:09 PM

2016-01-15T21:09:34-05:00

I was a MSG before I crossed over, so it depends on why your doing it and what your end state is. I don't regret my decision to switch!

Response by LTC Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 17 at 2016 12:06 PM

2016-02-17T12:06:16-05:00

for a while. being a PL or Company CO is very rewarding. but once you make Sr CPT or field grade and get sent to BN/BDE staff 90% of your time is mind numbing paperwork and death by powerpoint. I was enlisted for 11 years before I got commissioned and loved it. I loved being a PL as an LT and enjoyed my time in company command. Spent the last 8 years on BN or BDE staff and, yeah, not so much. I'd much rather be back down with the troops where the rubber meets the road, but that's just the way they system works.

Response by SSgt Private RallyPoint Member made Jul 18 at 2019 11:16 AM

2019-07-18T11:16:03-04:00

If I love sex, will I like being married?

There's a lot of great advice in the answers here. In my mind's eye the biggest difference is the commitment to Corps and your Troops - and the two don't always jive. I don't know how much it changed in the 20+ years I've been out but, as an enlisted, I never had problems getting to know the officers in the Battalion, building a working relationship with them, and building friendships with some of them.

Part of leadership is *connecting* with those your are responsible for and helping them grow. At the same time, the fraternization gulf is much larger than between a PFC and a Sgt Major.

I would suggest a list of pro/cons for each side of the coin. Get some clarity on what your long term goals are.