If Officers fail at being a LT, should they be promoted to CPT?
I've only seen very few officers being told that they failed at their job, but still see them pin on CPT bars later and be enroute to take a company after C/3. I've seen new NCOs have more authority over people then the officer that was in front of the formation. I know the machine keeps turning no matter what screw, nut, or bolt you put in it, but should we have a way to decomission a young officer quicker to junior enlisted ranks through trends and evaluations rather then continue to give more then half of them more as they go forward?
I've seen these officers get seperated from the force with minimum to pay back to the military, if any at all. I've seen West Point grads told to kick rocks after entering into the ranks, and left with a great education and no fullfilled obligation. What are your thoughts?
Officers
NCOs
OER
Transition
SFC Jolly,
The answer is simple. No. Officers who fail at being a LT should not be promoted. I once had a fellow Lieutenant who after 2 years as PL with 3PSGs and 2 COs, was simply untrainable. She couldn't follow simple instructions, wouldn't listen to her PSGs or NCOs, has a list of excuses for every failure, and even had some serious personal relationship issues that interfered with work. My CO did the right thing and would not recommend her for promotion to O-3. The BN CO backed him up and it didn't happen. Later, she got passed over again and she is now out of the Army. We tried everything we could think of to get her proficient at her job, but it simply would not stick. Even the BN CDR and CSM were left scratching their heads. If it needs to happen, it can. You just need to document why.
Some officers may also be late bloomers and be better senior officers than junior officers. We don't decide if an enlisted man can be a good Sergeant Major after his or her first four years, let's not do that with officers.
But, at least in the Navy inevitably the rate of promotion to O-3 is 100% and a failing O-2 is just kicked down the road. I have seen in one instance while the Navy was downsizing a completely failing JO was "encouraged" to take IRR, since all of our JOs are USNR until they become permanent grade IRR just means you are off the hook for the rest of your obligation. Now that does not apply to pilots or doctors and you are still subject to call up till the end of that 8th year.
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