If you were enlisted why did you choose to be a officer?

SGT(P) Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 16 Jan 2017 15:24:36 -0500

Response by MSG Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 16 at 2017 3:26 PM

MSG Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 16 Jan 2017 15:26:03 -0500

As she is doing her oath, she is thinking "Man, the guy to my right is such a noob."

Response by Capt Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 16 at 2017 3:39 PM

Capt Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 16 Jan 2017 15:39:09 -0500

For better pay and better job.

Response by LCDR Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 16 at 2017 3:56 PM

LCDR Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 16 Jan 2017 15:56:13 -0500

I really wanted to command a ship but also it falls inline with my one less idiot rule. Just like when I pull up to a light and pick the lane with the fewest cars the higher your rank that is one less idiot you may have to work for some day. Also the education was important.

Response by LTC Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 16 at 2017 4:07 PM

LTC Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 16 Jan 2017 16:07:04 -0500

Because I had a college degree for 1 and I was 31 years old and I had to become an officer by my 35th birthday in the California Army National Guard and the way they did it then is it took 18 months to become an officer. I thought you only could become an officer if you went to ROTC or you went to West Point. I never knew about the Army National Guard or the Army Reserve as something you could join in your thirties. I realized what I had missed at 31 years of age and I took advantage of it. I'm a late bloomer I never thought about this and if I can go back and tell myself at 8:21 that I was going to be an officer someday, I would have been shocked

Response by MAJ(P) Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 16 at 2017 4:59 PM

MAJ(P) Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 16 Jan 2017 16:59:35 -0500

I was enlisted for 10 years before I went to OCS. In that time, it became apparent that there was a lot of toxic leadership and bad practices present in my state and I decided I was going to try to do things better. Call it "position improvement". I just want to leave things better for everyone than they were when I got there.

Response by MAJ David Vermillion made Jan 16 at 2017 5:41 PM

MAJ David Vermillion — Mon, 16 Jan 2017 17:41:47 -0500

I served my enlisted status for 8 years and went to OCS where I served as commission officer for 12 and retired as a Major. I wanted to be an officer because of more opportunities for education, authority, challenges and assignments. I have done a little of everything and wouldn't change anything.

Response by LCDR Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 16 at 2017 5:46 PM

LCDR Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 16 Jan 2017 17:46:10 -0500

I desired increased responsibility and, of course, increased monthly pay. I was often bored with many enlisted assignments.

Response by SGT(P) Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 16 at 2017 5:48 PM

SGT(P) Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 16 Jan 2017 17:48:18 -0500

I appreciate you're input sir!

Response by CPT Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 16 at 2017 6:49 PM

CPT Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 16 Jan 2017 18:49:07 -0500

Personal goal, if I was going to go back into the military I wanted to do something different. My chain of command (within my BN) is small relatively speaking. I answer to CO/ XO. Not many else. As an officer you usually don't make small decisions either, you delegate those decisions or they are implied tasks. You make larger operational, unit, and big picture decisions. If you are doing it right, it's stressful and requires a lot of work with your closest NCO counterpart. Pay doesn't hurt either!

Response by LTC Wayne Brandon made Jan 16 at 2017 7:19 PM

LTC Wayne Brandon — Mon, 16 Jan 2017 19:19:44 -0500

I enlisted in '69 as in the Infantry and completed the leadership academy in '71.
Served under the hat for 15 months then discharged in '72. Attending college I learned about the opportunity to get two years ROTC credit for my prior service so I joined knowing I would continue my service eventually anyway and it lined up perfectly with my graduation date.
That was the path - The reason was simple; I knew things that most of my contemporaries did not know with respect to relating to NCO's and other enlisted personnel - things to say and do and things that should never be said or done when interacting with them.
That insight into building a team as well as professional relationships with my men and their families served me well and I would not have programmed my career path any other way.
I believed I could make a difference as an officer and spent the next 24 years doing my best to make that so.

Response by LTC Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 16 at 2017 7:41 PM

LTC Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 16 Jan 2017 19:41:28 -0500

Because I like to boss people around.

Response by CPT Gary Jugenheimer made Jan 16 at 2017 8:08 PM

CPT Gary Jugenheimer — Mon, 16 Jan 2017 20:08:34 -0500

It gave me an opportunity to have an influence on how I wanted my life to proceed....as an officer I gained that influence and learned quite a bit about my fellow man....I learned what got people excited and to become passionate about even though they never thought they had any interest in what we as a team/unit were trying to achieve....leadership is a constant challenge and never stops demanding your best effort....being an officer did not make me a leader but helped me to learn skills that I otherwise might never had the chance to practice if I were not an officer.....and as I look back at my life, I feel I accomplished much more and contributed more to those I served with by serving as an officer than had I remained an enlisted man....

Response by LTC Stephen C. made Jan 16 at 2017 8:17 PM

LTC Stephen C. — Mon, 16 Jan 2017 20:17:00 -0500

SGT(P) Private RallyPoint Member, even when in BCT, starting in NOV69, I always felt like that was the path I wanted to follow. I saw our company commander in dress greens (once at graduation), and I thought that would be me someday. By JUN73, I completed OCS and was commissioned a second lieutenant.

Response by MAJ Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 16 at 2017 8:34 PM

MAJ Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 16 Jan 2017 20:34:38 -0500

Because the educational career path I chose dictates as such. I wanted a career that I could do in the Army and paid well outside too. Went from being an NCO 91C LPN to a critical care RN then a Nurse Anesthetist. I miss many things about being an NCO as in the day to day leadership and teaching stuff but I love what I do now. The post grad education was free, I got salary, the bonuses are nice and I can convert to a nice civilian or GS job when I retire that pays well too and get the satisfaction of providing patient care.

Response by CPT Jim Schwebach made Jan 16 at 2017 9:57 PM

CPT Jim Schwebach — Mon, 16 Jan 2017 21:57:38 -0500

I took a look round and figured I could do at least as good a job as the officers in my unit. And the pay was better. And the Sergeant Major told me the the Army was coming up with TIS/TIG requirements and I could be a 1LT before I could make E6.

Response by COL Charles Williams made Jan 16 at 2017 11:28 PM

COL Charles Williams — Mon, 16 Jan 2017 23:28:01 -0500

SGT(P) Private RallyPoint Member. I would give all credit to my first Platoon Sergeant and my chain of command. Because, I got promoted fast, and was looking at a long period after SSG (TIG/TIS), so I was looking for another challenge. I was looking at Officer and Warrant Officer. My chain of command, Officers and NCOs all started talking to me early on about becoming an officer. That was not my plan - I had not military knowledge - when I joined.

Response by CAPT Kevin B. made Jan 17 at 2017 1:08 AM

CAPT Kevin B. — Tue, 17 Jan 2017 01:08:44 -0500

When I first started out, base pay was $143/month. That's right, $143. A brand new O-1 would make a whopping $450. I'd see the difference right away. So when I got my BS, my choice was to sign either the E-5 or O-1E piece of paper. In 1976, it was either $538 or $838. I wanted to get married and simple math told me if I wanted that 12" TV, I'd better opt for more. That and I wanted to put my engineering degree to more direct use and have the prospect of the Navy pay for Grad School later. Ah the days of $8 for a bottle of Walker Black. Never smoked cigarettes but they were a Buck a carton.

Response by Maj Marty Hogan made Jan 17 at 2017 8:59 AM

Maj Marty Hogan — Tue, 17 Jan 2017 08:59:28 -0500

SGT(P) Private RallyPoint Member I get asked this a lot actually. I did 28 years enlisted and was an E-7 when I commissioned. Personal career advancement, the challenge, and I thought I had something more of myself to give. Sounds corny, but that is how I viewed it. Good question and looking forward to returning and reading the answers.

Response by Lt Col Scott Shuttleworth made Jan 17 at 2017 9:31 AM

Lt Col Scott Shuttleworth — Tue, 17 Jan 2017 09:31:06 -0500

For me it was about opportunity to lead at a higher level. I have to admit at first I wasn't thinking about it until my Chief told me I was going to ROTC and that was the end of it. I started to argue and he proceeded to give me blast fence counseling. He saw something in me that I didn't see. He pushed me hard to get my education through the ROTC program and become an officer. As a matter of fact we had a skirmish pop up while I was in college and I called and told him that I was available to come back and return to school later because I knew they were short handed...his response was we don't need you...get back to class...manning would always be a problem and they would work around it. I am in his debt to this day. Not for the money or anything like that, don't get me wrong...the pay is nice...but because of the opportunities it has afforded me in the leadership roles I have been able to have. I have been in places with young men and women and had the opportunity to lead the best America has to offer and it was a wonderful ride. I have wonderful memories of both my enlisted and my officer time. Both are good in their own right but for me to have ad the opportunity to do both was an awesome experience that I treasure everyday.

Response by SSG Carlos Madden made Jan 17 at 2017 10:09 AM

SSG Carlos Madden — Tue, 17 Jan 2017 10:09:05 -0500

Good question for CPT Private RallyPoint Member

Response by LTC Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 17 at 2017 10:44 AM

LTC Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 17 Jan 2017 10:44:34 -0500

My intent was always to eventually become an officer. I seized the opportunity for an early start when I enlisted in High School under the split-option program, attending basic training between my Junior and Senior years, then attending AIT following graduation.
Shortly after, I went through the ROTC program in college and received my commission.
My experience as an enlisted Soldier has been priceless. You will learn from EVERY leader that you serve with... sometimes you learn the type of leader you want to become, sometimes you learn the type of leader you don't want to become.

Response by LTC Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 17 at 2017 11:34 AM

LTC Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 17 Jan 2017 11:34:04 -0500

I got tired of working for people who didn't seem to have or use their brain

Response by MAJ Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 17 at 2017 2:19 PM

MAJ Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 17 Jan 2017 14:19:59 -0500

Growing up enlisted in the 90's the big push was for Soldiers to get higher education. It worked for some, but I always seemed to be in a training center rotation, deployed, or in an Army school. I was never able to take any kind of college level courses. Married, family, you get the picture. After I made SSG, multiple deployments, and being in multiple leadership positions, I felt that if I wanted to progress I needed to get a degree. One thing led to another, ETS, college, graduation.

I went to work for a CPA firm and just really missed the camaraderie and challenges of being on Active Duty. I applied for OCS and was accepted.

I can't say that it was a long term planned effort. If you would've told me on that very first day of OSUT in Ft Knox, KY that I would be a CPT looking at promotion to MAJ, I would've thought you were nuts.

Enlisting was the best decision I made as a young adult, becoming an officer was the best decision I made AS an adult.

Response by LTC Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 17 at 2017 3:19 PM

LTC Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 17 Jan 2017 15:19:15 -0500

BLUF: I became an officer due to the encouragement of ROTC cadets I met after I enlisted in the USAR.
Background: I enlisted as an 11B Infantryman in fall of '89, which is when I started my first semester at the University of Maine. I drilled as a Reservist for the school year, then attended 11B OSUT in summer '90. There were a couple guys in my dorm I drilled with who were Simultaneous Membership Program (SMP) cadets. We'd carpool to drill and they'd talk to me about ROTC and officer stuff. I liked what I heard. In spring of my freshman year, I applied for and was accepted for a three-year ROTC scholarship. Upon graduation, I received a Regular Army commission, and 25 years later I'm still here.
Rest of Story: I stayed beyond my initial obligation of four years because I because I felt (and continue to feel) that I make a difference in what I do and because I appreciate being in a profession that makes use of the wide range of skills that being an officer demands.

Response by CPT Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 17 at 2017 4:17 PM

CPT Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 17 Jan 2017 16:17:27 -0500

I began to really asses my future career path. I think it really hit me on my first deployment in2003. I knew I was just as intelligent and capable as the officers were, but I was burning human waste and pulling guard duty while they...were not. I had little to no idea of what officers actually did on a daily basis, but I liked the idea of having more input in the planning and training of an organization, and in my mind I thought I'd just be a better fit in the officer corps. I talked to my Company Commander, and he wholeheartedly encouraged me to pursue a commission. Now I'm a Company Commander. There are pros and cons to both sides- there are times I'd rather be a SPC pulling guard duty- but overall I'm glad I made the choice I did.

Response by LTC Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 17 at 2017 6:59 PM

LTC Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 17 Jan 2017 18:59:38 -0500

I was a TAC officer for the Chemical Basic Officer Course for 2 years. Trained 243 brand new lieutenants. The most impressive were the E6s and E7s who sought a commission for the right reasons (increased impact and responsibility). The least impressive were the ones who were just looking for better pay. The former were like sponges. Soaked up everything the instructors had to offer. The latter, not so much...thought they already knew everything.

Response by CW5 Sam R. Baker made Jan 18 at 2017 3:53 PM

CW5 Sam R. Baker — Wed, 18 Jan 2017 15:53:11 -0500

Leave and Earning Statement (LES) is a pretty simple answer. As an SSG with 5 years in, the retirement for CW3/4 looked a whole lot better than CSM. It was not the chessy, "I've always wanted to fly", but rather a better means to provide for my family. Once an officer however, you start to drink and live the koolaid, become fully bought in on the Army and its values. ethics and ethos. This is in no way a bad thing, but I am saying that it was not my reason for turning, it was providing for the family.

Response by 1LT William Clardy made Jan 18 at 2017 8:37 PM

1LT William Clardy — Wed, 18 Jan 2017 20:37:39 -0500

After getting recommended for promotion to Staff Sergeant, it was really just basic arithmetic, SGT(P) Private RallyPoint Member:
SGT Clardy's promotion points -- 947 (highest in battalion)
E-6 cutoff for 11C -- 998
Additional points available - 1 point per month for increasing time in service, 1 point per month for increasing time in grade.
Applying for an ROTC scholarship from active duty under the Bootstrap Program (it didn't get renamed "Green to Gold" until sometime later) became a no-brainer, even though I already had an application in for Drill Sergeant duty (an obvious way to trump my battalion commander's announced policy of denying requests for transfer until his time at Fort Irwin was over), but I got my orders to go back to college while I was still being considered for DS duty.

Response by CPT Jacob Swartout made Jan 19 at 2017 12:49 AM

CPT Jacob Swartout — Thu, 19 Jan 2017 00:49:18 -0500

For me, it was to see how far I could go in my military career. I enjoyed my time as an NCO and had always felt that I could do much more and benefit from being a commissioned officer. So I applied for OCS at Ft Benning. It was the best decision for me that presented opportunities to lead in a different capacity as a platoon leader, BN Staff Officer and Company Commander. For years, I had plenty of NCOs and officers tell me that I needed to take this step and I finally did after much thinking and discussions with my spouse. I'm glad I chose to finish my career as an officer. I thank all the NCOs who mentored me along the way during the first half of my career.

Response by MSgt Mark Bucher made Jun 7 at 2017 8:57 AM

MSgt Mark Bucher — Wed, 07 Jun 2017 08:57:42 -0400

ummm, I think that would be a "momentary lapse of reason". LMAO!!! Gotta get the zinging when the zinging is good!