Is there a future in the NCO ranks?

I wrestle with this question all the time, but I think that my purpose is to be a strong NCO and a leader for the junior enlisted folks and I hope that as I get more time in service and rank I can continually and effectively lead our Airmen in the proper direction. I am very fortunate to be supervising someone right now who is a very strong airman and I am pushing that individual to OTS because I can see very strong leadership skills, however if I felt this individual was not up to the standard then I would strongly encourage more development and reach out to other enlisted leaders in our Squadron and Group to help this individual better their leadership skills before sending them off to OTS. I feel like I can do a lot as an NCO to help guide young junior enlisted people to simply better themselves. They may only do 4 or 6 years instead of 20 or 30, but as long as they leave better than they came to me, I will be happy. I do not think at this time that I will go to OTS, but I am fortunate enough to have a few more years left on my eligibility.

i am working as a contractor at a reserve installation! I see quite a few enlisted transitioning to the W O side of the Army Reserve to have better a opportunity to advance their skills and worth to the military! The enlisted side of the house don't seem to have as much choice. This has been going on for quite a while now. The military needs to have a way for the enlisted personnel to better their careers than to seek moving to the commissioned to warrant officer side. The SNCO does more for the training these young troops to stay alive and how to do their job to keep their Officers alive than what they are given credit for. The SNCO is the back bone of the military, it does not matter what branch of service you are in!

MSG Martin C. I would argue that NCOs have as many opportunities, though they may be different, than officers. NCOs can reclass the same as officers going from one AOC to another. It is actually harder than most think though for both sides of the house unless in Reserves/NG where the need and commanders allow it provided that there is funding. There are graduate programs available to officers, but they are super competitive and with very few slots. Same as going to other services to do OES. I am not sure if NCOs can do other services' NCOES.

The key question is what is important to you? Is it making a higher rank? Both NCOs and officer routes are seeing massive cuts. QMP and QSP, as well as pink slips to CPTs because they are over strength in the AC. It will be harder to make it past LTC or past SFC in many cases. Is it about pay? Well then of course going officer will net more money. However, the higher up you go the less time you spend with the Soldiers. So if mentoring and being with Soldiers is important to you stay enlisted. After Platoon Leader time you will miss the Soldiers and only see them if they are part of the staff you are assigned to, on visits, or if you are Company Commander. After that you are pretty much on staff until battalion command if you are lucky enough to land that.

So the big question is what does the Soldier want to be in the Army for? What motivates them? What are their goals? Either side it will be harder to get promoted as we shrink the force. But you ultimately want them to enjoy what they do.