Posted on Sep 19, 2015
Non-Commissioned Officers: Do you regret that you are not a Commissioned Officer?
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Posted 9 y ago
Responses: 32
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This is kind of a back handed question! Regret? If a Soldier wants to be an officer then it's just a matter of school. I had a LT with a degree in forestry. Did that make him a good LT? NO! I have privates that come in as specialist because they have degrees. They want the fight and the comradery. A leader is a leader and I'm pretty sure a NCO has been the back bone for any successful officer. I'll take training my men in the suck over building CONOPS and OPORDERS anyday. The only way I would change is to go Warrant and fly choppers. Sorry for the rant and I hope I didn't come off to abrasive, but that's what NCOs are known for.
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SPC Margaret Higgins
No worries, SSG (Join to see). This is the place to express your feelings. You just believe in what you are saying- very wholeheartedly.
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LT (Join to see)
I don't know how competitive getting commissions are in the Army, but in the Navy it's not that simple. I was an E-6 in the Navy for 10 years and worked my way through school little by little to finish my degree since I enlisted two weeks after graduating high school. Long story short, of over 100 people that applied for my particular designator only six were selected for an entire year. Great evaluations, awards, and recommendations are what paved the way for my selection and those are not easy to obtain. Lots of blood, sweat, and personal sacrifice went into obtaining those requirements. My only regret is that I didn't make Chief Petty Officer before getting commissioned, but being commissioned was always my end goal so I wouldn't change a thing.
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Capt Terry Fillmore
Getting a commission in the Marine Corps is very competitive. When I was a Sergeant, I had to compete against other NCO's. Pro and Con marks, writing skills, rifle range scores, PFT scores, etc. were added to the mix to see who was best qualified. We then had to write a paper to see if we had proper writing skills. We then had to go to a college prep training in San Diego. If we could not pass that, we went back to our old job. Any old Joe cannot become an officer in the Marine Corps. It's a pretty tough selection process. Marines were dropped through every stage of the process. I was a hard core NCO, and I can tell you that a commissioned officer is a different animal from an NCO. A commissioned officer is more cultured and proper, and his position is more supervisory. I don't know how many times I got talked to because I was acting more like an NCO than an officer. I was more action oriented than supervisory, and it showed.
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Nope. Same answer I gave when asked about going to recruiting. "Maybe when I get tired of being a soldier." I like getting my hands dirty. I'd much rather be out on the range holding a paddle than up in the tower giving commands. I'd rather be teaching a new private how to back a trailer than sitting in the office dealing with drama from battalion. I'm glad that there are troops that want to do it, but it ain't for me.
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SPC Margaret Higgins
You really know yourself: SSgt (Join to see); and I am really impressed. Good for you; Sergeant.
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1LT (Join to see)
Love your honesty SGT. An officer's success hinges on the solid leadership of good NCOs
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SPC Margaret Higgins
LOL, MSgt Niclas Svensson. Can't cry, so might as well laugh; correct, Master Sergeant? ;)
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