Officers: If the pay was the same, would you decommission to become a NCO?

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 12 May 2014 02:18:50 -0400

I know NCOs are the backbone of the Army and many officers wish they could be one; however, some may be or think they are "over-qualified" due to their education levels and what not and deserve higher pays and/or positions. If you were to receive the same pay, would you decommission?

NCOs: Should it be a requirement to attend a board before going Green to gold? Shouldn't obtaining your bachelors and going to OCS be enough of a requirement?

Response by CPT Jacob Swartout made May 12 at 2014 8:32 AM

CPT Jacob Swartout — Mon, 12 May 2014 08:32:24 -0400

I'm very pleased with the way I started out in the Army. I made it to SSG(P) and then went to OCS. I can relate to both sides of the house. I enjoyed the times with the Soldiers down the line but knew I needed to do something for myself and the Army. I decided to take the next step up and see what else I could do.

Response by MSG Private RallyPoint Member made May 12 at 2014 9:17 AM

MSG Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 12 May 2014 09:17:52 -0400

Every level in the Army is a calling. Some folks think that just because they have a bachelors degree that they should be an officer. The board in a way weeds through those that have an entitlement issue. Even officers that join the Army off the street have to go to a board before being accepted so I think the same should absolutely be true of NCO's that wish to pursue a commission. I have my masters degree but I truly can't imagine being anything other than a NCO, that's my calling!

Response by CPT Zachary Brooks made May 12 at 2014 9:38 AM

CPT Zachary Brooks — Mon, 12 May 2014 09:38:54 -0400

I don't think I would. I do not have the mindset of being an NCO as I tend to think big picture more than anything. Its not the pay, its the nature of the work for me.

Response by MAJ Private RallyPoint Member made May 13 at 2014 6:08 PM

MAJ Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 13 May 2014 18:08:11 -0400

Would be rough working on the medical side. Most meetings I go to, O-5s are "junior" because there's a star or 2 sitting around the table. O-3s are treated like E-3s. Until you hit at least O-4/5, you're a non-entity.

Response by MAJ Private RallyPoint Member made Jul 11 at 2018 8:47 PM

MAJ Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 11 Jul 2018 20:47:45 -0400

Question SFC Parra, how would we attached talented officers in he Military if we paid them the same as the supervisors (NCO) they manage? While compensation is not my main motivation for serving as an officer, it’s does make those long nights and many sacrifices worth while in the end. Knowing that you can provide for your family and give them a quality of life when you’re still in the office at 2000 because your staff NCOs failed to accomplish the mission and it still needs to get done.

Response by LCDR Private RallyPoint Member made Oct 12 at 2019 12:11 AM

LCDR Private RallyPoint Member — Sat, 12 Oct 2019 00:11:35 -0400

Two answers for me (though, Navy here).
1) No, as a previous poster mentioned IRT medical, chaplain corps would be different/difficult in our current systems. Now, I have met chaplains from other countries who are a) all commissioned from newest guy to the chief as an O-3 (swiss model) , b) are civilians but are assigned to the military (german army), c) hold "relative" rank (british army), d) hold the rank of the person they're talking to (british navy), d) are the local pastor and as such are the chaplain for their town's military unit (that's the Scandinavian model). So, do other systems work? yes. Would they work for chaplains to be NCOs? Not in ours, I don't believe.
2) And also, Yes. I will freely admit that there have been days where I have seriously toyed with the idea of resigning my reserve commission in order to enlist active duty, for the sole reason of better pay over a period of time. Hit a very rough patch financially from 2012-2015, and its literally a miracle we survived.