Posted on Nov 30, 2014
Prior Military Experience vs. College ROTC before earning a commission as an Officer?
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What are you thoughts regarding recent college graduates commissioning as Officers? And whether or not prior military experience is important to have when in pursuit of a commission?
I am enlisted (still early in my career) and began college to earn my degrees in Business & Communications. I also started participating in the Army ROTC program at the college and through my experience thus far I've found that it is a very different dynamic compared to the enlisted life - even when it comes to [basic] military etiquette (mostly because it is almost entirely student run). The senior cadets (MS4's) who hold ranks think VERY highly of themselves nonetheless. *However, the cadre and Officers instructing the program are very professional.
Having grown up in a family of veteran's and even through my short time in the military, I've learned to respect those with years of experience and have gone through real, tough hardships and deployments. I even spoke with several of my Senior NCO's and they have even mentioned how they've ran into a few Officers themselves who don't really "get it" quite yet.
With that, I still highly admire those in pursuit of a Commission. It is not an easy route, and a well earned one at that. I believe it is important to continue to show respect and professionalism towards all those appointed over me, no matter what background they may have.
So the basis of my question is that, is prior military experience important before pursuing a commission as an Officer? I am wondering if it is better to wait and gain more overall field training experience and have clearer leadership perspectives to add to my background (deployments and maybe wait until I become an NCO and learn how to lead soldiers) or do I continue with the college ROTC program?
I know that it is important take advantage of opportunities as they arise and that my ambitions include working hard towards earning a commission in the future. Just need reassurance that I'm on a respectful path.
Thank you in advance for your input.
I am enlisted (still early in my career) and began college to earn my degrees in Business & Communications. I also started participating in the Army ROTC program at the college and through my experience thus far I've found that it is a very different dynamic compared to the enlisted life - even when it comes to [basic] military etiquette (mostly because it is almost entirely student run). The senior cadets (MS4's) who hold ranks think VERY highly of themselves nonetheless. *However, the cadre and Officers instructing the program are very professional.
Having grown up in a family of veteran's and even through my short time in the military, I've learned to respect those with years of experience and have gone through real, tough hardships and deployments. I even spoke with several of my Senior NCO's and they have even mentioned how they've ran into a few Officers themselves who don't really "get it" quite yet.
With that, I still highly admire those in pursuit of a Commission. It is not an easy route, and a well earned one at that. I believe it is important to continue to show respect and professionalism towards all those appointed over me, no matter what background they may have.
So the basis of my question is that, is prior military experience important before pursuing a commission as an Officer? I am wondering if it is better to wait and gain more overall field training experience and have clearer leadership perspectives to add to my background (deployments and maybe wait until I become an NCO and learn how to lead soldiers) or do I continue with the college ROTC program?
I know that it is important take advantage of opportunities as they arise and that my ambitions include working hard towards earning a commission in the future. Just need reassurance that I'm on a respectful path.
Thank you in advance for your input.
Leadership
Officers
College
Transition
Edited 11 y ago
Posted 11 y ago
Responses: 23
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Good on you for advancing yourself with going to school and joining ROTC. You will be a fine officer having enlisted experience and ROTC experience. I didn't know anything about officer and enlisted when I joined ROTC in college. You have a bigger perspective than the cadets - just know that.
It is easy for cadets to get high on themselves - I did and learned that early on. I didn't even get picked up to be in the cadet officer corps the first year I applied. I came back the next year and was the #1 cadet at my field training camp.
I didn't think I was going to make Colonel but my boss went to a 3-star general and advocated for me. I eventually got a command job and retired after 29 years of service. Believe in yourself and your potential.
I wouldn't judge people on the basis if they are officer or enlisted. There will always be bad and good officers and enlisted personnel wherever you go. Find the good people and surround yourself with them and let them know what you aspire to be.
It is easy for cadets to get high on themselves - I did and learned that early on. I didn't even get picked up to be in the cadet officer corps the first year I applied. I came back the next year and was the #1 cadet at my field training camp.
I didn't think I was going to make Colonel but my boss went to a 3-star general and advocated for me. I eventually got a command job and retired after 29 years of service. Believe in yourself and your potential.
I wouldn't judge people on the basis if they are officer or enlisted. There will always be bad and good officers and enlisted personnel wherever you go. Find the good people and surround yourself with them and let them know what you aspire to be.
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You may scoff at this, but I'm being totally serious with what I'm about to say. Read Starship Troopers by Robert Heinlein. What you're describing, having commissioned officers plucked from the experienced enlisted side is taken straight from that novel, and it has always been my ideal vision of how the military should function.
If for whatever reason I had the ability to change the basic underlying structure of our military, I'd make it so that ROTC was done away with in favor of the creme of the enlisted crop being selected to attend OCS.
If for whatever reason I had the ability to change the basic underlying structure of our military, I'd make it so that ROTC was done away with in favor of the creme of the enlisted crop being selected to attend OCS.
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1LT (Join to see)
Thanks for your input, SGT.
I actually read a bit on that, and I think I will definitely be looking into reading the rest of it! I agree with you on that as well, I wish OCS was an option I looked into sooner.
Thanks again,
PFC Piega
I actually read a bit on that, and I think I will definitely be looking into reading the rest of it! I agree with you on that as well, I wish OCS was an option I looked into sooner.
Thanks again,
PFC Piega
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I have served with Officers right out of the Academy, Out of ROTC and Converted from Senior Enlisted. Some of the Best Officers I served with came both out of the Academy and ROTC and one of the worst was a CWO also one of the best was a CWO. I Don't think it has anything to do with the System and everything to do with the Individual. I wish you luck and I think you will do just fine!
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1LT (Join to see)
PO1 William "Chip" Nagel, thank you for your response.
I highly agree with you that it all comes down to the individual themselves. I believe that I will continue to progress through the program and adjust to the system.
Thank you again,
PFC Piega
I highly agree with you that it all comes down to the individual themselves. I believe that I will continue to progress through the program and adjust to the system.
Thank you again,
PFC Piega
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There is nothing wrong with a commission through Army ROTC and experience can only be gained by actual service. There is no shortcut to gain experience, it learning by doing but what You learn in ROTC should help the total picture. In both cases, listen, learn and put forth You best effort and You will succeed. There is nothing wrong with getting the Officer training first and take the opportunity while its available and don't wait. You don't have to be an NCO first to lead but it does add to the experience but ROTC and other Officer training programs are designed to teach those very same things. No matter where You are in any career You should never stop learning and build on both your training and experience. I did have an opportunity to attend Officer training and passed on it and wish I hadn't despite My Commander and OIC trying to talk Me into it. I did have Army ROTC at a Military prep school before I went into the Active Duty Military service and it did help a lot The best of luck to You and don't pass up an opportunity when its available. Your resume will grow anyway once You are Commissioned and You will gain the experience by doing.
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I do not think anyone should be able to enter the military service as an officer. I think prior enlisted service should be required. Doctors, lawyers, and chaplains hired by the military should not wear rank. They should be DA civilians.
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1LT (Join to see)
SSG (Join to see) Thank you for your response, Sergeant.
I definitely understand your points. It seems logical and more reputable to have a certain amount of experience and military background prior to pursuing a commission. I hope to have more opportunities to gain more experience in the field to add to my background. Thank you again for your input, Sergeant.
Respectfully,
PFC Piega
I definitely understand your points. It seems logical and more reputable to have a certain amount of experience and military background prior to pursuing a commission. I hope to have more opportunities to gain more experience in the field to add to my background. Thank you again for your input, Sergeant.
Respectfully,
PFC Piega
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SSG (Join to see)
Officers generally do not understand what NCOs go through and how much time it takes to deal with all the little things. They don't understand that we can't spend all day in training and still meet all of our responsibilities. Vehicle Maintenance can't be completed on Monday morning no matter how pretty it looks on the calendar. The fact is nothing more than 5988s and fault verification can get done in that time frame. If something needs fixed, that is going to cost me two bodies for several hours at some point during the week even though it isn't on the training calender. I have also never seen a calendar that included time for updating counseling packets, writing NCOERs and counseling Soldiers. NCOs have two responsibilities 1) Accomplishment of the Mission 2) Welfare of Soldiers. Officers do not understand how much time is required for our 2nd and equally important responsibility. I promise you if Officers were prior enlisted we would spend less time practicing simple tasks "Setting up an OE254" and more time taking care of Soldiers instead of trying to fit in counseling as an after thought.
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This is a great question, and many before you have often posed that question as they contemplate a career in military. So, I will offer you a perspective on what I believe.
Some of the best officers that I have seen have come from prior service enlisted backgrounds, but in my community, those tend to be prior Special Forces and Ranger Battalion NCOs. I would not attribute their success to having attended those training programs, but rather to have worked in a small group team environment, in which they gained insight into what motivates people. The value they gained is the leadership qualities of interpersonal and social skills. In more common language, how to talk to and deal with people.
Prior enlisted experience will not guarantee you success as an officer. Those are two separate cultures. Being an NCO is a direct leadership experience, which means you will be 100% involved in every aspect of your Soldiers' lives. As an officer, you are in an indirect leadership role. You will spend less time with Soldiers and more time managing and satisfying the requirements placed upon you by your higher headquarters. In common language, as an officer, you will function as an administrator. You will be heavily involved in planning and developing training, but not necessarily in its execution. In other words, you will not be kicking in doors.
Deployments are not an indicator of success, they are a condition of your military service. I have deployed five times to various theaters, and while I learned a tremendous amount about foreign cultures, I can't quantify any real success from these deployments. Deployments will simply give you a global perspective on the human condition.
Ultimately, your decision depends on your personality, and what you want to do as ailitary service member. Don't worry about prior experience. The Army profession is based on experiential learning. You will learn as you go.
Some of the best officers that I have seen have come from prior service enlisted backgrounds, but in my community, those tend to be prior Special Forces and Ranger Battalion NCOs. I would not attribute their success to having attended those training programs, but rather to have worked in a small group team environment, in which they gained insight into what motivates people. The value they gained is the leadership qualities of interpersonal and social skills. In more common language, how to talk to and deal with people.
Prior enlisted experience will not guarantee you success as an officer. Those are two separate cultures. Being an NCO is a direct leadership experience, which means you will be 100% involved in every aspect of your Soldiers' lives. As an officer, you are in an indirect leadership role. You will spend less time with Soldiers and more time managing and satisfying the requirements placed upon you by your higher headquarters. In common language, as an officer, you will function as an administrator. You will be heavily involved in planning and developing training, but not necessarily in its execution. In other words, you will not be kicking in doors.
Deployments are not an indicator of success, they are a condition of your military service. I have deployed five times to various theaters, and while I learned a tremendous amount about foreign cultures, I can't quantify any real success from these deployments. Deployments will simply give you a global perspective on the human condition.
Ultimately, your decision depends on your personality, and what you want to do as ailitary service member. Don't worry about prior experience. The Army profession is based on experiential learning. You will learn as you go.
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1LT (Join to see)
MAJ (Join to see) Thank you for taking your time to respond, Sir.
I definitely agree with you in that although prior enlisted experience may add valued leadership qualities to personal backgrounds, it is not the overall means of determining success.
I also appreciate your highlights on the roles between the two. I now have a clearer understanding of how they differentiate and the significance both play throughout their respective terms and responsibilities.
I still personally hope to have more field training and experience to add to my professional background, however I do understand the importance of taking advantage of opportunities as they arise. It is also reassuring to know that this will be a learning experience. I am definitely looking forward to the many opportunities and to be able to grow within the program. Thank you again for your advice, Sir. I now have a broader outlook. Much appreciated.
Respectfully,
PFC Piega
I definitely agree with you in that although prior enlisted experience may add valued leadership qualities to personal backgrounds, it is not the overall means of determining success.
I also appreciate your highlights on the roles between the two. I now have a clearer understanding of how they differentiate and the significance both play throughout their respective terms and responsibilities.
I still personally hope to have more field training and experience to add to my professional background, however I do understand the importance of taking advantage of opportunities as they arise. It is also reassuring to know that this will be a learning experience. I am definitely looking forward to the many opportunities and to be able to grow within the program. Thank you again for your advice, Sir. I now have a broader outlook. Much appreciated.
Respectfully,
PFC Piega
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This is still popping up, how did things work out for you? I see your profile has you as a 1LT.
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