Prior Military Experience vs. College ROTC before earning a commission as an Officer?

I would caution to when making a statement like "a bit skewed that a soldier who's been in for over 10 years has to receive orders from an Officer who's just graduated from college who may have little military background." In the past, Civil War era, some officers were commissioned as a COL right off the bat.

Going back to the ROTC issue. No matter where you go in the world you will find that anyone that is Senior by virtue of time may feel superior to these that have just started. I found this funny when I arrived at Fort Benning for basic training and there were some soldiers that were still in-processing calling us cherries. They only arrived two days prior. Unfortunately, those who want the accolades and power have the drive to attain them. In a ROTC program this is very much the case. Once there they position themselves as the so called "Bad Ass" of ROTC. I would just finish what I was doing there and go on my merry way.

As to the point a college grad has the authority to give orders over a soldier that has been in for ten years or so is nothing new. It is how it should be. The line of thought between enlisted and officer are vastly different. I wouldn't us enlisted time or experience to automatically gauge if an officer is going to be successful or not. I have seen some prior service officers fail and not ascend into their new role as they still favor the enlisted way of doing things. Officers focus on the commanders intent at all times. NCOs focus on completing the mission. They are two different goals that intertwine but are different. The issue with some is that NCOs are not minded like officers and may not understand the implications of what the mission is. That is why we have officers.

I will tell you first hand that being enlisted doesn't make you a great officer. I was a SSG with two tour in Iraq. I commissioned, via OCS, and there were new kids that did a better job than me in several areas. I may understand the potential challenges that a mission may have due to my experience but it doesn't mean that I know how a Mechanized Infantry Platoon should conduct a raid in an urban environment.

"Confirm what you think you know, and to learn that which you do not already know." -Ranger Handbook

Nothing rings truer for an leader then that quote. I live by it. A true leader admits that he doesn't know the answer at times. He should not hesitate to confer with his NCOs to find a solution. The issue is with the young officers is that they think they know everything. They do know a lot but they lack the experience. If they fail to admit that they will end up like those "Bad Ass" ROTC cadets.

I feel for you and I can only hope your ROTC program has the benefit of some curmudgeon veterans being on campus (like I was for my university, lol). I lost track of how many times I pulled a Cadet aside to correct their uniform (especially to remind them about their cover) or impart the wisdom of how their actions might reflect upon their program and the service as a whole.

Most of the better officers I worked with/for were Mustangs (prior enlisted), but Academy grads and ROTC can still be good leaders. As long as we have veterans on campus looking out for them, good instructors in their program, and good NCOs and superior officers to mentor them once they actually get to their duty station, ROTC commissioned officers should turn out to be pretty decent leaders.

I know EXACTLY how you feel as I am prior service going to ROTC. Stay the course...it would be better for you at the end.

1LT (Join to see) I'm all for getting some enlisted experience before commissioning, but I wouldn't say it should be a requirement. Having been on both sides, I found it's just a different way of working.

One of toughest things I had to learn about going from enlisted to officer was to ease back a little and not be as "hands on". There is such a thing as "NCO business" and "Officer business". Trust me you'll have plenty on your plate and if you have a good PSG many of the things you worry about will already take care of itself.

I'm sure you'll do fine. Just study hard, work hard, know your land nav (so they can't make lost LT jokes), and train as is if your buddy's life depends on it. For the ones who aren't prior service and are full of ego......they'll be tested at their first unit.

1LT (Join to see), I know what you mean about brand new officers fresh out of ROTC, but everyone has to start somewhere, and not all new officers start out with the attitude that they have all the answers. They gain experience - just like enlisted personnel - as they put in their time and move up the ranks.

I think this question boils down to your personal preference. You would be a more experienced officer if you waited and did some enlisted time, that's for sure. However, you could get that experience as an officer as well. You'll be learning either way, just on a different level.

If you plan to make the military a career, you'll be glad you went officer earlier rather than later when the retirement checks start rolling in.

Interestingly this battle has raged for centuries. In the past, a commission was held for only certain social classes (think of England in the 18th century). You could sell your commission to people who had the money.

Clausewitz in his book "On War" said that young officers are good because they tend to take more risks that older more experienced soldiers don't. In war, sometimes the side that takes calculated risks even though outnumbered win.

I think that the benefit of having an experienced PSG coupled with a young LT can make for a good combination as long as the LT is open-minded and PSG humble enough to listen to the LT.

We have the greatest military in the world and West Pointers, ROTC, OCS, Direct Commissions have been successful thus far coupled with the strength of the NCO corps. The only issue I see with forcing an officer to have prior experience can be age and experience.

A General should have experience from PL all the up to the Corp level and that can take 30 years. If you tack on another 10 prior to PL time let's just say, then people will be in positions much longer, forcing less people to get promoted etc.

So there is a lot to think about when it comes to this issue.

Full Disclosure: I was commissioned from ROTC without any prior enlisted service, however I also completed 2.5 years at USMA before being academically separated, and was an Army Brat to an officer for my entire pre-college life.
Personally, my 17+ years growing up an Army Brat, coupled with 2.5 years at USMA, followed with my final 2 years in ROTC prior to being commissioned provided me multiple views of the Army life including leadership examples, and the relationships between officers, NCOs, and junior enlisted Soldiers. Can we bottle up my experience and make it routine, of course not, but for anyone wanting to be a leader in the US Army, officer, or otherwise, must be mentored properly.
I was mentored by my father and others he served with, consciously and sub-consciously. I was mentored by officers and NCOs while at both USMA and ROTC, including time away from the academics and including field time. And of course I was mentored in my officer basic course, and by my first unit of assignment by officers and NCOs (and often by the junior Soldiers I was honored to be around).

At the end of the day, our commissioned leaders need to go through a program/or programs where they will learn and be mentored by those already serving to they know what right looks like. With this mentorship, coupled with technical and tactical learning and militiary customs, courtesies, rules and regulations, we will get the best product to lead our officer corps.

There is something to be said for the entire "game" of having peer leaders and swapping out leadership turns so that one day you are a leader, the next a follower. It is like this in real life, esp at the O5+ level. Many LTC/COLs may report to another of the same rank. It is important to learn at an early age how to get along with people - help out your leaders and treat your subordinates well. You never know when the roles will reverse.

As for prior service, I wanted to stay enlisted long enough to push on the trail however in hindsight it may have been too long. E5/E6 is plenty far enough to have experience and then make a switch and earn a commission. Nothing worse than Officers who think they know an NCOs job better than them. Prior service Officers tend to be more comfortable at the Company grade level but beyond that sometimes their overconfidence can limit their ability to learn. I have literally shed most of my NCO learnings in order to realize I am in a different place, esp when I was a Bn Cdr. An Officer's role is very different than an NCOs. It's important to keep the humility that being a junior enlisted Soldier brings, and to realize your decisions must be executed by those very same Soldiers, but clear distinctions need to be taught at the Commissioning sources to ensure that OCs realize they will be in a different lane and that a LT is not a SSG/SFC with additional authority. One is a planner and checker, the other executes.

Best of luck in your pursuits. If I can ever be of assistance feel free to personally message me.

My question to you is do you believe that you are ready to lead, or will you be ready to listen and lead by the time that you are done with ROTC? If the answer is yes, then in my humble opinion, continue on with ROTC and gain your commission.

You are already asking the right questions in my book that I would want a LT to ask. Get your degree, get your commission, and you will see how many of those "ROTC Badasses" fall by the wayside on their way through the junior officer ranks.

1LT (Join to see) as several have already stated here, there are some advantages to being enlisted prior to commissioning but it should not be a requirement. The bottom line is, it's the character of the person and their experiences that will help to shape and mold them into the leader they become. Keep pushing forward towards your goal. Those that feel they are superior to others by virtue of their degree and newly attained rank will be given lessons and mentorship by their "crusty" platoon sergeants (like me) and seasoned commanders. Our goal is to mold them into better leaders. None us were really ready, even when fresh out of PLDC, to be leaders. But good mentorship. a healthy appetite to learn and side of humble pie will go a long way.