USAF First Sergeant vs. Commissioned Officer

2014-03-23T02:08:47-04:00

It's still very early on in my career but I am seriously debating following one of these two paths. Can some of you current or past First Shirts / officers of any rank give me some insight? My main goal here is to be a positive role model, mentor and leader to young Airmen. My mom is a First Sergeant and she is nothing short of perfect at her job. I want to be able to see my troops succeed and grow, but I'm still not quite sure which viewpoint I want to do so from.

Response by CW2 Joseph Evans made Mar 23 at 2014 2:26 AM

2014-03-23T02:26:50-04:00

You can be a positive role model regardless of your choice. You can also see them grow through or as a result of your actions through either career choice.<br>The difference is the level at which your decisions will be effective. As an officer you will have the opportunity to affect the lives of many more than you ever will as an NCO. The unfortunate side effect is that your effect on them will not usually be as personal.<br>The good though, is that if you are a positive role model for other leaders, they in turn will become great leaders as well.<br>So the real question is, are you a hands on leader or can you lead from the front and trust others to hold your service members to the standard you set?<br>

Response by 1LT Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 23 at 2014 3:35 AM

2014-03-23T03:35:17-04:00

A1C Emily M. Have a sit down and talk, really talk, with people you respect in both career paths. Find out how they feel about options and lives in and out of military, their goals and aspirations, help they received, obstacles they have overcome, and satisfaction with the choices they have made. Take your time / get to know them. Warmest Regards, Sandy

Response by Maj Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 23 at 2014 4:54 PM

2014-03-23T16:54:07-04:00

I talked to several senior officers about whether or not I should apply for OTS and get a commission.  When they asked me why I wanted to do it, my biggest reason was that I wanted to make sure that my airmen were being taken care of.  I feel that you have to have been there to know what they are going thru.  They all told me that if I wanted to make sure that my airmen were taken care of, being an officer was not the way to go.  They said that as an officer you have very little interaction with the airmen and it is mostly left up to the Senior Enlisted and the 1st Sergeant to take care of.  I decided to apply for a commission anyways and after 14 years as an enlisted airmen I received my commission.  After receiving my commission I have personally not seen the point of view that they gave me.  I am a very interactive person and am involved with my airmen and have been able to help them when they were unable to get things done, especially when dealing with the assignments folks.  As a brand new lieutenant I could call and talk to AFPC regarding my airmen as well as my career, but as a TSgt with 14 years they would not even talk to me, that is something that I just don't understand.  I would say that receiving a commission or becoming a First Sergeant are both very rewarding career paths, except that the commission route pays A LOT better.  

Response by SSgt Private RallyPoint Member made Apr 1 at 2014 2:53 PM

2014-04-01T14:53:29-04:00

I am not your senior by much, but hopefully my input can still be valuable to you. These are two VERY different paths. First sergeant is a special duty, and youo wont be eligible for it until you are at least a MSgt. You can practice your leadership skills while performing your primary duties, but there is no specific path to follow if you aspire to be a First Shirt one day. As for commissioning, you should definitely take FULL advantage of your tuition assistance to attain a bachelors and be eligible to commission. My guess is you will eventually lean heavily towards commissioning for the financial benefits.

Response by MSgt Keith Hebert made Apr 19 at 2014 10:04 PM

2014-04-19T22:04:49-04:00

Great advice all the way around.
1. Take advantage of TA no matter which career path you take
2. Talk to both straight commissioned officers and prior enlisted officers get both view points

Response by SMSgt Private RallyPoint Member made Apr 20 at 2014 3:19 PM

2014-04-20T15:19:48-04:00

When you say "Airmen" you can mean many things. As a First Sergeant or Officer you can influence Airmen of all ranks. As a commissioned officer you'll still be a role model, but typically for junior officers. As has been stated before, there is a bit of an institutional barrier between officers and enlisted. If your heart is for the enlisted Airman, you may luck out if you get your commission and serve in an enlisted heavy career field (medical, maintenance, CE, SF, etc.). As far as a First Sergeant goes, you'll definitely be in the thick of peoples' professional AND personal lives. The things you want to do with your career is the job description of the 1st Sgt. With that position being a Developmental Special Duty these days, you are not guaranteed to get that position. On the other had, who knows how our force will look in ten years. Good luck either way!

Response by CMSgt James Nolan made Jun 15 at 2014 9:23 PM

2014-06-15T21:23:05-04:00

A1C Murray, you are in a unique position right now in this day and age to garner the opinions of and listen to the banter of many who are older and in theory wiser. I would love to have been able to dialog with folks like this when I was young and impressionable. Rally Point is going to be great for helping with that.

Right now, you need to focus on your career, get better at your job, start making forward progress. Work on your PME and keep your eyes on people who YOU deem to be successful and emulate their behavior and pay attention to their leadership styles.

The single best piece of advice that I can give you is to finish your education while you are young. It really is difficult once you settle down. When you have finished your education, then you will have the options of choosing your career path be it officer or whatever you like.

Response by MAJ Robert (Bob) Petrarca made Jul 4 at 2014 8:31 AM

2014-07-04T08:31:35-04:00

First off, Happy 4th and thanks to all for their service!

The question you should ask yourself A1C Murray is do you want to follow a career path as a supervisor or a manager? IMHO, that is the basic difference between the O & E career paths. A lot of valid and excellent points brought up in this discussions by our esteemed colleagues so hopefully you are taking it all in. Supervisors are there with the SMs, more individual guidance and nurturing - the "moms" of the organization. The managers - the "dads" deal with the unit as a whole, the overall direction, quality etc.

Response by COL Vincent Stoneking made Jul 4 at 2014 9:41 AM

2014-07-04T09:41:24-04:00

A1C Murray,
My only real advice here - that doesn't duplicate what others have posted too much - is to focus on the two distinct CAREER paths.

1SG is a duty position that you will hold, if at all, from 2 years to an outside maximum - if the stars align just right - of 6 years. In a 20 year career, that would amount to between 10% and a little over 25%. In a 30 year career, it would be a smaller percentage.

That doesn't mean don't do it, it just means look at the whole package - which includes the POSSIBILITY of NO time as a 1SG. Even if you are a stellar Airman.

The question I would ask is do I want to follow an NCO- SR NCO career path, where I will have more direct interaction/impact with individual Airmen? Or do I want to follow a commissioned path where I MAY have long-term organizational impact, which will more indirect and harder to see in the short term? There is also a third option - NCO - SR NOC - Commission.

Response by MAJ Private RallyPoint Member made Jul 4 at 2014 9:41 AM

2014-07-04T09:41:52-04:00

Sadly - and I always hate saying this - from a practical side you have to consider pay. There is a very large and unfortunate pay gap between officer and enlisted.

Response by LTC Paul Labrador made Jul 4 at 2014 9:11 PM

2014-07-04T21:11:53-04:00

Since you already seem to have made up your mind in regards to making the military a career, the big question you have to ask yourself is this: What is your long term goal? That goal will determine which path you take.

Response by CMSgt Matt Ferrara made Apr 23 at 2015 2:21 PM

2015-04-23T14:21:49-04:00

As a First Sergeant I found it easier to be a role model, mentor and leader to young Airmen because you are actually "one of them" whereas an Officer always seems to be set apart from the enlisted. Younger Airmen seemed more prone to confide with their CCF rather than an Officer. Just my opinion.

Response by SrA Luis Moncayo made Apr 23 at 2015 2:47 PM

2015-04-23T14:47:41-04:00

If you are concerned to your career after the military, I will hghly suggest get as much education as possible and for the sake of the future I would suggest you get a commission. I truly regret not having someone to offer me insight or advice and after my four years I left the service and since I pursued a career in the federal government, in the last five years I have achieved my BA, MBA and currently in a PhD program. Your GI BILL will barely cover education so my suggestion is get a commission, you will be better off even when you get out.

Luis Moncayo, MBA USAF vet

Response by Col Daniel Fraley made Apr 23 at 2015 2:55 PM

2015-04-23T14:55:00-04:00

As a prior E-5 to LtCol (Retired now after 24.5 years Great Years as a Squadron Commander/Pilot), If you have the opportunity to go through OTS-"Then Do It!" You will be a great role model and leader to young Airmen. Just remember where you came from and take care of your "People!"
Dan Fraley
Son of one of the "First of 500 E-8/E-9's back in 1959!"

Response by SrA Casey Springer made Apr 23 at 2015 3:06 PM

2015-04-23T15:06:15-04:00

Depends on your influence goals. Macro is Officers, micro is Enlisted. Mezzo is combination of both. Do you want to influence several hundred/ thousands of troops... Or influence a few smaller groups usually less than 100. I would say with the corruption in the military that you would be best fighting amongst the officer ranks. Your cause is very nobel and would be best spent as a leading officer.

Response by 1stSgt David Koskelowski made Apr 23 at 2015 3:24 PM

2015-04-23T15:24:58-04:00

The two paths you have before you both offer opportunities to lead and develop your troops. The First Sergeant path has opportunities, but be fully aware that your time is no longer your own. "Got a minute" could be a minute, an hour or a couple of days to resolve some issues. I advised a few troops to make the move to the commissioned officer path. I had an A1C with a Master's Degree in Engineering working as an entry controller in the Security Forces career field. He was married with three young children. The benefit to him was to get him into a career field that he could use his degree and experience, while building a career to support his family. He moved on to Civil Engineering and was doing great, prior to me retiring on 2006.

You would remain on the enlisted career path as a First Sergeant, promotion and and advancement are tough. It may also be a short stint (3 years or so) then back to your previous career field.

The commissioned officer path would give you better pay, more responsibility, but a more sensitive ear to the troops as a prior enlisted airman. You will find that many of the leaders in a unit have great respect for prior-enlisted officers. You bring a unique skill set to the table.

Whichever path you choose, commit to it and be the best First Sergeant of Commissioned Officer that you can be. Do not try to fake it until you make it in either situation. This will turn out badly for you and you unit.

I wish you good luck and continued success, whatever you decision may be. Lead from the front, the view is always better from up there.

Response by Capt David Malin, CEM made Apr 23 at 2015 3:27 PM

2015-04-23T15:27:14-04:00

I probably can answer this better than most......I've done both.....I didn't get commissioned until the 20 year prior enlisted mark. Very Rare!! I served a full career in both the Marine Corps and Air National Guard before getting commissioned and starting all over again as a Lieutenant. Remember the 1st Shirt is you are the commanders advocate for enlisted affairs, but sometimes even get actively involved with officer issues as well. You will be actively involved with Personnel issues both on a personal level as well as on a professional level. You might even bump heads with the commander a few times, but always remaining professional and respectful. I will say it is apples and oranges between being an officer and 1st Shirt. 1st Shirt has the responsibility of an entire organization, where most officer's other than the CO and XO have their sections and usually have an assigned NCOIC to take care of matters. Officers have planning and section responsibility more than dealing with personnel issues, but I'm not going to say they don't get involved because they do. All leaders do one way or the other. You really can't go wrong either way. But, I will say.....becoming a Mustang is pretty cool. I don't think they will every allow any more 20 year prior enlisted folks to get commissioned anymore. I did it as a Health Services Administrator and I heard they were going to make a 12 year cut off. I did this in the Air Force Reserves. Being prior enlisted gives you a very good prospective of how the other half works and plays.

Response by Maj Private RallyPoint Member made Apr 23 at 2015 3:27 PM

2015-04-23T15:27:59-04:00

As a senior NCO you will have more opportunity to directly influence the success and manage the failures of your people. As an officer, you will have more opportunity to indirectly influence those things (through your SNCOs). I was a MSgt and am now an LT. For me, as a SNCO, I became frustrated with my inability to obtain the resources required to provide the training and experience I knew my guys needed.....now that I am commissioned, there are still resource issues....but I have the means to directly affect them.

I equate it to being a doctor or being a nurse (from the perspective of the actions carried out while conducting normal business). If you want to care for people directly, being a doctor may not be the thing for you because you will, mostly, see your patients for a few minutes here and there so you can issue orders for care that the nurses will execute.
If you are a nurse, you don't have the authority to prescribe the drugs to relieve your patient's pain.....but you can attempt to influence the doctor's decisions by advocating for your patients.
When the doctor prescribes the pain medication, the nurse is the one who experiences the direct feedback from the patient and benefits from seeing their condition improve.

It is all about perspective. Both are equally important.

Response by MSgt Private RallyPoint Member made Apr 23 at 2015 3:55 PM

2015-04-23T15:55:33-04:00

I'm speaking as a First Sergeant. Early in my active duty career, I was pursuing the officer path via the Airman Education and Commissioning Program, but before I entered the program, I came down with a medical condition that disqualified me from flying, and rated candidates were all that was being accepted at the time. That was a disappointment, but rather than let it get me down, I was determined to be the best I could be in my AFSC, which at the time was 702X0. As such, I had the opportunity to serve with several First Sergeants in orderly rooms at major bases and remote assignments. I learned much from them, both in what to do and what NOT to do.

As a First Sergeant, your duties will be to be your unit commander's senior advisor in all matters relating to the health, morale, welfare, and discipline of the enlisted personnel in your unit. You'll be expected to be, and you should be, the ultimate example of what an NCO should be within your unit. But the beauty of being a good First Sergeant is that you will also serve as a positive role model for the junior officers in your unit, as well.

I have no regrets on the career path I chose.

Response by SMSgt Donald Polaski made Apr 23 at 2015 4:04 PM

2015-04-23T16:04:18-04:00

Just read everybody's comments.. Totally agree with everyone.. A leader is a leader.. I have numerous officers from my career that I totally respect, try to emulate, and would go to the ends of the earth for. Then too, I have even more SrNCO's who have helped form me into who I am. More because it is the down and dirty end of the business and I saw these people far more often than the officers. Just the way it is.. I was also an "undershirt" several times as a SrNCO and have the perspective of being in those shoes.. Follow your gut, you will do well..

Response by SSgt Private RallyPoint Member made Apr 23 at 2015 4:05 PM

2015-04-23T16:05:02-04:00

I respect your thoughts on this, and have myself wondered exactly the same thing on a few occasions. The question to ask yourself is, what exactly do you want to do? Either route will give you the opportunity to be that role model and leader you want be.

Going the O route, you will end up being responsible for disciplinary actions for the most part. You will not see as many of the hot shots, and will not have as many opportunities to guide. At this level, you will be expected to perform disciplinary actions that will "hopefully" remedy the problem and guide them back on the path they need to be on.

Going the 1st Route, you will have the opportunity to guide the young airman before it gets elevated to the officers. You will have more opportunities to see the good, as well as the bad airman and will be more of a first line mentor for both.

Response by Capt Guy Ingram made Apr 23 at 2015 4:28 PM

2015-04-23T16:28:32-04:00

i was enlisted for 5 years, made SSgt...then i went to OCS and became an officer. There are definite advantages to becoming an officer, not the least is pay. I had to support a family and enlisted pay, while sufficient, was nothing like officer pay. The level of responsibility, once i was past 2nd Lt was about the same as SSgt; i was fortunate in that i had an enlisted staff, so i had the opportunity to interact with the junior, staff, and senior NCOs. Put differently i got to continue to learn from the senior guys and mentor the staff and junior guys.

Either path will, if followed with the same dedication and drive, result in what you want to accomplish.

Response by 1stSgt John Sims made Apr 23 at 2015 4:34 PM

2015-04-23T16:34:15-04:00

Becoming a first sergeant can be a goal but is not a gurantee. Where as if you become an officer you will ways be an officer. The enlisted force is diverse and multilayered. I was an aircraft mechanic before becoming a first sergeant. Although I worked with other mechanics our experiences were quite varied. Those experiences are what aid in being a good first sergeant. To understand your people, you need to have walked in their shoes first. Lead from the front, not from reading about being in the front. Others will disagree, but some of the 9 commanders I worked with had not deployed to a combat zone. They were good people but clueless to certain needs. When the commander ego kicks in, a good first sergeant is willing to stand in front of that desk and demand a reexamination of decision or policy. When the commanders are wrong, tell them they are wrong. Good people can make bad decisions, and most commanders have little or no personnel experience/ training. Once the door opens though, the commander is the boss. I made some very unpopular statements to my commanders, things they needed to hear. That's an uncomfortable position to be in. If you want to be liked or popular, you will not be very effective. Care about your people and work to make the unit better to accomplish the mission. on any issue look top down and you will find a failure that contributed to the problem at hand, late workers, DUI's, CDC failures, etc.. Understand two things about people. First, everyone is full of crap, we are all hiding something to protect our careers. Second, people never want to be questioned because of number one. A good first sergeant is not a office worker, he/she is an experienced individual from the work force who wants nothing but the best for their people. Good luck in your career.

Response by Capt Private RallyPoint Member made Apr 23 at 2015 4:40 PM

2015-04-23T16:40:15-04:00

You should already know what I'm going to tell you on this, but if you ever have any questions, please don't hesitate to ask. You know how to find me. :)

Response by SrA Travis Adams made Apr 23 at 2015 4:40 PM

2015-04-23T16:40:33-04:00

I had a 1st Lt in Iraq that was a MSGT and in my Air Guard unit we had a Chief go to OSC. As others have said you have time to decide. The longer you're in the more experience you'll get. Also, the career field can determine how much time you spend with lower ranking members. On top of the fact that some officers change AFSC's depending on operational needs. There's a lot to consider that you'll need to consider later on.

Response by MSgt Private RallyPoint Member made Apr 23 at 2015 4:44 PM

2015-04-23T16:44:01-04:00

My only input would be this:

Commissioned officer if you want to have more of an impact on policies, procedures, mission. As you rank up you may, through no fault of your own, loose that personal connection with the younger troops.

First Sergeant if you want to have more of direct impact on young men and woman's lives as they make their way in the service (First Sergeants have a direct impact on the lives and development of everyone in the unit).

Both are admiral ambitions....I have done First Shirt duty and if you like some insight into that (maybe some stuff your Mom wont share with you) please feel free to contact me.

BTW was nice to see the money was not mentioned in your post....you are most certainly looking at this decision from the right direction.

Good luck and best wishes no matter what path you decide to take.

Response by CMSgt Dale Griffith made Apr 23 at 2015 4:51 PM

2015-04-23T16:51:29-04:00

Having spent five and half years as a first sergeant, I had the same opportunity to continue from the First Sergeant ranks to the commissioned officer path. I chose the enlisted path and found (in my case) it was the most rewarding and allowed me to have the greatest influence on enlisted and officers. As a First Sergeant I held the ranks of MSgt and SMSgt and advised both senior NCOs, Junior and Senior Officers (to include my squadron commander). In that role I had the best opportunity to support the enlisted troops and also help guide them in either path they chose (continuing enlisted or pursuing the officer path). I completed my career as a CMSgt and look at my years as a First Sergeant as the most rewarding. I commend you selecting either path. You will find arguments on both sides, but for me, if I had it to do all over again, I'd choose First Sergeant again.

Response by MSgt Patrick Bowman made Apr 23 at 2015 4:55 PM

2015-04-23T16:55:32-04:00

I wasn't a first shirt. I was a MSgt & served 23 wonderful years in the Air Force. If you go through first shirt route. You can mentor & be a role model as you be a shirt. This gives you experience plus your in the front lines with the troops. I am a little bias being enlisted why go to the dark side lol. If you do the officer route. Don't forget the enlisted and you was one too. Met some officers that were prior enlisted. They did and was hard on them. They thought they were better than the enlisted. What ever route you will do good. Your mom sounds like she has good advice.

Response by SSgt Chris Frey made Apr 23 at 2015 6:00 PM

2015-04-23T18:00:21-04:00

if I could do it again I'd of commissioned it depends on what you want. Both are vital both are rewarding.

Response by Lt Col Jim Coe made Apr 23 at 2015 6:06 PM

2015-04-23T18:06:35-04:00

If you're taking the longer term view and you have the aptitude and means to get a bachelors degree, I say go for a commission. The Setvices offer several pathways to a degree and commission. I think the Base education office may have some ideas.

Officers generally aren't as hands on as enlisted airmen. They influence and shape organizations through NCOs. Their impact is more organizational than personal, but the personal satisfaction of leading a great organization is big. The long-term benefit for you are higher pay and higher retirement pay.

Response by SrA Elizabeth Swenson made Apr 23 at 2015 7:26 PM

2015-04-23T19:26:10-04:00

If you want to see your troops grow shirt is the best officers are more distant more command and paperwork pay is higher in the upper ranks but if you want to help mold people shirt

Response by Capt Glenn Wright made Apr 23 at 2015 9:47 PM

2015-04-23T21:47:31-04:00

I did 20 years total, 10 as an E and 10 as an O. My recommendation for you would be to:

1) Get your Bachelors degree
2) Apply for OTS
3) EXCEL at your PME
4) Get your Masters Degree
5) If you get picked up for OTS then good on you...if not, you can always go the First Sergeant route

BUT, the best advice I can give you is this: DO WELL WHEREVER YOU ARE PLANTED. Be the best you can be at whatever job you have NOW and everything else will fall into place.

Response by Lt Col James McMichael made Apr 24 at 2015 2:01 AM

2015-04-24T02:01:41-04:00

As you are aware, the First Shirt in the USAF is a duty and not a rank. You may get the duty or you may not. That said, having a goal to obtain your E7, E8 or E9 should be on your radar screen. It is fabulous you are asking this question now and even more fabulous that you have witnessed the results of that type of dedication via your mom. All great leaders begin as great followers. At this stage of your career consider mentoring members of your team that you see may need some help then continue with that mindset at each duty station in your career. You might consider sitting in on a Joint Officer Leadership Development weekend seminar from the Reserve Officers Association with respect to the Sr NCO interfacing segment. Just ask if you can. Each JOPDS normally includes a seminar session (1 hr with tabletop exercise) of Sr NCOs leading a panel in front of many junior officers. You are putting into practice our motto, "Aim High, well done.

Response by SSgt Mike Darty made Apr 24 at 2015 8:18 AM

2015-04-24T08:18:59-04:00

People who want to be good leaders and all they do is strive to be a leader usually are the worst at it. Focus on you and if you're doing well others will choose to follow you. You are way to eager from one NCO s opinion

Response by TSgt Liza Kazee made Apr 24 at 2015 9:54 AM

2015-04-24T09:54:27-04:00

As stated by others it truly depends on what level of interaction you would like to have with your airmen. Personally, I never had a First Sgt who made the time to mentor me. Several were not effective role models, but seemed more concerned with their own careers than with assisting those in need. My opinion may be jaded though due to the fact that when I was med evac'd from theater and set foot on my home base was the only time I spoke with my First Sgt. He never came to ask how I was after that and I did not speak to him again until I was outprocessing for my medical retirement. The commander of my unit/clinic was the most helpful and touched base with me daily. She was an amazing leader and is the one person I felt helped me more than any other.

Again, my experiences are just that, my experiences. I believe that there are good First Sgt's in the AF and that they are all the things you mentioned above. You just need to decide how closely you would like to work with the airman and NCO's. Sorry i couldn't be more help. Good luck with your decision.

Response by TSgt Keith Anstine made Apr 24 at 2015 10:53 AM

2015-04-24T10:53:38-04:00

1. Since you can't be a First Sergeant until you are a MSgt, you are likely 8-10 years (or more) out before you can get to that goal. You can probably get a degree and get your commission quicker than that. Just a thought. You will probably have more effect, sooner going the commissioned route.

2. Have you thought about your goals after the Air Force? In my opinion, you will have more doors opened to you as a retired commissioned officer than you would even as a retired senior NCO.

Response by MSgt James Marquis made Apr 24 at 2015 12:47 PM

2015-04-24T12:47:52-04:00

A First Sergeant position is a difficult one you are the eyes and ears for the commander he depends on your input on moral issues with the troops and if a troop needs discipline the First Sergeant can place his recommendation to the Commander. Ok, you are very early in your career I did 26 years Security Forces active, reserves and National Guard. I began my career in 1981 in the old Security career field separate from law enforcement. Work hard on job knowledge, get all your CDC done as fast as you are allowed. I would request as many military schools you can get in. Work towards a college degree. Support your troops and or fellow battle buddy. Have a can do attitude be positive and uplifting. If you need to question/concern about your supervisor talk to him or her first before moving up the chain of command. I believe praising in public and discipline in private. Stay sharp look your best in uniform and haircut. You should never be told to get a hair cut. Good Luck Jim Marquis, MSgt Retired

Response by CMSgt Chuck Hollis made Apr 24 at 2015 3:45 PM

2015-04-24T15:45:05-04:00

You question is a No Brainer! I was a 1St SGT for 11 years made SMSgt and CMSgt as. 1st SGT. Finish your education and be an Officer in any service, the Brotherhood of Officers stick together. My daughter became an AF Officer and she never regreatted it as I was proud of her.
Has be an Officer!

Response by MAJ Ken Landgren made Apr 24 at 2015 4:12 PM

2015-04-24T16:12:55-04:00

As an officer attains higher rank, they become more removed from the troops with 2-3 staff jobs, and the mindset evolves from tactical to tactical/strategic.

Response by SSgt Private RallyPoint Member made Apr 24 at 2015 4:59 PM

2015-04-24T16:59:01-04:00

I know that I'm early in my career when I say this, but if you want to make a difference, you WILL. It isn't about position, pay, or commissioning. It all has to stem from you and what you are willing to take while trying to make that change. Too many great individuals won't deal with some of the random things that get piled on their plate. No matter what happens, either path you choose, just remember that after you make NCO or CO, it's not about you anymore, it's about the people under you. Every action that you make reflects the legacy that you chose to leave. I love the people under me and I do what I can to make sure they see that and let them see what I do for them. It doesn't take stripes, bars, stars, leaves, or birds to make a difference, it takes individuals.

Response by A1C Daniel Rice made Apr 24 at 2015 7:13 PM

2015-04-24T19:13:19-04:00

I had the same opturnity and stayed and enlisted man, I should have taken the officer position" the perks of even a poor position are better than Staff Sargent"

Response by CMSgt Michael Belanger made Apr 24 at 2015 8:22 PM

2015-04-24T20:22:43-04:00

As a former first sergeant and retired CMSgt I would say this; IF your desire is to help people and be a better leader vs. push your own agenda (i.e. power trip or get promoted) then I say yes, it's a great move. I saw too many shirts who never really understood they were there to help and not be the hammer. I had countless conversations with commanders on this issue that THEY must be the hammer because the shirt has to pick up the pieces and ensure the proper follow-through is done. Being a shirt can have some excellent effects on future promotions, but don't do it because of that. In my case, I found that I loved the Human Resources career field and went on to get my MA in HR and now work as an HR Business Partner for The Home Depot. Best of luck to you.

Response by Capt Al Parker made Apr 26 at 2015 1:26 PM

2015-04-26T13:26:19-04:00

Depends on why you want to become an Officer. If you want to be a leader being an officer is a Great Way Of Life, but if want to be an officer just to boss people around then I wouldn't want to serve with or under you. I became on one because as an enlisted Radar Tect the Radar Maintenance Officers I served under were not Engineers they were Math, History, and any non Technical Degreed body who for the most part wore their rank on their skivvies. I went through OTS and became and went to a Civil Engineering Officer, lasted 3 years and found I got additional duties up the gazoo. Crossed over to Comm Electronics and functioned as an Engineer. I was also respected by the enlisted under me and other squadron enlisted because I had been one of them. If you want to be a "Leader" go for it, if you just want to boss people around become a correctional officer in civilian life.

Response by CMSgt Private RallyPoint Member made Apr 27 at 2015 10:51 AM

2015-04-27T10:51:12-04:00

Like many others who've responded, I implore you to take advantage of the educational opportunities available to you while you're still on active duty. Even if you don't take the officer route, you will be better prepared for your post-military career. To answer your question, I can only say that being a first sergeant was the most rewarding job I had in the Air Force. It was the most demanding as well. You are always on call and you need to be prepared to handle a wide variety of personnel issues ranging from professional development to deeply personal matters involving your people. But the reward of knowing that you made a difference in the life of someone who came to you for help makes up for any of the disadvantages of being the "Shirt." I loved that job, and it prepared me for a career in human resources, although I did that for only a few years while attending law school. I can't speak to the advantages of being an officer (other than the pay difference), so you might want to take the excellent advice of those who have been in your shoes and gone that route. Good luck on whichever road you decide to take.

Response by MAJ Private RallyPoint Member made Apr 27 at 2015 12:09 PM

2015-04-27T12:09:29-04:00

Your ability to mentor young airmen will be much easier as an NCO, simply put you'll spend far more time with them. As an officer you spend most of your time with the ones who've made serious mistakes. The enjoyable part of the military is closer to the NCO side. An officer should be selfless and empowering, if you are mentoring junior airmen how many NCO did you just remove from performing their jobs?

Response by MSgt Manuel Diaz made Apr 27 at 2015 9:58 PM

2015-04-27T21:58:45-04:00

Well they both take orders from the top and need to follow thru with the mission till it is completed. The good shirt does need to investigate when problems with persons occur. Sometimes it is plainly written other times not. A good shirt insures upper management nco or officer is not trying to make a name for themselves at someone's expense, or visa versa. Not an easy job unless you take time to know your people. Not to mention the job of making the unit cohesive and remembering everything everyone else forgets. Both jobs require overtime.

Response by Maj Mike Sciales made Apr 29 at 2015 1:22 PM

2015-04-29T13:22:07-04:00

What a great question. First, do a serious "gut check." Where is your particular "happy place" and I don't mean gazing at your navel. Are you more of a teacher or more of a results person? Teachers like to work with students. Result seekers work to results and gather talent along the way. Do you enjoy coaching? Do you prefer solitary experiences? Is money important to you? Is it more important that your opinions be respected or simply heard? First Sergeants can really make a significant difference in a young troop. When I was an Airman (E-2) I think I pretty much had my head up my ass most days. My original First Sergeant, MSgt Benny Aspell (dead some years now) was a guy who would talk to each and every one who cared to and mentoring long before the label was popular. He guided discussions (and this during the Vietnam War in 1972) and was just a great guy. I never forgot him. I also never again experienced an orderly room (do they even have those anymore?) that was a place you felt comfortable in and could get good coffee and some solid advice.

So you certainly can make a difference in the lives of many troops and if that's your passion, then follow it and have many happy years.

A downside can be that your opinion value will be "capped" by some who will only see the stripes on your sleeve and you won't make as much pay while in and later in retirement.

Go commissioned and you'll be responsible for many things involving many people, but ultimately, success or failure is yours alone to bear - because a good leader always takes the hit.

Go the commissioned route and while your troops might always respect and admire you, there will be much, much fewer chances to ever be loved and remembered fondly by subordinates.

Shadow some Shirts at your base. See if one of your Chiefs will let you shadow them as well. Get invited to the really long Power Point briefings to your commander or ask to sit in on Wing Stand up. Ask some 1st Lts in logistics or admin if you can shadow them and see the "Day in the Life of.." Find some recently commissioned Mustangs and ask them about their experiences.

Final weights and balance check is this: Over a career you will have to suck a lot of pond scum (things you don't like/want/care to do) and listen to a lot of nonsense from superiors and bite your tongue on many occasions and might sometimes have to stand up for common sense and be the "non-team player". Try to maintain your principals and beliefs, but don't be so sanctimonious or cocksure that you cannot reflect or reconsider.

The fact that you are asking the questions shows loads of excellent potential.

It can be a great life. Mine was.

Response by Maj Private RallyPoint Member made Jun 2 at 2015 2:05 PM

2015-06-02T14:05:25-04:00

If you are thinking of joining the Dark Side, it is never too early...the earlier the better in my opinion, as it can take some time to set the necessary gears in motion. If you want to do ROTC or the Academy, you'll naturally have to hold off on starting/completing your Bachelor's (as far as I know). But if you want to go the OTS route then you'll want to get it out of the way. I have always been under the impression that ROTC is the easiest/simplest path to a commission, considering their selection rates vs the other options. I joined ROTC right out of HS, so I don't know much about transitioning to college/ROTC from AD though.

As a rated officer, I have a very different experience with enlisted than non-rated do. As such I can't really provide any advice regarding which is the better path to growing your troops. A lieutenant is the bottom of the totem pole in my world haha...for the most part anyway. The officer-enlisted relationship is very different for aircrew. From that perspective, I'd say it may be your job itself, rather than your commission or lack thereof necessarily, which would determine whether you get to have troops, mentor them, and see them grow.

Response by LTC Paul Labrador made Jun 4 at 2015 10:24 AM

2015-06-04T10:24:34-04:00

While both senior NCOs and officers make an impact on the lives of their SMs, they do it in different ways. Senor NCOs like 1SGs make a direct impact on the SMs at the supervisory level. They have direct interactions with SMs everyday. Officers tend to make the impact at the corporate level. They are the ones who create and drive policy. Officers do have some direct interactions with the "worker bees", but mostly at the junior levels, and as you progress in rank, you move farther away from that direct leadership to a corporate leadership role. Again, both are important, you just had to decide which is a better fit for you.

Response by Maj Private RallyPoint Member made Jun 4 at 2015 5:36 PM

2015-06-04T17:36:17-04:00

I was once told that If you want to have more of an impact on airmen then go enlisted and become a first Sergeant. If you want to be more of a leader and manager then become an officer. I say you can have the best of both worlds by enlisting, working hard, getting a commission. By doing that you gain the respect of the enlisted, as you know where they come from and the respect of officers because even as a second lieutenant you have more experience than some Captains and even majors.

Response by MAJ Ken Landgren made Jun 11 at 2015 4:33 PM

2015-06-11T16:33:20-04:00

As an officers gain rank, they lose opportunity to work with the troops. You will get a bigger picture of the units role in parent units. A lot more meetings will afflict you to include politics.

Response by 1stSgt John Sims made Oct 21 at 2015 4:32 PM

2015-10-21T16:32:16-04:00

A good officer can affect more change overall, a good first sergeant can affect individuals on a more personal basis.

Response by 1SG Brian Adams made Apr 14 at 2016 12:32 PM

2016-04-14T12:32:44-04:00

I can speak from the Army perspective. I tried a few times to become an officer as my father once was. My packets were both complete, just need my support chain of commands blessing. I recall my First Sergeant and Sergeant Major throwing my packet in the trash can. I guess that was the Army culture back then and attitude fostered at the time. As I look back on my career (Retired now), I am glad that I stayed an NCO. I wanted to become an officer for selfish reasons and the status that it brings. More pay, better living conditions, more retirement pay etc....and that is a shame in itself the disparity between officer pay and senior enlisted pay that is probably still going on to this day. The rewards of mentoring junior enlisted, NCOs and senior NCOs was amazing. Having the ability to be hands on with the troops was invaluable. Senior NCOs make all the decisions anyway. Show me a successful officer, and I will show you a great First Sergeant!

Response by Capt Christian D. Orr made Apr 21 at 2016 10:38 PM

2016-04-21T22:38:03-04:00

I got my commission through OTS after a mere 2 years of enlisted service; was still an A1C at the time of my selection. The increase in pay and prestige was nice, but I also had to deal with a lot more politics as an O. But then again, even those measly 2 years of enlisted service gave me a lot more credibility with my enlisted colleagues compared to the non-prior LTs, and I still valued my NCOs' inputs.

Best of luck whichever route you pursue, and keep us posted, hooah.