CPT Private RallyPoint Member 5483282 <div class="images-v2-count-0"></div>Looking to transition from AD Infantry officer to pursue an 11x Opt. 40 contract. My goals are to do a job I&#39;ve always wanted to do, have some great experiences, and ETS following my initial enlisted contract. <br /><br />Specifically looking for advice from those who have personal experience or know someone who has made this transition. <br /><br />What made the transition difficult, were the steps to enlist any different than an initial entry soldier, do you go to basic training or go straight to AIT?<br /><br />Any advice is appreciated! 2020-01-25T20:28:23-05:00 CPT Private RallyPoint Member 5483282

<div class="images-v2-count-0"></div>Looking to transition from AD Infantry officer to pursue an 11x Opt. 40 contract. My goals are to do a job I&#39;ve always wanted to do, have some great experiences, and ETS following my initial enlisted contract. <br /><br />Specifically looking for advice from those who have personal experience or know someone who has made this transition. <br /><br />What made the transition difficult, were the steps to enlist any different than an initial entry soldier, do you go to basic training or go straight to AIT?<br /><br />Any advice is appreciated!

2020-01-25T20:28:23-05:00 2020-01-25T20:28:23-05:00 SSG(P) Private RallyPoint Member 5483308

<div class="images-v2-count-0"></div>Perhaps add a bit more context about your scenario/motivations? This may help the SMEs answer your question. <br /><br />I’m extremely curious as to why you would not rather attend RASP2, as an 11A; versus resigning your commission and re-joining as a specialist. <br /><br />Regiment thoroughly reviews service members attending RASP. I could only imagine it would do more than raise eyebrows when looking at your record. <br /><br />Your question absolutely baffles me. Whatever you pursue, good luck.

2020-01-25T20:40:13-05:00 2020-01-25T20:40:13-05:00 LTC Lee Bouchard 5483309

<div class="images-v2-count-0"></div>The path you are on has not been taken by many. So I&#39;m sure what advise you may receive any time soon. I hope I am wrong on that count. I applaud your desire to purse your heart and dreams.<br />Good for you. In your shoes I would bring your questions to a couple of recruiters and see what advice they can offer. Also a local career advisor.<br />Good luck.

2020-01-25T20:40:28-05:00 2020-01-25T20:40:28-05:00 SFC Private RallyPoint Member 5483334

<div class="images-v2-count-0"></div>First, you won&#39;t get an opt 40 contract, and you don&#39;t need one. RASP is open to anyone who wants to attend selection.<br /><br />There are a few ways to accomplish this. First and foremost, you&#39;ll have to complete your officer ADSO. There is no way around that without the Army needing to downsize on Junior officers. <br /><br />Easiest way, revert to enlisted and submit your RASP request after a year or two of Infantry time. Your Career Counselor has the information on reverting and it will take signing off from your BN CDR (and maybe BDE CDR).<br /><br />Second way is a UQR at the end of your ADSO. Transition into the NG as an E5 and attend RASP from the NG.<br /><br />Third way, UQR, approach an Active Duty Recruiter, reenter as an 11B E5 and submit your RASP packet at your first duty station.<br /><br />The first way is definitely the fastest and has the least amount of steps and waiting

2020-01-25T20:49:34-05:00 2020-01-25T20:49:34-05:00 CPT Lawrence Cable 5484314

<div class="images-v2-count-0"></div>OK, first off, you will need to have completed your ADSO, unless you are National Guard, which is a different ballgame. If you have, you contact your branch manager and submit a letter of resignation. Once that is accepted, you enlist. As long as you stay Infantry, you shouldn&#39;t have to attend OSUT or the AIT phase of OSUT and the lowest rank you will get is E-5, unless you are prior service and held a higher NCO rank before Commissioning, in which case you should revert to that rank. I&#39;m sure that someone has mentioned that a 40 option is for initial entry recruits only by now, so that isn&#39;t a possibility. However, anyone can volunteer for RASP once they are at their unit. So if you are sure you want to go that route, resign, enlist as an E-5, with an Airborne Contract if you aren&#39;t Airborne already, and volunteer for RASP at Airborne or when you get to your unit. My understanding that the washout rate for the Extended RASP is higher than Ranger School and you will have to attend both. <br />Are you Tabbed already?

2020-01-26T08:07:31-05:00 2020-01-26T08:07:31-05:00 CSM Darieus ZaGara 5484958

<div class="images-v2-count-0"></div>You have had the appropriate responses. The only point I will add, ensure your reasons are as you state, the grass is always greener, you will be looked upon as green at best, you will face some mischaracterization of your transition based on perceptions and assumptions, the scrutiny will come fro. All angles, the Sqaud leaders, the Soldiers, your Company leadership and even Bn. So, while I say chase your dream, chase it with eyes wide open.

2020-01-26T11:27:57-05:00 2020-01-26T11:27:57-05:00 SSG Lyle O'Rorke 5487120

<div class="images-v2-count-0"></div>It’s doable but why not try going SF you will get sent to ranger and get the tab plus the other tabs. You will get to do the great stuff also.

2020-01-26T23:15:02-05:00 2020-01-26T23:15:02-05:00 MSgt Michael Smith 5488276

<div class="images-v2-count-0"></div>I think that you seriously need to think about that particular career move. I understand your desire to &quot;Rambo it up it a little bit&quot; but there are plenty of Spec Ops careers you can pursue as an officer. You will absolutely not be happy.

2020-01-27T08:59:53-05:00 2020-01-27T08:59:53-05:00 SPC Elijah J. Henry, MBA 5489330

<div class="images-v2-count-0"></div>I suggest reading Sua Sponte by Dick Couch. I recall that the RASP 1 class he followed had an E-5 who had resigned his commission as an O-2. Couch discussed some of the particular difficulties he faced in that position.<br />I see you are an Infantry Officer, which means you likely have your Tab. If you don&#39;t, your life will be much worse in Batt. Being a Ranger without a Tab sucks. Even if you are a SGT, you may be called a PVT and forced to respond when SPCs with Tabs call for PVTs to do stuff.

2020-01-27T14:46:29-05:00 2020-01-27T14:46:29-05:00 MAJ Private RallyPoint Member 5496488

<div class="images-v2-count-0"></div>I have seen this (i.e. Junior Officer to Ranger Regiment 11B Enlisted) done before successfully, but unfortunately have no anecdotal advice on the particulars of how it works.<br />Not to beat a dead horse, but examine your motivation for doing this. On both the O and E side of the house, the service related aspect of our profession (i.e. serving where the Army needs you) means we don’t always get what we want (even if it is a laudable goal). You might make the transition and things don’t go exactly according to plan.<br />Also, a minor note, but take a hard look at your finances. Utilize your TSP and save as much as you can before making the transition. <br />All this being said, don’t let anyone dissuade you if achieving this goal is your definition of success. Only you know what your personal and professional goals are.

2020-01-29T13:22:13-05:00 2020-01-29T13:22:13-05:00 LTC Private RallyPoint Member 5499303

<div class="images-v2-count-0"></div>so you want to give up your commission and do a single term of enlistment as a SPC? Have you checked the optempo lately? we really aren&#39;t doing a whole lot of fighting so the odds are pretty good that you would spend most of your enlistment in garrison at some conus post either doing shit details or supervising a bunch of PVTs who are doing them. something to think about.

2020-01-30T08:35:52-05:00 2020-01-30T08:35:52-05:00 PO1 Manuel Sousa 5501094

<div class="images-v2-count-0"></div>Maybe some reasons are that as an officer, you will be chained to your typewriter(computer). When an officer is on liberty he must watch his/hers every word so as not to be offensive to some one and may influence the next fitness report. When observing enlisted men on liberty there all letting their hair down. Have great commeradie, fun, drink, and say whatever they want. <br /><br />Manny

2020-01-30T17:35:52-05:00 2020-01-30T17:35:52-05:00 SMSgt Lawrence McCarter 5502394

<div class="images-v2-count-0"></div>I have trouble understanding why anyone would want to switch from the rank of a Commissioned Officer to and enlisted Man. That seems to be moving backwards and not forward. You will also be giving working for less money and have to do things that right now You don&#39;t have to. I&#39;ve never seen anybody that wanted to do that let alone do it voluntarily.

2020-01-31T00:44:58-05:00 2020-01-31T00:44:58-05:00 CPL Sarah Stilwell 5644451

<div class="images-v2-count-0"></div>The closest I can give you is a LTC who attended airborne school and was treated as a trainee on the same level as a private. He struggled with the physical demands and the daily hazing (this was 2004). He was getting his ass chewed by a black hat (jump master, E-5) for being &#39;an old motherfucker&#39; (his hair was grey and he moved slow). I think this was more due to his age than his time as a field grade officer (he was probably hazed worse in his day, just saying). I asked him why he was at jump school and he said he wanted to make COL so he needed to look good on paper (got to be airborne to command an airborne unit kind of thinking). I don&#39;t know if he passed, but I do know he had a harder time than the young, fresh 11B that typically go into airborne school straight out of sand hill. He expected to be treated no different and he seemed to manage well. As for a permanent career change on your part, this is all I can give you to consider.

2020-03-09T11:34:58-04:00 2020-03-09T11:34:58-04:00 1SG Steven Malkowski 5663104

<div class="images-v2-count-0"></div>The answers by the LTC and CSM are right on. Regardless of your motivation, when people find out you were an officer in a previous life you can expect the following. 1. Like the LTC said, you will be doing/supervising a lot of shit details. 2. if you ever screw up, they will say &quot;No wonder he was an officer&quot;. 3. It will be hard not to question a junior E5/E6/O1 orders if they seem wrong based on your leadership experience and 3A. when the NCO/2LT does or says something a little off (shall we say), the rest of the squad/platoon will be looking at you for your response 4. You will constantly have to explain to new people why you took a voluntary demotion so they don&#39;t think you were a screw up. 5. If as I assume you are a competent person, the higher ups will put pressure on you to get promoted. I was enlisted AD and got commissioned in the Guard then after ten years went from O3 to E6 (for reasons too long to explain and boring). I spent another twelve years as an enlisted retiring as a 1SG (though my retired pay is based on my having been a Captain). These were some of my experiences.

2020-03-15T07:49:01-04:00 2020-03-15T07:49:01-04:00 SCPO Paul Sayles 5663244

<div class="images-v2-count-0"></div>Expect to be treated as a new officer at first. If you are staying in the same career field it might be a bit difficult as suddenly you are a peer to those who last week were telling your what and how to do something. If you are moving to another career field where you are unknown, it might be less challenging as you start with a fairly clean slate. My dad was a Mustang with fourteen years of service when he was commissioned. I only recall him saying once that he had a problem with acceptance and that was several years after he was commissioned. I think partly too it is how one presents themselves. If one is pushing their bars too hard, it will be made clear them quickly that they are not winning friends and influencing people in the wrong way. I`ve had to take a couple of new officers aside and request for them to change tack. Almost all are grateful for the advice. Again, this privately and don`t embarrass them.

2020-03-15T08:39:09-04:00 2020-03-15T08:39:09-04:00 CPO Melvin Miller 5700381

<div class="images-v2-count-0"></div>I am sorry but I was enlisted Navy and rank has its privelege. I was gungho and moved up the ranks. In the Navy we had Warrant officers which is the path i was going to. You have the time and experience. You also get more respect as long as you are good leader.

2020-03-25T11:21:26-04:00 2020-03-25T11:21:26-04:00 SSG George Duncan 5768986

<div class="images-v2-count-0"></div>transfer to some place you haven&#39;t bin

2020-04-12T17:15:20-04:00 2020-04-12T17:15:20-04:00 SSG George Duncan 5768998

<div class="images-v2-count-0"></div>hi old timer

2020-04-12T17:17:39-04:00 2020-04-12T17:17:39-04:00 SSgt Kory Hessling 5786187

<div class="images-v2-count-0"></div>You know what I would do? I imagine you do work with some enlisted where ever you are. TALK TO YOUR NCO&#39;s FIRST, before you make a decision of this magnitude. Work your way up from your mid-level to Senior NCO&#39;s. Get there opinions on what it is like to be a an enlisted member in relative peace time or even war time. Junior enlisted is NOT where you want to be, I cant tell you. You need to look at the totality of what you are considering before going off the deep end. Considering what you had to do to get your commission and then throwing it away, there has to be more options from where you are now. You went to college, look for a alternate solution. I saw very good answers through out this thread, read and understand what these people are telling you. Hell, I know as an Infantry Officer the ladder is extremely competitive. Be that leader you were trained to be. At worst, you&#39;ll get rifted and you would be enlisted anyway, but you would be a Captain by that point. Think before committing career suicide.

2020-04-17T11:43:52-04:00 2020-04-17T11:43:52-04:00 MAJ Mark N. 5801544

<div class="images-v2-count-0"></div>Figure I am late to this discussion, but the content caught my eye.<br />I can&#39;t image a CPT with command experience, or at least PL experience transitioning to an E-4. Besides the training and background difference (Officer vs Enlisted), you will also show up to the Regiment in your late 20&#39;s or early 30&#39;s (I am assuming you are around 26 or so) - if you get thru all the schools without recycles and injuries. I went thru Ranger school as a just promoted CPT (pre-command) and was the second oldest in the class. I was fortunate to make it thru the school by being in extremely good shape, metally steeled and protected by my Ranger buddies because I was the only one who could call for fire effectively (former FA Officer). I am grateful for the opportunity to attend Ranger school, be a first time go and move on to my next assignment (which required at Tab), but I do not think I would have been an asset to the Regiment - and certainly not a couple more years down the line. I also think your idea of Ranger life is a bit romanticized (other 75th folks please chime in). If you want to wild life experiences, try for the CIA, FBI or State Department - they are always on the lookout for energetic combat arms officers with successful command under their belt. Thx.

2020-04-21T17:24:58-04:00 2020-04-21T17:24:58-04:00 SGM Private RallyPoint Member 6347834

<div class="images-v2-count-0"></div>Is it your goal to be gunner, mortar crew member etc? It appears you saw these Soldiers during your time as an AD officer and wanted to be a squad/section/member as opposed to directing them. Or, you were an AD Inf officer and not happy being the PBO, Motor, S1 etc. Not sure the motivation behind your intent.

2020-09-26T15:33:22-04:00 2020-09-26T15:33:22-04:00 SPC W. Neil Cantor 6756500

<div class="images-v2-count-0"></div>I would be a nice officer as well as a NCO! Not sure how life in the military is now, but has to be much better than when I enlisted since June 1, 1972!

2021-02-18T06:52:55-05:00 2021-02-18T06:52:55-05:00 CW2 Myers Owings 7070042

<div class="images-v2-count-0"></div>You do you but I am just wondering if you considered going for a warrant officer position in something. You would have to prove technical competence in the field but if you are qualified it can be done. I just looked I admit I did not know what a opt 40 contract was. Sounds like ranger enlisted. I don’t know if a transfer could be done but there are SF warrants, just saying. Point of reference I went from officer to warrant but it was maintenance/ordnance and national guard.

2021-06-26T00:10:48-04:00 2021-06-26T00:10:48-04:00 PO1 Daniel Shea 7081258

<div class="images-v2-count-0"></div>Dont

2021-07-01T06:33:56-04:00 2021-07-01T06:33:56-04:00 SrA James Cannon 7107417

<div class="images-v2-count-0"></div>I had a friends who is now deceased, who resigned his commission as an O-2 in a national guard artillery unit. He did this because he wanted so bad to be a Marine. He was given the option to go into a Marine artillery unit as an E-5 without having to go through basic. After overhearing some grunts making disparaging comments about such an option, he decided to opt in to full Marine basic as an E-1. He told me that he was rode extra hard in basic because the DIs knew about his past status and figured that he was either a screw up or crazy. Being a starry eyed patriot is unfortunately not always viewed in a positive light. He made it through basic and on to an active duty Marine artillery unit just as he wanted. He did the four years he wanted to do and then got out.

2021-07-14T11:15:36-04:00 2021-07-14T11:15:36-04:00 2020-01-25T20:28:23-05:00