Posted on May 22, 2020
What advice would you give to enlisted soldiers interested in entering the officer ranks?
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Officers
Enlisted
Enlisted-to-Officer
Leadership
Toxic Leadership
Posted 4 y ago
Responses: 95
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Honestly, I tell people that going to OCS was the worst mistake I made in the Army, and that I might have chosen to stay in through retirement had I gone NCO instead.
For starters, evaluate your leadership style and determine if your modus operandi is more "NCO style" or "Officer style." I was an O2-P when I realized that the way I do things would have been better suited to me being an NCO rather than being an officer. If you don't know where you fall on this, ask any of the senior NCOs who know you and your work.
Don't forget the general roles of an officer vs. an NCO. I did not think through the fact that if I promoted to O3 and beyond, it would end up decreasing my contact and rapport with the enlisted soldiers I had grown to trust and enjoy. Whereas, if I had stayed enlisted, I would have had the opportunity to directly lead soldiers for an entire career.
Also, don't fall into the trap of thinking that if you have post-secondary education, that you are somehow obligated to become an officer. There are plenty of NCOs out there with undergraduate and graduate degrees.
If you truly think you can best serve the Army as an officer, by all means do it. The Army needs good O-grade leaders. Just go forward with a clear view of what it truly entails.
For starters, evaluate your leadership style and determine if your modus operandi is more "NCO style" or "Officer style." I was an O2-P when I realized that the way I do things would have been better suited to me being an NCO rather than being an officer. If you don't know where you fall on this, ask any of the senior NCOs who know you and your work.
Don't forget the general roles of an officer vs. an NCO. I did not think through the fact that if I promoted to O3 and beyond, it would end up decreasing my contact and rapport with the enlisted soldiers I had grown to trust and enjoy. Whereas, if I had stayed enlisted, I would have had the opportunity to directly lead soldiers for an entire career.
Also, don't fall into the trap of thinking that if you have post-secondary education, that you are somehow obligated to become an officer. There are plenty of NCOs out there with undergraduate and graduate degrees.
If you truly think you can best serve the Army as an officer, by all means do it. The Army needs good O-grade leaders. Just go forward with a clear view of what it truly entails.
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1LT Nick Kidwell
Yeah...I considered that, but by the time I left service, I was ready to be out. Now its 13 years later and I occasionally do the woulda/coulda/shoulda thing.
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LTC (Join to see)
LTC Joe Anderson - enlisted for 19 and commissioned for 17. There are still times when I find myself being reminded by some Sr NCO that, "this is NCO business, sir. We've got this".
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MAJ Byron Oyler
Going from enlisted to junior officer is tough but the greatest thing about being a field grade where my rater is a deputy chief and sr rater hospital commander is my ability to take care of people. If I burn those bridges, I get sent back to the ICU to take care of sick people and that is what I love to do most. So doing the right thing for others, especially those junior is my purpose in life and I would not be able to do that to this degree enlisted.
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Same advice I give to anyone thonking about joining the service. Ask yourself why you want to do that. How do you hope to benefit; what are you prepared to sacrifice? Do you truly understand the responsibility you are askibg for, and are you ready, willing, and able to undertake said responsibility?
Once you answer those questions, you will know if it is a good idea for you. If it is, go for it, and go HARD. Don't half-step. If it isn't, that's OK. There are numerous ways to serve your country, you just identified ONE that was not right for you. Drive on.
Once you answer those questions, you will know if it is a good idea for you. If it is, go for it, and go HARD. Don't half-step. If it isn't, that's OK. There are numerous ways to serve your country, you just identified ONE that was not right for you. Drive on.
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everything that sucks about being enlisted still sucks when you're an officer. More responsibility, less leeway for mistakes. But the pay is nice.
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SFC Casey O'Mally
LTC (Join to see) I don't mind writing IPods... In an air-conditioned office, after a full night's sleep. In field conditions, I think I would have to agree. Trying to word when you are sleep-deprived is horrible.
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MAJ Byron Oyler
I went from enlisted medic to RN to critical care RN. So much more responsibility and so little room for error. I love my job and what I do for people but being enlisted was easier.
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LTC (Join to see)
MAJ Byron Oyler - I've always said if I could keep my officer pay and go back to doing my enlisted job, I'd do it in a heartbeat. lol
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All of the above comments are pearls of wisdom and I'd like to add a few more. Before you begin the process to become an officer, I would first suggest that you complete an under-graduate degree program. Secondly, that you develop your English-language writing skills to the highest degree possible as well as Math if you are considering a CMF that requires math (e.g., Engineering, Artillery).
After you earn your commission (and I hope you do), develop good observation and listening skills. Be prepared to carry more than your weight from time to time. Show that you are willing and able to do what your subordinates do. "Lead by example" is one of the most important virtues that any leader can show. Listen and learn from your NCOs, especially those who have known combat. Never, ever, hold grudges, show bias or seek revenge.
Lastly, continue your civilian as well as the military education that you will have the opportunity to acquire. Many officers (and NCOs) acquire Bachelor's and Master's degrees that aren't worth the ink that they are printed with. Think of your life after military service always and enhance your skills in something that you believe that you will enjoy.
I have only had two careers in my life. I was a soldier and a teacher. It was never about the "Benjamins. Both, to me, were my vocations. I gave my best because I enjoyed what I was doing. I would consider that as well if I were in your shoes.
After you earn your commission (and I hope you do), develop good observation and listening skills. Be prepared to carry more than your weight from time to time. Show that you are willing and able to do what your subordinates do. "Lead by example" is one of the most important virtues that any leader can show. Listen and learn from your NCOs, especially those who have known combat. Never, ever, hold grudges, show bias or seek revenge.
Lastly, continue your civilian as well as the military education that you will have the opportunity to acquire. Many officers (and NCOs) acquire Bachelor's and Master's degrees that aren't worth the ink that they are printed with. Think of your life after military service always and enhance your skills in something that you believe that you will enjoy.
I have only had two careers in my life. I was a soldier and a teacher. It was never about the "Benjamins. Both, to me, were my vocations. I gave my best because I enjoyed what I was doing. I would consider that as well if I were in your shoes.
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No matter what your rank, you will always have soldiers below you to lead and above you to learn from. Integrity in both directions matters most. I always taught those I lead everything I knew because they would one day take my place. What I learned from my superiors was how to respect their position and not repeat their mistakes. The way I was treated as a female MSG was a challenge and an opportunity to do my job as an example that personnel would want to respond to in a productive way. Going up the ranks is leadership no matter how far you go.
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I served in the Air Force from 1972-1992. I was enlisted for the first eight years. I was also a medic. Operation Bootstrap allowed me to complete my Bachelor's degree. After graduation, my Section Commander spoke to me about applying for a commission. I applied, was accepted, and started OTS three months later. Officer Training School was a great experience. Following tech training, the AF made me a Section Commander because I had 8 years of experience. Heck, I was a medic! But I learned. it boils down to a few "rules": Get to work early. Stay late. Attend all mandatory and non-mandatory functions. Do all the required training. Work on your Masters degree. keep your nose clean. You are more visible as an officer. Your enlisted friends are no longer your peers, so maintain a professional distance. Fraternization is real and can cause a career derailment.
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Early in my military career I was offered 1st Lt and a chance to fly Hueys And I turned it down because I had many close calls in Vietnam and did not want to press my luck . Later if I would have took that more than likely I would have been rifted after the war wound down And besides now all Helo pilots are Warrant officers . I ended up with 33 years military service and retired as a CMSgt . And who knows if I would have survived I left Vietnam in 1966 with a lot of war left .
There is nothing wrong with becoming a officer but if you do think about being a leader . Having great leaders will impact your whole military career and will give you great advice how for you to manage and lead your people that is a given for a great military .
There is nothing wrong with becoming a officer but if you do think about being a leader . Having great leaders will impact your whole military career and will give you great advice how for you to manage and lead your people that is a given for a great military .
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Wide range of guidance on this post. My first advice is to research every aspect of the officer position you seek. Ask questions from 2nd LTs/ CW01s, etc... (I'm assuming Army). Ask them to tell you the nasty stuff, not the roses. Don't ask enlisted people, you'll get anti-officer garbage that is useless to you. Don't make the move unless making the Army is a strong career option. Money can not be a factor here. When you decide to send in your application, do it with the same conviction you'd have getting your people ready for battle. Attention to detail is as paramount on an application as it is when leading troops properly. Last advice is: Be fearless. There are clowns and boobs at every level of the chain of command and just by caring, you've eliminated 50% of the competition. I was a Chief/Senior Chief for 8 years and an officer for the next seven years. No matter the rank, there were slugs in each of my peer groups. Good luck.
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SCPO Larry Poffenbarger
When you were Chief/Senior Chief, did you feel your advice to junior officers was garbage? Sounds like instead of Chief/Senior Chief you were E7?E8.
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CWO3 Bryan Luciani
That's a great question Larry. I loved being a Chief. At initiation (when I got my anchors) an admiral shook my hand and told me that from now on, my main job was to train junior officers to be good COs. I took it to heart big time. My first year I was CPO Mess Caterer, qualified EOOW and ended up ranked #2 (out of 18). My next year I took over the ESWS program, smoked an OPPE as lead EOOW and was ranked #1 for the next two periods. I made Senior right after I transferred, and had to learn to be a Senior Chief or more specifically, I had to learn to lead and influence a bunch of Chiefs. I did well and again was ranked top 2 out of 15ish every time. I foolishly enjoyed the status associated with being an Senior Chief because I had a solid reputation (even stood in as Senior Enlisted Advisor on multiple occasions) instead of applying for CWO when I hit my 12-year mark. I was member of all CPO associations, attended all events, etc... for 8 years. I trained more JOs than you can shake a stick at. At least 8 of them became qualified EOOWs on my watch. In 8 years as a CPO/SCPO I produced 18 SOQs, 5 SOYs, and got 6 people capped to next paygrade. If one of my sailors failed to pick up SOQ or SOY at a board I took it personally. I was a very good Chief. I went Warrant after a Commodore (O6) gave me an MP recommendation after being at his command for only four months, vice giving me an NOB or giving the only other Senior Chief the EP. That would have allowed both of us to maintain status quo. Not this idiot. I told him he was shooting both of his Senior Chiefs in the foot. He told me I was too young to be a Master Chief anyway and that the CMC had commented the same thing to him. Neither of these boobs ever checked my service record and judged me based on my age. Neither knew anything about the Master Diesel inspector E9 position I was interested in. I asked the idiot what I could do to improve, he told me "just keep doing what you're doing". I wish I could have puked on his desk. So I walked down the hall and completely nuked the pos Master Chief (who after that never talked with me again) and I started working on my warrant package that day. That day, I became that E8 you alluded to. I did not want to have any part of the CPO community after that. Yes, it was immature and reactive but I always felt I had an obligation to my children as well as the Navy to seek more responsibility, and here I was being told by unqualified people to sit on my ass for the next four years while my career recovers from his eval. There are E7/E8 kind of people out there that should be driven out of the military. I've seen way too many of them. I assure you I'm not one of them by a mile. FYI, I have twin sons. One is an Army Special Agent with CID and an honor grad from college, the other is a Navy Lt(jg), also honor grad from college, OOD/SWO qualified and driving ships in the Atlantic. Only a real Chief could produce results like that.
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