What advice would you give to enlisted soldiers interested in entering the officer ranks?

Rank has its RESPONSIBILITIES.

Before you look into the commissioning route, ask to shadow an officer for a week or two. Actually do a deep dive and see what is entailed. It’s a completely different world being an officer. The types of officers can vary greatly as well as there are over a dozen branches with the officer Ranks.

When I was prior enlisted, we always joked that as enlisted, we “worked” for a living, as opposed to officers.

Let me assure you, officers work and they work damn hard. Expectations couldn’t be higher. They will be high among your subordinates and your superiors. Especially in the beginning. Sure you get some benefits as far as how you are treated, but there is VERY little room for error or corrective action, as some of your decisions can effective peoples lives and livelihoods.

That being said, I regret none of it.

First of all, look up the application process/requirements to see if you are qualified or what you must do to become qualified.

The first thing that you need to understand is the Commission does not guarentee you will make it to retirement. You can be RIFd, you may get a bad FITREP that affects your chances of moving from LCDR to CDR (big JO step), your timing of earning a Masters may not work out, may not get optimal assignment rotations (key to leaving the JOs), selection for C&GS School and the War College among others. The benefits of being an officer and the benefits of managerial or high civilian employment goes without saying. Rank does have its privileges. If you don't have a Bachelor, get it. Get all the quals you can get to demonstrate leadership ability. Stay mission oriented. However; you must keep in mind that not everyone gets the nod even though their prepped up. Consider making E-7 in the Army or Chief in the sea services and apply for a Warrant commission or if that fail work as diligently as you can and become a Command Master Chief E-9. My point is that the military offers a diligent and well put together leader several option of getting to the top of the Pyramid. These other positions are a key part of the leadership and policy continuum and are not consolation prizes. Getting a direct commission is tough, but going to OCS is up to you and what you bring to the table. Remember this: When you become an Ensign or 2nd LT never forget where you came from. When you get to your new unit, find a squared away Chief and listen to his counsel. He'll lead you right to the Golden Ring.

Just be ready once the officers find out you were enlisted and the NCOs find out you were enlisted too. When they do both of them are not going to respect you like the other officers that came directly in to the service.

I have seen this over and over when the Army had the Green to Gold Program. So many Officers that came from the enlisted ranks were treaded like crap by the Officers and the enlisted because both sides thought that they should have stayed enlisted.

I think it is wrong to treat an Officer that better herself or himself that way. I think an enlisted member that chooses to become should be treated the same as any officer.

So my advice to any enlisted members if you choose to become an Officer never and mean never tell any one that you were an enlisted member.