Posted on May 22, 2020
What advice would you give to enlisted soldiers interested in entering the officer ranks?
30.1K
514
150
93
93
0
Posted 4 y ago
Responses: 95
When you enroll in Army ROTC, you'll get more than college degree and scholarships. Gain leadership skills you can apply to your career and as an Officer.
(0)
(0)
For those who have said "don't do it for the money, " I can't agree heartily enough. My intent out of HS (before enlisting) was to enlist as a reservist then attend college via ROTC and gain my commission.
Along the way, the strangest thing happened. I discovered that independent patient treatment was my passion. I watched the officer corps, medical service, nurses, and physicians, and realized I liked my job better than theirs. And I abandoned my plans to do twenty commissioned years.
My suggestion is to drill down on your motivation. Is it that the job you want isn't available to enlisted personnel (pilots come to mind) ? Then seek out that commission. Do you truly enjoy making things go boom? Then stay enlisted, because other than the occasional proficiency range and rare occasions IRL your mission, with a commission, is to ensure your assigned personnel have the training, information, and tools necessary to build things, blow up other things, and engage hostile forces. Rarely does an officer have those opportunities after O-2, because that's not the mission of company grade officers.
Along the way, the strangest thing happened. I discovered that independent patient treatment was my passion. I watched the officer corps, medical service, nurses, and physicians, and realized I liked my job better than theirs. And I abandoned my plans to do twenty commissioned years.
My suggestion is to drill down on your motivation. Is it that the job you want isn't available to enlisted personnel (pilots come to mind) ? Then seek out that commission. Do you truly enjoy making things go boom? Then stay enlisted, because other than the occasional proficiency range and rare occasions IRL your mission, with a commission, is to ensure your assigned personnel have the training, information, and tools necessary to build things, blow up other things, and engage hostile forces. Rarely does an officer have those opportunities after O-2, because that's not the mission of company grade officers.
(0)
(0)
Get a four year degree, get FIT, take every school you can get, get ready for some tough training. “Courage Never Quits”, OCS Class 4-86. Been there, done that.
(0)
(0)
I did it at 19...Commissioned at 20...Best thing to do is not return to the same Unit...Transfer to another Unit at another Installation...Then, do not act like you know everything because you have some prior service...Observe and then make changes if they need to be made...Remember...Take care of your Men and they will take care of the Mission...
(0)
(0)
The grass is always greener on the other side...because it’s full of shit. There are obvious advantages to commissioning, especially if you have enlisted experience. But I think people tend to underestimate what you’re trading in order to become an officer. For some it works and for others it can come back to bite you. My best advice, have a really good reason that has nothing to do with getting more money.
(0)
(0)
I did it ... SSG (E-6) to 2LT (O-1E) ... I thought it would be a seamless transition, but I quickly learned it was NOT going to be seamless. As a SF NCO, it hands-on, get the job done and move onto the next mission/task. As a 2LT, I learned don't meddle in NCO business, delegate appropriately and let them do their J.O.B. It requires some adjustment, mentorship and commitment. The moral of the story: Be flexible and NOT afraid to learn. If you're NOT making mistakes, you're NOT doing your J.O.B.
My next transition from Captain (O3E) to WO1 14 years later was another transition which required adjustment; another story for another time.
My next transition from Captain (O3E) to WO1 14 years later was another transition which required adjustment; another story for another time.
(0)
(0)
you are enlisted, do not forget where you came from. nobody really respects rank unless the person holding said rank can justify the pay raise. you know nothing and you can prove it. always consider your enlisted input. understand you can water down the strict protocols that higher officers implement, your soldiers will respect this. you want your soldiers to genuinely respect you.
(0)
(0)
Read This Next