What is the biggest difference you noticied upon becoming a field grade officer?

2013-12-10T05:08:42-05:00

I  can't help but notice how much becoming a field grade officer required from me (and resulted in) a change in the way I think.  What changes have you noticed in yourself or in others as they make the transition?

Response by SFC James Baber made Dec 12 at 2013 1:03 PM

2013-12-12T13:03:00-05:00

Dealing with a whole new group of I know it all's. Just kidding Sir, not an officer, but I am assuming it is the same as on the enlisted side when you go from junior NCO to senior NCO ranks. There are ijuts at all levels and people that are helpful and others who are worried about you going after their jobs. It is all in the eye and mentality of the individual I believe. Good luck with the new challenges and duites.

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 12 at 2013 1:27 PM

2013-12-12T13:27:41-05:00

Sir,

What I have percieved in others who were promoted to Major: They change their focus from taking care of their company's Soldiers to taking care of their Battalions-or-higher echelons. They transition from Direct Leadership to Operational Leadership and possibly to Strategic Leadership.

Story time: One of the best Majors I have known was our Battalion XO and then our S-3. He broke it down for us on the topic of recycling a Soldier back into class (instead of removing him or her from the schoolhouse) without proper protocol. In the small view of the instructor or PSG, the Soldier is a good bubba and tried hard and deserves another chance. In the large view of the Army, that Soldier and the hours spent instructing him are not paid for by DA, and "giving him an extra chance"--without the prerequisite beurocratic headache--is a slippery slope that ultimately results in lost, unrecoverable funding allocations.

Bottom line: Field-grade and General-Grade Officers (along with Sergeants Major and Command Sergeants Major) are responsible for doing what's best for the Army, not necessarily what's best for a Servicemember. And that's the way it SHOULD be.

Am I warm?

Response by LtCol Dann Chesnut made Dec 13 at 2013 1:25 PM

2013-12-13T13:25:56-05:00

It's hard to leave being a Captain; you are involved with troops, you are typically at the leading edge of ops.  As a Field Grade Officer, there is more planning, coordinating, assessing, recommending, presenting, advocating, associating, affiliating, and less implementing, directing, counseling, inspiring, and direct leading.  It is a different mindset.

Response by CW5 Sam R. Baker made Dec 13 at 2013 1:56 PM

2013-12-13T13:56:17-05:00

I would like to speak on this from two perspectives. One being a veteran of 26 years and working for and with majors; secondly on being a warrant officer of considered equal field grade status even though not officially recognized.

I have had the opportunity to work in company level MP and aviation units where I had both CPT and MAJ commanders. Huge difference in the level of basic Soldier and family understanding. Majors seem to shift gears and a level of responsibility and caring from Captain. They are given a leg up with the battalion commander and staff also. Usually they have a broader outlook on their foxhole and those around them. I am not saying an 03 is not comparable, but as frank as I may, they are still drying out behind the ears. Of course aviators would love to see O4 commanders for many reasons, but the budget and service would never allow it again. I agree that Majors are seen as planners and Captains as those who execute with Soldiers.

On the warrant officer front, I can speak from experience first hand in aviation branch and outside of it. In the aviation branch even CW4 is not the breaking point of change. While respected in the Army and travel regulations as a field grade, they still work at company level a lot and are just pilots with a specialty. Most decide to retire rather than step up to the plate and take on staff time out of the cockpit. However, the travel regulations give field grade status to CW4/5 and now the new Army OER gives recognition to CW3/4/5. The latter is important because out of aviation, the CW3 in all other branches is that staff specialist equal to a MAJ and they usually receive the respect and courtesy common to the hard field grade rank. In aviation the grades are one upped to get the same treatment or commanders ear.

As a CW5 however, a tremendous change has occurred. Not in how myself accomplishes things, but in how things get done just because you mention something. One thing that is annoying is that folks often remark how you don't have to go to PT, go to formation, go to the range, stand in line, etc. etc. just because you are a CW5 and don't currently receive a blocked OER. Totally a perception set by some bad apples in my opinion. We as leaders must maintain the status quo that got us recognized for advancement to this rank. In closing this rambling, I think in could have used some better training in delegation of authority and directing surbordinate units and peers for task accomplishment. Oh yeah and FRAGO reading and writing!

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 13 at 2013 2:14 PM

2013-12-13T14:14:23-05:00

Great question Sir. Thank you for posting it and thank you all for providing some insight into your world.

Response by LTC Paul Labrador made Jul 25 at 2014 5:31 PM

2014-07-25T17:31:44-04:00

Iron Majors.

Response by MAJ Robert (Bob) Petrarca made Jul 25 at 2014 8:28 PM

2014-07-25T20:28:31-04:00

Actually, not much. I could no longer be referred to as "CPT Commo" which was a bummer because that was my handle for almost 10 years - yes I did say 10, call me a late bloomer. I still ran a section of 6-10 soldiers doing my job as an S6. It does give you a little more clout outside your normal circles though.

Response by CDR Thomas Gatliffe made Jul 27 at 2014 9:49 PM

2014-07-27T21:49:17-04:00

In the Navy it is jokingly said that there are three classes of officers: Young Studs, Old Fudds, and Lieutenant Commanders. When you make O-4, you begin to have to decide if you want to continue trying to be a Young Stud (easier for aviators) with the attendant risks to your long-term career chances (assuming you want a long-term career) or begin the transition to Old Fudd with its attendant risk of increasing detachment from the day-to-day pulse of your unit and the personnel who are its life-blood. It seems to become harder and harder to maintain a workable balance between humanity and the necessary demands of bureaucracy in performing your job. For the good of the service and the nation, neither can be significantly neglected IMHO.

Response by CSM Michael J. Uhlig made Jan 10 at 2015 11:47 AM

2015-01-10T11:47:56-05:00

from the Senior Non Comm perspective...they can't wait to call the others by the first name...

Response by LTC Private RallyPoint Member made Oct 15 at 2015 4:29 PM

2015-10-15T16:29:38-04:00

I haven't noticed a difference yet, but my promotion was just confirmed this morning.

In all seriousness, I started feeling the differences in my last year as a captain working in a field-grade slot (J-1 primary staff at an O-6 command). There is an increased sense of responsibility to the larger organization, and also an increase in the expectations of the officers and NCOs up and down the chain of command.

Response by MAJ Robert (Bob) Petrarca made Oct 15 at 2015 6:30 PM

2015-10-15T18:30:30-04:00

Before or after the FGL - field grade lobotomy.

Response by SFC Mark Merino made Oct 15 at 2015 6:44 PM

2015-10-15T18:44:43-04:00

Something must happen behind closed doors. I believe I found the transitional video that is being used. I miss my Captains.

http://www.bing.com/videos/search?q=Emperor+join+the+dark+side&FORM=HDRSC3#view=detail&mid=5C912B9CD56CB2FAC0085C912B9CD56CB2FAC008

Emperor join the dark side - Bing video

Response by MAJ Jim Woods made Oct 15 at 2015 10:31 PM

2015-10-15T22:31:08-04:00

The pay was better?

Response by CW4 Russ Hamilton (Ret) made Oct 16 at 2015 12:02 AM

2015-10-16T00:02:36-04:00

Us field grade warrants now have to buy new service caps with the "scrambled eggs" on them.

Response by CH (LTC) Robert Leroe made Nov 6 at 2015 2:30 PM

2015-11-06T14:30:10-05:00

Obviously more admin/oversight...I used to think Chaplains who made MAJ "lost their salvation" (even though I'm a Calvinist) because so many were mean...until I got promoted. But you bring who you are into your new responsibilities. It is a chance to mentor junior chaplains out of your own knowledge & experience and be taken seriously.

Response by Lt Col Jim Coe made Oct 20 at 2017 9:19 PM

2017-10-20T21:19:06-04:00

I was eligible for new extra duties I didn’t know about as a captain including airfield officer of the day (greeting DVs at plane side), investigating officer, and my most favorite, court martial board member.

Having said that, major was my favorite rank. At the squadron you didn’t have to put up with krap from captains and only the commander and Ops officer ranked you. Also seemed the NCOs had a little more respect for you. LTs actually paid attention when you told a war story or gave direction. Few people questioned your professional judgement. If you said an aircraft was too broke to fly, people believed you!

Response by Maj John Bell made Oct 20 at 2017 9:49 PM

2017-10-20T21:49:17-04:00

I started serving in field grade billets as a Captain. That was about the time that I stopped enjoying being a Marine Officer.