Posted on Feb 10, 2021
Would requiring Officers to have enlisted time (1-4 years Active, Reserve or Guard) improve leadership skills in a meaningful way?
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It seems like a lot of enlisted soldiers feel that that time as an enlisted soldier would help Officers become more effective leaders.
Of those of you that share this opinion, what do you think about the Simultaneous Membership Program (SMP) for Cadets? I did almost 3 years of SMP prior to commissioning and I feel that this set me up ahead of my peers - but I also fully recognize this is very different from being an enlisted and Military Occupational Specialty (MOS) qualified soldier.
As Cadets, we were certainly treated differently by the lower enlisted, NCOs and Officers. Due to this, I feel SMP doesn't have the same effect as being MOS qualified enlisted soldier. Training us was always a second thought, which means we went through all the same suck but didn't always get the same training value (which is what I wanted out of SMP).
Would love to hear some from NCOs that have experience working with Cadets/LT's that went through SMP.
Of those of you that share this opinion, what do you think about the Simultaneous Membership Program (SMP) for Cadets? I did almost 3 years of SMP prior to commissioning and I feel that this set me up ahead of my peers - but I also fully recognize this is very different from being an enlisted and Military Occupational Specialty (MOS) qualified soldier.
As Cadets, we were certainly treated differently by the lower enlisted, NCOs and Officers. Due to this, I feel SMP doesn't have the same effect as being MOS qualified enlisted soldier. Training us was always a second thought, which means we went through all the same suck but didn't always get the same training value (which is what I wanted out of SMP).
Would love to hear some from NCOs that have experience working with Cadets/LT's that went through SMP.
Posted in these groups: 
Simultaneous Membership Program (SMP)
EnlistedOhio ARNG
Reserves
Junior Officers
Simultaneous Membership Program (SMP) EnlistedOhio ARNG Reserves Junior Officers
Edited 4 y ago
Posted 4 y ago
Responses: 38
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It has potential but the myth that all prior enlisted Officers are the best Officers is just that. I served with plenty of Prior Enlisted Officers and some of them were outstanding while others were politicians who liked the sound of their own voice. Labeling something as a certainty just creates unrealistic expectation. Lack of enlisted time is not what makes ineffective officers. There is more to it than that.
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Sgt Edward Harold
Cream rises to the top despite it's origin though I knew a few officers who could have used a few weeks of boot camp.
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Leadership depends on the person. There was a 2LT I had who was the AS2 - prior enlisted as a medic and got branched to engineer when he went officer. He was honestly useless and not a great leader. I don't know what he did as enlisted but he was just an epic douche. He acted like he was better than me because he went officer. My 2LT OIC, who made CPT by the time she left the S2, was much better than he as a leader. She came in brand new and she admitted she knew nothing and leaned on me to guide her, which I did.
I think to be an effective leader, people need an effective leader to learn from.
I think to be an effective leader, people need an effective leader to learn from.
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SMSgt Lawrence McCarter
That is certainly true and NOT be over impressed with their own importance. There are always things to learn. I've seen a few good examples myself of exactly what You have mentioned. Those that listened and learned did become good officers, those that didn't often had short careers in the Military and often the choice to stay or not wasn't their decision. Those that listened and learned were they ones that succeeded. Often getting to 03 Rank You were usually by then either an effective Officer or never would be.
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As a former commanding officer, the best wardrooms that served that served together were a blend of all the different sources: academy, ROTC, OCS, etc. Being prior enlisted helped some, but jaded others. There is no "one-size-fits-all" answer.
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