Posted on Aug 23, 2017
As a DLI trainee with opportunity for LEAD program, stay enlisted or go officer? Is officer path worth giving up my language?
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I suppose it's a question really only I can answer.A lot of people including my parents say I would be a good officer, and both they and I know I can do it, however I've spent so much time already training for this job, and I love it too much to give it up quite yet.But at the same time,because I have the ability to do well those officer duties, should I? I wouldn't be a "waste" as enlisted,right?
Officer
Enlisted
Air Force NCO Academy
Defense Language Institute (DLI)
Posted >1 y ago
Responses: 4
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SrA (Join to see) what are the options of being an officer in a closely related field? I would look at that, first. Your language skills may be highly coveted in the intel community. Officer status can really boost your resume for when your service is over. I have a buddy going through the same struggle in the army satellite program - whether to stay enlisted, or put in for WO.
As you said, it is really all up to you, but definitely scout out your routes. You're never a waste as enlisted, we are the backbone of the service, afterall! If you are super proficient, you can hit BTZ and promote pretty quick through the ranks. Talk to your resources on base, lay your roads out before you, and pick the one that shines brightest for you!!
As you said, it is really all up to you, but definitely scout out your routes. You're never a waste as enlisted, we are the backbone of the service, afterall! If you are super proficient, you can hit BTZ and promote pretty quick through the ranks. Talk to your resources on base, lay your roads out before you, and pick the one that shines brightest for you!!
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SSgt (Join to see)
SrA (Join to see) - Wouldn't be a disappointment, or at least shouldn't be viewed as such, if your only options are the enlisted track or an officer track w/ a much smaller scale than what you're capable of. Who knows, maybe something will pop up, too?
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SSgt (Join to see)
SrA (Join to see) - Any time. Always stay High Speed, Low Drag!!!! (you seem to be doing a pretty kick ass job of doing that already, but encouragement is always good!!!!)
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Consider your goals in life first. If you believe you want to serve the minimum tour of duty and get out, then stay enlisted. If you want to move beyond your language expertise into the more generalist leadership role of an officer, then take that route.
You'll have several wickets to pass. You'll need to be 21, have a bachelors degree, pass a physical, and have high enough test scores. I was an officer and loved it. Better pay, better housing, and leadership opportunities. Better retirement if you stay that long.
You'll have several wickets to pass. You'll need to be 21, have a bachelors degree, pass a physical, and have high enough test scores. I was an officer and loved it. Better pay, better housing, and leadership opportunities. Better retirement if you stay that long.
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SrA (Join to see)
THank you sir!! As part of a knowledge base to reference for my decision, may I ask how was being an AF officer? What were the duties like involved in your particular field and what qualities of duty did you see in all the other officers you ran across?
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Lt Col Jim Coe
SrA (Join to see), understand my information is very dated because I served from 1969-1991. I was an Army Civilian from 2007-2013. I was a pilot. That shapes my answer to your question. The Service life of non-flying Air Force officers is very different from that of pilots and other officer aircrew. Also, I served during the Cold War so nobody shot at me in anger during my entire 22 years. I'll give you some generalities and you can ask more questions.
Because pilots and other aircrew are the front-line forces of the Air Force, we were treated well and for most of my career paid very well. Aircrew had their own medical clinic, the flight surgeon. Most flight surgeon clinics see the aircrew's families also. Very little waiting time for sick call or appointments. When we deployed we took our flight surgeon with us. You can look at a pay chart and figure out the difference in base pay between an E-2 and an O-2. To that you add a more generous housing allowance and flight pay. My family, which grew to 5, had to watch our money, but we weren't poor. We lived on-base mostly. Officer base housing is good in most locations. More square feet per family for an officer than for an NCO--go figure.
Family life was interesting. I was TDY quite a bit supporting exercises and training. We flew around the home base some also. We deployed twice to Europe in three years for 90 days each deployment. Not much by todays' optempo, but it did put a burden on the spouses. Second assignment was as a pilot training instructor. Worked long hours (12 per day normally), but was "home for dinner every night." Liked teaching, but hated AETC. From that assignment, I went to my second-best job: magazine editor for a flying safety magazine. I also flew executive jets (Saberliner, T-39) part time. This was my first MAJCOM headquarters job. Again home for dinner every night. Had time to be a Scout Leader. Stayed 4 years and then went to the best job ever. I was assigned to a C-130 Squadron at Elmendorf AFB, AK. Great real-world missions, fantastic training environment, nice base house, good schools for kids, loved the place. Wife and family loved Alaska. My son lives there now. Then I was promoted to Lt Col and flying ended. Worked at three unified command headquarters over the next 6 years. Staff jobs soak up a lot of time, but you also have time for family life. Got passed over for O-6 and retired.
Duties: for the first 16 years it was some combination of fly and write. Flying is work, but also fun. You have to study to know your aircraft, tactics, and techniques. You take written exams and check flights twice a year. When in command of the aircraft you have a good deal of latitude on how you get the mission done. In the C-130 business I always had a crew of at least 5 and sometimes 7 to lead (after spending the first 3 years as a copilot with nobody to lead). Sometimes I was a mission commander in charge of 3 to 9 C-130s for a specific mission. I managed more contracts and contractors over the years than I did air force members. Largest number of subordinates I ever had as direct-reports was six, all officers. Did a ton of staff work. Lots of reading, writing, phone coordination (no-email), conferences, staff assistance visits, etc.
Qualities of other Officers: I was commissioned during Viet Nam. There was a draft and many of my fellow 2nd Lts entered the Air Force to avoid being drafted into the Army. Personalities and abilities at pilot training were diverse, but those that made it though (20% wash out rate) grew the tenacity to put up with the BS and learned to fly the Air Force way. Many officers in my year-group got out as soon as their commitment was up. The officers I worked for over the years ran the gamut from terrible to great. In the Vietnam era, many captains were just biding their time to get out. They didn't attempt to mentor, lead, or even wright coherent OERs. At that same time I worked for an outstanding officer as a Lt Col squadron commander. He was highly proficient as a pilot, two tours in Viet Nam, good speaker and writer, tactful but firm. He went on to be a Brig Gen. My bosses at the magazine were studious types as you might expect for senior magazine editors. Both were navigators and Lt Cols. Group operations officer in Alaska was another great leader. Extremely professional in every way. Really cared about his staff. Best leader of all was then-Maj Gen Walt Kross. He was the Director of Operations and Logistics at USTRANSCOM during DESERT STORM. I worked with him almost daily for a year. He knew the airlift business inside out, but had been a fighter pilot with 100 missions over North Vietnam. Had every good leadership trait you could ask for: great communicator, integrity, loyalty, humility. Fantastic memory. He went on to be a General and to Command USTRANSCOM.
Let me know if you have questions.
Because pilots and other aircrew are the front-line forces of the Air Force, we were treated well and for most of my career paid very well. Aircrew had their own medical clinic, the flight surgeon. Most flight surgeon clinics see the aircrew's families also. Very little waiting time for sick call or appointments. When we deployed we took our flight surgeon with us. You can look at a pay chart and figure out the difference in base pay between an E-2 and an O-2. To that you add a more generous housing allowance and flight pay. My family, which grew to 5, had to watch our money, but we weren't poor. We lived on-base mostly. Officer base housing is good in most locations. More square feet per family for an officer than for an NCO--go figure.
Family life was interesting. I was TDY quite a bit supporting exercises and training. We flew around the home base some also. We deployed twice to Europe in three years for 90 days each deployment. Not much by todays' optempo, but it did put a burden on the spouses. Second assignment was as a pilot training instructor. Worked long hours (12 per day normally), but was "home for dinner every night." Liked teaching, but hated AETC. From that assignment, I went to my second-best job: magazine editor for a flying safety magazine. I also flew executive jets (Saberliner, T-39) part time. This was my first MAJCOM headquarters job. Again home for dinner every night. Had time to be a Scout Leader. Stayed 4 years and then went to the best job ever. I was assigned to a C-130 Squadron at Elmendorf AFB, AK. Great real-world missions, fantastic training environment, nice base house, good schools for kids, loved the place. Wife and family loved Alaska. My son lives there now. Then I was promoted to Lt Col and flying ended. Worked at three unified command headquarters over the next 6 years. Staff jobs soak up a lot of time, but you also have time for family life. Got passed over for O-6 and retired.
Duties: for the first 16 years it was some combination of fly and write. Flying is work, but also fun. You have to study to know your aircraft, tactics, and techniques. You take written exams and check flights twice a year. When in command of the aircraft you have a good deal of latitude on how you get the mission done. In the C-130 business I always had a crew of at least 5 and sometimes 7 to lead (after spending the first 3 years as a copilot with nobody to lead). Sometimes I was a mission commander in charge of 3 to 9 C-130s for a specific mission. I managed more contracts and contractors over the years than I did air force members. Largest number of subordinates I ever had as direct-reports was six, all officers. Did a ton of staff work. Lots of reading, writing, phone coordination (no-email), conferences, staff assistance visits, etc.
Qualities of other Officers: I was commissioned during Viet Nam. There was a draft and many of my fellow 2nd Lts entered the Air Force to avoid being drafted into the Army. Personalities and abilities at pilot training were diverse, but those that made it though (20% wash out rate) grew the tenacity to put up with the BS and learned to fly the Air Force way. Many officers in my year-group got out as soon as their commitment was up. The officers I worked for over the years ran the gamut from terrible to great. In the Vietnam era, many captains were just biding their time to get out. They didn't attempt to mentor, lead, or even wright coherent OERs. At that same time I worked for an outstanding officer as a Lt Col squadron commander. He was highly proficient as a pilot, two tours in Viet Nam, good speaker and writer, tactful but firm. He went on to be a Brig Gen. My bosses at the magazine were studious types as you might expect for senior magazine editors. Both were navigators and Lt Cols. Group operations officer in Alaska was another great leader. Extremely professional in every way. Really cared about his staff. Best leader of all was then-Maj Gen Walt Kross. He was the Director of Operations and Logistics at USTRANSCOM during DESERT STORM. I worked with him almost daily for a year. He knew the airlift business inside out, but had been a fighter pilot with 100 missions over North Vietnam. Had every good leadership trait you could ask for: great communicator, integrity, loyalty, humility. Fantastic memory. He went on to be a General and to Command USTRANSCOM.
Let me know if you have questions.
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SrA (Join to see)
Thank you so much, sir, I really enjoyed reading about your life and career!! Thank you again!!! (I'm so sorry for taking so long to reply, it got terribly busy around here and it slipped my mind). Take care!!
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If your parents have served then no one would know better! On the other hand making such a weighty decision based on a language aptitude is telling in itself. Both paths are full of self sacrifice to a greater good. I have never served in the Air Force so I cannot judge as effectively as a Senior Enlisted Leader. I would find an E9 and an O5 and have lengthy discussions with both. Good luck! Thank you for your service!
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