Benefits of joining as officer over enlisted?

[Palmguy]

Originally Posted by Cannibul

Why is every O-1 paired with a senior NCO to teach them then?

That doesn't mean they are "dumber than a stump"

Are there some O-1s that meet that definition? Absolutely. It is ridiculous to say that they all do though.

[slugger6]

Originally Posted by Cannibul

Why is every O-1 paired with a senior NCO to teach them then?

What pairing are talking about? I was both an NCO and an officer and I was never "paired" with anyone as you state. Also, I would be the first to agree that most NCOs have more experience that O-1s just as they have more experience than E-1s. That doesn't mean that either a new enlisted service member or a new officer is "dumber than a stump."

[MarineFlyboy]

I didn't know that O-1s are dumber than a stump. Yes they (I can say they now) might not have the expirence but they sure have the brain power to learn. Why are young JO's "paired" with SNCOs? I'm assuming you mean when a boot Platoon Commander meets his first platoon and is under the wing of his Platoon Sgt. The Lt might have the knowledge of tactics, weapons, etc (that is what TBS is all about) to run a platoon but doesn't yet have the common sense and expirence. That is where a good JO listens and learns from his SNCO's. In the wing that doesn't really happen but I happen to luck out on recruiting duty and worked with an outstanding SNCO. To this day I believe she had a very big impact on molding me into a better Officer. Of course there are some good O-1s and some bad ones. I saw them at TBS and still today.

Back on topic. I only know about the Officer role (to an extent due to expirence) in the Marine Corps. I remember the last thread where you talked about seeing combat. The Corps takes their new Platoon Commanders fresh out of Infantry Officer Course and puts them directly into a platoon. To the point some of my friends deployed within months and are in Iraq leading Marines. If that isn't leadership than I don't know what is. Sure you might not be the number 1 guy in a stack getting ready to bust down a door but you should be leading from the front. I am some what jealous of my buddies that are leading their Marines in Iraq right now while I sit in the training command for another 2 years.

Only thing is you need to have a 4 year degree, so just having an AA isn't enough. Your 22, finish college, go to OCS and go for those "Butter Bars". Good luck in whatever route you go!

[RobbSmith]

There is no more rewarding privelage than to be a mentor and leader of troops. I feel honored to have served in the ranks of heros and to have mentored many to fill my boots

[cwjeep]

Become a Warrant Officer and in that way you will have the best of both enlisted and officer worlds. Enlisted folks respesct warrants and officers may look down on warrants sometimes but when they need something they come to the warrant or SNCO. (E7-E9) for help and advice.

Warrants are also technicians in a particular field, and so that is what you do, fly, weapons, vehicles etc. When I wasn't flying I was off riding my motorcycle or fishimg or whatever, while the RLO's (officers) and enlisted guys were still at work.

I was enlisted and an officer (warrant), I could have been a commissioned officer but I chose wararnt after speaking with some rated warrants (flyboys). I am proud to have chosen to be a warrant.. Think about it.

Whatver you choose I will be proud of you for having served your country.
I personnaly think every male should serve at least two years, this would allow them to respect the military (experience it) and a chance to grow up some.

Just an old retired guys thoughts. - Craig

[yocan]

Originally Posted by slugger6

What an absurd statement!

I'm an enlisted now, and soon I'm going to OCS (as in 23 days) to become an officer. O1s are O-1s cause they are clueless. To become ann o-2 shows you've learned enough to be intelligible. To be an o-3 shows that you are a leader. I've been annoyed with half of my O-3s even then. I have never had a dislike for a Major, every one I've ever seen I'd trust. To make it to O-2 all you need is a good Sargeant, after all the Marine Corps runs on Sargeants. To make it past there shows something good.

Officers are smart, they can handle 10 weeks of hell. TBS (which isn't that hard, just a pain) and have a college degree. Thats the resume. They can also continue when failing repeatedly.

Once you get past the butterbar, you are an officer, if you get out still a butterbar your just shown to be not impressive.

[yocan]

Originally Posted by cwjeep

Become a Warrant Officer and in that way you will have the best of both enlisted and officer worlds. Enlisted folks respesct warrants and officers may look down on warrants sometimes but when they need something they come to the warrant or SNCO. (E7-E9) for help and advice.

Warrants are also technicians in a particular field, and so that is what you do, fly, weapons, vehicles etc. When I wasn't flying I was off riding my motorcycle or fishimg or whatever, while the RLO's (officers) and enlisted guys were still at work.

I was enlisted and an officer (warrant), I could have been a commissioned officer but I chose wararnt after speaking with some rated warrants (flyboys). I am proud to have chosen to be a warrant.. Think about it.

Whatver you choose I will be proud of you for having served your country.
I personnaly think every male should serve at least two years, this would allow them to respect the military (experience it) and a chance to grow up some.

Just an old retired guys thoughts. - Craig

+1 Warrants are all great guys. On top of that They make a decent pay grade, 200 a month less than the regular officer of the same grade, but it stops at CW-5.

I didn't want to wait to fly, so I went regular officer, in a way I wish I had enlisted when I was 18, not 21, if I had I might consider going for Warrant Officer.
To be a Warrant I believe its you have to be E-5 and have 8 years in. (correct me if I'm wrong)

[matlt]

You don't have to be an E5 to become a warrant. Afaik you are eligible for WOC school right out of AIT.

[Palmguy]

Originally Posted by yocan

I'm an enlisted now, and soon I'm going to OCS (as in 23 days) to become an officer. O1s are O-1s cause they are clueless. To become ann o-2 shows you've learned enough to be intelligible. To be an o-3 shows that you are a leader. I've been annoyed with half of my O-3s even then. I have never had a dislike for a Major, every one I've ever seen I'd trust. To make it to O-2 all you need is a good Sargeant, after all the Marine Corps runs on Sargeants. To make it past there shows something good.

Officers are smart, they can handle 10 weeks of hell. TBS (which isn't that hard, just a pain) and have a college degree. Thats the resume. They can also continue when failing repeatedly.

Once you get past the butterbar, you are an officer, if you get out still a butterbar your just shown to be not impressive.

Really all you need to pin on O-2 and O-3 is a calendar with about 2 years crossed off respectively. There are douchebag Majors/LCDRs out there too

[MarineFlyboy]

Originally Posted by yocan

Once you get past the butterbar, you are an officer, if you get out still a butterbar your just shown to be not impressive.

If you get out as a 2nd Lt that means you were kicked out of the military by doing something stupid. You pin on O-2 automatically on your 2 year mark from getting your commission. You start going to the boards when you try to pin on O-3. From what my friends in the fleet are saying, you can get on an O-3 board with 1 year in rank an probably pin it on within the next year. So within your 4 year mark you could be pinning on O-3. And an O-1 is an Officer regardless and should be treated and act as one.