Have you ever thought about being an officer instead of an NCO and visa versa, and have any officers ever thought about being enlisted?

I remember when I was a young PVT, all I ever wanted to be was a Sergeant. Sergeant was the best job in the Army. When I became a Sergeant, all I ever wanted to be was a Platoon Sergeant. Platoon Sergeant was the best job in the Army. When I became a Platoon Sergeant, all I ever wanted to be was a First Sergeant. When I became a First Sergeant I knew this was the best job in the Army. Now that I am a chained to a desk in the 3 Shop, all I ever want to do now is put the Diamond back on and be a First Sergeant again...

Good question. There are several points in my career where I think I should have been an NCO, because I enjoyed the company and challenges of dealing with soldiers more than the management issues and bureaucracy of being an officer.

Yes and I have been both. There are many positive sides to both career paths. Best rank I ever made and the one I was the most proud of myself for making was SGT/E-5. It took a lot of work due to cutoff scores being very high in my field at the time. I loved the day to day soldier management of being an NCO, the teaching, etc. But at times I wavered between wanting to move up the NCO channel or go back to school. Eventually got out of service and went reserves, started going back to school and turned down SFC board in favor of becoming an officer. Commissioned active duty now, and wouldn't change, and not just because of the pay and bonuses but because I absolutely love my job in the Army. I do surgical and obstetrical anesthesia, stateside hospital and currently in Afghanistan. Nothing gives me greater satisfaction than taking care of our service members, their family and dependents, the retirees and their dependents. I treat all patients the same, regardless or rank or status. I try to make them feel they are important to me.