should officers have to serve as enlisted first?

No, officers should not have to enlist prior to commissioning.<br><br>Officers/Commanders and enlisted have different roles and responsibilities...many responsibilities far greater than that of an average Soldier.<br><br>I truly believe 4 years at a service academy prepares leaders to lead (with the addition of a strong NCO mentor at first assignment)...they're not suppose to know or do the jobs of enlisted.<br><br>"<span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: sans-serif; line-height: 19 [login to see] 39453px;">Officers of my unit will have maximum time to accomplish their duties; they will not have to accomplish mine."</span>

I've seen tons of officers from all commissioning sources over 18 years. INITIALLY the prior enlisted officer is more prepared for life in the Army. That does not translate to leadership potential. It's a pretty even mix. By the time an officer reaches the rank of CPT, that "advantage" a prior enlisted officer had is pretty much&nbsp;gone (unless he transitioned as a SSG or SFC...which I have seen). By the time an officer is a field grade, it's completely nulified. Frankly, you don't want all sources of commissioning from one place (Westpoint, ROTC, OCS, or direct commission). It creates more opportunities for group think and if we are looking for diversity and life experience, then we need all kinds...not just one kind.

I felt there was always a 'unique" admiration for leaders who knew what it was like to have served in "the trenches." Mustang officers have a bond with the enlisted troops, especially at the lower levels, because we know how enlisted training goes and have an idea of what our leaders experienced. Very few enlisted can safely discuss the training that occurs in the service academies because we have no common ground. That can further create the "wall" between officers and enlisted. Does it help to have an enlisted background? Of course it helps, but mostly in the beginning of an officer's career. By the time the platoon leader position is accomplished, our beloved Mustangs are deeply embedded within the corporation and are learning things that weren't well known as enlisted (if at all). Officers already have more training than we did before day one of entering the first duty assignment. Their focus needs to be on leadership and not our likership.