Are you happy with the choice you made to be enlisted or an officer or do you wish that you would've decided to take the opposite route?

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Sun, 01 Jun 2014 14:40:06 -0400

It is said that NCOs are the backbone of the Army, however, officers play an important part in leadership. Are you happy with the choice you made to be enlisted or an officer or do you wish that you would've decided to take the opposite route?

Response by SFC Lamont Womack made Jun 1 at 2014 2:56 PM

SFC Lamont Womack — Sun, 01 Jun 2014 14:56:33 -0400

I love being an NCO. I think helping Soldiers is very rewarding. However, there are times I regret not becoming an Officer. You can be the best NCO in the Army but your influence will only be as good as whatever Officer in charge lets it be.

Response by MAJ Private RallyPoint Member made Jun 1 at 2014 2:58 PM

MAJ Private RallyPoint Member — Sun, 01 Jun 2014 14:58:45 -0400

Depends on the job you're looking to do. There are no options on the enlisted side for what I do.

Response by MAJ Private RallyPoint Member made Jun 2 at 2014 2:32 AM

MAJ Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 02 Jun 2014 02:32:35 -0400

Like a lot of people on this site, I've done both. I'm prior service Army enlisted and now I'm an officer in the Coast Guard assigned to a Navy unit.

That said I've seen a lot of good NCO's, Petty Officers and officers. I've also seen bad ones. Being either or has a couple key differences.

Think of an officer as a CEO of a company. More public, more at the 30,000 foot looking down view. He gives guidance and direction.

Think of an NCO as a manager in the plant. He takes that direction and manages the finer details of making it happen.

That said, both ARE leaders. Or should be. Some are natural born leaders, some molded and shaped. In the end, Officers handle more administrative things. NCO's are more operational, front line leaders.

So you have to decide whats more your style. Is it easier for you to see the bigger picture or do you like finer details, being in the weeds?

As an officer, as much as your troops work for you, you work for them. The same is true for all positions. Really but I'll say this. As an officer, I need NCO's or in my case petty officers for me to do my job and excel. However a good NCO doesn't need an officer to be successful.

Obviously it's just my take but be a good leader no matter what and don't forget where you came from. Be humble and always take care of your troops and you'll do fine.

Response by PO1 William "Chip" Nagel made Jun 2 at 2014 2:48 AM

PO1 William "Chip" Nagel — Mon, 02 Jun 2014 02:48:54 -0400

At 18 graduating school, I was sick of school. I wanted nothing to do with College so I wasn't going to be an officer. Joined the Navy and what did they do sent me back to school CTO A School. LOL! And that was my lot from then on lots of schools. At least the Navy taught me how to study which was much more important. If you got the patience go to college become and officer and everything is a little to a lot better. I was Blessed to serve under some wonderful officers the Ubber Technical Engineers of my time and they spoiled this Technician Rotten.

Response by CPT Private RallyPoint Member made Aug 23 at 2014 4:16 PM

CPT Private RallyPoint Member — Sat, 23 Aug 2014 16:16:41 -0400

I spent two years as an enlisted Soldier in the ARNG before I commissioned as an Officer. I loved being a Soldier and getting to do my job, but I have always felt a drive to lead others. To caveat SFC Lamont Womack, there are times that I regret not becoming an NCO. You can be the best Officer in the Army but your Soldiers will only be as good as the NCO leading them under your command.

Response by MSG Wade Huffman made Sep 3 at 2014 7:44 AM

MSG Wade Huffman — Wed, 03 Sep 2014 07:44:54 -0400

Good question. I've often found myself wondering 'what if'? (haven't we all?!). When I was in Basic at Ft. Dix, NJ several of us were called out of formation to take an admission test to USMAPS and we were told that we would know if we were selected within 30 days. This was during the first month of training. Graduated Basic, hadn't heard anything, went on to AIT, graduated, still hadn't heard anything. Had orders to Germany, and I was already engaged at the time, so we went ahead and got married while I was on leave.
About a year after I had arrived in Germany, I received notification that I had been accepted to USMAPS only to find out that by getting married I had disqualified myself.
Do I regret getting married? Nope! Still married to the same wonderful woman, have 2 great kids and 2 beautiful grand daughters. Do I regret missing out on the opportunity? Not really, but I have often had those 'what if' moments.
In hindsight, things worked out very well for me.

Response by SFC(P) Private RallyPoint Member made Oct 2 at 2014 12:49 PM

SFC(P) Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 02 Oct 2014 12:49:16 -0400

I love being an NCO, I don't think that I would be able to deal with the politics of being an Officer. I love to lead and teach Soldiers, and to make them into leaders as well.

Response by LTC Paul Labrador made Oct 20 at 2014 6:20 PM

LTC Paul Labrador — Mon, 20 Oct 2014 18:20:54 -0400

Sticking to the analogy: Officers are the "brains", Soldiers are the muscles, but the NCO are the backbone. Why? Because the backbone connects the brains to the muscles and get it the muscles to do what the brains want them to do (okay, not anatomically 100% accurate, but you get the point... ;o) ).

Response by CPT Private RallyPoint Member made Oct 20 at 2014 7:06 PM

CPT Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 20 Oct 2014 19:06:27 -0400

To each their own. I spent a bit over 10 years enlisted and then went officer. I really enjoyed being a SSG but I enjoy being an Officer much more. I can influence units much more as an officer than I could have as enlisted. I really enjoy the planning process and controlling formations of soldiers in combat. But it is not for everyone.

Response by CPT Zachary Brooks made Oct 20 at 2014 7:24 PM

CPT Zachary Brooks — Mon, 20 Oct 2014 19:24:17 -0400

How about Warrants? I feel that if I could do it all again I would be a Warrant instead. You get to influence soldiers more directly, but you also get to focus almost primarily on your job.

Response by PO2 Rocky Kleeger made Oct 20 at 2014 7:38 PM

PO2 Rocky Kleeger — Mon, 20 Oct 2014 19:38:43 -0400

I'm happy I went in enlisted, but it would have been nice, on occasion, to be an officer

Response by SFC Vernon McNabb made Oct 20 at 2014 9:52 PM

SFC Vernon McNabb — Mon, 20 Oct 2014 21:52:50 -0400

I will never regret my decision to enlist in the Army. I have been asked why I did not go the Officer route, but as an NCO I love teaching, mentoring and guiding others. My job now allows me to teach both Enlisted and Officers alike. Do I feel underpaid? Sometimes. But I didn't join for the money. Do I feel under-appreciated? Sometimes. But I didn't join to establish a fan club. I joined to serve my country, and have happily done so for over two decades. Would I change my decision if I could back to day 1? Nope!

Response by SSgt Private RallyPoint Member made Oct 20 at 2014 10:32 PM

SSgt Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 20 Oct 2014 22:32:31 -0400

SFC Private RallyPoint Member - I tried out to be a general in the Salvation Army but I lost my bell and they frown on that. LOL

Response by CW5 Private RallyPoint Member made Oct 21 at 2014 12:22 PM

CW5 Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 21 Oct 2014 12:22:30 -0400

Hey, SFC Private RallyPoint Member! How about warrant officers? :-)

I was able to be an enlisted man/NCO for about eight and a half years before I became a warrant. I think I had the best of both (maybe all three) worlds. I was an officer, but I was allowed to focus on my specialty for the rest of my military career. I'm an advocate of that career path, especially because it's a great way for enlisted personnel to "get ahead," and I encourage anyone interested to consider the warrant officer option.

Response by MAJ Private RallyPoint Member made Oct 21 at 2014 4:16 PM

MAJ Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 21 Oct 2014 16:16:54 -0400

I have the privilege of experiencing both sides. I began my career as an enlisted medic, a 91W (now 68W,) and served on active duty for ~7 years. When I got off of active duty I went to PA school, and am now direct-commissioning as a 1LT in the Medical Specialist Corps. I do not regret for one second my enlisted experience, and becoming an NCO. Rather, I treasure it, as it is has largely molded who I am today. I am fairly certain that I would have taken college for granted had I gone straight from high school. My enlisted experience helped me realize all the amazing opportunities that we have as US Soldiers, and gave me the drive and can-do spirit to make it happen. That being said, I am excited about taking my medical practice to the next level, and am looking forward to the rest of my career as a 65D.

Response by SSgt Private RallyPoint Member made Oct 22 at 2014 11:59 AM

SSgt Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 22 Oct 2014 11:59:12 -0400

I think without a doubt that the brunt of the workforce is enlisted...HOWEVER...that workforce can be useless without a purpose and direction and thats what the officer corps is for :D

Response by LTC Kevin B. made Jun 30 at 2015 9:38 AM

LTC Kevin B. — Tue, 30 Jun 2015 09:38:01 -0400

My brother and I both had successful careers going these opposite routes. We both enlisted within the same year. I eventually switched over to being an officer, while he continued on the path of becoming a Senior NCO. I think both of us were very happy our decisions, and were best suited for the routes we took. No regrets for either of us.

Response by CSM Charles Hayden made Jul 9 at 2015 12:22 AM

CSM Charles Hayden — Thu, 09 Jul 2015 00:22:17 -0400

I wanted to be a Soldier, during BCT I decided I wanted to be the 1SG. I have been pleased w/ my decision. Many friends are ret'd as O-6s. The current Army has more eight hundred more O-6s than E-9s! Nuf said!

Response by Cpl Tou Lee Yang made Aug 20 at 2015 8:09 AM

Cpl Tou Lee Yang — Thu, 20 Aug 2015 08:09:44 -0400

Being an Officer, at least you will always be someone's boss.

Response by SSG Audwin Scott made Dec 15 at 2015 10:07 AM

SSG Audwin Scott — Tue, 15 Dec 2015 10:07:33 -0500

I loved being an NCO and being close to the soldiers. I do now regret not taking full advantage of now putting my full potential in getting promoted to the highest rank achievable before I retired, but I believe I was born to be an NCO and not an Officer, to many politics on the Officers side.

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Nov 30 at 2018 11:46 PM

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 30 Nov 2018 23:46:28 -0500

Honestly, no. At my age (37), I am starting to look at retirement a bit down the road. Enlisted retirement pay vs Officer retirement pay is the only comparison I need. I wish when I was younger, someone would have sat me down and thoroughly explained enlisted to officer programs. It always seemed like one of those out of reach scenarios. None of my leadership ever really made you think about your long term future outside of tsp.