Posted on Mar 3, 2014
Do you believe ROTC commissioned Lieutenants have bad attitudes?
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Is it me or are the 4 year ROTC LT's often disrespectful and they feel privileged. I'm a prior service, deployment, non-com and also commissioning but noticed how bad their attitudes were at a drill this weekend. Mainly looking for advice because dealing with them the NCO way, which is a habit I have, didn't work.
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Responses: 26
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<p>Sir,</p><p><br></p><p>I am trying to be nice without stirring the pot too much, but I know I will probably get a lot of negative comments on this. </p><p><br></p><p>From what I have experienced during my career, most of the new LTs that either come straight from college or ROTC programs feel they are privileged or better than the enlisted they encounter when they first come in, some have been taught or learned things the hard way, while others have realized their asinine ways before they make CPT. Many have been prepped by either their families or their instructors that they are the cream of the crop which leads to swollen heads and holier than thou attitudes, maybe not as prevalent now as it was in the 80s/90s, but it did exist.</p><p><br></p><p>Being a former NCO you should already no how to deal with those types of individuals, let them flaunt and plume all over the place, ignore most of their pomp or allow them to fall on their faces, sometimes that is what is needed. You can also use those NCO ninja reverse psychology skills you have learned of your time in the NCO arena to teach and mentor them on how to be a better example for someone that is going to be a leader.</p><p><br></p><p>Just my 2 cents.</p>
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2LT(P) (Join to see)
Completely agree and I def try to help them but I get the I'm going to be an officer we don't do that. It's very hard to keep my military bearing when I hear that garbage but I do. I think that's the only way is for them to pull it on active and see how a crusty SFC close to retirement handles it. Hopefully it'll teach em quick. I sure wish there was a requirement though for every officer to at least get a taste of enlisted but alas that would never happen.
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MAJ (Join to see)
2LT(P) (Join to see) - I concur with SFC Baber that if all else fails, let them fall face first. So long as it will cause no harm or catastrophe. After three decades in uniform, I've come to the conclusion you just can't fix stupid. That and failures lead to learning.
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SFC Alfred Galloway
IN my CMF INTEL almost 60% of our enlisted were college graduates with about 10% holding a masters or better degree. Quickly most 2lt's learn that they are just the new kid on the block and seek out a good mentor.. but there is that 10% that always thinks they are the BE all End ALL.. till the CDR smacks em back down
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Angela Woody
My dad got tired of those types of new LT's in late 80's and retired after 26 years because he has zero BS tolerance and just got tired of it.
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It's not the source of the commissioning, it's the character of the person.
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This is not new. New officers need to be a little cocky. It is our job to turn that into skill and confidence. We were all young and lacked experience once. The old guys helped us become leaders. If you do not train and mentor them then you are part of the problem.
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