Senior NCOs, how do you feel about quality NCOs leaving the backbone to become a commissioned officer?

As a former SFC, I tried to take care of my Soldiers when I was in command. I also tried to stay in my lane but at times did step in when things werent getting done. It's a fine line at times. I made decisions based on what I thought was best but always took into account how it would affect my Soldiers. I dont know if Im a better officer for being a former SNCO but I do look at things very differently than my peers. I do hope that my decisions were the right decisions for the mission as well as the best possible for the Soldiers themselves.

I've seen some very good examples of Senior NCOs that did just that and became outstanding Officers. Most of the ones I had the pleasure of serving ever ever forgot where they came from either but there also was no pulling wool over their eyes. they knew which end was up. One unit I was in ALL our Officers were prior enlisted from SSgt to MSgt, We were very well led. Two units our Commanders were MSgt rank as enlisted, one retied as a Lt Col, the other a full Colonel. Another former MSgt advanced to Base Wing level and retired as a Full Colonel also. Another a former SSgt as enlisted also retired as a Full Colonel. There are still others, that also made excellent Officers. Other good people also rose to fill the Senior NCO ranks which had been well led by these outstanding Officers. In each case their unit were also selected as being outstanding and good leadership certainly helped that. We did things to help not just because We had to but because We wanted to, and these leaders did inspire us.

I only saw one prior enlisted man that became a Commissioned Officer , I don't mention here and He is the exception and was forced to retire. I see that overall as 90% or better success rate.

If that quality/squared away NCO becomes an Officer and becomes a benefit and shining example to other Officers, then I fail to see a problem.

Everyone has a different path in life. Simply stated, some of the best Generals (Officers across the board) that I ever worked for were prior enlisted. Thank you for your service.

I wouldn't be opposed to becoming a Commissioned Officer one day. Anything I learned can be useful for all the troops and I'll have a greater, more broad understanding of the missions to come. Experience that may be lacked without this experience. I could always pick out the Officers that were an NCO before, my troops could relate with them much quicker and easier too.

Do you think that anyone messes with a CW4?

To be a good commissioned officer you should have been a NCO first.

I was enlisted for almost 15 years and I was an NCO for around 2/3 of that time. I don’t know if I was a “quality NCO” or not. Looking back I would have done a lot of things differently from a leadership perspective. I made the jump to the Officer side 3 years ago to become a physical therapist. I felt as if I could better serve Soldiers in that role and I don’t think I would have left the enlisted side for any other job. In my current job I still get to work with and train Soldiers on a regular basis, albeit in a different capacity. Later this week I’ll actually start a position as an embedded PT with an Infantry unit. I was never an Infantryman but I believe my time as an EM gives me a unique perspective that will make me a better provider to my Soldiers. With that being said I still miss being an NCO on occasion.

I can see plenty of Junior NCO's going over to the dark side :) I think there is some merit to this for many but not all. I can't remember any MSG or above thinking about this, it may have happened but I have never seen or heard of it, besides I can not imagine a SRNCO seamlessly blending in with Officer life or the cultured behavior :). I have known or met a few JR NCO's that became officers and it was roughly a 50/50 split as to them adding or detracting from the officer corp. I have however seen a few officers that were rifed and became NCO's. The ones I met were a good fit even when they took some time to adjust to the different requirements and lifestyle. As with anything QUALITY is subjective, I for one would rather see the NCO Corp weed the ranks of back stabbing , phony POS who wear stripes and don't give a damn, pay lip service to the NCO creed. These same wastes of space don't give a rats ass about the troops, lie to the officers and still get advanced up through the ranks to perpetuate their toxic leadership and drive good Soldiers out.

My Nephew just got commissioned last week at Fort Benning. I attended and I was more than proud. As a 22 year Army retiree; I think we all have to choose the path we think we are best suited for. If they were quality NCOs then perhaps that's what the Officer Corps needs more of to get them online with being a flock of quality officers. Period T.