Military Officer

[rob1982]

I've been reading posts on here and was wondering what it took other than a degree to become an officer? Is it possible to have a four year degree and not be an officer?

[EX_529]

Yes, there are many enlisted personnel with thier BS and Masters degrees. Depending on how long you have been in the service, sometimes it is not an advantage to make the move to be an officer.

Why do you ask?

[jaunt10]

it takes more than a degree, you have to be motivated to become an officer (to put up with any officer training related BS), be physically qualified, get accepted (criteria is quite high), pass background, security checks, get commissioned, then graduate from your respective training command, get warfare qualified (if not you're out on the street all over again) and have respectable leadership traits and abilities.

Its possible to become an officer without getting a degree (from a Navy standpoint); They have Limited Duty Officer programs where higher ranking enlisted get commissioned and are officers in their respective fields only (Engineering, Master at Arms, etc). Or become a Chief Warrant Officer which is almost the same thing but without being an actual officer (the pay) but being commissioned which means you are higher ranking than enlisted personnel.

As EX said sometimes it is more beneficial to stay enlisted after so many years due to pay or if you just dont want the officer responsibility and the BS that accompanies it.

[richjorg]

Do enlisted personnel salute a CWO?

[jaunt10]

yes they do since they are commissioned.

[rob1982]

I was wondering what you it took. I figured that someone would only try to become an officer if they wanted to stay in for a long period of time and not just one enlistment. Does it matter what kind of degree a person has as long as it's at least a four year degree?
Thanks
Rob

[jaunt10]

for me i started the process in high school. i took the SATs and applied for a ROTC scholarship, took the physical and got accepted. Then i went through four years of ROTC in college, graduated and got commissioned then went on to my respective training, in my case it is flight school.

i'm generally speaking for the Navy here but it does not matter what degree you have. You could have majored in Underwater Basket Weaving and still get a commission. The reason they require this is because it shows determination in something and a will to follow through with what you start. There are those folks that just want 4 years and get out mostly so they can get their college paid for. Still it depends on what warfare specialty you go for. I as a student naval aviator have a long time to serve. I have to put in at least 8 years after I get my wings. Considering that flight school can take from 2-4 years to finish then i wont be able to get out for at least 10 years which makes it more plausible to make it a career. If you wanted to just get in and get out then you could be a surface warfare officer and just serve four years. It all depends on your mindset at the time. There are other avenues to being an officer such as OCS where you graduate college on your own, get accepted by the Navy and spend 13 weeks of hell with Marine Corps drill instructors then get commissioned. Still overall it has been a hell of a rewarding experience..i never thought i'd get paid for doing what i do. if you have anymore questions please ask i'd be more than happy to answer them.

[rob1982]

I've been wondering what the military would be like. I'm still in college and would be finishing school before I did anything. I'm only afraid if I went in to the military I'd find something I like and never want to get out. If I did go in and wanted to be an officer I'd probably have to go through OCS. Do you know how hard it is to get through? Is it like boot camp? Do you have to go through boot and then OCS? I'm not to familiar with the process.
Thanks
Rob

[jaunt10]

i know if you go through college you will go through OCS only. I have a lot of buddies that have gone through and say it was one of the toughest things they've went through but were glad they did it. they challenge you mentally, morally and physically. I know folks that went through bootcamp and they say that OCS was harder mentally and maybe a bit harder physically than bootcamp. They're training you to be a leader of men so the mental game is much tougher. I'd say if you find something you love stick with it, i dont see why if you love what you do then its a bad thing. If you want to put your twenty in then its possible and you'll be out in your 40s with tons of life left and a pension to help your other dreams. Still getting picked for OCS is very competitive. you're going to need a high GPA, great letters of recommendation and leadership experience in college.

[Smitty]

Can I make a recommendation?
You don't sound so sure about it, so take a path that isn't as intense. Join the Air Force...no I'm actually being serious. They treat their people great, and you will get the same amount of college money.
The reason I say enlist first?...College is a BLAST after serving a tour in the Military. You will be a few years older than your "peers", and consequently alot more popular with the ladies.
I went Army Enlisted (Infantry) first...after 3 years of sucking mud and having a ruck digging into my shoulders, college was a breeze! I had more stuff to talk about with people, and the chics flocked because I wasn't an immature 18 year old brat right out of highschool.

Just a thought...but being an "O" does look good on a resume.

[jaunt10]

the air force does have a better quality of life but this is what you'd be doing:

http://proairshow.com/media/airforce.asf

[Smitty]

That was the funniest thing I've ever seen!

But I think they have it confused with the Army....lots of pee tests, and cleaning for no apparent reason lol.

[rob1982]

I think the Air Force would be more relaxed but I would want to do something other than watch an airplane for 8 hours. Does the Air Force really have any other fields that are interesting like the army? I mean something that is more technical and involved than guarding a C-130 or cleaning out a hangar?
Thanks
Rob

[Smitty]

Hell yes they do man!

I sound like a recruiter now but here goes.

I know the SF (Security Forces) field does the plane guarding thing...that and Law Enforcement. They are combined career fields.

What would be so bad about staring at a plane? You would get Military service to put on a resume, and duty like that would leave time to knock out alot of college.

Research their website, talk to a recruiter (take what he says with a grain of salt)....I'm sure you can find something.

The bottom line:
I have 5 total years of service (3 active, 2 Reserves) and an associates degree.
I did some "high speed" stuff while in the Army (kicking doors, Airborne etc...), and none of the PD's have cared one bit. They only cared about the "honorable discharge" portion of my application, and they like the degree even more.

[jaunt10]

rob,

if you're seriously thinking about the airforce you should PM mcsap, he was an Air Force police officer before he got out and became a cop. He can probably give you some good indicaitons of Air Force life and that of the life of a "Defender of the forces."