Pros and cons to being an Army officer

[@jasonlmathews]

Story Time: When I was a private and in 1/72 Armor, in Korea, I was the loader on my tank. I had a really bad NCO, that pulled me aside 15 minutes before the end-of-day formation. He told me to NOT tarp the tank and to clean the sub turret (this task is an all-day event that should have been started at the start of the day, not 15 minutes before final formation and evening chow.) So I obeyed the order and there I was in the motor pool cleaning the sub-turret (note: the Sergeant never stayed to 'supervise' me, I was alone.) So hours and hours passed and I was nearly done with the sub-turret, and mad as hell as it was a little after midnight. I then noticed a flashlight shining on me, and the XO (who was also my tank commander) shined the light on me and asked, "What are you doing?" I then told him about the Sergeant's order how he made me start doing the sub-turret at the end of the day and how he used the words, "This is a direct order." So the Lieutenant relieved me and said, he would finish it personally and I was excused from duty the next day (which was a Friday, so that was awesome). Anyway, he took what happened to the Commander and the 1st Sergeant. I was shortly promoted and moved to the Company Orderly Room as the admin and assistant training room NCO. The sergeant was relieved of duty and received an article 15.

[@Holyhandgrenade-tx6xd]

Another con is an officers career is all over the place vs an enlisted career is more linear. An officer could go from being an infantry officer to a communications officer during their career and they gotta learn their whatever branch they're thrown into quick fast and in a hurry

[@marlonmoncrieffe0728]

Aw, man! I only want to be and remain a military intelligence officer. P.S. Though quartermaster officer wouldn't be the worst thing in the world.

[@captain7265]

My mother worked at the pentagon in the 60s. My dad was enlisted. She saw how officers lived. So when I decided to go in, she pushed me to ROTC. A lot of perks but a lot more responsibility. Con: had to buy all uniforms. Also, I served in the Gulf War. Congress passed a law making all enlisted servicemen exempt from federal tax for the duration. Officers had to pay. I thought that was a raw deal.

[@rtaggs8178]

Officers make a hell of a lot more money also. The retired ones in my military retirement town live like kings.

[@gregorylatta8159]

Poor baby 😆

[@Offisher]

Fun fact, you CAN change your branch by the time you pin Captain with something called a Voluntary Transfer Incentive Program (VTIP.) Also, if you are active duty and in OCS, you can get a branch detail, (for example MI branch-detail Infantry) which you would be Infantry for your first few years and jump into MI.

[@hermance4537]

As someone who is currently going Green to Gold I think being an officer is 10000 percent the way to go.. Being enlisted sucks. You typically get to pick what you want to branch when you go officer regardless. Yes it’s ultimately needs of the Army but I’ve only ever heard of a handful of people not getting the branch they want. Also if you wanna be a Lt you better learn to love flipping OPORDs…

[@marlonmoncrieffe0728]

Flipping WHAT?

[@observer8534]

@@marlonmoncrieffe0728 Maybe he means Op Orders.

[@marlonmoncrieffe0728]

😆 I am in ROTC now and am in the middle of learning about operation orders, @@observer8534 !

[@EightUp000]

@@marlonmoncrieffe0728 an operations order. They are made at a higher echelon, and then distributed to lower echelons, who pick out the information relevant to them, make a new one, push it down to an even lower echelon, who does that again until it gets to the LT, who flips it one last time, and then briefs his platoon leadership.

[@shane71]

Thank you so much bro, this video helped me a lot. I’m graduating college in less than a month and am highly considering becoming an officer in the army.

[@latinoheat447]

Hi Chris, great stuff as usual. I just wanted to provide some info to fill in a gap in your video. I know you said, "...reenlisting for a bonus doesn't *really* exist [for officers]." One exception is for military doctors. If they choose to reenlist when their contract is up, they can actually get incentive of upwards of $100k with a 6 year reenlistment. Obviously that's for a highly trained position and small population, but it's one example of officers having a reenlistment bonus.

[@observer8534]

It's supply and demand. As officers increase in rank, fewer positions are available for them. Enlisted men, not so much. Higher demand equals bonuses and other perks to spur your reenlistment.

[@Shadowrunner340]

One thing I definitely noticed was that officers worked much longer hours (mainly b/c of paperwork).

[@drn13355]

I was enlisted 8 years and O for 12 years. Retired in 2022. For sure that was a part I didn't realize. As an O I was working non stop. My phone rang 24/7. Company commander was very very difficult work. I was going to bed maybe midnight up at 0400. First meeting at 0700. Pay is much better, but if I broke it down by the hours I worked maybe not so much. I am not complaining, but it is for sure intense. Glad I did it. Glad I am done.

[@allenmiddendorff2068]

Being a retired 1SGT/E8, with 23 years I saw a lot of officer types. My best Office was prior Enlisted also the worst Officer was prior Enlisted. The West Point Office needs the most retraining. I did have a Officer who tested positive on a Drug Test, he was gone fast.

[@Number6_]

most definitely. you have to keep your nose clean. any fights, run ins with the law or violations of regulations will get you dismissed.

[@edmondlau511]

Top, that’s questionable now. Recruitment and retention are struggling now. In the past year, I have seen 2 officers get retained for testing positive on UA.

[@rtaggs8178]

Very few are down to earth. The base I live right outside of has TRADOC , so we have tons of officers. What strikes me is how many are arrogant and try to talk over you. Many really see themselves as something grand. Little do they know that I'm prior service and educated when talking to me. My degree was not in Forestry like one Colonel I know.

[@marlonmoncrieffe0728]

What is TRADOC?

[@barnwell5471]

@@marlonmoncrieffe0728 training and doctrine command

[@briangreenway6808]

I was enlisted from 86-89. I would change anything from the lifetime friends I made living in the barracks in Germany. We hardly saw our platoon leader. The E-4 Mafia was alive and in full effect back then.

[@Adventuregirl96]

I have always seen friends as a pro to life as an officer. When I was down in Miami, I had civilian friends that lived in my building, and I knew most of the other junior officers at Sector.

[@spencegame]

Idk about that lack of room for mistakes. I see LTs get reamed out for the wrong font on a Powerpoint but nothing seems to happen if a CPT marches 60 people 5 miles in the wrong direction, or 1LT fails to secure appropriate transportation from a field problem, or if a Major loses his NVD after a jump. Just an observation from my last 10 years 🤷‍♂️.

[@ArizonaHotSauce]

Officers can change their branch through the VTIP. Voluntary Transfer Incentive Program. It is held twice a year for certain branches that are overstrength. If you are in a branch that is overstrength then you can move to one that is understrength. If you are in one that is understrength then you are SOL and hope when that the next list your branch will change. If I recall correctly, this is only available for those around the 6 - 14 year marks. Outside of those years, you are stuck in your branch with little to no option to change.

[@geraldmantanona6116]

One thing I hated about being an Officer; Unit Status Report (USR). Every damn month during the 15th. It’s essentially “Death by PowerPoint”. Prepped at every Battalion & Brigade. Then briefed every month to the Commanding General (CG, a 2-Star General) Sometimes it goes okay, other times we see Battalion & Brigade Commanders (LTC/COL) & even Staff Officers/NCO’s catch major ass chewings by the old man (CG). Hahaha. 😆👍🏾🇺🇸

[@jaywatson9476]

As a Chemical NCO I had to perfect the art of "Robbing Peter to Save Paul" in an effort to prevent my commander from getting his ass chewed out in regards to the monthly USR Maintenance Deadline Reprt 😉😎🤣😂. That USR is no joke and has ruin a number of officers careers. My son is currently an active duty officer and I wouldn't trade places with him for nothing on this planet 😉. There's a reason they get paid more than their enlisted counterparts 😉. Not to mention, most officers have a college degree.

[@1Rab]

This sounds like White Collar vs Blue Collar

[@pagansmc13]

depending on branch etc it can be. it can also be all white collar, mostly blue collar, etc depending on rank/branch/etc

[@hectorvelez8907]

Officers don't get bad conduct discharge if they mess up, also can re-sign commission anytime.

[@renegadearms]

After 21 years in the only perks I think of is pay and having people constantly look after you, but cons generally a lot of soldiers don’t respect you until you prove you’re good, you get about three years with the guys then you sit in the office by yourself, if you don’t like playing politics then probably not for you, certain schools not open to you, and I disagree with you get no room for mistakes in my career we had numerous officers make pretty bad mistakes and higher ups swept it away and most them are now LTC and COL.

[@jovanni_orb5116]

As an officer how is the potential to stay in long enough to get early 15 year or even 20 year retirement?

[@christopherchaos]

You need 20 or more years for retirement, regardless of being an officer or enlisted. The only time you can retire before 20 years is if it is forced due to a medical situation that requires being medically retired early.

[@jovanni_orb5116]

@@christopherchaos thank you for the info. There was a 15 year early retirement offer a bit ago. Before the needs changed.

[@chrisrusso2878]

What are the hours like, do you work like 12hours a day or is it depending on the job

[@aidsskrillex5355]

We took out the Ma'am to a Benihana type restaurant. Super cool! Like one of the privates 😆!

[@AFRO_KEEN]

When their people do something wrong, they are going to get a ass chewing and also have to answer.

[@ricosuave7102]

If I could go back in time. I would have gone to college and joined the military to be an officer. I would have loved to have been a general.

[@Number6_]

you got me with the paper work! that is all I did. occasionally a sergeant would come in and explain who was on what and why. to which I would reply " very good sergeant, carry on!" we would sulte and he would leave. another exciting day. tour of inspection was the term we used to drink coffee and donuts in the back of maintenance building. officer of the day was the bad job as you were stuck in all day in case some one had a problem. but mostly it was gravy.

[@josephjunker2372]

What was your mos?

[@Hieroglyphics87]

as an officer do they get less paid vacation time? like less amount of days to away to travel than non-officers?

[@christopherchaos]

No. Everyone earns the same amount of vacation days.

[@jorgschimmer8213]

Hey. I wonder if you are in an active reserve unit. I am . And i m loving it. Actually more then my active duty time.

[@dree3465]

What's the difference?

[@observer8534]

@@dree3465 Easier duty, more relaxed atmosphere.

[@azaleamarcelo4257]

What if I reenlist and receive that 15year contract bonus and change my mind the next year to commission as an officer? Is that possible?

[@observer8534]

I am not aware of a 15 year contract. When you enlist, you are enlisted. If you want to try to become an officer at that point, the answer OCS (Officer Candidate School). Many try. Few succeed.

[@prestong515]

If I enlist for another four years definitely going officer route or some type of special duty

[@AFRO_KEEN]

What I don't like about being an officer is that you can't associate with the people around you unless their an officer.

[@twobalcain]

Who said doing details were shitty? You did!

[@Rivskidd]

I appreciate this video so much but I wanted to get more information on the actual test officers must take to become an officer. The physical exam.

[@observer8534]

There is no one test to become an officer. You have to endure every kind of test imaginable, and it doesn't stop at commissioning. Every day is a test. Fail once and you are gone. The PT test was the same across the Army. Officers were expected to excel, not just pass. The last time I took the PT Test I scored 297 out of 200. I maxed out the sit-ups and push-ups but mistimed the 2-mile run finishing a few seconds late. I was being lazy. I thought we had more to do that day and didn't want to sweat. I screwed myself.

[@Sonnyboy346]

Prestige.

[@Foray-sq9ir]

In Starship Troopers you could only be an officer if you saw combat.

[@allenmiddendorff2068]

O, I love being Enlisted!

[@danielfernandez634]

Officers don’t “enlist” or “reenlist.”

[@mikecaldwell7276]

There are so many officers in the FA branch struggle through the math portion of the course

[@edmondlau511]

Manual gunnery was a beast, not going to lie about that. It’s more of the process than the math itself. But as long as one can reference the proper step action drill in FM 6-40, they will be fine.

[@luissanchez7134]

Howdy

[@chillis28]

👍👍

[@lonewolfsim6837]

Their are no con of being an officer.

[@Sonnyboy346]

Too much babbling. Otherwise fine.

[@_chris_gonzales]

…troll lol

[@johnsgamingandmore1237]

As an MP, every time we had certifications for oc spray and taser, our LT and CO would participate in it regardless if they were already certified or not which I thought was awesome leadership

[@calypsohandjack9278]

fuck risking heart arrhythmias amirite?

[@johnsgamingandmore1237]

@@calypsohandjack9278 lol I'm glad I kept my cert papers afterwards but I'd rather get tased than oc anytime cause once it's done, it's done

[@ryant3295]

Do you get to choose who tases or oc sprays you?

[@dnehemiah1022]

@@ryant3295 No, imma MP you go through the class, we got tased and OC by our instructor

[@johnsgamingandmore1237]

@@dnehemiah1022 when were you in? I was 2010-2017

[@Capitan_Doug_Keith]

I did ROTC and did 7 years total. I got up to O-3 and when I got out in 2019 I had a lot more benefits than my enlisted friends.

[@EnabIing]

As someone that is aspiring to be either a Air Force or army officer, what would you say you would recommend to new officers?

[@Capitan_Doug_Keith]

@@EnabIing ​Joining the Army (Or Air Force) is a life-changing desicion, and the right one. You should definitely make connections with both your peers and your enlisted personel. One other thing: When you are a leader, lead by example, firm and fair. Do your work fast, but take the time to do it right and get it in on time. You'll rise the ranks in no time. In my opinion, join the Army. But if the Air Force is more your speed, it's another great choice.

[@Capitan_Doug_Keith]

@@EnabIing It depends on the type of person you are. If you want to jump from planes, learn to hit a rabbit from 400 yards away and possibly SCUBA dive, join the Army. If you want to work on an office, have barely any PT standards and uniform inspections, and possibly fly planes, then by all means join the Air Force. Either way, the armed forces are a great decision, the right decision, and serving your country, the GREATEST country, is the best decision. See you there, Lieutenant.

[@Crusade6539]

As someone considering army Intelligence do you know what daily life would look like for it? it’s my first option but after hearing even if I join the 75th ranger regiment or join SF and no matter how much I orient myself to a secondary combat role I’ll probably be at a desk more than I’ll get to do what I want to do. I’ve been accepted into Texas A&M and I’ll be in the corps pretty soon.

[@darthkillhoon]

I'm in an engineer unit and I'm an E4. This is technically fraternization but I am my company commanders DnD wingman and he often times joins us at the bar and at other restaurants if we ask him to come along. My company XO is kind of like my political science debate buddy when not in uniform. The officers in my unit generally are pretty close with all of us enlisted. When in uniform though we are professional most of the time.

[@ethangregg702]

Hey bud I want to become ☝️ Engineering is the fist 🤛 step in the military I was thinking 💭 before the Navy Seal’s I needed to get some hands on working for the Military!

[@darthkillhoon]

@@ethangregg702 well if you become an Army Engineer it would be a hassel to go Seals because swapping branches is no joke hard. But go talk to the recruiter for the Army, ask what Engineer MOS are in domand. If you want to special operations like Ranger or SF and be an Engineer then 12B, 12C, 12N or 12W would be the best MOS to have. Anyone can volunteer at any time for SF selection but I recommend you train for 2-4 years for that

[@frankcastle9691]

Lies they are paid to pretend to be your friend. But at the end of the day you're still a pleb slave. Their pleb slave.

[@SandfordSmythe]

During the Vietnam War there were many drafted enlisted personal with similar educations and backgrounds as the junior officers especially in technical and medical fields. It would has been a big mistake for officers not to recognize that, and most enlisted men recognized the boundaries.

[@137NorthAve]

My experience is dated (72-78) but I recall officers have obligatory social events they have to attend. Things like "officers call" where officers were expected to attend, or they better have a good reason for not showing up. These events were always after normal work hours. I got out as an E5 (SP5) but have a friend who made it a career and retired as an E7. He said he was strongly encouraged to attend some "mandatory fun" events as a senior NCO.

[@observer8534]

During Infantry Officer Basic School, we were taught the proper decorum and protocols for formal and less formal events. Whether stated so or not, as a 2nd Lieutenant all events at all times of the day or night were mandatory if you didn't want a big chunk chewed out of your hairy ass.

[@temporaryshield7156]

I didn't serve but a friend is a USMA grad. He mentioned BOQ - Bachelor Officer Quarters. This may be the exception to the general rule that you mentioned. It was also in the 80s so probably before your time. Happy to feed the algorithm and best wishes.

[@jthavorn]

I think the biggest con would be that as the officer, you have ultimate responsibility of your troops. Even if you have no direct control over their actions, you are ultimately held accountable for their actions. May not be a big deal in garrison but for combat MOS’s, I’ve seen lower ranking officers and captains feel guilt over the death of a solider under their command. Great example is General Garrison during the back hawk down events in the 90s. Even though he didn’t physical fight, it was his decisions as the commanding officer that gave us the results and unfortunate death of several soldiers.

[@SydneyGayleJr8]

🙏🙏🙏😔🌳

[@pws354_8]

Extra points in pain if you are required to write letters to the families of the soldiers who were KIA, explaining you are at fault for their deaths.

[@dree3465]

Starting as an E7, you are pretty much doing the same shit that officers have to do. As you rank up, you deal with more paperwork anyway so....might as well go as officer.

[@NaturalStateDepths]

As an officer, officer friends are boring as hell.

[@veezy3008]

I am a Marine about to get out this year and applying for college. The enlisted side has unique individuals😂

[@oculosprudentium8486]

So Chirs, during your time in the Army did you ever sometimes wish to be an officer yourself?

[@christopherchaos]

Nope. Would not mind the pay but did not want the job.

[@luisespinal3196]

The exception in the medical field we get bonuses depending our specialties.

[@MrLorenzovanmatterho]

But does it get you girls?

[@observer8534]

At the junior officer's club at FT. Benning, the local girls referred to us as Prime Beef. If you like meat markets where you are the meat, it's the place to go. Civilian males would, on rare occasions, would crash the scene hoping to get in on the free action. They didn't stay long, and they never came back, hostility meeting them like nothing their pathetic selves had ever experienced. I had girls from one side of the Continent to the other. They do love a gentleman whose knows how to command.

[@averygaston9937]

Def. Wanna be an officer….. but I’m going to AFROTC after my initial Army contract cause I’ve seen way too many 1LT and captains leave as soon as their ados time is up.

[@germanstudent06]

My first unit was 112th Armor Div and we had an ROTC cadet that was paid equal to E6 during drill weekends. He also got to skip the deployment and hang back with the rear detachment to support the family readiness group.

[@observer8534]

In my days as a cadet serving with an active-duty unit, I received less pay than a buck private. I doubt that has changed. The cadet didn't get to "hang back". More likely he was ordered to hang back because of some liability limiting BS regulation. By some sleight of hand, on my part, my "hang back" order never quite caught up to me and I deployed with the Scouts!

[@ethangregg702]

👍 😂

[@calebhenderson6766]

what would your advice be for a 22 year old with a bachelor's in kinesiology with a concentration in human performance, rehabilitation sciences, a associates degree in health and fitness, and a minor in human nutrition? Should I enlist or just go for officer? I am thinking of just going officer in the air force, since I have family that are officers in the air force, but I just was wondering what your opinion would be, and if I was an officer would I be able to get the military to pay for me to go to college and get my doctoral degree in physical therapy, and woul I be able to be an officer and work as a physical therapist

[@jakem6430]

Look at army AMEDD

[@calebhenderson6766]

@@jakem6430 ok, will do

[@doyouknowkeplertwentytwob4032]

Happy 100K! 🎉

[@observer8534]

A major CON to being an Officer is Saluting. At Ft. Benning, I'd walk to the little PX from by BOQ in the Quad. Every Enlisted Man I passed HAD to salute me. I HAD to return each and every salute, proper military decorum and all. They had to salute 1 time. I had to salute 30-50 times. I had to carry all my groceries with one hand to keep my right arm free for saluting. I swear those glorious, righteous bastards deliberately spaced themselves out just enough to keep my right arm swinging the entire trip forward and back. God loves the Infantry! He has to because nobody else does (except me). During training to become an officer I HAD to do every dirty job imaginable, and I never once gave an order to an enlisted man that I had not already done myself. I got paid more than enlisted. Some of my enlisted were on Food Stamps. Republican President Ronald Reagan changed that, gave us a decent pay raise, after every Democrat politician voted to cut our pay time after time after time. I learned you never trust a Democrat with you Freedom or Security.

[@bobanderson6656]

You mean they didn't offer to carry your groceries? LOL

[@Themaneman464]

As a young man, I'm very glad i didnt listen to my friends and family who told me to pursue a commission. I enlisted and loved it and im glad I was able to be the hands on private and now NCO. During those years, I can't imagine how much I would have hated my life as a butter bar LT. Now that I'm almost 30 though and have my degree, I'm ready to become an Officer. To all the young people discerning what route to choose, be mindful of all that. You won't get your youth back, so do you really want to spend your early 20s behind a desk or doing powerpoints?

[@jenbotelho2273]

I got a question i know someone is in the army he's an officer he had mentioned to me that he can't make phone calls while he's in duty or off duty he said he can get fired from the army is that true

[@observer8534]

If the position or location of duty requires OPSEC (Operational Security) he may well have received such an order. You don't get fired from the Army. Violate OPSEC and you may wind up in the brig facing a dishonorable discharge and a lengthy term of imprisonment.

[@pagansmc13]

@@observer8534 you claim to have spent a fair amount of time in the Army as an officer, yet you use the Navy term "brig" and don't know a commissioned officer doesn't get a DHD- he gets a dismissal...hmmm.... SIgned , Brian Conner, LTC(R), USA with 29 years of service to include enlisted time

[@bep8294]

Type of thing

[@lorrainemooney7317]

Is it very uncommon for a rank of 2 nd Lt. After 26! Years in Army x

[@Number6_]

uncommon, I would say impossible.

[@AyandaKula]

Don't officers get to see action as much as enlisted right up till they get promoted from O-3 (Captain/Lieutenant)?

[@christopherchaos]

Really depends on there roll more than their rank. A 1LT as a platoon leader in the infantry will likely do patrols with the platoon. A 1LT that is the company XO would mostly be in an office.

[@AyandaKula]

@@christopherchaos What if you have a university degree, want to get in as an officer but would like to serve in the action with your brothers/countrymen? What do you go for?

[@Zamarrwilliams12]

KP and CQ are the worst think about enlisted in my experience

[@James-hs3tu]

When you get out A Lt colonel can get a better job. Than Sgt

[@christopherchaos]

I would hope so since you could do about 4 or 5 years and get out as a SGT compared to around 20 years to get out as a LTC.

[@0529mpb]

@@christopherchaos ...and most officers will get washed out at O-4 and not make 20 years. Up or out. There are not many O-5 positions.

[@israteeg752]

My take, officer is the millitary's version of a managerial position. This holds true for any millitary in any country. So, for the long term, anyone planning to make a career in a military brach should push themselves into becoming an officer as soon as they feel confident enough and qualified to assume responsibility on themselvs. Otherwise military service becomes just a waste of time.

[@observer8534]

Very untrue. Some of the finest men I have ever know were senior army enlisted men. They did their 20 or 30 years and most certainly never believed it all was "just a waste of time". Also, unless you are willing to put in the time to get a higher level of education while serving you will not be allowed to remain an Officer long enough to retire.

[@DanMurdock-w5o]

I semi agree. When I was a tank platoon leader, scout platoon leader, Cav Troop Cdr and Battalion Cdr these were combat leadership positions with managerial aspects. When I was an instructor at the Armor School, it was teaching with little management. When I was Inspector General it was investigative/managerial. Very wide range of skill sets to acquire over 25 years. I can tell you, without equivocation, that my success rests entirely on the fact that I had great NCOs taking care of me.

[@turdfurgeson2032]

Officers have to pay to eat at the chow hall

[@pagansmc13]

the price is more than reasonable Over the years I would eat there every month or so to see that it was up to standard.

[@EnabIing]

@@pagansmc13plus officers get bas

[@rickdunn3883]

#1 Pay is not just "now", its also a higher retirement (options per BRS).

[@yellaboi6257]

Damn the Army sucks as far as when you get out...... No job skills can acquired..... Air Force is the way to go as far as more opportunity in the civilian sector upon separating.

[@pagansmc13]

thats an ignorant statement...

[@jurban611]

Notification platoon.

[@sh4rkyb0y_]

Wait officers cant change branches?

[@observer8534]

Officer can change branches just as enlisted. It's rare but it does happen.

[@mikecaldwell7276]

I went from FA to SF

[@pagansmc13]

@@mikecaldwell7276 Mike thats a selection process driven scenario as you know there is no direct commissioning to 18A so that Has to happen...

[@edmondlau511]

There are functional areas officers can apply to but that’s not until they make the rank of CPT. There’s also psychological operations and civil affairs to try out for.

[@shockwaveawa5368]

Just here to comment for the algorithm

[@frankcastle9691]

There is no cons to being an officer. There is every con to being a pleb enlisted slave.

[@observer8534]

You know not of what you speak.