Why I Stayed Enlisted
When I joined the Army in 1995, I joined as an enlisted Soldier. My father retired at the top of the enlisted ladder, hanging up his cap as a Command Master Chief in the Navy. As long as I’ve been in, I’ve been pushed, shoved, prodded, and encouraged to go either the Warrant Officer or Commissioned Officer route. I could have done so – and succeeded. But, I didn’t. And I don’t think that’s so bad.
I love being an enlisted Soldier. I don’t have to worry about a lot of the politics that goes along with being commissioned. As an NCO my focus is on training, feeding, mentoring, guiding, and taking care of Soldiers.
A few years ago, I was at an NCODP (NonCommissioned Officer Development Program) event in which the Sergeant Major of the Army was speaking to all the NCOs on post. It was a huge event that took place in the post gym and the bleachers were packed. After speaking about the state of the Army and NCO-related issues, the SMA took questions from the audience.
One of the questions was, “why does a Second Lieutenant make so much more money than a Staff Sergeant?” The simple answer was that the LT CHOSE to become a commissioned and the Sergeant had CHOSEN to remain enlisted.
He had a good point. Every single Soldier has the choice to go Green to Gold – going from the enlisted to commissioned ranks – provided we were high speed Soldiers who stayed out of trouble. I’ve been hounded by many of my commanders and Warrant Officers about getting a commission or going warrant. However, I like being enlisted. Why?
The SMA contrasted the 20-year careers of enlisted and commissioned Soldiers. You take the career of an officer and, of that 20 years, the officer will spend about 5 years directly working with and leading Soldiers. The other 15 years are spent on staff and special assignments. You take the same 20-year career of an NCO and the results are opposite – 15 years directly working with and leading Soldiers and 5 years of staff and special assignments. He said that we each had to decide what we wanted to do – lead Soldiers or work on a staff keeping the Army moving.
That’s not to say that after that five years, officers simply switch off their leadership switch, just that they have no DIRECT influence whereas NCOs are almost always directly influencing Soldiers. It’s in our very mission statement to enforce standards and manage the training and discipline of troops. That’s why when something like the Walter Reed and Fort Bragg barracks issues came up, I was so outspoken against NCOs.
Personally, I like working with and leading Soldiers more than I like the money and responsibility that comes with being an officer. I like taking care of Soldiers and helping solve their issues. Being a 1SG is the best job in the Army. That’s why I’m staying enlisted.
Donna
May 18th, 2008 at 7:42 pmCJ,
It’s good that there are folks like you who like being an NCO and spending more time leading the troops! You just like being where the action is and helping the troops to achieve their goals I’m sure….good for you! There is certainly a need for commissioned officers too. I’m glad that you are doing what you like although you don’t get as much money. That tells me that you are a person with principles . Thanks for all that you do!!
David M
May 19th, 2008 at 4:34 amI loved being an NCO, and I would never trade my experiences being an NCO with any Officer. Many Officers lead and set the tempo of their unit, but it is the NCO cadre that achieve the results the Officer desires.
Thanks for staying enlisted TOP, it’s leaders such as yourself that really get the work done and make the Army the great institution it is. Without men like you, it truly would be a broken institution. Keep up the good work.
John of Argghhh!
May 19th, 2008 at 8:15 amHeh. As if we ossifers care why you lot do what you do, as long as you do what we want you to do… and, of course, make us look good doing it! ;^ )
And for the record – I got to push troops (via my NCOs, of course) for eight years in two divisions, then went to bully everybody as an O/C at the NTC for three years, before I was sentenced to TDA hell.
OldSarg
May 19th, 2008 at 10:34 amThe Green to Gold program is one of the reasons I have always respected the US Army. On the other hand, the Air Force has done nothing but raise barriers to prevent the Enlisted Force from having the same opportunities Commissioned Officers have. I enjoyed being Enlisted and I was proud to be Enlisted but when the time came that I wanted to become a Commissioned Officer in the Air Force the application process was worse than any Publisher Clearing House lottery. I can still remember my OIC when I asked him to sign a statement that I could speak and write in understandable english. Yes, he kept me waiting for some time and yes, it was funny. f I had it to do over again I would have gone Army Green with stripes or bars.