Thinking about joining the US army

[Divinus Arma]

There is some good advice alreadly given by others. The only thing I would add, is that if you want the military service on your resume - officer ranks tend to have more recognition in the civilan sector then enlisted. It really isn't fair to the men and women who serve as enlisted, its just the way it is though.

That is true depending on what you want to do. The officer ranks groom some of america's top notch management and provides an excellent foundation for this. I would only recommend that you go enlisted FIRST, even after having earned your bachelors.

Too many officers have contempt for the men without knowing the first thing about soldiering, leadership be example, or mutual respect. Being enlisted first- and make it to sergeant before moving up- really gives you the foundation for direct leadership that you need to work with the troops in the future.

The best officers I have ever worked for were Sergeants first. The worst officer I have ever known was a PFC with a bachelor's degree who applied and earned a ticket into OCS. That bastard hated NCOs as a private, and never learned the importance of directive leadership. As a result, he treated his NCOs like crap and babied the non-rates. He was a Major in the Marine Corps and the biggest douche I have ever met. Hated by all and respected by none.

Second worst are all the staright out of college officers. Bunch of pansy 22 yr old kids trying to direct 10 year NCOs like they were punk kids. What a crock.

You know, our services should REQUIRE enlisted service first. How can one lead without knowing how to follow?

Either way, for the most part Redleg is totally correct.

[Devastatin Dave]

Air Force, get a good security clearance, get out, make lots of money working as a contractor for the government. The best move I ever made...

[Byzantine Prince]

Ask yourself, do you want to risk your life(and your health) for a country and a people?

[Redleg]

Ask yourself, do you want to risk your life(and your health) for a country and a people?

What is life worth if your unwilling to risk it for what you believe?

[Byzantine Prince]

My life is worth more than other people's.

[Strike For The South]

Man someone thinks there shit dont stink.....The sig is so true

[Redleg]

My life is worth more than other people's.

That's a dodge to the question.

What is life worth if your unwilling to risk it for what you believe?

Everyone's life is of equal importance.

Be it the poor peasant in Mexico desiring a better life in the United States, who risks his life to journey to the north in search of that goal or even yours sitting in a comfortable spot in a free western nation that values your life as much as it values the lives of all other citizens of that nation.

Edit: Actually I value that poor peon who comes to the United States legally or illegally to improve his live more then I value the pompous ass that you just made of yourself with that statement.

I value those lives as much as I value my own.

[Byzantine Prince]

Everyone's life is of equal importance.

HAHAHAHAHAHA! I am so above you mang.

PS: See if you can spot the blatant hypocrisy in your post.

[Redleg]

That is true depending on what you want to do. The officer ranks groom some of america's top notch management and provides an excellent foundation for this. I would only recommend that you go enlisted FIRST, even after having earned your bachelors.

Too many officers have contempt for the men without knowing the first thing about soldiering, leadership be example, or mutual respect. Being enlisted first- and make it to sergeant before moving up- really gives you the foundation for direct leadership that you need to work with the troops in the future.

The best officers I have ever worked for were Sergeants first. The worst officer I have ever known was a PFC with a bachelor's degree who applied and earned a ticket into OCS. That bastard hated NCOs as a private, and never learned the importance of directive leadership. As a result, he treated his NCOs like crap and babied the non-rates. He was a Major in the Marine Corps and the biggest douche I have ever met. Hated by all and respected by none.

Second worst are all the staright out of college officers. Bunch of pansy 22 yr old kids trying to direct 10 year NCOs like they were punk kids. What a crock.

You know, our services should REQUIRE enlisted service first. How can one lead without knowing how to follow?

Either way, for the most part Redleg is totally correct.

Seen all types of officers, Divinus Arma, both that were prior enlisted, straight out of the academy, or straight out of college, all have thier postive types, and all have thier negative types.

A good officer knows that respect and hard work is a two way communication between the officer and the enlisted soldier. A good officer listens to his NCO's to reach a decision, and accepts responsiblity for his decision verus passing the buck. A good officer does not ride on the shoulders of his men, but is helping them in the trenches of the job.

If an officer is unwilling to listen to his soldiers - how can he expect them to listen to him.

Leading men in the military is a tough job, but one that I cherish to my dying day. I learned more in my first year in the military then I did in 16 years of schooling.

Edit: A good officer transitions into management or supervision without to much difficultity because they have learned how to communicate and lead, verus other management scenerios. This is why most successful junior military officers have no problem finding civilian employment once they leave the military. I can personally vouch that a successful military career will often enable one to find the civilian job that they want with ease.

Done it twice now.

[Ianofsmeg16]

Too many officers have contempt for the men without knowing the first thing about soldiering, leadership be example, or mutual respect. Being enlisted first- and make it to sergeant before moving up- really gives you the foundation for direct leadership that you need to work with the troops in the future.

The best officers I have ever worked for were Sergeants first. The worst officer I have ever known was a PFC with a bachelor's degree who applied and earned a ticket into OCS. That bastard hated NCOs as a private, and never learned the importance of directive leadership. As a result, he treated his NCOs like crap and babied the non-rates. He was a Major in the Marine Corps and the biggest douche I have ever met. Hated by all and respected by none.

Do you have a special officer training school in the US, cos I'm sure that officer cadets in GB go through a sort of "Officer Skills Class" which teaches them how to be a proper officer. I get what you mean by saying Coming up through the ranks will give you more leadership experience, but (I dont know what it's like over there) that would be an Astronomical task for a British Soldier to do, is it the same way across the pond?

[Duke Malcolm]

I'm getting a bit confused with this American system...
Do you have to join as a regular soldier before becoming an officer? Or can you just join as an officer?

[Redleg]

I'm getting a bit confused with this American system...
Do you have to join as a regular soldier before becoming an officer? Or can you just join as an officer?

You can do both.

If you have a college degree and enlist - one can apply for OCS

If you have an associates degree and enlist - one can apply for OCS, and once commissioned the officer will be given 2 years leave to finish his degree. I believe this program has been done away with though.

One can enlist, leave the military, go to college, get a degree, (while in school take ROTC) take a commission and return as an officer if selected for Active Duty. If not the individual has a Reserve Commission for the National Guard and Reserve System.

One can go to a military academy and get a commission.

One can go to college, join ROTC, recieve a commission upon graduation, and go into the military as an officer without ever having serve in the military prior to the commission.

THere are even other ways to become an officer. Direct commissions are sometimes offered to speciality skills when the military is criticaly short of the requirements in those areas. Usually these are medical officers.

[Lemur]

On a different note, don't forget that you will not have all of the freedoms you enjoy as a civilian. As an illustration, here are the 213 Things Skippy Can't Do in This Man's Army.

[Harald Den BlåToth]

What you guys do know about doctors? Can a resident in surgery with a H1 visa join the army?

[Philippus Flavius Homovallumus]

You can do both.

If you have a college degree and enlist - one can apply for OCS

If you have an associates degree and enlist - one can apply for OCS, and once commissioned the officer will be given 2 years leave to finish his degree. I believe this program has been done away with though.

One can enlist, leave the military, go to college, get a degree, (while in school take ROTC) take a commission and return as an officer if selected for Active Duty. If not the individual has a Reserve Commission for the National Guard and Reserve System.

One can go to a military academy and get a commission.

One can go to college, join ROTC, recieve a commission upon graduation, and go into the military as an officer without ever having serve in the military prior to the commission.

THere are even other ways to become an officer. Direct commissions are sometimes offered to speciality skills when the military is criticaly short of the requirements in those areas. Usually these are medical officers.

Wow, thats really interesting, over hear (UK) you have to go to Sandhurst for a year to be an Army Officer. Even Regimental Sergant Majors have to.

[KukriKhan]

Old joke:

Two Second Lieutenants enter the mens room. Both do their 'business', one washes his hands, the other combs his hair. First guy:

"At West Point, they taught us to wash after using the batroom", he sniffed.

Other guy: "In OCS, they taught us to not pee on our hands."

There is some rivalry in the Army Officer Corps between West Pointers, ROTC's & OCSers. Statistically, West Pointers get promoted sooner, and advance higher (although GEN Tommy Franks was an OCSer, so it's not always true).

[Redleg]

Do you have a special officer training school in the US, cos I'm sure that officer cadets in GB go through a sort of "Officer Skills Class" which teaches them how to be a proper officer. I get what you mean by saying Coming up through the ranks will give you more leadership experience, but (I dont know what it's like over there) that would be an Astronomical task for a British Soldier to do, is it the same way across the pond?

There are three service schools. West Point for the Army, Air Force Acdememy in CO, and Annoplis (SP) for the Navy with a Marine commission being an option there.

ROTC in most colleges, and several private schools that are structured toward the military - One of the better known is VMI (Virgina Military Institute)

Once commissioned the individual is sent to the Military School for his military occupation skill. For Instance I was a Field Artillery Officer. I went to the following military courses for additional training while in the Military.


As a LT
Field Artillery Basic Course - 19 Weeks
NBC Officer - 2 Weeks
Special Weapons - 1 Week

As a CPT
Field Artillery Officer Advance Course - 16 weeks
Muliple Rocket Cadre Course - 4 Weeks
Combined Arms Course - 8 weeks

As you progress in the Army - additional courses will be required.