I was in the military for 8.5 years. I served as enlisted although I attended a military academy. I left the military because I found being enlisted degrading. In fact, I felt degraded by stupid ROTC grad officers who were never enlisted. I believe that military officers should only be chosen from enlisted and never given a commission until they have served at least 3 years as enlisted. I also believe that the requirement of a college degree should be done away with for combat MOS's and aviation. I have 3 degrees, and one is just as useless as the other two. I also believe that if a person is young enough to serve as enlisted, then he or she should never be considered too old to become an officer. Who agrees, disagrees or has thoughts to offer? This is intended to be a debate.
2007-02-27 18:00:23 · 3 answers · asked by jack h 1 in Politics & Government ➔ Military
Again, this is intended to be a debate, not an invitation for a personal attack. I attended an academy, but no, I didn't flunk out. I resigned because it was a state reserve academy and required a great deal of personal expense. I have degrees in finance, logsitics and transportation, and international economics. I believe standardized education has value only if you have great contacts to go along with it. Otherwise, it's just a lot of student loan debt to keep you down your whole life.
2007-02-27 19:43:57 · update #1
Agreed! What most don't understand is that one can have 10 degrees and still enlist. It's a choice to become an officer and be commissioned.
A good 2LT listens to his NCO. But we know that doesn't always happen.
Battlefield commissions really showed the difference between the "average" soldier and those who excelled. Promoting from within sounds ideal.
I also wish military service was mandatory for our President, VP and Congress... otherwise, how will these people ever know what it's like to be the one deployed, to just want to go home, etc? JMO
2007-02-27 19:23:01 · answer #1 · answered by crimsonshedemon 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Kind of a confusing story. Only way I can see you attended a military academy AND ended up enlisted is you did a couple of years at the academy and flunked out, so had to serve your time as an enlisted.
If you got three degrees and they are all worthless that also does not say much about your ability to make good decisions in regards to your future.
Now, as to your comments. MANY fine officers are in all branches of service who were prior enlisted. They even have a special PAY CHART for them. However, just because you did "X" number of years as an enlisted does not automatically mean you will be a better officer. Some enlisted never get past bottle scrubbing and KP.
I think you have to have something to separate the officers from enlisted. In the days gone by, officers were "gentlemen" and enlisted were 'commoners." Today, officers are educated and must have at least a bachelors degree. Enlisted can come right out of high school and as I said, they can become officers if they go get a degree. With three degrees, I would suspect you could have become an officer except for the academy issue.
Lastly, I think at the very least a pilot should be smart. If he can not even graduate from college, IMO he is not smart enough to be trusted with a Multi-million dollar airplane or copter. We have more than enough people wanting to be pilots that it is not necessary to let poorly educated people apply....
2007-02-27 19:01:10 · answer #2 · answered by forgivebutdonotforget911 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
My Dad was in the US Navy He was a dentist and had a degree from USC When he heard about Pearl Harbor on the radio he enlisted in the Navy as an officer & stayed 30 years I hope you will find what you are seeking
2007-02-27 18:13:59 · answer #3 · answered by hobo 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋