Officer action?

Question

I'm considering going into the army through ROTC and becoming an officer, but from what I've heard from most military people I know (retired NCOs, the majority of them), that officers are alwase far from the action, and when they are around during combat, nobody wants to have an officer watching their back because 'your shure to die'. Is that true? Do officers ever get involved as far as fighting in combat situations?

Answer 1

there are plenty of good infantry and armor officers that see plenty of action. There are now a good number of artillery and engineer officers running around outside the wire as well. The notion that officers will get you killed is still strong in the enlisted ranks due to LTs that go get 4 years of college and then assume that gives them the military experience necessary to overrule their NCOs in life/death decisions. Go enlisted first. That's the best cure. As soon as your joes hear you're prior enlisted they'll breath a big sigh of relief.

Answer 2

Same problem exists in the civilian sector. College grad comes into an organization (military or civilian). Feels his/her education overrides the vast experience of mid management/NCO Corp and ignores the sage advise of those that have lost chunks of their backside to the alligator called experience.

Fortunately that does not apply to all. Be wise. Be aware that the SSG and SFC have the same experience as a Major or Lt. Col. It is the wise man that knows what he does not know.

The Senior Officers (Combat Arms) did not get there solely by flying a desk. The skill set in military knowledge and application between NCO's and Officers is the same with the addition of Officers having additional training in tactics (War College, West Point). The successful leader takes that knowledge and aids the venture by setting achievable training goals. By knowing what his subordinates must do, he can make sure they have the correct logistics also. A combination of Omar Bradly and George Patton.

Things I learned while growing up in the Army and Corporate America.

SSG US Army 73-82
Corp. Management 82-2000

Answer 3

Warrant officers get a lot of flight time as helicopter pilots. Comissioned, almost as much with more paperwork.

Depending on the job, lower ranking officers (In combat arms and similar) start out "on the ground" with the rest of the joes and is requisite experience for promotion; commanding at different levels.

I just oversimplified it, but that's the jist.

It's rare a bad leader gets "fragged" like in Vietnam. Generally you just get mocked behind your back. To your face if you really suck. Either way pure contempt and outright scorn is sure to follow. If you're weak you won't go far anyway.

But hey, of course you have what it takes, don't you?

DON'T you?

If I could, I would give farfromfl a thumbs up for his reccomendation you go enlisted 1st. And don't go thirsting for action so much, newbie, you might get it.

Answer 4

Officers are leaders. There is always officers in front leading his men whether in non=combat operations, or in combat operations. Dont believe everything you hear. If you become an officer, you will truly find out what responsibility and leadership is. It is just like the pilot of an airplane, why would he let the plane crash when he is going to die also. Go for it, and Good Luck!

Answer 5

They aren't always far from action, but troop leadership and command time is low, meaning you won't spend as much time leading soldiers as you will making power point slides, kinda the nature of the beast in the officer food chain to promotion.