Army - Officer Questions?

Question

I just wanted to ask a couple more questions real fast:


- I presume the difference between enlisted work and an officer's work would be that an officer's would be more specialized than that of someone who enlists. Right?
- If you enlist and you became an officer some-way down your term would you lose those benefits you originally enlisted for? If so would they offer any compensation or new bonuses?
- Now would it be easier to advance to an officer from the military with a couple classes of RotC and 90 credits already in your pocket or if you just came out of school with your bacholar's already? (My recruiter said that he wasn't sure but he said he would presume that they would hold a preference on someone who has experience in being a soldier in addition to his desire to complete school over someone who is fresh out of college)



Thanks.

Answer 1

Officers are usually more generalized then enlisted. Enlisted do one job and that job only (simplified I know) until later in thier career. Officers learn how to intigrate all systems into a unit, so we know more about a range of subjects, but not as much as a NCO usually in a single subject.

The only thing you really possibly lose is any GI Bill benifits. It depends on how you get your commission and its kind of complicated.

The easiest way would be to go to ROTC. It is hard to go direct commission unless you are a nurse, doctor, lawer or chaplin. Otherwise you have to enlist, basic, OCS, and then become an officer.

There are differences in how you become an officer and how they are looked at. Enlisted like OCS grads because they were enlisted first, but they run a danger of being set in their ways sometimes. They are almost always really good low level officers, but often have problems at higher levels.

ROTC and West Point generally have more flexibility in thier careers because they have everything in front of them vs OCS that doesnt have as much time until retirement. They are usually better at adapting to higher levels as officers.

These are generalities, there are always exceptions.

Myself, ROTC, 12 years active Army, Field Artillery.

Answer 2

Officers are the Management ranks of the service. If you want to be an officer, you will need a college degree.

Check each of the service web sites on ways to become an officer. Service acaemies are one route. ROTC is another. Most of the services will offer a FULL scholarship to qualified applicants. This will pay tuition, books and a small living allowance.

OCS is open to enlistees with a college degree.

As an officer you will be paid more than enlsited personnel but you will have more responsibility.

Officer recruiters are not the same as ones in the recruiting offices. You will usually see them on College campuses. Check the service web sites for other contact info.

Answer 3

Readers digest version...
1) wrong... officers have at least a bachelors degree and are more administrative than anything else. Lots of paperwork and may be in charge of more than one group of people so they're less "specialized"
2)Officers get very few, if any, "enlistment benefits"
3)You can not be an Officer without a full degree, your recruiter is an idiot... like most.

If you're looking at what to do and want to be "the best"... here are your options...
#1 get accepted to one of the Academies... GO NAVY, lol!
#2 go ROTC in college
#3 go enlisted, work on getting your degree and HOPE you can get reccommended for OCS

Answer 4

1. Wrong. Commissioned officers, for the most part must be capable in many areas; their particular field, administration, management and leadership to name a few. Generally, enlisted Soldiers are more highly specialized in their field until they make the rank of an NCO. Then they too must be leaders and managers.

2. Sort of. If you enlist for a bonus, you must complete that term of enlistment in order to get your complete bonus. I know a few officers and warrant officers who had to pay back portions of their bonuses because they went to flight school, OCS or ROTC. Officers don't get enlistment bonuses, mainly because we aren't enlisted. BUT... right now, Captains are getting up to $35,000 to sign a contract saying that they will stay in the Army for another three years.

3. Right now, you need to have your degree do become a commissioned officer, plain and simple. Occassionally this changes, but that's the current policy.

Answer 5

Your majoring in engineering and with ROTC, you may have a harder time focuses on your studies with that major because of the ROTC demands cut into studying. I would recommend this route but it is only because of my personal experience. join up with the ARMY National guard. Go to school as a regular college student and drill once a month. Then you will have the options of 2 yrs of ROTC or after you graduate college go officer for either the guard, active, or reserves. In engineering you could go as a warrant officer and become an engineer chief. best of luck

Answer 6

your recruiter is trying to recruit you. he does not get credit for you if you go in as an officer candidate. the best way to be an officer is to complete your schooling while doing ROTC.

Answer 7

Unless you are really specialized (like a doctor) I don't think officers get enlistment bonuses.

Answer 8

1.Wrong, actually, its more work! allot of paperwork its just more responsibility and work. but you can join special forces at officer ranks. There's allot of thinking involved for officer's.

2.No. unless you got dishonorably discharged.

3.Yes. it helps.

i suggest colledge if your planning to join. it helps allot more on the paycheck and its instant e-4 i think.

Furthermore, i hope you best in your career.