Want to join the military - round 2.

i will not bash Officers, but i do have more respect for SSgts and TSgts then i do for an O-1/O-2. XP is way more important to me.

Again if you want to make a difference first hand=Enlisted, Second hand=Officer

I as an E-3 do a lot of work for my Officers, whatever they do not want to do, and they get the benefit from it. I am ok with that because the job I wanted was Air Traffic. I wanted to call AC to blow the bad guys up, not write paperwork from a desk.
I have a Degree and chose a Job that I wanted. You can chase a Paycheck or you can find a Career you want to do/have fun at.

Anyway you serve your Country is top notch.
Remember: "It's not our job to die for our Country, it is our job to make the bad guy die for his."

 

I got this online, from usajobs.com
there are more, but this is in the San Diego area

 

Not sure what your point is with this. Please explain. A high time mil pilot would rate more than 70k with a legacy airline.

 

this is a true statement. My dad is a captain with SouthWest.

 

And why is the Class I medical in bold? Hell I had a First Class (Class I) medical but let it expire. Now I have a 2nd Class. Unless you are a pilot non of this will make any sense.

 

just pointing out that jobs are available for flying without going into the military

in regards to this

 

I find it interesting that you equate enlisted work to automatic experience and deserving of respect but an O-1/O-2 means they have no experience/deserve less respect. Making that generalization will give you the wrong answer every time.

I commissioned with several folks who made E-5 to E-7 before they tried for an officer billet. I've also met some enlisted folks who you say you would automatically have more respect for...who were HUGE shit bags. That right there throws your entire theory on it's head.

Not to mention- if you are an E-3- I've got more experience than you I'd bet, and I'm just a fresh O3. It's not about a wide stroke based on rank or time in grade or age. It's about the person you are dealing with.

And don't get confused- If you stick with a career-You will be doing paperwork and playing politics at some point. Officers do a bit more paperwork- but everyone gets their share.

 

I agree with you. I've come to realize that there is a lot of things that go on behind the scenes that an E4 or below is privy to. Hell, an an E6 I'm not privy to a lot but I understand the 'mission' a little better and can understand what the goal is a tad better. The O1 or O2 have their own 'mission' that I'm not aware of. As far as respecting a E5 or E6 over an O1, no NCO worth his rank would make the mistake of letting a junior enlisted know they don't have faith in the chain of command. Part of my duty is to make sure that O1 or even O3 understands what options are available to them.

 

And I guess I should clarify -cause you made a good point- There are different jobs done by each. I'm not supposed to be a technician and you are not necessarily supposed to be an administrator. I do know some of the technical stuff and lots of enlisted folks know some of my admin gig-but it's not enuf to replace the other.

And neither of us would be able to do our jobs without the other.

 

Oh ok. AFAIK most of the kinds of jobs you posted up usually look for ex mil pilots. One gov gig to another. Double up on that retirement. NICE!

 

O-1E/O-2E i understand.

from personal EX again, I as an E3 have come to find out that being an officer can be very hard. i get that. im not bashing, just stating my OPINION. I see on a regular basis, junior officers acting like King Solomon, for no reason. Especially when they have to come to me or a SSgt to figure out how to do something. I do know some Enlisted folks that are dirtbags, i get that also. thing is enlisted learn the trade, officers learn how to manage. plain and simple.

Edit: in response to Brunes,
Chain of Command is very important. i believe that 100%. i just find it hard to follow someone that is my first officer in my chain, when he can not do/understand/know the job i do. This does not mean that i will not follow his lawful orders, i will because that is my job to follow my leadership. I use customs and curtesy in and out of uniform. i just am voicing what i and many others see/hear/believe.

I am saying that with my degree, 2 years of service supporting my mission, i feel that the Sgts around me directly supporting the mission demand my respect. more so then the LT in the office 5 floors down/ or in another building altogether. Now we all have the mission to fulfill. i do my part and you do yours, in the end we are one team. and i will salute and and all officers in uniform. i take nothing away from you careers, you are doing what you want.

the decision to go enlisted vs officer is all about what job you want, and if you like to do the work or manage the work, i wanted to do the work in Air Traffic before i try to "bootstrap" into an Officer slot. I feel that is a better way to show your troops you are there for them. you know how there side works, so you can better help them.

again my .02
there are exceptions, to every rule. again my .02

 

well, by far and way - first of all, what does your wife think about all this? was the expectation you communicated to here that when you got married that you'd be joining the military???

 

great point..!!

 

Leadership is leadership. You either have it or you don't. I've had 2LT's that I would follow anywhere and I've had NCO's that wasn't worth a pot of piss.

It isn't about the rank, it's about the person.

 

This sums it up.

You don't see the difference between O1-E or O1 when you look at the persons rank on their uniform. I've been asked several times what I did when I was enlisted- and I have to answer "I wasn't ever enlisted- I went to the Academy after high school" Work ethic and attitude determine much more than technical expertise.

Making a judgment about all O1/2's because you've seen some shitty ones just doesn't make sense. Same as thinking all E-5/6/7 are worthy of respect. Their attitude and personality are important part...

 

The wife actually supports my decision 100%. In fact she would have me quit USAA today if i could start my career in the military. And shes not blind, she too grew up in a military family, so she knows most of the good/bad.