Those who have an interest in becoming a Military Officer are ready to take their career to the next level. While this is not the right position for every service member, it is something that you should consider. Generally speaking, an Officer is somebody who is put in a position of authority. That being said, this is not something that is just going to happen. Instead, you need to take the necessary steps. Along with this, you must be comfortable with being in a position of authority, which often calls for the supervision of others as well as the management of multiple activities.
Two Types of Officers
Before we go any further, it is important to note that there are two types of Military Officers:
– Commissioned Officer ? this person typically enters the Military with a four year degree and has completed the proper training.
– Warrant Officer ? these people are promoted from the enlisted ranks because of their expertise.
Want to Become a Commissioned Officer?
If you are interested in becoming a commissioned Military Officer you can do so in a number of different ways:
– Officer Candidate School
– Direct Commission
– Reserve Officer Training Corps (ROTC)
– Attend a Service Academy
– Attend a Senior Military College
Becoming a Warrant Officer
If you are highly skilled in a particular career field, you may be in position to become a Warrant Officer. At minimum, you must meet the following requirements:
-?????? Pass a physical fitness test
-?????? General Technical score of 110 or higher
-?????? Secret security clearance
-?????? United States citizen
The Benefits Are Beyond What You’re Thinking
Now that you know more about becoming a Military Officer, it is time to take a closer look at the many benefits.
First things first, you will gain access to tangible benefits which include a higher salary and better housing. Although these things may not be exciting to you ? and they probably aren?t the best reason to become a Military Officer ? it is something that is sure to make your life easier.
It is the intangible benefits of becoming a Military Officer that will really change your life. As noted above, you are going to be put in a position of authority. Not only does this mean supervising others, but it also allows you to make important decisions.
Of course, there is nothing better than the leadership training that comes along with being a Military Officer. As you develop as a leader, you will soon find that your management and organizational skills are following suit.
When your time in the Military comes to an end, you will begin your search for a civilian position. As you can imagine, employers are impressed by anybody who served their country. Even more so, employers love to hire Military Officers. This shows that you have top of the line leadership and management qualities, as well as the desire to work hard on a daily basis.
Are you Ready?? Really?
It does not matter if you are currently in the Military or considering enlisting, you can begin to dream about becoming an Officer. There are many ways to make this happen. All you have to do is choose the option that is best for you and follow through from start to finish.
In the end, you will realize your dream of becoming a Military Officer. Soon enough, you will be taking advantage of both tangible and intangible benefits that will better your life now and in the future.
It’s mind blowing that with all the scholarships and GI Benefits that more kids are not becoming Military officers. Just think of it , MUCH BETTER pay, more prestige and MUCH BETTER career opportunities long after your military service! WHAT GIVES? Are the kids today just lazy????
I agree, LarryF. What more could students of today want? The benefits are above and beyond anything you would find in a civilian position…
Lack of orientation, fellas. Colleges today offers so much that it is quite overwhelming to most kids nowadays, a fact that makes them sit still and wonder what the hell to do instead of going forward and acquiring what they need. Older people tend to simply say, “In my day we just did this and that,” and feel confident that they provided adequate advice to their child, when in fact the world has changed so much that it is no longer that simple. Not all students have the required amount of money for it to be practical for them to get a college degree, and despite the large boasting of scholarships for everyone and FAFSA, those usually do not help nearly as much as it is publicized to do. Not to mention, they aren’t exactly the easiest thing to access. You want kids to be more appreciative of the opportunities that they have? Orient them better. Let them know what they can do. Show them the difference between one thing and the other.
Sure its better to be a military officer, but does every person with a college degree want/deserve to be one? NO! There’s a reason that there are enlisted members and officers, but here are the two I consider most important:
One, not every person in the world can lead. This is an easy fact of life. How many less than effective managers/leaders have you seen in your day? There is pressure, stress, expectations that make people unused to or unconfident about leading shy away from this opportunities. Are you the only people that are not annoyed by having to follow an incompetent person simply because they had the money to go to college while you didn’t – yet everyone will attempt to blame you for not going to college?
Second, some people are meant to follow. This by no means implies that they are not capable of leading, but they simply perform better as a follower, as a hand of someone else’s mind. Sure there’s better pay involved, but some people aren’t all about money despite the strong (and in my opinion, disgusting) capitalistic belief of American society. They might enjoy what they do and not want the added responsibilities of an officer, or they may simply be using it as a means to an end and they have no true reason to be an officer if they are getting what they want as enlisted.
Just because there are opportunities does not mean that they are for everyone. Not all men are born to lead, and not all men are born to follow. When the time comes, each man knows his place. That’s why there are distinctions made between the two.
P.S. If everyone’s an officer who leads and plans and masterminds things, who’s gonna actually do the work?
Thanks for your response A Lazy Kid!!!!!