Hello everyone, here is a situation I'm facing and would like your thoughts and opinions.

I'm currently in a state OCS program and will graduate in August '10(if everything goes well). Around that same time my unit is shipping out to A-stan. I will be going to this unit once I do accept my comission as well. If I do deploy I will go as an E4.

I am currently a technician for the NG so if I do I accept my comission I will be out of a job and have to look for a new one. I have no kids, not married, but engaged. I have never been on a deployment before....any opinions on what I should do? Accept my comission, or deploy as an E4?

I'd say deploy.

If you are planning to be an Officer in the United States Army, and you can't make this kind of decision, then you don't need to be an officer.

I'm not trying to be mean, you can be a great soldier, but that does not mean you will be a good officer.

Officers are decision makers, and it seems you have a bit of trouble making this important decision. It's almost as if you don't have your priorities nailed down well.

I was in a similar boat.
My unit was tasked to deploy right when I started traditional NG OCS. I chose, after lengthy talks with my SL, PSG, PL and CO, to go to OCS. Actually, they more or less chose for me. I had been wanting either ROTC or OCS, and it was the perfect opportunity. Unfortunately, I missed the deployment.
Now, 2 years later, I am a 2LT. I'm missing deployments while I wait on my IOBC slot. But when I do, I'll be an officer, which I think I'm better at than being a SPC. My priority was to commission, so I had to give ground on going on a second deployment, a first to combat.
The wars aren't going anywhere. You'll get your chance. Even with all the talking heads doing their thing, the wars aren't ending soon. Find what YOU want, and go for it.
I know losing your Tech job will hurt financially. If you really want it, go to OCS, get paid O1 pay at BOLC/follow on schools, volunteer to deploy, and take that time (and money) and line up something else in the meantime. If it's what you REALLY want, you'll get it. If not, it's okay; it's not for everyone, and it may be for you, just not in the NOW. Think hard, but Erik's right. Officers have to make decisions, and they have to stand by them. Get with the fiance, get with your boss, but above all else, get with yourself and figure it out.
Keep us posted.

Them tech jobs aren't easy to get. It seems to be a no brainer. Stay enlisted and employed vs. be an officer part time. Hmmm...

quote:

Originally posted by IronErik:
I'd say deploy.

If you are planning to be an Officer in the United States Army, and you can't make this kind of decision, then you don't need to be an officer.

I'm not trying to be mean, you can be a great soldier, but that does not mean you will be a good officer.

Officers are decision makers, and it seems you have a bit of trouble making this important decision. It's almost as if you don't have your priorities nailed down well.

So asking for advice from fellow soldiers who possibly have more experience or who have made these type decisions before equates to not being a decision maker?

Quite the contrary in my opinion. A wise man always asks advice from experienced when he has the time available. And that doesn't necessarily equate to not being able to make a solid snap decision either.


Anyways, I was in a similar situation as this myself. I had/have a full time in the NG doing military funerals in my region. My unit is also deploying soon. I had my packet ready to send off and am quite confident I would be accepted in part due to my references/background and also the large need for officers in my state.

However, I decided to deploy with my unit. I personally didn't want to leave the guys in my truck/platoon to deploy while I attended OCS. I also feel that my deployment will be an excellent opportunity for me to learn/develop my skills and see the Army for what it really is (Besides one weekend month etc). OCS will be waiting for me when I come back and I'll have gotten to deploy with a unit I am confident in and know as opposed to being shoved in as a 2lt with people I don't know.


Either way, it is a judgement call on your end as two people have posted here now who chose both of the routes you are considering and both people are happy with their decision.

Complete OCS and then decide if you're going to accept your commission. You're already half way through the program.

There will always be a deployment.

I don't know if it's the same in other units, but deploying as an E-4 SUCKED. Anytime someone messed-up, it was the E-4s and below who got punished. For example, a Warrant Officer messed-up and it was the junior enlisted who had to pull guard duty in full battle-rattle for 3 months, 24x7. No, the WO wasn't punished. Junior enlisted also get tasked for every dumb detail that anyone can dream-up.

While I would encourage any Soldier to experience a deployment to a combat zone, if you have the opportunity to advance your career by accepting a commission, then DO THAT! Unless you REALLY enjoy being a junior enlisted technician, get your commission.

Good Luck either way!

Matt
SPC, AV
US Army
OCS Selectee
Class 303-10

Thanks for everyone's opinions...It's been helpful to hear experiences from both sides. I still have a long way to go, but I'll make sure I post how things are going.

IF any more posters have thoughts or experiences please share them.

quote:

Originally posted by IronErik:
I'd say deploy.

If you are planning to be an Officer in the United States Army, and you can't make this kind of decision, then you don't need to be an officer.

I'm not trying to be mean, you can be a great soldier, but that does not mean you will be a good officer.

Officers are decision makers, and it seems you have a bit of trouble making this important decision. It's almost as if you don't have your priorities nailed down well.

I have no problems making decisions. Given I have the time and oppertunity, I like to research my options with some other service members experience(s). I find it hard to believe that if you were in the same position that you would not ask for advice.

Been in the same situation, however, I knew what I wanted.

No, I did not ask for advice. Granted, I had quite a bit more military experience than you, so maybe that made my decision easier.

I would ask yourself which is more important, your commission, or deploying with your unit. Whichever is more important to you is what you should do.

quote:

Originally posted by NFC04:
Thanks for everyone's opinions...It's been helpful to hear experiences from both sides. I still have a long way to go, but I'll make sure I post how things are going.

IF any more posters have thoughts or experiences please share them.

Heh, well to tell you the truth. GoJerro was a Red Bull and he faced the same quandry as you are. He was Infantry stuck back in MN while his NG unit was overseas. He transferred RA is now on his way or overseas already and he was on here complaining he was being sent to Iraq and there was no action there (lol). Then he was grumbling he made the wrong choice (lol) which is normal your first year in a RA Infantry unit to have doubts because of the adjustment you have to make to military life and the learning curve, it's better after month 12-14.

So, an example from your own State NG unit that your really not going to be 100% satisfied here. The other thing I would mention is it is VERY COMMON to feel guilty if your in a rear detachment and your unit is sent to a foriegn country, BTDT with the 101st during the Cold War. The best thing you can do to alleviate this is to ask those that do deploy that know you well in your current or former unit if they think it would make a difference if you were there alongside them. 99.9% of the time your going to get the "**** No" answer. Some will even further quantify it by saying the whole purpose of their deploying is to hold the line....so others can continue on with thier careers and/or life. Really thats the answer you should get from a professional Soldier. You shouldn't hear this BS "I deployed so you should deploy with me" crap.

Having said that, your going to run into some that use a deployment as a litmus test and they existed to an extent in the 1980's. You have to understand where they are comming from as well. They are not holding that against you per se. It's because they are pizzed off at the scammers and shammers that used various excuses to avoid shipping out when their country called upon them or when a Emergency was declared and the rest of the unit had to ship out. Think about it for a moment....it would pizz you off as well.

Staying in the rear to advance up in the Chain of the Command does not qualify in most peoples books as scamming the system, IMO. Same deal with ETS'ing and using your GI Bill to advance your education.

quote:

Staying in the rear to advance up in the Chain of the Command does not qualify in most peoples books as scamming the system

I agree, so long as you don't make it a terminal habit. If you're in 6 years and never deploy while your unit ships twice, on the other hand...

**** that got to OCS. Would you rather be an LT or joe? If you want to stay a joe, Sergeant here will be more than happy to make you do some push ups.

It's not about being and LT or joe...it's about gaining experience through deployment then accepting my commision(I'm already half way through OCS). I'll become a 2LT either way, it's just if I want to deploy as an E4 first.

quote:

Originally posted by Erikwithak86:
**** that got to OCS. Would you rather be an LT or joe? If you want to stay a joe, Sergeant here will be more than happy to make you do some push ups.

You're worried about push ups?

Wait till your at attention while a Colonel chews your butt for things your soldiers do that you have absolutely no control over.

Deploying enlisted sucks bawls. Deploying as an officer, i hear, sucks bawls. Get the bar and, if you're a good Soldier, lessen the suck that your Joes have to deal with. Don't fall on the grenade because of guilt about deploying. I'm telling you, you'll get your chance Candidate.
Experience is nice to have as an officer, but not a requirement for 2LTs. Get your bar, get the most training you can get, and be the biggest, baddest Muthatruckin' LT in the land. If you worked in a corporate setting as the mailroom clerk and could get promoted to supervisor, would you turn it (and the pay) down to go to the company picnic? Nooooo...

This^^^^ Don't worry man, deployments will be there when you get back.

quote:

Originally posted by Erikwithak86:
This^^^^ Don't worry man, deployments will be there when you get back.

I concur, in the long run an Officer will make more money and have a better retirement.

You're half way thru OCS, if you deploy, I'm pretty sure you have to start over from the beginning when you get back.

You'll still have your tech job to and until the day you accept the commission and pin on the Bar.

So get paid as a tech, finish OCS, get commissioned, lose tech job but you go on active duty for your Officer Branch Basic Course. Might be a month or two without a job between commissioning and OBC but that's what unempolyment insurance is for.

At the end of OBC you can volunteer to go on a deployment and I'm pretty sure you'll find a slot.

By the time you get back the job market should be better and you'll be an experienced junior officer looking for a job not a Specialist.

quote:

Originally posted by IronErik:
I'd say deploy.

If you are planning to be an Officer in the United States Army, and you can't make this kind of decision, then you don't need to be an officer.

I'm not trying to be mean, you can be a great soldier, but that does not mean you will be a good officer.

Officers are decision makers, and it seems you have a bit of trouble making this important decision. It's almost as if you don't have your priorities nailed down well.

As officers we also should not make decisions without thinking through the consequences. You may need to read FM 5-0 and brush up on your MDMP. As officers doing planning we develop several courses of action, evalute them, and select the best one. There is nothing wrong with taking the time to plan and make the best decision possible.

quote:

Originally posted by NFC04:
Hello everyone, here is a situation I'm facing and would like your thoughts and opinions.

I'm currently in a state OCS program and will graduate in August '10(if everything goes well). Around that same time my unit is shipping out to A-stan. I will be going to this unit once I do accept my comission as well. If I do deploy I will go as an E4.

I am currently a technician for the NG so if I do I accept my comission I will be out of a job and have to look for a new one. I have no kids, not married, but engaged. I have never been on a deployment before....any opinions on what I should do? Accept my comission, or deploy as an E4?

deployyyyyyyyy