Does Officer to Enlisted ratio matter in branches?
MilidarUSMC
Active member
absolutely but you would have to go through a commisioning program, i dont think you can go enlisted to officer through field promotions.
Team Infidel
Forum Spin Doctor
No more field promotions in today's military. You can get a commission though through OCS or ROTC.
Chief Bones
Forums Grumpy Old Man
JulesLee
There are many programs within the various military branches which allow an enlisted person to become an officer.
The best way to get information on this topic is to talk to the various recruiters. They can tell you what the prerequisites are for the various programs.
There are many programs within the various military branches which allow an enlisted person to become an officer.
The best way to get information on this topic is to talk to the various recruiters. They can tell you what the prerequisites are for the various programs.
The Cooler King
Godfather
My mistake, I misread the post.
LeEnfield
Active member
My sister lad joined the American Green Berets as a Private and has risen to the rank of Major, so the answer must be yes. My Uncle joined the Royal Engineers as a boy soldier and rose to the rank of Lt Colonel. My father joined the RAF as and Aircraftsman and rose the rank of Squadron Leader after he completed his aircrew course. Now me i went in a as Private and came out as Private and if they could have busted me any lower they would have done so.
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Duty Honor Country
Active member
I guess I am the living proof that an enlisted soldier can become an officer. I was allowed to leave active duty last August under the Green to Gold program to become an officer via ROTC. Right now I am attending Austin Peay State University and will get my commission in May 08 unless I really screw my self over.
You can become an officer as a prior enlisted soldier by a few means. You could go into one of the Academies. I know that there was a Ranger who had earned the Silver Star who was at West Point. You could go ROTC after you finish your enlistment contract. Like me, you could get out while you are on active duty via the Green to GOld program. The reserves has a direct commission where you can go to OCS (Officer Canidate School) of you have more than 60 semester hours of college. However, you will need to complete your 4 year degree before you can be promoted to captain.
Did I miss any other ways to get your commission???
You can become an officer as a prior enlisted soldier by a few means. You could go into one of the Academies. I know that there was a Ranger who had earned the Silver Star who was at West Point. You could go ROTC after you finish your enlistment contract. Like me, you could get out while you are on active duty via the Green to GOld program. The reserves has a direct commission where you can go to OCS (Officer Canidate School) of you have more than 60 semester hours of college. However, you will need to complete your 4 year degree before you can be promoted to captain.
Did I miss any other ways to get your commission???
Maytime
Active member
I'm in the reserve component (US Army), and I'm also going to college, which makes me eligable for the Simultaneous Membership Program (SMP), so I can contract with ROTC to become an officer while still serving in my reserve unit (with higher pay I might add 
). You don't have to let your enlistment contract run out.
). You don't have to let your enlistment contract run out.
Redneck
Active member
Doody said:
I stole mine.
I'm not really clear on the ins and outs of it, but from what some of my classmates have been telling me (most of my FAOBC class is prior service enlisted), it sounds like Direct Commission and OSC are actually two seperate routes to commissioning, anyone have any experience with this?
JulesLee
Active member
Service-Total Active Duty Personne-Percentage Female-Enlisted-Officers
Army-500,203-15.2%-414,325-69,307
Marine Corps-176,202-6.0%157,150-19,052
Navy-375,521-14.5%-319,929-55,592
Air Force-358,612-19.6%-285,520-73,091
Coast Guard-40,151-10.7%-31,286-7,835
from wikipedia.
in USArmy, its around 6 Enlisted men to 1 Officer
in USMC, its around 8.2 to 1
in USN, its around 5.7 to 1
in USAF, its around 3.9 to 1
in USCG its around 3.9 to 1
so does that mean, its easier to rank up...such as an officer has a better chance at USMC and enlisted have a better chance at USAF or so.. or does this not matter.. does USAF hav more officers because there are alot of pilots or..
well I dont really know what im asking.. just kinda weird its not even out through all branches...
Army-500,203-15.2%-414,325-69,307
Marine Corps-176,202-6.0%157,150-19,052
Navy-375,521-14.5%-319,929-55,592
Air Force-358,612-19.6%-285,520-73,091
Coast Guard-40,151-10.7%-31,286-7,835
from wikipedia.
in USArmy, its around 6 Enlisted men to 1 Officer
in USMC, its around 8.2 to 1
in USN, its around 5.7 to 1
in USAF, its around 3.9 to 1
in USCG its around 3.9 to 1
so does that mean, its easier to rank up...such as an officer has a better chance at USMC and enlisted have a better chance at USAF or so.. or does this not matter.. does USAF hav more officers because there are alot of pilots or..
well I dont really know what im asking.. just kinda weird its not even out through all branches...
AJChenMPH
Forum Health Inspector
Each service has its own characteristics, which usually explains why the discrepancies in the enlisted-to-officer ratios. But it generally doesn't matter which service you're in, the methods of going from enlisted to officer are all pretty much the same. More important is if your commanders see leadership potential in you, and have confidence in your decision-making abilities.JulesLee said:
Marinerhodes
Active member
Doody said:
One much overlooked commission is as a Chief Warrant Officer. This route is via enlisted to Warrant Officer. Same schools and training (If I recall correctly what I was told) as a commissioned officer. They are generally considered a specialist among specialists in their field of expertise.
In the United States military officers at the Chief Warrant Officer level are in fact commissioned officers and are afforded the same privileges and courtesies, such as terms of address and salutes, as other commissioned officers.
A little history for your perusal:
The warrant officer corps began in the 13th century in the nascent English Royal Navy. At that time, nobles assumed command of the new Navy, adopting the Army ranks of lieutenant and captain. These officers often had no knowledge of life on board a ship—let alone how to navigate such a vessel—and relied on the expertise and cooperation of a senior sailor who tended to the technical aspects of running the ship. As cannon came into use, the officers also required gunnery experts.
These sailors became indispensable to less-experienced officers and were rewarded with a royal warrant. This warrant was a special designation, designed to set them apart from other sailors, yet not violate the strict class system that was prevalent during the time
Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Warrant_officer
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Chief Bones
Forums Grumpy Old Man
Historically the ratio of officer to enlisted has changed drastically as the enlisted ranks have become better educated.
As the level of education has risen, the number of officers to enlisted has decreased as the number of senior enlisted to junior enlisted has risen. The most senior of the enlisted personnel now fill slots that would have formerly been filled by junior officers, often filling company or division slots.
I don't know the exact figures, however Chief Petty Officer training courses pointed out the above facts when I attended as a newly frocked CPO.
As the level of education has risen, the number of officers to enlisted has decreased as the number of senior enlisted to junior enlisted has risen. The most senior of the enlisted personnel now fill slots that would have formerly been filled by junior officers, often filling company or division slots.
I don't know the exact figures, however Chief Petty Officer training courses pointed out the above facts when I attended as a newly frocked CPO.
Tankersteve
New Member
Officer/enlisted ratios
Another thing to remember is the U.S. Army has a lot more officers because they have additional 'Title 10, USC' responsibilities. For instance, bulk supplies on land all have to be handled by the Army, even if in a joint environment with Marines and Air Force. In fact, during combined ops with other countries, often the U.S. Army is responsible for their supplies as well. This requires a lot of officers as much of the hauling is handled by civilian contracters, and just managed by officers.
Another issue is that Marines do not have many chaplains or doctors - most of those folks come from the Navy.
As for warrant officers, the Air Force doesn't have any. This skews some of their ratios.
Tankersteve
Another thing to remember is the U.S. Army has a lot more officers because they have additional 'Title 10, USC' responsibilities. For instance, bulk supplies on land all have to be handled by the Army, even if in a joint environment with Marines and Air Force. In fact, during combined ops with other countries, often the U.S. Army is responsible for their supplies as well. This requires a lot of officers as much of the hauling is handled by civilian contracters, and just managed by officers.
Another issue is that Marines do not have many chaplains or doctors - most of those folks come from the Navy.
As for warrant officers, the Air Force doesn't have any. This skews some of their ratios.
Tankersteve
A Can of Man
Je suis aware
As far as I know, the Marine Corps doesn't have any doctors or chaplains.