DUDE.... Chicks don't dig commandos. Chicks dig Tankers. Seriously.

Plus, there's the OLD tanker motto: "Why carry your weapons system into battle, when your weapons system can carry YOU?"

As for the whole beret thing... Tankers had the Black Beret WAY before the Rangers or anyone else had it. Look it up.

Tankers had the Black Beret WAY before the Rangers or anyone else had it. Look it up.

NOT going to get into this debate again. You can be "right."

It's amazing we can focus on fighting the enemy every once in awhile.

Your training began early then.

Yes Sir, and ever since I became a Cay-dot, every one of them near about have been trying to make me do some D&C for them when they catch me on a date. Senior NCOs got a mean streak a mile wide in them.

Go for it. You'll always wonder "What if?" if you don't. And if you want to be a GOOD officer, enlist first. I never trusted any officer that hadn't done time as an enlisted man. How can someone tell me what to do if he isn't willing to try it? If you plan on making the army a career, you'd better go combat arms, and if the recruiter tries to push you into some support position, get up, walk out, and wait until they give you what YOU want.

Originally Posted by Jamoni

I never trusted any officer that hadn't done time as an enlisted man. How can someone tell me what to do if he isn't willing to try it?

This attitude really kind of chaps my ass, if you'll pardon the expression. Although I have NEVER claimed to know more than any serviceman, enlisted or commissioned (or warrented ), I have no doubt that even though I am EARNING my commission through ROTC and therefore will not spend any time on the enlisted side, I will be no less worthy of the trust and respect of my men than a prior service or OCS 2nd Lieutenant will be, because I am going to earn that trust and respect.

If you are considering going the ROTC, UMJC, or Academy course, Greenie, do not let that hold you back. No matter which route you take, and this includes being a career enlisted man, nobody will respect you unless you are worthy of it. A retired 11B CSM in my Sheriff's Posse told me that my goal should always be for my men to be saluting me the man rather than me the uniform. Just give it your all and take the responsibilities you are given as seriously as they should be, and nothing is a more serious responsibility than holding the lives of other men in your hands.

Well said; and handled excellently, Redneck. You will make a fine officer yet.

Thank you, Sir.

Redneck, NO ONE knows more than a Warrant Officer, just ask them!
Sorry if my attitude chaps your ass, but you can't judge a man til you've walked a mile in his boots... nor can you lead him till you've been where he's been. Perhaps I should say I've never trusted a LIEUTENANT that wasn't prior service, as specialists have a way of "maturing" a butterbar very quickly
One LT. thought he was hot ****, and could poke me in the chest when speaking to me. Ever been duct taped in a portapotty with homemade CS? Same guy spent two days blind cause he wouldn't take orders from a specialist... when i told him not to stare directly at an arc welder.
I guess i just mean if you become an officer, you'd better remember who guards you when you sleep. Remember who delivers your chow. Remember that without you things would keep working, but without soldiers, an officer is nothing. And if you have to put your ass on the line to see your boys get what they need, you better do it, or you ain't leading ****.

You're making some very broad statements there Jamoni.

When I was enlisted, I met and served with many 2nd Lts who were outstanding leaders, even if inexperienced. I sure respected them, so did others. Did I see some bad or marginal 2nd Lts? Sure I did, but they were in the minority.

When I became an officer after having been an NCO, I had no trouble being respected by my men. Neither did my peers, most of whom were not former enlisted men.

Get rid of this idea that there is this big "hatred or disrespect" thing among officers and enlisted. Respect must be earned, by both sides of the equation.

It seems as if there was a lack of discipline with yourself, the enlisted and the officers within your unit. The 10% rule always applies, with officers AND enlisted.

Rndersafe, my ideas are my own, and they are very hard won, thank you very much. I will get rid of the ones that I choose to.

I guess i just mean if you become an officer, you'd better remember who guards you when you sleep. Remember who delivers your chow. Remember that without you things would keep working, but without soldiers, an officer is nothing. And if you have to put your ass on the line to see your boys get what they need, you better do it, or you ain't leading ****.

I stand by these words. I'm not saying a ROTC officer can't be a good officer, I just think they need to accept their limitations and accept the abilities of their men.
Perhaps you are right, in that there was a lack of discipline in my unit. Whose responsibility is that? MY section ran like a clock. PERIOD. We had each others back, we executed our missions, we did our duty.

Respect must be earned, by both sides of the equation.

This is EXACTLY my point.
Let's not take this wrong. I didn't hate officers. I did as I was told. And only under EXTREME circumstances would I do something like I described above. I am saying that an officer with prior service has BEEN where I was, had done what he was asking me to do, and knew full well what I could or could not do. He would respect the job I had to do because he had done it. A ROTC cadet HAS earned his commision, but has NOT YET SHARED HARDSHIPS WITH HIS MEN. Until he does, he's questionable. If anyone feels this is unreasonable, please feel free to reply.
Also, I will take back my statement that an Officer must be enlisted first to be a good officer. I can see how this is misleading, disrespectful, and it detracts from my actual point. My apologies.