Started By
Message

re: Any Military Officers here?

Posted on 10/24/16 at 5:45 pm to
Posted by TDcline
American Gardens building 11th flor
Member since Aug 2015
9286 posts
Posted on 10/24/16 at 5:45 pm to
Thanks. They're moving forward on my officer package as of now, so I'm hoping to get boarded and selected soon. I'd like to be in OCS by January, which will be the next class. Any tips for OCS? I've read that they allow cell phones and POVs after 6 weeks, which I thought was odd.
Posted by lsucoonass
shreveport and east texas
Member since Nov 2003
68736 posts
Posted on 10/24/16 at 6:44 pm to
Good luck to you.

if you stay in for more than 10 years, you should make o4 if you do keep your nose clean and apply common sense
Posted by Lou Pai
Member since Dec 2014
28895 posts
Posted on 10/24/16 at 7:02 pm to
Oh I thought I remember you saying you were some Wildlife and Fisheries guy on Outdoor Board but I may have you confused with some other baw.

Either way, a cuck no doubt.
Posted by Topisawtiger
Mississippi
Member since Oct 2012
3605 posts
Posted on 10/24/16 at 7:49 pm to
I am a retired air force officer and was prior navy enlisted. Absolutely would do it again in a heartbeat. Best times of my life......

Good luck....
Posted by CajunSoldier225
Member since Aug 2011
8990 posts
Posted on 10/24/16 at 7:53 pm to
Start working out in your lbe and kevlar. Wear a ruck and the two pair of boots you'll go to school in while working out also.

Run. 25-30 miles a week. When the TAC's start laying in, be in front. They usually target the physically weak for DOR.

There is an acceptable DOR rate and they will achieve it. The classwork is BS.

I was prior service. I just got in line and became a #. Life was easy. OBC is a blast.

I did nothing but drink beer, PT, and enjoyed my weekends at OBC.

brother and good luck. You can do it.
Posted by TejasPete
Member since Dec 2013
1425 posts
Posted on 10/24/16 at 8:02 pm to
Army is fun especially NTC now that they are using brigades from stateside to rotate to Korea and such you get to go quite a bit. No more food trucks in the box like the COIN years but they have a really good Greek food truck in the RUBA.

You're welcome for the great advice if you get stationed with me you owe me more than just a couple beers.
Posted by TDcline
American Gardens building 11th flor
Member since Aug 2015
9286 posts
Posted on 10/24/16 at 8:29 pm to
Where you stationed at Tejas?
Posted by TejasPete
Member since Dec 2013
1425 posts
Posted on 10/24/16 at 8:39 pm to
quote:

Where you stationed at Tejas?


I was at Fort Hood but now I'm doing 4 - 6 at Leavenworth for forging my annual trafficking in human persons online training certificate.
Posted by lsucoonass
shreveport and east texas
Member since Nov 2003
68736 posts
Posted on 10/24/16 at 8:40 pm to
Dang
Posted by TDcline
American Gardens building 11th flor
Member since Aug 2015
9286 posts
Posted on 10/24/16 at 8:45 pm to
I've heard terrible things about Leavenworth.

Can't be worse than Lejeune or 29 Palms.
This post was edited on 10/24/16 at 8:46 pm
Posted by lsucoonass
shreveport and east texas
Member since Nov 2003
68736 posts
Posted on 10/24/16 at 8:49 pm to
Hopefully you don't get stuck at Polk. Granted I was there only for JRTC prior to deployment but sleesville can't be fun.
Posted by Wolfhound45
Hanging with Chicken in Lurkistan
Member since Nov 2009
120000 posts
Posted on 10/24/16 at 8:52 pm to
quote:

Just remember that there are only two branches in the Army: Infantry and those who hire the Infantry after they retire.
FIFY

Army MSC COL
Posted by Wolfhound45
Hanging with Chicken in Lurkistan
Member since Nov 2009
120000 posts
Posted on 10/24/16 at 9:02 pm to
quote:

I was at Fort Hood but now I'm doing 4 - 6 at Leavenworth for forging my annual trafficking in human persons online training certificate.
Posted by CajunSoldier225
Member since Aug 2011
8990 posts
Posted on 10/24/16 at 9:25 pm to
Oh shite...

You can't forge training?!
Posted by unbeWEAVEable
The Golf Board Godfather
Member since Apr 2010
13637 posts
Posted on 10/24/16 at 9:55 pm to
LANG Officer here. Love what I do.
Posted by TejasPete
Member since Dec 2013
1425 posts
Posted on 10/25/16 at 6:07 am to
quote:

I've heard terrible things about Leavenworth.

Can't be worse than Lejeune or 29 Palms.


It's not bad. We don't let the pedophiles sit down on the chairs in front of the TVs they have to watch it from their tier. Food is good, I work in the prison barber shop so I'll have a skill when I get out, and it's not as crazy as civilian prisons because at least here everyone at one point was qualified enough to join the military.

Only downside is we can't play softball anymore because a few years ago a guy got beat to death with a bat on the rec yard. And we can't get money to repaint the handball walls but Chelsea Manning is getting a sex change.
Posted by ShortyRob
Member since Oct 2008
82116 posts
Posted on 10/25/16 at 6:11 am to
quote:

Barack Obama Hillary Clinton argh argh argh


Just to get that out of the way


Well. Just the nightmare that is current sexually harassment policy alone is enough reason to avoid the military like the plague. Especially if you are an officer with even an ounce of belief in a fair approach over career self preservation.

The current system in the military is BARELY better than what they've foisted upon universities.
Posted by TejasPete
Member since Dec 2013
1425 posts
Posted on 10/25/16 at 6:30 am to
quote:

Well. Just the nightmare that is current sexually harassment policy alone is enough reason to avoid the military like the plague


I'm curious as to why you think this? I've been mostly joking in this thread but on a serious note the Army is a great career.

While the sexual harassment training / emphasis may seem excessive, it's also important in an integrated force that we stamp out that behavior at it's root. Nothing wrong with treating each other with dignity and respect.

I definitely don't see it as a reason to not join the military.
Posted by Gorilla Ball
Member since Feb 2006
12064 posts
Posted on 10/25/16 at 6:41 am to
Thank you for your service.
Posted by TejasPete
Member since Dec 2013
1425 posts
Posted on 10/25/16 at 6:59 am to
There are a lot of people who will give you advice, just remember the Army is always changing so what they tell you may be the truth but it was through their lens during their time of service.

2004 - 2010 the Army was short people, especially officers, and adopted a lot of practices that weren't sustainable. Promotion rates up to LTC were almost 100% and a ton of good officers bounced as soon as their first contract was up.

The last few years we've been downsizing and kicking people out left and right. Now we seem to have stabilized but it could go either way again. It is a much better place to work now that the bottom feeders are weeded out.

If you're coming in as a prior service officer the pay and benefits are outstanding. O1E your base pay is around $3800 a month but you'll have full health insurance and also receive tax free subsistance (BAS) allowance of $250 and housing allowance of around $1100 depending on location. Do the math it's good living. In four years you'll be a Captain and base pay is around $5600 with BAH of 1500 or so.

Promotion timeline right now is two years to 1LT and the promotion rate is about 95%. Two more years to Captain and that promotion rate is between 80 - 90% depending on the branch. Basically as long as you work hard, learn your craft, stay out of trouble you'll make Captain.

After six years as a Captain you'll pin Major. Promotion rate has been low last few years (50 - 60%) but will probably stabilize at the historical trend of around 70%. You have to work to earn it but not hard and if you can't cut it you'll know early from your evals. If you get passed over twice you are separated from the service and if you have under 18 years you get no pension.

With the Army downsizing the eliminated a lot of units especially overseas. To fill this gap they are deploying brigades from stateside to Europe and Korea for nine months at a time. Deployments to Iraq and Afghanistan are also nine months long.

Right now you can plan on when you finish your basic course being sent to a brigade going through train up. You'll arrive, spend about 7 - 8 months training including a month-long rotation to NTC / JRTC and then deploy for nine months. If you stay in the same brigade after the deployment it will be about 18 months till you deploy again. As an officer expect to move every 2 - 3 years.

Like some said earlier - OCS is the last fill for officers so be prepared for a branch you don't want (chemical, signal, logistics). I wouldn't sweat it too much though if you're in it for career you will have plenty of chances to switch to another branch or functional area (civil affairs / public affairs / special forces / cyber etc). Also other than when you are in a direct leadership role (platoon leader / company commander) you're on staff anyway.

Best of luck to you and anyone else joining. The best advice I can give is figure out what needs taken seriously and give every last drop of effort. Figure out what stuff is just space filler and treat it accordingly. The Army can grind you down but if you handle it right it's extremely rewarding.

Don't work for evals or boards - if you perform you'll be taken care of and if for some reason you get hosed you leave the Army with experience and memories and get another job. Nothing is worth compromising your ethics or stabbing someone in the back.



This post was edited on 10/25/16 at 7:02 am
first pageprev pagePage 3 of 5Next pagelast page

Back to top
logoFollow TigerDroppings for LSU Football News
Follow us on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram to get the latest updates on LSU Football and Recruiting.

FacebookTwitterInstagram