A little heart to heart

[sodajones]

One of the many reasons I enlisted in the Corps was to put myself through college and eventually becoming an aviator in the Corps.

Lately I've been second guessing that goal and I'm not sure if I just need some motivation or if its my subconscious - or what have you - telling me that being an officer in the Corps isn't for me.

I love the Marine Corps, wouldn't trade anything in the world for what it's given me and what I've put into it. However, it seems that my honest motivation at this point is to be an aviator - becoming an officer of Marines takes a very distant second. That may change or I may not have a full grasp of it all, either way I'm feeling conflicted and maybe even a little guilty.

Unfortunately, I've seen a few people in leadership positions, both SNCO and O, that in my opinion, shouldn't be there. I don't want to be that guy. I've wanted to be a pilot in the military all my life and now as someone who has been given a chance at leadership, I realize now what the burden of command brings and I can appreciate the seriousness and gravity of the position better than most. I've seen lives lost due to stupid decisions and I know that if I were the one that made those decisions, I wouldn't know what to do with myself.

Is this something anyone else has experienced or felt? Is this a sign that I shouldn't be an officer or is this something that everyone goes through at some point and is overcome?

 

[rhinoh82]

Unfortunately, I've seen a few people in leadership positions, both SNCO and O, that in my opinion, shouldn't be there. I don't want to be that guy.

I think everybody has worked for someone that they didn't necessarily like; be it civilian, military, or otherwise. The best thing you can do is take mental notes about things you liked about leaders, and things you didn't like then try not to repeat those same mistakes. Also realize that as a leader it is impossible to please everybody all of the time, at the end of the day you have a job to get done. So not everybody is going to agree with every decision you make. That's ok. As a leader you'll make some bonehead decisions, but whether or not you learn from that and grow as a leader or continue to be a bonehead is up to you.

Basically, you've got a couple of options. Pursue your goal, become an aviator and know that being an officer comes with the territory. Stay enlisted and continue your career (absolutely nothing wrong with this). Or get out. I remember this saying from my Marine Corps days "Lead, Follow, or get out of the WAY!!". I think this applies here.

But, I think you want those wings and are willing to do what it takes to earn them. One of the benefits to being a leader is that you have a chance to make a difference in someones life; to be "that guy" that somebody says: "remember LtCol Dude our squadron CO. Yeah, he was bada$$. I want to go to college and become an officer so I can be like him someday!"

 

[invertedflyer]

Keep the faith man. True, leadership does come with the territory but, as an enlisted Marine you already have leadership experience. My 2c is don't give up on your dream of becoming a Marine pilot. TBS will teach you all you need to know to be a good 2nd Lt... especially if you have a good attitude going into it, which you do. I know people who have given up on dreams of golden wings, they aren't the same people they used to be. Don't become that guy. Good luck bro.

 

[OUSOONER]

at least you are honest with yourself..and that in itself shows some positive character traits that many people lack. you wouldn't be human if you didn't ever question yourself or your motives, what defines you is how you react.

 

[Slammer2]

They definately pour on the guilt trip at OCS. They make you feel as though you are a waste if you dont truely want to be a Marine officer. I'm not saying thats a bad thing since I have no clue as I havent even gone to TBS yet, but you definately want to have your mind made up before you go. Based on my OCS experience, anybody there who wasnt 100% sure they wanted to be there pretty much DOR'd at the first opportunity or got kicked out shortly after. The staff will very quickly sense someone who isnt sure and will turn on the pressure in a heartbeat - and keep it on the remainder of the time. This can be a wonderful thing (it sure as shit changed my life) or it can break you. Good luck.

P.S. I say go for it!

 

[Clux4]

Based on my OCS experience, anybody there who wasnt 100% sure they wanted to be there pretty much DOR'd at the first opportunity or got kicked out shortly after.

Heard of a guy DOR at TBS. Some still slip through.

 

[Crowbar]

Unfortunately, I've seen a few people in leadership positions, both SNCO and O, that in my opinion, shouldn't be there. I don't want to be that guy. I've wanted to be a pilot in the military all my life and now as someone who has been given a chance at leadership, I realize now what the burden of command brings and I can appreciate the seriousness and gravity of the position better than most.

Is this something anyone else has experienced or felt? Is this a sign that I shouldn't be an officer or is this something that everyone goes through at some point and is overcome?

The sad truth is that every unit, every rank, every MOS in the Marine Corps has at least a couple of turds lurking around in it. Luckily these turds are far less common than the good guys out there. Just because you have a bad OIC/SNCOIC now doesn't mean you always will. The opposite also holds true.

If I'm reading your profile right, you've been out of boot camp for less than a year. If that is the case, then deciding if you want to be an officer isn't a decision that needs to be made today. There are things you can do to help yourself out, whether you seek a commission or not. Learn to master your MOS. Find the shitty part of what you do, the part that nobody else will touch with a ten foot clown pole, then make yourself an expert on it. You'll make yourself a real asset to your shop, which can benefit you in several ways. Time permitting, take some general education classes. Even if you decide to never go to college, the worst that could happen is that you learned something and maybe spent a few dollars on books.

Talk to somebody you trust. It's a rare officer who won't give you honest answers when you ask about something like this. Believe me, I know how hard it is to keep the long-term goals in sight as a junior Marine. When I first got to the fleet, I got so wrapped up in trying to learn everything about my MOS that wasn't taught in school that any thought of commissioning programs went by the wayside for several years. Things get better over time and as you get more experience, you'll decide if being an officer is what you really want to do.

Either way you go, good luck.

 

[sodajones]

Thank you everyone for the replies and PMs, I really appreciate it. I'm taking some college correspondent classes this fall and if I can handle the load I'll continue. Thanks for the support.

 

[skillz]

See the good thing about you is that at your young age you don't want to be "that guy"....To even post what you did says alot about your character. Just by reading what you had to say and your enlisted experience says, with a little bit more age and experience, your leadership ability will come naturally. Follow your dream and the rest will fall into place. Believe it!

 

[Harrier Dude]

FWIW, I think that you are overthinking this. I've said it before, but just in case you haven't heard it.

There is absolutley nothing wrong with wanting to be a pilot and a Marine Officer. The two are not mutually exclusive.

You can want to be both, or even one more than the other, and have a great experience in the Corps. The only catch is that you have to want them both or you'll be miserable. That doesn't mean that you have to be Chesty Puller or super yut-yut. You just have to want it. You'll spend a lot of time not flying and doing basic officer duties (leading Marines), but if you stay in the Corps as an NCO, you'll be doing that, too. Just on a different level.

If you've made it through boot camp and still love the Corps, then I see no reason that you couldn't have a great experience as a Marine Officer and a pilot/NFO as long as you have the character and leadership abilities required.

Don't overthink things. Good luck.

s/f.

 

[ArkhamAsylum]

If you become an officer, and your number one priority is your junior Marines (which sounds to be the case based on your post), then take advice from your NCOs/SNCOs, and you'll do fine in that arena. Since you'll have already done your time in serving your country, consider this the Marine Corps' way of paying you back by allowing you to serve in a different way, one that has fringe benefits for you. You might just find that being a Marine Pilot is not so different from being a Marine Officer.