Ciao!

Reserve OCS qualification ... what is that?

OCS = officer candidate school

This may sound like strange advice right off the start, but I'll talk to you much more in length in person, but I would highly, and I mean HIGHLY recommend finding some extra time long before you go and volunteer at a local Boys and Girls' Club before you head off to OCS training. You're problem you are going to face is not going to be any of the officer-related, or officer-to-officer interaction that you may run across in the future. But you have been stuck in academia for quite some time, and you are about to become responsible for people who have never stepped one foot in a college, and as strange as this sounds, they're not going to respect you for your education. And if you ever talk down to them, they're probably going to go out of their way to ruin your life.

You're going to end up in a weird learning curve because just knowing you already, you're probably going to come off as smarter than the other officers who for the most part will have a BA and they, too, will resent you for it, especially those in the field grades and higher, because that will be the one factor that will continue to plague them as they try to move higher in station.

One of the hardest things you'll ever do, and you'll deny it until you're blue in the face like everyone else, including me at the time, is to be able to interact on a level with those who will be working for you. It's like nothing you've ever experienced before. This is where most officers sink or swim, and most sink.

Just being aware of the problem is not enough. I was somewhat fortunate in that I was dirt poor most of my life, so I fit in with the GIs from poverty-level backgrounds really well, but even I had problems. My biggest problem in the service was interacting with other officers more than the soldiers who served under me. Because of that, I went up in rank very fast, but I wasn't the life of any officer parties.

The biggest problem you'll experience is the realization that NO ONE is going to give you respect based on your background. That's why I highly recommend the first piece of advice I gave; the greatest failures as officers I experienced were the ones who were convinced they would have no problems because they "understood" the problems already.

I know this sounds really negative, but you're not going to benefit from being kid-gloved on what's in front of you. So I apologize if this sounds harshly negative.

No, that's excellent advice, Duane. I'll certainly keep it in mind, and see what I can do about volunteering somewhere next semester. In part, I want to be sure to pursue the OCS option because at this point in my life, I probably wouldn't get along well w/ "regular grunts" as much as w/ officers.

There's the advantage that I'd enter the Reserves, but your advice still applies to that, of course. We should definitely get together to talk about your experiences some time. Especially since I'm pursuing position in Mil Int.

I've kicked around this idea for a long time as well. The thing that has kept me from seeking reserve commission is the fact that once you sign up, the US govt owns your ass, lock, stock and barrel. You become a screwdriver in Uncle Sam's back pocket, and if he wants to take you from the toolbox in the garage and put you in some grimy car trunk, that's where you go. Never been keen on being a tool.

Not being an idealist, but more of a hedonist, I'm loathe to give up personal sovereignty. When working Fed LE, I could always quit. Earned the nickname "Awol" in the academy, strangely enough for repeatedly going awol. Supervisory Agents would parade me in front of the academy chief, who would berate me, saying "This is a PARAMILITARY organization, you can't just go and do whatever you wanna do!" (Emphasis in his original statement.)

Nonetheless, I'm considering the JAG corps. Pays well, will forgive some student debt, and new attorneys are immediately put in charge and try cases. Gotta love that kind of immediate experience.

Curious. Why do you want to go to OCS?

I want to go to OCS because if I end up entering the Army Reserves, then I would rather do so as an officer. First, because I think my education puts me in a position where I've skills (e.g. data analysis) valuable in areas that officers work in. Second, because I also think (though I could be very, very wrong) that I'd make a good line officer.

Either way, I'd be in the Reserves, which is primarily support & logistical capabilities. Combat forces are in the Regular Army & the National Guard (which is states-based). In the Reserves, I'd like to work in some intelligence capacity (field or desk).

Finally, there's the ego factor (I'll be honest). Being an officer would allow me to do something a little more entertaining than just fill sandbags or drive a truck. And for significantly better pay.

You didn't mention which branch, did you?

Go Marines.

That said, then read "War is a Racket" by Smedley Butler, who almost became Commandant of the Marine Corps (but opened his trap about Mussolini), and won two Medals of Honor.

Then, for modernity, read Stan Goff's "Hideous Dream" about Haiti in 1994.

Most of the officers in today's military are careerists, and suck. I've seen a few generals on TV who don't come off like robots, but leading from the front is a dead art.

Bring it back to life, please.

If I join anything (and it's still very much "if"), it's the Army Reserves, not any other branch. And my plan is to do the one-weekend-a-month deal. Realizing, of course, that I could be "called up". But I'm not looking for a military career or a way to win tons of medals.