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Being enlisted in the armed forces is a hard go, what with little pay and stability. Being an officer is better but that requires time/OCS or college. Once th

Being enlisted in the armed forces is a hard go, what with little pay and stability. Being an officer is better but that requires time/OCS or college. Once through college, there's way more lucrative ways of going than military. Yeah, there's a tradition in some families and they continue to serve. But the military is seen as more a right-wing activity, and of late, there's a chance you'll have to actually do what you're trained to do... I remember when Desert Shield was spinning up and pretty much all med-tech people who had taken the King's Shilling were being called up. They complained about possible career impact but they were reminded about contracts, etc. The world's a little unstable at the moment and that has to be off-putting. And the stories out of the Afghan and Middle-Eastern campaigns were probably off-putting as well.

mikece 4y ago
Being an officer in the military is also a hard go unless you like being a politician with a gun. Gone are the days when mere ability and talent as a leader would get you to O-6 and beyond; now you're lucky to make O-4 if you aren't playing politics more than being a warrior/sailor/etc. This is why so many good officers get out after one tour: they see who is left above them on the ladder and what those people did to get there and they would rather apply their talents in civilian life.
- jleyank 4y ago
  Not surprising. I would imagine that if the number of officers needed is shrinking it's a pretty bad environment for survival. There's a need for good people everywhere, and people will naturally gravitate to more gain, less pain.
  - mikece 4y ago
    I don't think it's a path-of-least resistance attitude but more "I would rather not give my all and not be passed over because I'm not into ass-kissing and other BS." I realize the civilian world is full of this as well but at least here we have the option of starting up our own thing and running with that.
- michael1999 4y ago
  Can you make a full pension lingering at O-4, or would you be forced out for non-advancement?
- deleted 4y ago
  [deleted]

mikece 4y ago

Being an officer in the military is also a hard go unless you like being a politician with a gun. Gone are the days when mere ability and talent as a leader would get you to O-6 and beyond; now you're lucky to make O-4 if you aren't playing politics more than being a warrior/sailor/etc. This is why so many good officers get out after one tour: they see who is left above them on the ladder and what those people did to get there and they would rather apply their talents in civilian life.

jleyank 4y ago
Not surprising. I would imagine that if the number of officers needed is shrinking it's a pretty bad environment for survival. There's a need for good people everywhere, and people will naturally gravitate to more gain, less pain.
- mikece 4y ago
  I don't think it's a path-of-least resistance attitude but more "I would rather not give my all and not be passed over because I'm not into ass-kissing and other BS." I realize the civilian world is full of this as well but at least here we have the option of starting up our own thing and running with that.
michael1999 4y ago
Can you make a full pension lingering at O-4, or would you be forced out for non-advancement?
deleted 4y ago
[deleted]