Ha! Hilarious. I hadn't notice my typo.
DS read the thread again a few minutes ago. Thanks BTCS/USN, Bull, and Capt MJ. I'm not sure if DS'll post, Bull, but he's thinking hard. Yes, go "all in," I told him I agree with that 100%. Even if he decides to try the ROTC route on a "try it and see" basis, it has to be all in, studying hard for a good GPA, never missing class, and so forth. 100% all in, school-wise. DS waivered a little last night, saying that maybe he should go ahead and give ROTC a chance.
And DS will be reading this thread yet again.
One of the things that occurred to me is does he naturally gravitate to the leadership role in his current activities with sports and school? Does he enjoy and thrive on that challenge and responsibility? Or was it “this is ok, and I know I have to have some of this stuff on my resumé if I am applying for SA/ROTC/college.” That’s perfectly fine too.
If he goes enlisted, he will start at the very bottom of the pecking order and learn how to be a really, really good follower. Leadership opportunities at that stage might be leading a 5-body cleaning party. It takes awhile to build up the technical skills and to work-center level leadership positions. It is an honorable and fine way to go - the Services could not operate successfully without that core center of hands-on, technically-skilled, deeply experienced trouble-shooters and miracle-workers who are the enlisted men and women.
In my first job, at age 21, I was responsible, and accountable, for 4 Yard tugboats (port tugs, not ocean), their enlisted crews (60 Sailors), and for leading them as we executed our mission, setting priorities, managing resources, making decisions, resolving conflicts. I loved it. I had found my niche, and being a Navy Officer was the making of me.
When things are working right between officers and enlisted, with mutual respect and commitment to the job, with strong two-way comms, it is a seamless, rewarding, powerful, meaningful, FUN experience. And unforgettable. And, I got to drive the tugboats and LCMs when we weren’t doing an actual port evolution! I also learned forklifts, floating crane and other fun gear, which helped me learn and appreciate, say, what a mid-grade Petty Officer (Navy E4-E6) endures on a hot August day at NAVSTA Rota Spain over a 6-hour stint in a no-AC plexiglass cab.
In later years, I counseled junior officers mulling over whether they were going to leave after 5-8 years AD for civilian life, or stay. After reviewing various discussion points, I would ask them, “do you have the burning in your gut to have command of your own ship/sub/unit? If you do, stay, and slog out the career steps to get there, facing fierce, ranked competition for promotion and command selection. If you don’t, that’s absolutely fine. You can love the Navy, and be sad to leave, but don’t put yourself through the grinder if command is not what you want, or if you don’t have a non-command career path lined up. You can transition to a great civilian career with a superb foundation.”
I had the burning in the gut. Surprised me at the time, but no regrets. Absolutely none. I am still in touch with many enlisted personnel from my AD career, and I continue to be grateful for the many things they taught me. Some transitioned to officer careers, some rose to very high senior enlisted levels.
So...tell your DS to think about what has made him happy, engaged, challenged, rewarded, to date. He must begin to know himself, what motivates and contents him. He can read these threads all day long, but it’s his life, his unique personality, to look inward at and determine his choice.
