How Smart Do You Have To Be To...
 

How smart do you have to be to be an officer in the army? I want to be a lieutenant, but Im not exactly what you call the smart guy, I go off to college in 2005. I currently make mostly B's with the occasional C and some A's. Do you think I would make being an officer? Everyone I ask doesnt know especially since my school only has a Navy ROTC no one has the answer. My uncle in the Airforce says Id have a chance if I was goiing in the airforce.

The best way to become an officer is to go to college. They dont really promote you on how smart you are. Its more your physical fitness, rifle skills, and leadership qualities.

Most probably,

Go to college, i heard that you get paid 45% less or something like that from working if you dont go to college

Who knows , but if you went to college I would say yes.

I don't recall the exact requirements but I think you must have a Bachlors degree to become and officer or make E-7.

I could be wrong , but the college is mandatory , unless you go green to gold.

Even then I think it may be a requirement.

Yea, Im pretty sure you have to go to college to become an officer at all.

It's EASY as hell to become an officer in the Air Force, and/or the Army. All you have to do is get a Bachelors degree and you are set. Then you head off to OCS (Officer Candidate School) and you are a 2nd Lt. Some people drop out and/or get kicked out of OCS for lack of performance/leadership qualities but it's really hard to go that far. Just do what you are told and pay attention and you'll be fine.

Zen, you need a Bachelors degree to become an E7 ?? I never heard of that but maybe you are talking about needing some college credits to gain that high of a rank.

Yea , Army promotion above E-5 is based on a point system.

The best way to acheive the points needed for promotion is through corrospodance corses and other college credit.

Before you can make E-7 ( or maybe E-8 ) , you will need the equivilent of a bachlors degree in points.

Now in the Air Force , in order to get above E-4 , you have to test for it.... Against the WHOLE AIR FORCE!!!. Meaning you are able to get your E-4 , you take the test at the pre-designated time. You have only so many spots avalible. So the highest scores in the Air Force get the promotion.

For those who dont know what E-7 and all that jabble is about here is a list.

E-1 Basic Private
E-2 Private
E-3 PFC
E-4 Corporal or Specialist
E-5 Sergeant
E-6 Staff Sergeant
E-7 Sergeant First Class
E-8 Master Sergeant and First Sergeant
E-9 Sergeant Major and Command Sergeant Major

O-1 2nd Lieutenant
O-2 1st Lieutenant
O-3 Captain
O-4 Major
O-5 Lt. Colonel
O-6 Colonel
O-7 Brigadier General
O-8 Major General
O-9 Lieutenant General
O-10 General

Warrant Officers is simple, Warrant Officer - Chief Warrant Officer Five is W-1 thru W-5

Paine, that enlisted list only applies to the ARMY.

Zen, I knew the military promotes on a point system but I never knew you need a Bachelor degree to get E-7/8. ed:

[quote="Cpt. Zapotoski":998da]Paine, that enlisted list only applies to the ARMY.

Zen, I knew the military promotes on a point system but I never knew you need a Bachelor degree to get E-7/8. ed:[/quote:998da]

well i thought you were talking about the army since Pinhead said

[quote:998da]How smart do you have to be to be an officer in the army?[/quote:998da]

Thats Army , It is probley different for the corps.

You also have to consider that ALL training is worth college credit.

For instance , to make E-5 you will have to attend B-Noc .

Basic Non-Commisioned Officer School , it is a sort of OCS for Sgt.s

That is worth college credit , ect.

And they promote Corrospondance corses , which are tests you take and get College credit for. Like CLEP.

How long does it take to make E-5?

In the ARMY you can rise the rank of of E-4/5 in like four years.

In the Marine Corps it's harder to rise the ranks because we are such a smaller branch. It all depends on how big the branch is.

In the Army , it is a pretty simple thing.

I went to Basic with no rank , I came out an E-3.
I got promoted while I was there because I was the Platoon Leader and I had alot of fun. I got everyone involved and we trained hard.

Now after that I went to my Army school. that lasted about 9 weeks.

I joined the National Guard , so after that I went home to do my 1 weekend a month 2 weeks a year thing.
I got E-4 the second month.

I spent a total of 2 years in the guard before I went Active Army.

I did not get above E-4 in the guard because there were no open slots. Meaning they already had all the E-4s they were allowed. This only happens in the Guard and Reserve. ( I think )

Anyway my point is I had E-4 in about 6 months.

If I had not been promoted then it could take as long as 2 years.

It depends on the person , there Phsical Fitness scores , ect.

Once you get E-4 you must become Promotable. This means you must pass all the requirements ie; Physical Fitness , Time frame for E-4 , Work must be inpecible , show leadership qualities , ect.

Once you are Promotable , then you must pass the Board.

This is where your CO and about 3-5 other E7-E9s will see you , and ask several questions ( of there choice ) on your job , general soldier skills and any thing else they feel you should know. Chain of Command , ect.

Once you pass the board , you are slotted to go to B-Noc.

You must pass B-Noc to remain promotable. If you fail you will have to go through the board again and will not be able to do that for 6 months.

Once you pass B-Noc , and return. You are reveiwed by the 1st Sgt. ( Company E-8 ) and the CO.

They will then promote you to E-5 , and hold a small ceromony in your honor.

OK, thanx, this answers my question.
So if Im getting it right maintaning a B average is good anough or doesnt even matter at all, correct?

You're still in High School right Tony?

[quote="Cpt. Zapotoski":a6f5c]In the ARMY you can rise the rank of of E-4/5 in like four years.

In the Marine Corps it's harder to rise the ranks because we are such a smaller branch. It all depends on how big the branch is.[/quote:a6f5c]

Interesting. Thanks.

Ya, still in High School, class of '05.