Motivations.
So what's up with the Officer Candidate School thing? When I was younger, people'd mention that since I had a degree I could join the military and be an officer. It sounded like a trick. Like, they'd give me a little more money and a shiney officer sticker before handing me my toothbrush to clean the latrines for the *real* officers.
I joined the military too!! But I did it for the college money. War didn't start till I was in for 3 or 4 years. I don't remember. My chunk of our unit wasn't picked to go. We had too many open slots. The other 3/4ths went though. I always felt EXTREMELY guilty not going. But, I had no say in it. Was a trip. But, at least I helped build roads in Honduras.
Watch Officer and a Gentleman. I THINK that the same school Marine officers attend (I could be wrong). That was Quantico, wasn't it?So what's up with the Officer Candidate School thing? When I was younger, people'd mention that since I had a degree I could join the military and be an officer. It sounded like a trick. Like, they'd give me a little more money and a shiney officer sticker before handing me my toothbrush to clean the latrines for the *real* officers.
But yeah, have a college degree and that's your ticket to OCS.
"Be bold, and mighty forces will come to your aid."
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thibodeaux
- Posts: 8121
- Joined: Thu May 20, 2004 7:32 pm
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thibodeaux
- Posts: 8121
- Joined: Thu May 20, 2004 7:32 pm
Not true for officers... unless said officers are Warrant Officers (which requires an enlisted man acquire the rank of E-4 [E-5?] first), or said officer is a "Mustang" and got himself into OCS after four years as an enlisted man. Doesn't happen often... I'd say one officer in 30 is enlisted first, therefore 29 of them didn't do the Marine bootcamp you see in Full Metal Jacket.
Most of them start out as the fresh-out-of-college butterbars that, in the vietnam movies, get fragged before they get their men killed.
Edited By GORDON on 1123688818
Most of them start out as the fresh-out-of-college butterbars that, in the vietnam movies, get fragged before they get their men killed.
Edited By GORDON on 1123688818
"Be bold, and mighty forces will come to your aid."
You'd think it'd be obvious to the military. People right out of college are know-it-alls with no sense of responsibility and no experience. Not to mention that they've just been overwhelmed with liberal thinking for 4 years.
They're the last people on Earth you'd want to give a taste of power.
They're the last people on Earth you'd want to give a taste of power.
"Happy slaves are the worst enemies of freedom." - Marie Von Ebner
"It was always the women, and above all the young ones, who were the most bigoted adherents of the Party, the swallowers of slogans, the amateur spies..." - Orwell
"It was always the women, and above all the young ones, who were the most bigoted adherents of the Party, the swallowers of slogans, the amateur spies..." - Orwell
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DoctorChaos
- Posts: 1579
- Joined: Fri Oct 08, 2004 7:58 pm
Sorry Leisher, gotta disagree with you. A lot of college kids come out ok. What they need to concentrate on in OCS is to 'TRUST YOUR MEN'. They know what's up, or at least have a bigger clue than you.
I wasn't in the military but the same priciple applied on the floor of a plant. You screw with the guys building your shit, they will make your life hell. One of the best experience was having to work side by side with the guys before I started telling them what to build. It worked both ways. I tried to help them by making the designs easier and they helped by giving me a clue.
As for the service, my dad taught me to trust my men. That's how he got his butter bars out of Vietnam safely.
I wasn't in the military but the same priciple applied on the floor of a plant. You screw with the guys building your shit, they will make your life hell. One of the best experience was having to work side by side with the guys before I started telling them what to build. It worked both ways. I tried to help them by making the designs easier and they helped by giving me a clue.
As for the service, my dad taught me to trust my men. That's how he got his butter bars out of Vietnam safely.
Wadda mean? Other people can read this?!
Uh, Dr. Chaos, you just proved my point.
You drew on his experience, thus you knew better.
Most kids right out of college are working without that knowledge.
Do you know what I normally tell a kid fresh out of college?
"Hi, I need a number one with an iced tea."
As for the service, my dad taught me to trust my men. That's how he got his butter bars out of Vietnam safely.
You drew on his experience, thus you knew better.
Most kids right out of college are working without that knowledge.
Do you know what I normally tell a kid fresh out of college?
"Hi, I need a number one with an iced tea."
"Happy slaves are the worst enemies of freedom." - Marie Von Ebner
"It was always the women, and above all the young ones, who were the most bigoted adherents of the Party, the swallowers of slogans, the amateur spies..." - Orwell
"It was always the women, and above all the young ones, who were the most bigoted adherents of the Party, the swallowers of slogans, the amateur spies..." - Orwell
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DoctorChaos
- Posts: 1579
- Joined: Fri Oct 08, 2004 7:58 pm
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thibodeaux
- Posts: 8121
- Joined: Thu May 20, 2004 7:32 pm
I believe colleges are a lot like unions, they started off as a great and noble thing, but have lost their way.
Too many people attend college, and sadly all HR people went to college. Thus, HR people look for other college graduates to hire.
I'm about to hire some peeps here in my department and was talking to the HR lady about the positions. She says to me, "Now are you looking for someone with an associate's or bachelor's degree?"
I said, "Neither. I want someone who knows what they're doing."
For further proof, she was grabing some examples of job listing off of an HR site for me. Here are the job duties of a Manager of Information Systems according to this national HR site:
-Writes programs for AS/400 computer systems.
-Updates AS/400 operating system.
-Documents new software and changes to existing AS/400 software.
-Advises and traings other departments on AS/400 related issues.
-Analyzes computer problems and designs solutions.
I looked at her and said "What warped world do you HR people live in?"
So lesson learned. Apply to ALL IT positions if the job title matches your level of experience. Ignore the details as it's likely an HR person wrote it and they have no clue what they're talking about.
Too many people attend college, and sadly all HR people went to college. Thus, HR people look for other college graduates to hire.
I'm about to hire some peeps here in my department and was talking to the HR lady about the positions. She says to me, "Now are you looking for someone with an associate's or bachelor's degree?"
I said, "Neither. I want someone who knows what they're doing."
For further proof, she was grabing some examples of job listing off of an HR site for me. Here are the job duties of a Manager of Information Systems according to this national HR site:
-Writes programs for AS/400 computer systems.
-Updates AS/400 operating system.
-Documents new software and changes to existing AS/400 software.
-Advises and traings other departments on AS/400 related issues.
-Analyzes computer problems and designs solutions.
I looked at her and said "What warped world do you HR people live in?"
So lesson learned. Apply to ALL IT positions if the job title matches your level of experience. Ignore the details as it's likely an HR person wrote it and they have no clue what they're talking about.
"Happy slaves are the worst enemies of freedom." - Marie Von Ebner
"It was always the women, and above all the young ones, who were the most bigoted adherents of the Party, the swallowers of slogans, the amateur spies..." - Orwell
"It was always the women, and above all the young ones, who were the most bigoted adherents of the Party, the swallowers of slogans, the amateur spies..." - Orwell
Are the service academy guys measurably better or worse than the ROTC or OCS guys?
It depends on the man. OCS guys can be just as good or REALLY shitty.
ROTC guys and gals just frighten me. They're odd. Don't ask me to be more specific.
"Happy slaves are the worst enemies of freedom." - Marie Von Ebner
"It was always the women, and above all the young ones, who were the most bigoted adherents of the Party, the swallowers of slogans, the amateur spies..." - Orwell
"It was always the women, and above all the young ones, who were the most bigoted adherents of the Party, the swallowers of slogans, the amateur spies..." - Orwell