A Leaders Guide to Conducting Research Staff Rides. You have to be a 1lt promotable to go as an officer. Don't assume a damn thing, if a young NCO or Soldier tells you he "thinks" the vehicle is ready or has a full tank of fuel, hand him a long stick, send him back to the Motor Pool, have him put the stick into the fuel tank and bring back said stick with fuel on it, that way both of you will now KNOW that the vehicle is fueled. Henry Thompson is a junior at the United States Military Academy at West Point, where he majors in American politics and minors in grand strategy. Even the 3 week crawls into the hide. Getting a college degree in a military environment allows the cadets to graduate as Army Officers who meet the highest mental, physical, and military standards. And if for one second you think any Infantrymen will ever do something that violates our Constitutional form of government, you've made the worst assumption of your young life. Your email address will not be published. I was a 13B20-Gunner. It's hilarious when reality trumps the entitlement issues of a newly hatched fetus. Campus is 45 minutes from New York City. Haha. indicating superior social status. United States Military Academy - Wikipedia In 2003 we never went slower than 55, usually 60 MPH and we never lost anyone. Take sniping. I respected his rank and expertise, but I detested him otherwise. The views expressed are those of the authors, and do not reflect the official position of the United States Military Academy, Department of the Army, or Department of Defense. So when would a cadet actually be in charge? In other words, each the SNCO and the cadet would be functioning appropriately. For some reason a lot of angry major S3 types fall into this category. This should not turn into a them vs us type of debate. Its cadets like you that become true leaders, because you have put your ego in check and will EARN the respect of your troops! Nike Men's Army West Point Black Knights White Pinstripe Full Button Replica Baseball Jersey $110.00 Limited Stock to Ship ADD TO CART Nike Men's Army West Point Black Knights 2022 Rivalry Collection #1 Green Untouchable Game Football Jersey $78.97 $105.00 * Limited Stock to Ship ADD TO CART Army-Navy Uniforms 2022: 1st Armored Division 2021: Special Forces Command 2020: 25th Infantry Division 2019: 1st Cavalry Division 2018: 1st Infantry Division 2017: 10th Mountain Division 2016: 82nd Airborne Division Go Army! What comes after is when the real learning begins. I have always loved sniping. Here's my advise that will serve you well; always remember this; ASSUMPTIONS ARE THE MOTHER OF ALL FUCK UPS! Cadets were sons of the upper class and were, due to social norms, afforded gentlemans status. I can't speak for the Air Force, but the Navy certainly does. But Im sure he felt stung just a little bit. Paras 2-9 and 2-10, AR 600-20 further reinforce Scott Faiths important points here. I thought this is a very well written article. The reason you would place cadets above enlisted in the rank chart is because they will be officers. Abigail earned a master of arts in international relations from Johns Hopkins SAIS, concentrating in strategic studies and international economics, and a bachelor of arts, majoring in geology, anthropology, and archaeology, from Washington and Lee University. Adept been officially assigned a position in the chain of command? That just goes to show that the regular cadets get crapped on and they can't change it. And yes the officer corps views your spouse as just a "wife.". Why hasn't a single one of you been taught that humility, respect and honor flows both ways but in different fashions? LTC Joshua Lehman - United States Military Academy United States Military Academy | History, Facts, & Alumni So there I was no shot, at my first unit on JBLM, WA as a 2LT and I thought that based on what I was taught that you salute all superior officers. You guys are all discussing how the Army does it.. Im AF and In Services(Food Svc) i was assigned an Academy Cadet to teach him what i was responsible for as a SSGT. TRADITIONS - Army West Point His operational experience includes deployments to Somalia, Nigeria, and Afghanistan. Major Sam Wilkins is an active-duty U.S. Army Special Forces officer. If you are a senior in high school, in college, or already in the Army, apply as soon as possible. Interestingly, when a graduating cadet received his commission, (there were no females in the cadet corps in those days), his commission was backdated 15 months to the date he entered the cadet program, giving him a lead on promotion to first lieutenant. Practice ought to comport with policy. Only W1's, lacking a commission, are excepted from Art. The smart ones find a good NCO to mentor them. In flight school cadets qualified for flight pay in addition to their regular pay. . How does one get involved with special forces after West Point? aviator, Special Forces Officer, and historian in several command and staff positions. Pro-Tip: Don't make a blog post, offer a comment section, then expect not to be schooled by your elders, especially when taking a condescending tone. But sometimes its good to keep the 300m target in mind as it is what might motivate you to get past the obstacle of the 5m target. So I suppose we dont salute appointed Officers either? March 6th. The two year enlistment term allowed for cadets who had to temporarily halt training because of illness or injury. Point is that one never knows what lies down the road so I try to treat everyone with respect regardless of their rank or position. Cadets salute one another and it is initiated according to cadet rank. Airborne to jump master to Ranger then a tour. That is why cadets dont go to parade rest while talking to NCOs. Hope this was brief enough for you or TL:DR? Infantry Veterans/Retirees cluster together on various online formats and we're very concerned what direction things are going and it has nothing to do with President Trump, I've seen what a prelude to war is twice in my lifetime and I'm seeing another one but in a slower manner. I chose Engineer with the full intent of going to Special Forces at some later point. Not only do NCO's get shit on by their LT's but sometimes the LT is getting shit on by his Company Commander. It is not necessary to rescind the announcement designating an acting commander to assume duties of the commander during the temporary absence of the regularly assigned commander if the announcement gives the time element involved. I had a CO at one point who absolutely had a genuine dislike for NCOs and believed them to be useless. The wear of civilian clothes and non-standard uniforms by soldiers was not a new development in 2002. Seth Bodnar is the chief digital officer of GE Transportation. A Leaders Guide to Conducting Research Staff Rides, Creating a Sea Change: TF 76/3, Adaptation, Experimentation, and the Joint Force, Podcast: The Spear The Strategic Lieutenant, MWI Podcast: When Cities Become Battlefields, Frank Sobchak Joins MWI as Chair of Irregular Warfare Studies, Announcing the Modern War Institutes 202223 Senior and Research Fellows, Call for Submissions: Civil-Military Relations and Modern War, Call for Applications: MWIs 202223 Fellows Program. From the enlisted perspective, while drilling with my Guard unit, there was confusion as to where exactly Cadets fit in to the scheme of things. Thread Special Forces. Mainly because I do belive the new generation of officers are a bunch of participation trophy recieving, never held accountable, privileged, idiots who can't handle that all that academy training and degree mean jack shit but to stroke their since of superiority over others. THAT is the reason why the Army is spending hundreds of thousands of dollars on you to be educated there. They clearly outrank privates and are often assigned to leadership roles, but they aren't yet commissioned. Interestingly, one weekend I had a pass and visited a college friend at a nearby naval base where he was undergoing Navy Aviation Cadet training. As for me, while a SNCO would in general be qualified to succeed a LT as platoon leader, any such succession would need to be limited to a short term basis. I respect them all but I just wonder what makes them "Elite" as you say? They aren't commissioned yet, and as pointed out above, they are considered equivalent to an E-5. Long story short: Years of hands-on experience trumps reading an instruction manual, This applies in every situation and every single time. Before anyone attacks me, I am a prior Army SSG who is now a MSIV Cadet (Active duty and Branched). You have to pass an iq test, fitness test, and selection board. 18A Special Forces officer is NOT a selection for branches on graduating from West Point. Look at any Command where a COL thru Gen and you will see a whole lot of Soldiers both Officers and NCOs running and doing everything to make that command function! I too am an honorably discharged Army Vet from an Army family. Hands on training.. they eill not actually be cooking but learning from hose that do it daily.. How dare enlisted swine preside over a command position? the leadership essentially passed off their job.. but i ythink it is good these future officers learn from those entrusted to prepare the sustenance.. instead of those that havent actually been in thr kitchen for a couple years. Not be pregnant. Former Special Forces officer dies in Mount Rainier climbing accident Get off your high horse. No one does this better than The Corps. Seth Bodnar: From battlefield to boardroom: Lessons in leadership ). If you salute a cadet, who is not a commissioned officer you would be making the entire "First Salute" ceremony asinine if cadets had been entitled to salutes the entire time. So this cadet would already be embedded with the staff or command team or shadowing the Platoon Leader, and would most likely have some, albeit limited prior service. Some in the media and NGOs were quick to claim . But only a complete cadidiot would get his or her cadet rank confused with an NCOs authority and influence. Specifically, it allows them to try their hands at officership, and to get a feel for the kinds of officer/NCO relationships that are essential to the success of our Army. I learned something that day. Within the cadet corps there was a rank structure and cadets saluted other cadets with rank above theirs. Hell, we even had SGMs who wouldnt butter bars and 1LTs, unless you earned it by being high speed and they knew it. Army-Navy Uniforms 2022: 1st Armored Division 2021: Special Forces Command 2020: 25th Infantry Division 2019: 1st Cavalry Division 2018: 1st Infantry Division 2017: 10th Mountain Division 2016: 82nd Airborne Division Go Army! It would be a very foolish cadet who started issuing orders to a senior sergeant. Some points I wanted to make sure I hit are: -No, you don't have to call them sir/ma'am or salute them, but you absolutely should show them the respect you would like to receive. He has much humility and respect for all who serve and served so he will appreciate your words. He declined . It broke my heart when I found out that officers can not be snipers. Now, that is a perfect resolution. Does anyone know why officers can't be snipers? OK, fine. I did 24 years in the ARMY and have been led by West Pointers! (I was going through a few operations connected to wound recovery). That one NCO who doesn't give a crap about you is the one you should be talking to. The whole point of going to West Point is to earn a commission. MAJ Samuel Wilkins - United States Military Academy document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); The articles and other content which appear on the Modern War Institute website are unofficial expressions of opinion. Allow them to lead you too! Army-Navy Wrestling Tickets (February 19, 2023), Official E-Mail of Army West Point Athletics. The Modern War Institute does not screen articles to fit a particular editorial agenda, nor endorse or advocate material that is published. My first platoon leader was OCS, my other two were USMA. Gold - Gold as in the Class Rings received cadet's senior year, or like the plentiful Brass found on the cadet uniform and the rank/insignia patches worn by upperclassmen designating their cadet rank and position. Give credit where its due and stop making it about you. Army command policy is clear the definition of terms. 2021 Next Gen National Security Fellow. The best way to train cadets to be officers that their soldiers will look up to and their NCOs will respect is to treat them the way you want them to act. This information was not covered or taught. 99.9% waiting, 0.1% trigger pulling. Also, how many years of experience is required before even being considered into SF school? Assumption of command under these conditions is announced per paragraph 2-5. A little ancient cadet history for anyone interested. Most cadets understand and respect the NCOs within their unit. Shiver me timbers he pooped on the deck. Very interesting. So yes, a West Point cadet DOES outrank a sergeant. CDT military IDs show geneva convention status 3. Some of the comments left in this thread have really let me down. The cadet qualifies here too because s/he is obviously present for duty, as assigned. Scott welcomes story ideas and feedback on his articles, and can be reached at, ts summertime, and for many cadets in the Armys ROTC programs and at West Point, that means . In respect of ROTC, the R stipulates that only a contracted cadet in ROTC fits the definition I presented. No Salute should be required or rendered. Its part of the academys mission to educate, train, inspire, and instill the values of duty, honor, and country. The rank of a cadet is for protocol issues alone such as where to stand in a receiving line or where to sit at a formal dinner. Army West Point unveils specialty uniforms for showdown with archrival So you are incorrect when you say that Cadets outrank me. Pursue a bachelors degree and earn your commission as an Officer by attending the countrys most prestigious military service college. I hope this sheds some light on things. I learned something that day. In exchange, USMA cadets commit to a secure career after graduation as an Army Officer. of Examples: Monday, today, last week, Mar 26, 3/26/04. What is the TO&E and where is the cadet slotted? Two of many subjects I taught E-6 and E-7 were Military Customs and Courtesy, and Uniform. It's ideal to apply during the spring of your junior year in high school. For lack of official guidance I was assigned as an assistant platoon leader in an Armored Cavalry Company and my platoon sergeant was a former Navy Seal with combat tours in Vietnam (along with other unmentionable places during that conflict). It's often hard to find but its often the real truth on a subject especially if it's being spoon fed to you in briefs and media. I work with my leadership and learn from them and they help to shape me to become a good officer. Cadets are Officers period and should be rendered the appropriate courtesy. Plus, it's not typically possible for a Cadet to be a " regularly assigned member" of any unit other than their school unit. Elite only in their mind. WO1s even as appointed Officers are subject to all provisions of the UCMJ even art 33. Now by chance he.be in a billet at some hq and psperwork comes in front of him about ration counts for personnel and what the job description calls for for a 3m Senior Cook requisition.. for his order.. what its called these days) hell be sble to understand better what the job description says. Technically. A wise cadet will be mindful of their position. Such questions are usually better asked through private means. Visiting West Point Alma Mater/Songs Army-Air Force Series Army-Navy Star Series presented by USAA The Patriot League Very interesting. Ive been on both sides of the fence. Cream only. single time. Somewhat surprised by this, and thinking back to my own experiences in CTLT, I asked why he felt that way. You're right, Sergeant, a West Point cadet DOES . He is actually correct, SMP cadets serve in ARNG units in the rank of cadet. This gives cadets going into their final years of pre-commissioning training the opportunity to experience life in an active duty unit. It would be earned when I became the kind of Officer that he would be honored to serve as right hand to. So I think he had it right. Officers, commissioned warrant officers, midshipmen, cadets, candidates are all affordedofficer status. Light wear. Hooah!!! Officers and NCO's must realize alike that, they way you treat your future Officers (NCO's case) and the way you treat your subordinates (Officers case) will dictate how the military can and will be run in the future. For example, is it a school then a tour, then a school, or can you do multiple school at a time? All West Point applicants must meet the following personal qualifications before applying: Be a US citizen (unless you qualify under one of the exceptions) Be at least 17 but not 23 or older on July 1 of the year they enter West Point. I've seen this relationship play out in the Army. Trump's Vacuous West Point Address and the Revolt Against It We can feel confident we did our hob helping train a. Youre right, Sergeant, a West Point cadet DOES outrank you. In the military, XO refers to a second-in-command officer, or more generally, an executive officer.The XO typically reports to the commanding officer, who also goes by the names the first lieutenant and the number one. Whoever came up with this interpretation needs to review deeper. Superior to a mere cunning, lazy enlisted man. -If you are a cadet and you don't see the value of picking the brain of an NCO (CPL to SGM), then you will most likely be doing your time and moving on. If I were to graduate from West Point, how would I go about - Quora You have to look at national guard and the reserves. When you focus on things that scare you to death, always remember that those are your fears and we're not concerned with achieving the next rank or a nice review. He has deployed to Eastern Europe, Southwest Asia, and Central America and was formerly an assistant professor at the American University of Afghanistan. Just curious: Is it possible to become an Aviation officer then drop a (1) If a commander of an Army element, other than a commander of a headquarters and headquarters element, dies, becomes disabled, retires, is reassigned, or is temporarily absent, the senior regularly assigned Army Soldier will assume command. Scotts writing focuses largely on veterans issues, but he is also a big proponent of Constitutional rights and has a deep interest in politics. They dont commission until CW2 but I guess they dont really count as Officers either. Then again for the same categories who were on rear detachment duties! You do your best, and if they see enough that they like, they may SELECT you. Classes and field activities at West Point hold Cadets to the highest standards. We are all us. I was one of Cohens blue to gold mustangs in the 90s. www.Spartan.com/091According to Col. Liam Collins, Phd., Special Forces Qualified Officer, West Point Professor,and past winner of the Best Ranger Competitio. Upon the successful completion of flight school cadets received their flight wings and were commissioned as second lieutenants and incured an additional four year service commitment. During my time in the regulars, I encountered a couple of West Point Grads who, in my opinion had amused contempt for enlisted personnel below the rank of E5. Start putting what youve learned to the test with Field Training, Fundamentals of Army Operations, and courses in foreign language, physics, American politics, and more. This article reminded me of something that raised a question for me after I received my commission and that had to do with LTs saluting each other. He holds a master of public policy degree from the Princeton School of Public and International Affairs. Regarding saluting courtesy in the cadet corps. Training emphasized task organization, mission analysis and planning, property accountability, negotiation skills, emotional intelligence, small unit tactics proficiency, advisor skills, navigating. When I contracted under the SMP I was administratively promoted to the rank and pay grade of E-5 ( I had served two years previously in the Army Reserve as a junior enlisted 11B). Milley Speaks at West Point Graduation 2022 - YouTube I the DC power device safe from accidental shock. For example, if a division headquarters and headquarters company commander is temporarily absent, the executive officer as the senior regularly assigned Army Soldier who performs duties within the headquarters company would assume command and not the division commander. Is anyone able to give me a solid answer to this question? To this day I credit a lot of the success I had when I went on active duty after I graduated to this great NCO. Not be married. They are top of the line and I always set my goals as high as I can. In your junior year at USMA at West Point, you commit to serve as an Officer in the Army after graduation. One of these ignorant academy types was my battalion XO at Fort Ord. Visiting West Point Alma Mater/Songs Army-Air Force Series Army-Navy Star Series presented by USAA The Patriot League How to Get Into West Point: 3 Key Tips - PrepScholar Good Grunts care less for their next promotion beyond making sure our records are correct. They don't even have a MOS/Branch assignment or anything else at this point. Special Operations Forces Wear of Non-standard Uniforms So fairly similar arrangement as with cadets. I answered honestly saying that I do not believe that I am supposed to render him a salute but that I am willing to accompany him to Military Police HQ to find out . During cadet training we were paid at the rate of an E5. I was floored. Yet I would not want a Year 1 WP cadet in charge of a company. The Cadet wr had wrote all of us NCOs that trained him, some. You and everybody else. Per the order, they are not entitled to a salute. This would be wiser than placing a WP Year 1 cadet in charge of it. Special Forces College Confidential But having learned this, it made me wonder when this would actually matter in any meaningful way. I'm laughing as I remember when our sniper team took out 16 combatants at one road intersection in Falujah, Iraqi's have an average IQ of 70 so they aren't the brightest candle on the cake, lol.