Professional Soldiers ® - View Single Post - What do you all think of U.S.M.A and R.O.T.C officers?

RTK · 02-15-2008, 11:42

I'm an ROTC product, which, coupled with a quarter, will get me a refill at 7-11. After you raise your right hand the first time, it doesn't matter.

COL Moroney put it best a while back, IMHO:

http://www.professionalsoldiers.com/...cer#post180380

"I was a soldier that happened to be an officer"

I think once you step outside of that mindset, then you're destined for failure. We officers are appointed because of the path we took - that's it.

This isn't a "me," "I," or "my" industry. This is all about the team. Words like "we" and "us" should surround any accomplishments.

I remember a quote from football coach Paul "Bear" Bryant that epitomizes leadership in my mind:

"If anything goes bad, I did it. If anything goes semi-good, then we did it. If anything goes really good, then you did it. That's all it takes to get people to win football games."

We do nothing by ourselves and accomplish nothing without our NCOs and Soldiers. Those that remember that fact do quite well. Those that believe their commissioning paperwork was a gift from God that gave them this mysterious "greater-than-everyone" leadership ability fail quickly. Just because an "O" precedes your paygrade does not entitle you to respect, honor, or extraordinary ability.

All that is earned and learned through the close interactions with stellar non-commissioned officers who teach you what right looks like.

If you remember that, it doesn't matter where you go to school.

02-15-2008, 11:42	#14
RTK Guerrilla Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Fort Carson, CO Posts: 338	I'm an ROTC product, which, coupled with a quarter, will get me a refill at 7-11. After you raise your right hand the first time, it doesn't matter. COL Moroney put it best a while back, IMHO: http://www.professionalsoldiers.com/...cer#post180380 "I was a soldier that happened to be an officer" I think once you step outside of that mindset, then you're destined for failure. We officers are appointed because of the path we took - that's it. This isn't a "me," "I," or "my" industry. This is all about the team. Words like "we" and "us" should surround any accomplishments. I remember a quote from football coach Paul "Bear" Bryant that epitomizes leadership in my mind: "If anything goes bad, I did it. If anything goes semi-good, then we did it. If anything goes really good, then you did it. That's all it takes to get people to win football games." We do nothing by ourselves and accomplish nothing without our NCOs and Soldiers. Those that remember that fact do quite well. Those that believe their commissioning paperwork was a gift from God that gave them this mysterious "greater-than-everyone" leadership ability fail quickly. Just because an "O" precedes your paygrade does not entitle you to respect, honor, or extraordinary ability. All that is earned and learned through the close interactions with stellar non-commissioned officers who teach you what right looks like. If you remember that, it doesn't matter where you go to school. __________________ Example is better than precept.
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