Is it possible to start out as an E1 to becoming a General? If so, what has to be done?

A55H0L3

It's really hard but can be done. The army offers Green to Gold program that lets you go from enlisted to officer while still in the military. There are requirements to take the program though, like 2 years of college. My current BC (battalion commander) was an E5 before deciding to become an officer. He's got 28 years in and is an O6 (colonel) but he probably won't get promoted to an O7 (1 star general). It's hard but possible. And after awhile in the officer ranks it's more about who you know then what you know. It be comes like running for office in a sense. You have to advertise yourself to your higher chain of command and make sure they like you. If they hate you they won't want to promote you b/c they'll be stuck hanging around you. It gets really political in nature the higher you go in the officer ranks of the Army. If your enlisted it's much simpler in terms of getting promoted.

Submariner 1

Yes it has been done, well the instance I know of was Admiral. Formr Chief of Naval Operations Admiral Borda was an E-1 when he first entered the Navy. The Navy has several commisioning programs, you will need to check with your specific service for how to do this.

GunnyC

Yes it is and has happened in the past; currently would probably be less likely but still possible. Chesty Puller in the Marine Corps went to three stars after starting enlisted. I worked for mustangs, prior enlisted who were commissioned, up t the rank of LtCol and he picked up Colonel after I retired so don't know if he made a star or nor; but mustangs are not really uncommon but are a minority in the officer ranks.

cordeliabrainiac

General Coleman (AF) did it. Its very difficult but . . . .

I remember reading years ago about an Army Nurse who started out enlisted and later made BG....she said,"when I was a private, I was the best private I could be, when I was a Lt, I was the best Lt I could be.

igdubya

Yes
Education, dedication, education and then experience and training in making correct and timely decisions. Then factor in the politics and amount of determination you have ..whammo private, 25 hard years later you may become a General.
Nothing is impossible if you go after it in a logical and sincere manner.
That is a very simplistic view of how to do it.

Air Controller

It can be done, as alot of of people have confirmed, but you get more respect being an E-7 than being an O-1.

ACC(AW/SW)
USN ret.

Psyoper

Why not? It is almost impossible but it can be done. You would have to be an excellent soldier, attend all the leadership schools and be on the fast path to NCO rank. At some point you would need to get you sent to OCS. Although most civilians think that the Army is made up of rather stupid people who cannot hold a job in the civilian world, the officer corps requires a lot of knowledge and dedication and anyone reaching the rank of general usually has the talents needed to lead a major American commercial company. In other words, you need to be really sharp.

NWIP

I know of a current Admiral who has done it. So it is possible.

MikeGolf

General Colin Powell started his military career as a draftee private.

The military does offer several commissioning programs to promising enlisted soldiers (green-to-gold, discharge and transfer to ROTC, pure OCS etc.). It is not that hard to become an officer if you are willing to put out the effort.

Becoming a general _is_ hard. Reaching this rank requires that not only you be the 'best of the best' but also that you have a certain amount of luck. (If one of your troops goes AWOL and moons Congress - then you will probably retire as a Col.)

There are also political issues that the ambitious officer has to be aware of. Some ambitious officers tie themselves to the Democratic party and get their stars for party loyalty (General Wesley Clark is an example of this).

The more traditional route is to be the best at your job and hope that you are not placed in the position General Pretoris was - where he will never get promoted again because he told Congress the truth instead of what suited their political agenda. (Generals Powell, Pace and Swartzcoft are examples of top-notch generals who had their careers ended by telling Congress the truth instead of what suited the Democratic party's political interests.)

ARMY STRONG!

I feel that it could happen. If someone had the will, anything can happen. The drive and determination to get your degree on active duty is an accomplishment itself.

SSG Schramm
US Army 15 years
OIF 2003

Mrsjvb

Absolutely. ADM Mike Boorda did it in the Navy.

robby h

Sure its possible and there has been several people that have done it, to do this you would have to dedicate your entire life to the military, lots of schooling and taking and passing all advancements all the way up the ranks

mariner31

Almost impossible in today's military, but as some pointed out, Admiral J. Borda went from a recruit to CNO over his career.

Mustangs rarely DO make "flag" rank... but then again, normally commissioned officers rarely make "flag" rank either.

The one fool who said enlisted never become officers is so high... I enlisted in 1985 and served 8 years. I then took my degree and was commissioned an Ensign in the USN. I made it to Lieutenant Commader (OE-4) before I left.

American Dissenter

Admiral Jeremy Borda a four star started as enlist.

His sad ending
Jeremy Boorda Suicide Memorial - Suicide.org! Jeremy Boorda ...
Remembering an Angel: Military Hero Jeremy Borda. by Kevin Caruso. The nation's top Navy officer, Admiral Jeremy Boorda, died by suicide on May 16, 1996, ...
http://www.suicide.org/memorials/jeremy-boorda.html

Max Rafael Waller wanted to commit suicide after his wife left him.

Brad V

Rarely do mustangs make general. This is a fact of life. Why is being a general so important. The way I see it, it is the most useless group of ranks in the military, plus the biggest drain on the Pentagons budget.

Do you realize, there are over 700 people in uniform, with the rank of Brigadier General or above. Yet the only one that seems very important in all this is General David Petraeous. I

It seems to me that field grade ranks of officers are the workhorses of the military. That is majors, lt. colonels, and colonels. Captains, 1st lieutenants, and 2nd lieutenants are the grunts of the officers corp.

Most generals are graduates of West Point, Annapolis, and the Air Force Academy, some OCS graduates make it too, but not in the numbers of the latter.

scott s

1st you must do your intitial contract reelist to go green to gold go to a college that has ROTC graduate college you will be an O-1 2Lt. Then volenteer for schools and deployments and make your way up thru the ranks very hard to make GEN you'll have to do about 35 yrs or more

Dark Shadows

Sure u can start out as and E-1 that is u have the smarts to take the test to go to OCS,to become n officer anything is possible it can be done n has be done before Audie Murphy,did it back in World War II,was rejected by every branch of the military except the Army,n proved his gut n metal once he got in n became the most decorated enlisted turned officer he got promoted in the field of battle in US history but that was than n this is now all I am saying it can be done n if u want to go the hard route that is up to u or u can just see if u can apply for the military academy that won't be easy either but it is better that taking the long n hard road don't u think.

Sgt Big Red

NO> one cannot start out as an enlisted and become an officer. They can be promoted to a "Warrant" officer which only goes up to the grade of O-4.

Now, it would be possible for one to serve as an enlisted, get out, go to college, graduate, then re-enlist as an officer, then and only then would they be able to obtain the rank of General.

Enter Your Message or Comment

User Name:
User Email:
Post a comment: