Why I Want to Be an Army Officer

One of the biggest motivators to be an Army officer is to serve your country. Those who are interested in being in the military usually have a love for their country and would like to be able to give something back for the opportunity they have received.

Commissions are granted by the Reserve Officers Training Corps (ROTC), a military academy (West Point for the Army) or Officers Candidate School (OCS). Regardless of the route to a commission, educational benefits result. ROTC includes eligibility for a college scholarship; all expenses are paid at any one of the military academies; OCS graduation includes eligibility for the GI Bill.

In many families, being an Army officer is a tradition. It is this sense of wanting to follow in their relatives' footsteps that causes many people to want to be part of the military.

An Army officer gets a housing allowance and is eligible for post housing. It amounts to a perk over and above base salary.

Being an Army officer almost always means travel. For many young people the chance to be able to experience different counties and cultures is enticing. In the Army you can see the world and be paid while you are doing it.

The Army has hundreds of thousands of soldiers; all need someone to lead them. For those who are natural-born leaders this is an opportunity to be able to gain quality, hands-on leadership experience.