What Is the Training Process to Become a Military Commander?
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The Military Commander
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From George Washington to George Patton, the history of the United States has been filled with larger than life military commanders. For those who would aspire to serve the country in such a way, here are some ways that one get a military command.
Where to Begin
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The U.S. military has three processes for getting an officer commission. Each branch of the armed forces has a military academy: the U.S. Military Academy, or West Point, for the Army; the U.S. Naval Academy, or Annapolis, for the Navy and Marines; the Air Force Academy and the Coast Guard Academy. Each takes students fresh out of high school. Using a a mix of traditional university education and tough military discipline, the academies turn their students into competent and confident commissioned officer in four years.
Another way to commission is through the Reserve Officers Training Corps, or ROTC. This is a four year program that is taken as an elective at university campuses. It results in the same commission one receives at the academies.
The third and least common form is a direct commission. These commission usually are granted for professionals in medicine, or law, and religious leaders such as priests or rabbis for service in the chaplains corps.
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The Path to Command
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Once a person is commissioned, he may become a "commander" of small groups of soldiers, airmen, marines or sailors. For example, in the Army a newly commissioned officer would hold the rank of second lieutenant and could be assigned to be a platoon leader. After about three years, he could be promoted to the rank of first lieutenant or Captain. He then could be assigned as a company commander. At this level the officer would be in charge of a self-contained unit with its own specific designation and mission. In the Navy, an officer can work his way to the command of vessel.
As one rises through the ranks, an officer potentially can command larger and larger units. Usually, high levels of command require specialized courses and possibly postgraduate education at say the U.S Army War College. The end result of these courses and education is that by the time one reaches the very high levels of command one should be sufficiently trained to direct the actions of a joint service task force comprising Army, Navy, Marine, and Air Force units.
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