Should officers spend compulsory time in the ranks?
Thought I would ask you Officer types of pprune if you think that junior officers ought to spend time in the ranks.
After 14 years of service, I have worked for three or four officers younger than myself. I have had very little trouble with this, however they have such little experience, that they have to ask questions all the time.
They build their experience by "using" their SNCO's and JNCO's knowledge.
If they were to spend a couple of years as a JNCO, or at least in a JNCO post, this would help them see what it is really like on the shop floor.
I feel it would also help the way that they are perceived by junior ranks across the board.
I have found that the best officers I have worked for have come from the ranks.