I need to write something or you people will start flaming me again.
Well, Chain of Commander selections are soon. This is always a fun time of the year -- NOT. I don't say that just because I'm being a cynical bastard, but it's almost as bad as having to make a drill cut. I say almost because you can't kick someone off the COC if they aren't there already. Although, it's hard to tell a previous COC member that they didn't make it the next year. I feel sorry for Chief and Commander, they get all the annoying phone calls from parents complaining about their child not making it when in all honesty, it's not necessarily their fault. You see, COC selections are made by the present COC themselves, making their way all the way up to the Commanding Officer. The CO checks off whether or not he likes it, makes changes if necessary after talking to the individual to see why he picked that choice in the first place, then signs it and passes it on for Chief to buy it and Commander to bless it. They can make changes how they see fit, but they don't always have to do that. This is where all the fuss comes in. Chief always tells us about all the angry parents who call in (who should be proud enough that their child is in ROTC in the first place). I think my mom said it best... "If you didn't earn the position, then you didn't earn the position. It's no one's fault but your own. The parents shouldn't have to pull their child's weight. They should just encourage the kids to work harder next time, just like I did when you didn't make it your freshman year." Nope, I wasn't always a COC member. However, I went to leadership and was given the position of Platoon Commander, one of the best jobs available. Just goes to show that you should never give up. Now I'm a prospective Commanding Officer, you know? People always think they know where everyone is going to end up. The way I see it, the more you think you know, the less you actually do, and that's based on personal experience. So who knows where I'll end up, or if I'll even be on the COC. I DO know one thing though... There will be the same bickering as usual when this is all said and done.