Year 7. Hating it more each day.
The Army—or at least the unit I’m currently serving in—has become deeply frustrating. Maintenance is chronically poor, and many of our vehicles are decades old and unreliable. We routinely overtask Soldiers while leadership often ignores concerns from those closest to the problems.
The evaluation system has also lost credibility. Evaluations can’t be taken at face value because everyone is expected to read between the lines. Comments that appear positive on paper—such as “top 20%” or even “promote ahead of peers”—are often interpreted negatively depending on context, making the process confusing and disingenuous.
At the same time, we continue separating Soldiers at a high rate while simultaneously claiming to have a manning shortage. The barracks are in poor condition, and many of the inspections, demonstrations, and “dog and pony shows” feel more like performances than genuine efforts to improve readiness or take care of Soldiers.
After seven years as an officer, it’s difficult not to feel disillusioned. I’m currently an O-3, and for the first time, I’m seriously contemplating whether staying in the Army is the right decision.