<p>Dunnin - thanks for the parable, very interesting. You’re correct that equity isn’t sameness and everyone is getting paid justly, however, the smartest guy is the one who did the least work and got the same result. It pays to be smarter than the other guy sometimes.</p>
<p>1390 - I dont know what your background is, but based on your screen name and your comments, I’m guessing that you don’t have much experience with commissioning sources. “Playing navy for a couple years” gets you nothing. No brownie points, no gold star in your record, not a thing. So if you dont get anything for it, why would you want to do it? If you just want the satisfaction of putting on a uniform, that’s your choice and everyone is entitled to do whatever they want. </p>
<p>Your friendships you develop throughout your career are not limited to the folks you went to college with. In fact, I’m closer with the guys that I served with on a ship in wartime, than guys I sat in next to in a classroom. Each commissioning source pumps out officers that are all equally prepared and competent. I’ve known superstars from OCS and I’ve known turds from the Academy and ROTC. There is no “quality group of people” as you say, just all folks with equal potential to succeed as leaders when those butter bars get pinned on. After all, that’s what really matters, not whether someone got an A on a navigation test, can march around with a rifle, or do a few extra pushups at 5am.</p>
<p>Hard work makes you a good officer, not your commissioning source.</p>