How do you become a top-ranking officer in the military?

I'm curious about what it takes to reach the highest positions in the military. What kind of education, skills, or experience do you need? Could any of these roles be a realistic career path after high school?

Becoming a high-ranking officer in the U.S. military is indeed an aspirational career path and overwhelming dedication, discipline, and perseverance are prerequisites. Having said that, you can start this journey right after high school but there are specific steps you'll need to follow:

Starting Point - Enlistment: Your journey would typically start with an enlistment into the military after high school. This allows you to understand the military culture and gain experience.

Education - Military Academy/ ROTC Programs: To become an officer, you'd need a Bachelor's degree. Some officers achieve this by attending a military academy like West Point or the Naval Academy. Another option is to join a Reserve Officer Training Corps (ROTC) program at a civilian university. These programs offer military training along with your degree.

Officer Candidate School (OCS) or Officer Training School (OTS): These are other pathways to officer commissioning. You could attend these schools after a few years of serving as enlisted personnel or after receiving a bachelor's degree.

Advanced Degrees and Professional Military Education: High-ranking officers often hold advanced degrees. They generally undergo Professional Military Education (PME) which includes formal courses designed to prepare them for higher responsibilities.

Demonstrated Leadership: Rising to the top echelon in the military usually requires proven leadership skills. Officers will need to show capability in leading personnel, making strategic decisions, and handling resources.

Security Clearances: For certain high-level positions, you'd need to pass rigorous background checks and gain security clearances.

Experience and Skill: Building a wide range of experience in various roles and missions and developing specialized skills in areas like strategic planning, logistics, or intelligence is important as well.

Bear in mind that advancement in military ranks usually involves competitive selection processes and performance evaluations. And while you can start right after high school, reaching the very top (like becoming a General or Admiral) often takes several decades of service and commitment.