@spatelis – definitely agree we don’t want to diminish the enlisted and warrant contribution, but almost any argument we make is going to imply such a diminishment. Playing devil’s advocate on your proposed line of argument, I can see an audience asking how our enlisted population are not unique, risk takers, or young. If we make an argument for morality or intelligence, one could take that to imply those who aren’t officers are immoral or stupid. Phrasing is something I continually work at, and still doubt I have it quite right.

My tenuous list of arguments thus far:

1. Officer corps are a force multiplier – i.e. “it wins wars” – this is currently my number one because I expect those who aren’t officers to sit and think how subordinating their ego and/or responsibility would be worth winning more wars. Conversely, I want officers (i.e. those responsible for everything a unit succeeds or fails to do) to think forward to exactly how a war is won. Historical examples should give the audience plenty to ruminate over.

2. Young officers demand mentorship – I mean this in both a systemic and personal manner – officers will learn the hard way or the easy way. Knowledge will continuously flow from older generations to younger, even if the relationship is contrary enough to negate meaningful conversation.

3. Officers think big – This is a simplification of “commanders brief red”, in that we all have finite resources (time included), but a vision big enough to consume those resources brings an agenda and priorities to a unit. This bit would highlight the differences between Officer and NCO oaths of office – namely that NCOs are sworn to uphold regulations while Officers are not. This isn’t to say that we should casually disregard regulations, but that compliance with all regulations is impossible, and someone’s agenda has to take priority. I remember a study a while back that calculated over 400 annual training days to comply with AR 350-1 alone. I’m sure if we spent enough time researching it, we’d all be guilty of UCMJ Article 92. Commander’s discretion smooths the rough patches between regulations, and allows a unit to accomplish a mission. There’s probably room in this block of argument to make an appeal to the visions of youth – something along the lines of it being unnatural to dream of being an astronaut as a second career.