What personal/physical characteristics make a good soldier?

Question

im applying to army ocs. I have a BA in political science. 23 years old single with no kids. 6'5 210 pounds.

Answer 1

Best Answer - Chosen by Voters

Although this is the USMC (not Army - sorry), it is a list of Leadership Traits - but I think you will find these are important and universal for all military officers.

If you are preparing for an interview - I would suggest thinking about these traits and examples of how you have upheld or exemplified them within your own life.

Dependability - Certainty in performance of duty

Bearing - Create a favorable impression in carriage, bearing and personal conduct

Courage - Recognizing fear of danger (or criticism), but proceeds in the fact of it with calmmness and firmness

Decisiveness - Ability to make decisions promptly and to announce them in clear, forceful manner.

Endurance - mental and physical stamina

Enthusiasm - Interest and exuberance in performance of duty

Integrity - Soundness of moral principels -includes truthfulness and honesty

Judgment - Weigh facts and possible solutions on which to base sound decisions

Justice - Able to administer a system of rewards and punishments impartially and consistently

Knowledge - Both professional and "people skills"

Tact - Deal with others without creating offense

Unselfishness - Avoid providing for one's own comfort and personal advancement at the expense of others

Loyalty - Faithfulness to country, corps, unit, to one's seniors, subordinates and peers

Answer 2

Willing to stand for a cause to believe in.

Answer 3

Highly intelligent
Honest and with high integrity
Physically strong and emotionally stoic
Persevering
Determined
Giving and generous
Patriotic

Answer 4

Common sense.

Answer 5

Well thus far I'm thinking that you are fine candidate for the military. And an aggressive personality that doesn't mind being told what to do is necessary. You need to be an aggressive go getter to be noticed, but able to take orders to get along in the system. A positive attitude is a must. Negativity doesn't go far at all.

Other than that you will learn what you need during officer's training school.

Answer 6

to be a good soldier you need good mental strength, physically fit, able to carry his own weight on the back, can take orders, knows when to break them orders, good initiative, good shot, not scared of spiders, good lvl of leadership, able to commit,loyal.

Source(s):

British Army

Answer 7

Dude if you can spell cat backwards and keep your wiener in you fatigues for an entire 2 or 3 month your in! No problem! Good luck and tell your D/S to bite your nut's right after you get your transfer papers....he may just give you a big frenchee :O)

Source(s):

XXX President Bill Clinton

Answer 8

Loyalty
Duty
Respect
Selfless Service
Honor
Integrity
Personal Courage
Those are the seven personal characteristics that define a soldier. As for your physical you must be healthy weight, they would like soldiers to pass a pt test with 80% 58 push ups in two min.; 65 sit upsin two min.; a 14:48 2 miles but a min of 60% in each area is allowed.

Source(s):

husband active duty

Answer 9

personal:

strong, smart, charismatic('cause your going into ocs), good sense of right and wrong, personal accountability, integrity, responsible, loyalty

physical:

strong, stamina, endurance, healthy

Answer 10

You need a sense of humour, a thick skin and lots of willpower.
If you have these you will fare well.
You dont need such crap as patriotism ! when you are fighting in a war you are fighting to stay alive and to keep your buddies alive.... and not some pen pusher back home. You dont think about your country when someone is firing at you..you think about yourself and your buddies.
Ask anyone who has actually fought ( not the amchair soldiers on here who have never experienced it) and they will tell you the same thing.

Source(s):

2nd Battalion the Parachute Regiment
Utrinque Paratus (Ready for Anything)

Answer 11

my x bf is a marine. and he sure as hell isnt honest or loyal or respectful in any way possible.

Answer 12

You have all of the physical standards covered, but here are a few that I wish some of my officers had

humility
morals
integrity
honesty
work ethic
morale character
personal fortitude

heck, I'd even take the basic ones
honor
courage
commitment

Source(s):

as you can prolly tell, I don't think too highly of officers, at least Marine Corps ones. They are some of the most self serving a holes I've ever met

Answer 13

Duty, honor and country.

Good luck Sir.

Answer 14

be physically fit able to kill without a scened hesitation and be in control of yourself at all times and have to be able to use your initiative and be confident so men look up to you