He gave her a tight smile, and a slight bow. "I am always glad to gain the approval of those worthy of respect. And just because I CHOSE to enlist doesn't mean I wasn't eligible to be an officer. I could have been if I had been in the slightest bit interested."<br/><br/>He looked at his food, and took a bit, before continuing. "I could have gone directly to officer, but you can just as easily go from enlisted to officer if you were good. I didn't want to just delve into the command side. I wanted to know what the enlisted side thought of the officers, the differences between the two. It would have helped me be a better one, if I was approved. And... I wasn't sure I could be a good officer otherwise. A lot of lives would have ridden on my commands, would I be worthy of that honor, that responsibility? History remembers on the very best, but many of the worst. I felt discretion, prudence and patience would be better than going all in and finding myself wanting. All I lost was time, as opposed to lives of the men and women that would have been under me otherwise. I am not good officer material. Definitely not past captain.<br/><br/>But I liked being a sergeant. Just the right amount of command and hands on to satisfy me. Sadly my injuries got me discharged before I really could enjoy it."