Post High School question

[eneq]

Hello; this is my first "real" post and I just wanted some insight. As of right now, I plan on attending SFAS and attempting to become a SF soldier. My dilemma is I am not sure my path before I enlist. If I had to decide today, I would go to college for four years, and then enlist. However, I am considering spending a couple years in North Dakota working on the oil rigs, making some good money before I enlist. Not only would it help me physically prepare for SF, but I feel like I would enjoy it. If I were to do that, I would spend a couple years as an enlisted man, and then try my luck at an appointment to West Point. I want to be an Officer, but I don't want to spend my career in the military. I've always admired the USMA and I've dreamed of going there, but I don't feel like I could get in as of right now. So I guess my question is, as an enlisted soldier, how hard is it to get an appointment to West Point? Another question, and it is somewhat related to the previous one. As an officer, how long do you spend leading an ODA? I've recently read "The Only Thing Worth Dying For," and "Horse Soldiers." In both of those books, the leader of the ODA was a commissioned officer. In both of those books, that officer was the "face of America." If I was a SF soldier I would want to be the one discussing plans and conversing with the local leaders, and I would want to represent our nation. When those leaders heard the word "America" I would want them to think of how well I represented the country. So, my second question is, are the COs the only ones who really deal with the leaders face-to-face, and what is the average length that an officer spends leading an ODA? I apologize for the lengthy post, I just have not had anywhere to ask these questions. Thanks in advance