An impacting rank in the military

MSG Martinis Butler — Sun, 26 Jan 2014 02:38:51 -0500

Whether retired, active, enlisted or officer, what rank do you feel was or is the most influential rank in the military and why?

Response by SSgt Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 26 at 2014 2:43 AM

SSgt Private RallyPoint Member — Sun, 26 Jan 2014 02:43:06 -0500

Whatever rank I was at and then after that two ranks ahead. As it was my own career field was challenging and worth most of my attention.

Response by MSG Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 26 at 2014 3:26 AM

MSG Private RallyPoint Member — Sun, 26 Jan 2014 03:26:48 -0500

For junior Soldiers, I believe Sergeant is the most influential Rank just because it's direct leadership to them in the Army. We've all been privates with thoughts like, "Man! I definitely don't want to be like him when I become an NCO". Or "I look up to my Sergeant and consider him a Mentor". For me I developed my leadership skills and learned a lot from my Sergeant that soon became a Staff Sergeant when I was a private. He will always be looked at as my mentor because he had the greatest influence on me due to his knowledge, motivation, and the way he always set the example and looked out for his Soldiers.

Response by MAJ Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 27 at 2014 12:05 AM

MAJ Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 27 Jan 2014 00:05:02 -0500

For me it was definitely when I got promoted to Corporal. It is just the feeling of being an NCO. I had worked so hard to get there and wanted to help others attain the same level. I felt some of those same feelings the first day I got in front of my platoon as a new Platoon Leader. It is just the feeling that you get to influence someone else's life and help to be better.

As leaders we need to empower our NCO Corps so they feel the same way again. I can't stand to hear the words I am just a SGT or E-5.

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 27 at 2014 1:32 AM

SSG Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 27 Jan 2014 01:32:45 -0500

I would have to say squad leader. Because, your still in the fight and you have that close relationship with your soldiers. I feel squad leader over the team leader position due to a higher level of maturity and perfessional developement that has prepared you to serve as a better leader and role model.

Response by MSgt Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 27 at 2014 2:10 AM

MSgt Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 27 Jan 2014 02:10:01 -0500

I know in the Marines a GySgt (E-7) was the one that everyone looked up to and in the Air Force a MSgt (E-7) was pretty much the same.  Both are the main buffers between the lower ranks and the 'upper management'.  Both positions (if held by individuals that keep their 'charges' in line and look out for their well-being) are held with respect from those junior to them.  Of course, this is just from my own observations through the years.

Response by SFC Gemma Lopez made Jan 27 at 2014 9:26 AM

SFC Gemma Lopez — Mon, 27 Jan 2014 09:26:43 -0500

I feel that the squad leader (ideally a SSG or SGT) at a Soldier's first duty station has the most influence because that's the individual whom they are around the most. A squad leader is the one that should be training, even when there is down time. If that squad leader is constantly pushing their troops to be better Soldiers and individuals, then that Young Soldier will learn how to grow properly thru to the next rank.

Response by SFC Gemma Lopez made Jan 27 at 2014 9:26 AM

SFC Gemma Lopez — Mon, 27 Jan 2014 09:26:46 -0500

Response by CSM Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 27 at 2014 9:34 AM

CSM Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 27 Jan 2014 09:34:18 -0500

CPL/SGTs and SSGs at the soldier to leader interaction point
is the most crucial but in my opinion when it comes to influencing I would have
to say the platoon daddy is the most influential.

Response by MSG Martinis Butler made Jan 27 at 2014 4:21 PM

MSG Martinis Butler — Mon, 27 Jan 2014 16:21:28 -0500

I would have to say that SFC. At that rank you are officially a Senior so that gives you a voice among the Senior leadership and you are the Platoon Sergeant over a group of Soldiers that consistently look toward you for guidance. At that rank you are involved with changing and impacting lives just but your position in the unit.

Response by CPT Mike M. made Jan 27 at 2014 4:28 PM

CPT Mike M. — Mon, 27 Jan 2014 16:28:26 -0500

On the officer side, definitely CPT, more specifically a Company Commander. Only there are you senior enough to be respected for what experience and knowledge you have yet are close enough to know at a personal level each and every one of your Soldiers. That goes a long way. When a Battalion Commander or higher says do something, it's going to get done because of the respect (or sometimes fear?) of the individual and their position. However, it's a totally different KIND of influence that a Commander on the ground right there with his guys and girls has.

Response by CMC Robert Young made Jan 27 at 2014 4:29 PM

CMC Robert Young — Mon, 27 Jan 2014 16:29:01 -0500

It's situational. If we think about the tactical arena where it's about accomplishing the mission; it's the people in the O3/E7 world. They lead at the boots on the ground level. But if we think in terms of strategic issues, then it has to be O7/E9 world. They set the tone for service wide programs and initiatives.

Response by Cpl Ray Fernandez made Jan 27 at 2014 6:47 PM

Cpl Ray Fernandez — Mon, 27 Jan 2014 18:47:04 -0500

Personally I think it comes down to who do you see and deal with on a greater basis. In my case I had a SSgt that was the maintenance chief and a Gunny that dealt with me every work day. The officers in my platoon were rarely seen due to their duties within the battalion as well. If we had problems and needed help we dealt with them. If there was some issue that had to be resolved to complete our assigned tasks they dealt with it. My last Maintenance Officer and I did not get along at all, and he tried to convince me to see things his way by making me the only radio tech that would go out to the field to support every training exercise in our battalion. He had a wake up call when the battalion deployed to Egypt for a training exercise and every tech they took struggled to do their jobs away from the test bench.

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 27 at 2014 8:02 PM

SSG Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 27 Jan 2014 20:02:17 -0500

I would have to say it depends on your position ans your environment....in the environment I am in TRADOC...25B AIT Instructor...it is predominently made up of the rank of SSG. To the IET Soldiers who attend the course I am sure SSGs play the most influenctial role in their short careers. For me the most influential rank is the ranks of SGM/CSM because of the invaluable guidance and NCO mentorship I've received here.

Response by MAJ Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 27 at 2014 11:38 PM

MAJ Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 27 Jan 2014 23:38:32 -0500

Terrain dictates...well, here position dictates. The SGT Team Leader is the most important person to the younger enlisted, and the Company Commander or Battalion XO is the most important person to the younger officers. Otherwise, I would move with the two positions up theory and keeping your eye on that prize. Learn from the good and the bad and choose the best traits to emphasize upon yourself and your Soldiers.

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 5 at 2014 10:23 PM

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 05 Feb 2014 22:23:37 -0500

Regardless of rank you should always influence your subordinates, your peers and your leaders.

Response by SGM Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 5 at 2014 10:54 PM

SGM Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 05 Feb 2014 22:54:36 -0500

I would have to say SGT. That is really and truly where the rubber meets the road. You had direct impact on your own slice of the world and if you did it right you were the best to your Soldiers.

I can tell you my Squad Leader (CPL) was very influential to me but I am sure a lot of that was because I spent 80% of my waking hours with him training and then training some more until he was happy then train a little more.

I also looked up to my 1SG a lot. That was the rank where you got to see a senior NCO work hand in hand with the Commander and build a viable machine that accomplished all tasks with above standard results.

Response by SSgt Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 5 at 2014 11:00 PM

SSgt Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 05 Feb 2014 23:00:25 -0500

I think for me E-4 Sgt. I was of the era where we had two E-4 ranks. Senior Airman and Sgt. E-8's and above and Majors and above.

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 6 at 2014 1:55 AM

SSG Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 06 Feb 2014 01:55:21 -0500

The most influential to me would have to be SSG. While I've met numerous outstanding SFC that set the bar for what I've been working towards becoming, it's the SSGs that provided the direct mentorship that I needed to keep me moving in the right direction.

Response by SSG Andrew Dydasco made Feb 6 at 2014 3:42 AM

SSG Andrew Dydasco — Thu, 06 Feb 2014 03:42:04 -0500

As far as influencial goes, in my opinion, it's the SGT. Reason being, the SGT is usually the direct leader to a Soldier. The Soldier can either admire and have a strong distaste for him/her. Both cases are very influencial, because the Soldier will remember the positives and negatives of all of his/her experiences with their SGTs. They will strive to either mirror, or completely avoid the leadership their SGTs have provided. And to lower enlisted, the SGT is a rank that they can strive to obtain in little time. As opposed to, say, a 1SG, who, although potentially influencial, the Soldier can't see themselves being in their shoes as easily or as quickly as the SGT. Also, they don't see the 1SG all the time. The SGT is right there with them.

Response by 1SG Private RallyPoint Member made Jun 12 at 2014 5:12 PM

1SG Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 12 Jun 2014 17:12:03 -0400

A lot of good opinions on here, for my two cents I'd say SFC has the most impact. The leadership considers your opinion because you are a seasoned leader and the junior's follow your lead because you are a seasoned leader. Being a SGT was a difficult rank, a lot of bumps as you grow. SSG really molds you, but SFC that's when you feel like your really starting to make a difference on a bigger scale.

Response by SSG Ed Mikus made Jun 15 at 2014 1:28 PM

SSG Ed Mikus — Sun, 15 Jun 2014 13:28:29 -0400

Not really a rank, but the positions of Company Commander and 1SG are tied for the most important because not only do they touch every life in the Army but they have the ability (in most cases) to make or break the moral in a unit and show the JRs what it means to lead.

Response by 1SG Private RallyPoint Member made Jul 10 at 2014 11:31 AM

1SG Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 10 Jul 2014 11:31:58 -0400

At the Troop level, The Squad Leader(SSG) because he is the one leading the squad on a mission, he is Senior but still "with" the troops, he molds his Squad into a team.

For the Troops, its the Platoon Sergeant(SFC) because he the 1st Senior NCO in a PLTs Chain and he knows what is best for his PLT. He is responsible for overall training and well being, he is the one who molds the 3 individual squads into a PLT, and he fights the CMD for his troops if needed, He is a Demi- God.

For the Organization, its the Command Sergeant Major, He is GOD.

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Aug 2 at 2014 4:46 PM

SSG Private RallyPoint Member — Sat, 02 Aug 2014 16:46:37 -0400

For enlisted the most influential rank(s) is your SGT to SFC because albeit garrison or deployment soldiers will always interact with these ranks the most. Besides who do you have to impress if you want to go to the board?

Now for the officers it would be your CW2 & 3s because they would be in charge of your platoon's training

Response by Cpl Private RallyPoint Member made Aug 2 at 2014 8:52 PM

Cpl Private RallyPoint Member — Sat, 02 Aug 2014 20:52:12 -0400

My first duty station SSgt. had the most impact on the way I conducted myself during my time. I modeled myself after him when I became an NCO.

Response by SGT Private RallyPoint Member made Nov 19 at 2014 11:28 PM

SGT Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 19 Nov 2014 23:28:43 -0500

I feel the SSG rank has great influence. They are expected to be leaders, teachers, mentors, etc.
You don't need rank to have a great impact on people but for the most part, SSG's play a big part in young Soldiers lives. From counseling to rating and being the first line supervisor to young Soldiers, they will be the ones who mold and shape the future of the Army.

Response by CW5 Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 7 at 2014 3:32 PM

CW5 Private RallyPoint Member — Sun, 07 Dec 2014 15:32:44 -0500

CW5 ... And I think I'm being completely objective here. :-)

Response by CW3 Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 8 at 2014 12:15 PM

CW3 Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 08 Dec 2014 12:15:22 -0500

All of them. One team, one fight.

Response by SPC Tate Smith made Dec 8 at 2014 12:35 PM

SPC Tate Smith — Mon, 08 Dec 2014 12:35:49 -0500

SPC. Let's look at this Before you earn SPC you really don't know very much about how to do things and the tasks always roll down from the top to the SPC who know how to do it.

Response by SPC Thomas Lema made Dec 10 at 2014 2:17 PM

SPC Thomas Lema — Wed, 10 Dec 2014 14:17:24 -0500

each and every rank, because you cant have one without the other'

Response by 1SG David Niles made Jan 21 at 2018 8:01 PM

1SG David Niles — Sun, 21 Jan 2018 20:01:50 -0500

E4 and e7 because they are key in getting things done at the unit level

Response by SPC Vanburen Kirk Jr. made Jan 21 at 2018 8:43 PM

SPC Vanburen Kirk Jr. — Sun, 21 Jan 2018 20:43:45 -0500

I'd say SSGT were the glue that kept us together and on track most of them knew their stuff and knew how to execute the best way in most scenarios. I dunno about everyone else but I was always learning new things to make my job and life much easier from them

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 22 at 2018 7:02 AM

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 22 Jan 2018 07:02:27 -0500

1SG, without a doubt... Ive seen First Sergeants destroy or elevate company's with just a few sentences in meaningful ways. A good first sergeant is worth his/her weight in gold

Response by SGT Dan Theman made Mar 1 at 2020 11:04 AM

SGT Dan Theman — Sun, 01 Mar 2020 11:04:24 -0500

Sergeant. Its the rank everyone looks to as being successful. If you did it right your guys know your there for them and your supervisors saw in you growth in leadership and potential next level. They are the bridge.