High ranked military family members, good or bad?

PV2 Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 22 May 2014 17:21:36 -0400

Is it good or bad to have High ranking parents or family either still in or retired? To me it puts a shadow on a person, My father is a CW5 his father retired as a CW4 my grandfather on my moms side Retired AF full bird COL, just wondering thoughts

Response by CPT Jacob Swartout made May 22 at 2014 11:00 PM

CPT Jacob Swartout — Thu, 22 May 2014 23:00:51 -0400

It can be either way depending on how you see it. Most would say its good because gives you incentives to achieve the same success in terms of service and commitment. Even if you don't achieve the same rank, it only matters that you carried on the family tradition to serve this country.

On the flip side, there may be Soldiers out there whose family member(s) are constantly pressuring them to live up to the same standards, accomplishments, and success. I would like to believe this isn't true but, I'm sure it is for someone.

I have achieved the same rank as my uncle and no other members in my family have been officers. My other uncle was an NCO in the AF. Of all that served in my family, none have spent more time in the military than me. I for now own that bragging right that I have served 17+ yrs. Only my uncle who was a CPT had a total of 8 yrs. Everyone else served just 2-4 yrs. I don't think anyone else will out serve me because I plan on doing 24 or more yrs.

Response by MSgt Private RallyPoint Member made May 22 at 2014 11:40 PM

MSgt Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 22 May 2014 23:40:43 -0400

Someone with a high-ranking family member cannot use it to their own advantage if supervision has integrity. Those that try to do so will fail miserably, and they will very likely not be trusted.
I appreciate the Airman who doesn't mention a family member's rank all the time.
I won't care if your dad or mom is inarcerated Leavenworth. Just work hard and prove yourself to be dedicated to the mission.

Response by MSG Wade Huffman made May 23 at 2014 7:05 AM

MSG Wade Huffman — Fri, 23 May 2014 07:05:09 -0400

It's all what YOU make it. You should definitely use your acquired knowledge received through their sharing of their experiences to your advantage; but never attempt to use their rank or positions to your advantage. I'm sure that's exactly how they would want it as well.

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made May 23 at 2014 8:37 AM

SSG Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 23 May 2014 08:37:13 -0400

You have to be your own man. Live your own life. I have had a few Soldiers who's family were high ranking members of the military. As long as they do not try and throw their parents fank around then everything is good. And it is soon forgotten. Same goes for the parent. No CoC wants to be second guessed buy a SGM or LTC on the other side of the country who has only heard one side of the story.

Response by LCDR Doug Nordman made May 23 at 2014 3:09 PM

LCDR Doug Nordman — Fri, 23 May 2014 15:09:19 -0400

The "bad" side would be coming from a family like the McCains, Taussigs, or Carneys... where the military is the family business and you might feel coerced to serve.

The "good" side is that those family members give you a leg up on your leadership and time-management skills. I'd like to think that our daughter (commissioned last week) has learned from the military skills that we brought home-- as well as from having to listen to (almost) all of our sea stories.

Response by MSG Private RallyPoint Member made May 23 at 2014 3:42 PM

MSG Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 23 May 2014 15:42:42 -0400

The only way I see it as a negative is if you use them to get your way..."I'm going to call my dad he a LTC (or whatever)". That is a heck of a way to paint a target on your back.
There is nothing wrong with being proud of them and using them for advice or support. Chances are they are chalk full of knowledge. However I cant stand folks that use relatives as a way to try and force my hand at something. If I'm doing something there is probably a reason for it and as my soldier you need to do it. Complain about me to you relative...by all means, but don't be the guy that uses relatives as weapons.

Response by CPT Private RallyPoint Member made May 23 at 2014 4:11 PM

CPT Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 23 May 2014 16:11:46 -0400

I would say good. If they were successful in the military they can advise you on the right decisions they have made in the military. My brother in law has been in the army for a while and I fill bad at times due to family members telling him to be more like me. I am a prior SSG with 2 tours in Iraq that commissioned. He is a Rigger. So there is nothing similar about us besides the fact that he and I are both in the army. You shouldn't feel pressured but at the same time you should seek guidance in order to advance your career when possible.

Response by PO1 Private RallyPoint Member made Oct 2 at 2016 6:26 PM

PO1 Private RallyPoint Member — Sun, 02 Oct 2016 18:26:19 -0400

As long as you don't pull "I'm going to tell on you to my (insert high ranking family member) ", I don't care. That's a childish move and says you're incapable of being an adult. It's cool that you come from a military family, just don't be that person that constantly reminds others about it as if you're better than them somehow or go crying to that family member whenever something doesn't go your way. Learn from them but don't use them.

Response by SPC Jeffrey Reese made Oct 2 at 2016 7:26 PM

SPC Jeffrey Reese — Sun, 02 Oct 2016 19:26:42 -0400

Some of the older soldiers on this page will know this name but when I was going through A.I.T. My room mate was John O. Marsh III. We never really talked about him our Drill SGT was aware of the situation but it never affected the way he was treated. For the Non old soldier during my time in the ARMY John O. Marsh Jr. was Secretary of the ARMY. To me he was a skinny blond headed kid that was a week ahead of me in training and acted like he was just like every one else.

Response by SPC James Anderson made Oct 2 at 2016 9:25 PM

SPC James Anderson — Sun, 02 Oct 2016 21:25:34 -0400

A half on topic response here. We were asked this prior to basic training graduation so the appropriate dog and pony show could be arranged. Nobody said a thing. So weeks later when private Snuffie's dad(gotta find my graduation book for his real name) showed up and was a retired NCO who just happened to have been awarded the MOH in Vietnam our DS's shit themselves. The private didnt think about his dad as high ranking cause he was "only an NCO"

Response by SSG Kyle Stromgren made Oct 10 at 2016 1:46 AM

SSG Kyle Stromgren — Mon, 10 Oct 2016 01:46:32 -0400

The only time it came in handy for me was while I was still in the USAR the AFES had sent me to a ophthalmologist to have my eyes checked before enlisting and then didn't pay the bill. The ophthalmologist office called a year later and wanted too know if they would ever get played. I spoke with my father who was a retired LTC asked what I should do. We called the AFES med desk and I spoke with the ncoic who laughed at me so I asked to speak with the commander dad was on the line when the Captain got on, I told him what was going on he started to laugh at me and told me I guess you're going to have to pay then dad announced himself asking for the Captain's Col the a field grade conversation and told me to get off the phone only problem he ever took care of for me. He did 3 of my oaths of enlightenment.