Posted on Nov 13, 2015

How many of us had trouble distinguishing the rank of approaching commissioned, non-commissioned or warrant officers on field uniforms??

LTC Stephen F.

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Fatigue, battledress and other work and combat uniforms had subdued rank most of the time. Some ranks are very distinctive such as Captain [double bars], Colonel [eagle], and General Officer [black star or multiple]. However 1st LT and Warrant Officer looked very close and sometimes Majors and Lieutenant Colonels looked very close especially in the rain, snow, etc.
When I was a private in the 1970s I couldn't tell sometimes if a LT or a Chief Warrant Officer was approaching me. I would salute usually and wasn't sure at that time if I was supposed to salute Warrant Officers.
Did you have trouble recognizing officer rank?

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Edited >1 y ago

Posted 10 y ago

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No trouble I could always recognize the rank

I sometimes had trouble distinguishing between 1st LT and Warrant Officers and Major and Lieutenant Colonels

I did my best to look away when ever an officer approached :-)

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Responses: 125

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Wayne Soares

Posted 5 y ago

Over my head but thank you for the share sir

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LTC Stephen F.

5 y

You are very welcome my friend Wayne Soares

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Cpl James R. " Jim" Gossett Jr

Posted 5 y ago

Generally not a problem...

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LTC Stephen F.

5 y

Thank you my friend Cpl James R. " Jim" Gossett Jr for responding and letting us know.
FYI Cpl Vic Burk Sgt (Join to see) SSgt Gary Andrews Cpl Gabriel F. Sgt David G Duchesneau Cpl (Join to see) Sgt Joe LaBranche Sgt (Join to see) Cpl (Join to see) LCpl (Join to see) Cpl Craig Marton SSgt Robert Marx GySgt Bryan A. McGown "Gunny" MGySgt Michael P. McNeal, MBA Cpl Casey Meyer Sgt James Morse LCpl Thomas Osmon SSgt Terry P. GySgt H.E. (Trey) Salmon III

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SPC Nancy Greene

Posted 5 y ago

LTC Stephen F., I was trained in Basic “when in doubt, whip it out”! So, I always rendered a salute I’d I doubted what my eyes were seeing...I was taught it was a sign of respect and if one didn’t salute, they were subject to harsh (drop & push) consequences

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LTC Stephen F.

5 y

Thank you my friend SPC Nancy Greene for responding and sharing your recollection of a lesson taken to heart “when in doubt, whip it out” from BCT. Yes the salute is a sign of mutual respect between senior and subordinate.
FYI SPC Diana D. SPC Matthew Lamb PO3 Phyllis Maynard SSG Diane R. SFC (Join to see) SPC Margaret Higgins SPC(P) (Join to see)

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SSG Franklin Briant

Posted 5 y ago

I have never had that problem.

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LTC Stephen F.

5 y

Thank you my friend SSG Franklin Briant for responding and letting us know you never experienced an issue "distinguishing the rank of approaching commissioned, non-commissioned or warrant officers on field uniforms"
FYI SPC(P) (Join to see) PVT Mark Zehner Sgt Randy Wilber PFC Rick Schuetz Cpl Vic Burk SSG Samuel Kermon SSG Michael Scott SSG Michael Noll SPC Nancy Greene SCPO David Lockwood PO2 Frederick Dunn SFC Joe S. Davis Jr., MSM, DSL

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CW2 (Join to see)

Posted >1 y ago

Old thread, but I (a sergeant at the time) saluted a what I can only describe as a 60 year old National guard specialist on Bagram, mistaking him for a LTC. It was an awkward exchange and he told me that his favorite part about serving…

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LTC Stephen F.

>1 y

Thank you my friend CW2 (Join to see) for letting us know that as a Sergeant you saluted a 60 year old National guard specialist on Bagrammistaking the sp4 for a LTC. Sixty-year-old specialists must be rare indeed.

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How many of us had trouble distinguishing the rank of approaching commissioned, non-commissioned or warrant officers on field uniforms??

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