If you could change the rank structure, how would you do it?

2015-06-08T09:25:59-04:00

Response by SCPO David Lockwood made Jun 8 at 2015 9:28 AM

2015-06-08T09:28:03-04:00

Better to have more then get caught off gaurd. I would spend more money to ensure the safety of this country. Also make sure that everyone spent time in the military, no exceptions. My thoughts.

Response by MAJ Robert (Bob) Petrarca made Jun 8 at 2015 9:41 AM

2015-06-08T09:41:51-04:00

Honestly I don't see an issue with the way it is now, but maybe its just because I'm used to it. Each rank has a corresponding set of jobs and responsibilities on both the O and E sides that make sense.

If I had to choose I'd say reduce the ranks but increase the pay grades to give you a junior/senior type of split so say reduce 2Lt and 1LT to Lieutenant but have 3 pay grades, 1 while training/pre career qualified, 1 when career qualified but junior as a PLT LDR and 1 when a senior LT ready for an XO or staff job.

Response by TSgt Private RallyPoint Member made Jun 8 at 2015 11:44 AM

2015-06-08T11:44:17-04:00

Bring back buck sergeant for the AF

Response by Sgt Aaron Kennedy, MS made Jun 8 at 2015 1:09 PM

2015-06-08T13:09:27-04:00

Gut reaction would be to increase the number of ranks on the officer side (by 2?), bringing it more inline with their enlisted counterparts. Prime candidate would be a 3Lt for training time prior to first "Fleet" assignment.

Response by SSG Roger Ayscue made Jun 8 at 2015 3:34 PM

2015-06-08T15:34:52-04:00

I would REQUIRE that the Department of the Army Release to:

1) RELEASE the DA centralized Board results to individual soldiers informing them WHY they did not get promoted and how to fix whatever it is.

2) STOP promotions based solely on Time in Service.

3) REMOVE the "Up or Out" mentality in the US Army, in favor of the Career Soldier attitude of the British Army. Some guys just do not want to be Leaders, but are perfectly happy driving a truck. Don't make a truck driver progress if he is happy as a Specialist, so be it.

4) RETURN the SPECIALIST Ranks. Soft Skill MOS proficiency does not necessarily prepare someone to be a leader.

Response by CW5 Private RallyPoint Member made Jun 8 at 2015 4:27 PM

2015-06-08T16:27:20-04:00

Do we think about having another enlisted rank? We have E-9 grades working in BN, BDE, DIV, CORPS, MACOM, Pentagon, etc. and all receive the same pay although there are definitively greater areas of responsibility. You could sit it out in S3/G3 shops your whole career while the other guy is moving up through the echelons and potentially doing more. Its a bit like the specialist rank argument and this may be the result of the lack of the 'up or out' policy for enlisted. I am sure there is something similar going on in the other services.

There was talk about a W-6 grade but I wonder about the actual utility of this. I always thought there was only one W-6: CW6 Google.

Response by SGT Alicia Brenneis made Jun 8 at 2015 4:42 PM

2015-06-08T16:42:36-04:00

I would get rid of the rank CPL in the Army. That's about it. I think it was meant as a learning rank to prep for the responsibilities of an NCO. More than a SPC but not truly an NCO yet. These days that's what SPCs do. I very rarely saw a CPL. In my first unit a CPL was someone they had to promote but didn't want as an NCO. I know that plenty of CPLs worked hard and were promoted out of merit so don't get me wrong, I am not insulting CPLs. I just don't think its a necessary rank anymore.

Response by James Jones made Jun 8 at 2015 4:46 PM

2015-06-08T16:46:00-04:00

Where's the "Appoint myself O-10" option?

Response by TSgt Joshua Copeland made Jun 8 at 2015 5:09 PM

2015-06-08T17:09:24-04:00

Bring back AF Warrants.

Response by SGT John Wesley made Jun 8 at 2015 5:37 PM

2015-06-08T17:37:19-04:00

My only thought would be to get rid of Sp4 and make em' Corporals. I think that the Spc rank is just like having a glorified PFC. Give them the rank and give them responsibilities. Get them prepared to be NCO's earlier!

Response by CPT Private RallyPoint Member made Jun 8 at 2015 7:32 PM

2015-06-08T19:32:59-04:00

I believe the Army needs more specialist grades (SP5-SP7). There are those within the Army, especially in technical MOS's, that should not be promoted to NCO, specifically if they do not lead and train soldiers. I know a few NCOs who are analysts, engineers, IT, etc. that do not desire to be NCOs, but have no choice but to strive for promotion to continue career advancement, receive pay raises, and seek more opportunity. The only other option for many of these MOS's is to apply for accession to Warrant Officer in these areas. However, some do not wish to go that route and would gladly pin on SP5 or SP6 instead of SGT or SSG. They simply just want to do their job. This would allow technical specialists to have career advancement but continue in their area of expertise. It would also allow those who desire to be leaders compete for the NCO slots.

Response by LCDR Private RallyPoint Member made Jun 8 at 2015 10:15 PM

2015-06-08T22:15:26-04:00

I wouldn't change the rank structure, however I'd make sure that junior officers received mentoring sessions from senior enlisted across all branches.

Response by CW2 Stephen Pate made Jun 8 at 2015 11:19 PM

2015-06-08T23:19:50-04:00

I wouldn't mind seeing the Spec ranks come back with the intent of using those personnel in somewhat of the same fashion as we use most tech warrants....a spec 7 could b your motor sergeant...spec 5-training room NCO, etc. I mean positions where a lot of work gets done and there are still huge responsibilities but that particular person needs to be relieved of Soldier management duties or doesn't have Soldiers.

Response by SGM Private RallyPoint Member made Jun 9 at 2015 12:47 PM

2015-06-09T12:47:47-04:00

Let's hear more from the opinions of those 32% who voted for Brevet ranks....

Response by SPC(P) Jay Heenan made Jun 9 at 2015 1:39 PM

2015-06-09T13:39:53-04:00

Rank structure huh? I would love for the Army to bring back the SP5-SP7 ranks. I have always considered myself an SME in my MOS and have taught many senior NCO's the ins and outs of our MOS. I have always had Soldiers to lead and mentor even though I am a junior enlisted. At the end of the day, I always had my hands tied because I wasn't an NCO. You can't go to this school or this training because you are not an NCO. Being an NCO wasn't in the cards for me because Big Army couldn't figure out how to not screw me over (and many like me) because of my injuries. In all honesty, being an NCO was secondary to making sure that I was an SME in my MOS.

Bring back the SP5-SP7 ranks would offer those like me a career path that put job ahead of leading Soldiers. I always preferred to be a mentor...give the SM the tools and ensure that you are putting SM out there that know there jobs.

Response by CPT(P) Private RallyPoint Member made Jul 16 at 2015 10:49 PM

2015-07-16T22:49:38-04:00

Do away with Rank Structure and base Salary off Education and position (needs of Service)!

Response by SFC David Xanten made Aug 19 at 2018 5:08 PM

2018-08-19T17:08:37-04:00

The Specialist Rank was very important during my day. On a Tank the only NCO that is needed is the Tank Commander. The other three crew members are Specialists which gives them the ability to learn how to be a NCO. I am sure that there are many other MOS’s that good benefit from that sort of promotion system.