Posted on Feb 26, 2015
SGM Senior Adviser, National Communications
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Posted in these groups: Leadership abstract 007 LeadershipStar Promotions
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SFC Charles S.
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I don't care if I outrank people. But date of rank matters because someone has to outrank the others or a military hierarchy of rank structure will fall apart. Rank has no meaning if everyone of the same rank have the same status. Someone must be the directed leader.
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SGM Senior Adviser, National Communications
SGM (Join to see)
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SFC Staley, yes, even a sea of lemming has a lead fish.
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COL Charles Williams
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Edited >1 y ago
It is... what it is. Most times it matters not, unless you make a big deal of it, but there are instances when it matters... Like how is senior, who will be responsible etc.. It that is not already clearly defined. I don't think it matters more now, or less now. It is just one of those things.

Take MACOM staff section, branch, division... The Chiefs are not selected by a board (HQDA) like we are for command, but someone still needs to be in charge (the chief). Generally, that is the senior person. Unity of command matters in most every aspect of the Army.
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SGT John Wesley
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Not sure how I'd vote. I'm a firm believer that your actions should determine your promotion potential. Date of Rank should be the last thing a promotion board considers. Pay wise? Well, that's a bit sticky isn't it?
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Sgt Aaron Kennedy, MS
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Not at all.

There is payscale issues, since an E7 at 10 years and an E7 at 18 years should be compensated completely differently. Yes, I have met both.

Additionally, at lower ranks, it is one of the quickest ways to tell who is in charge. At higher ranks, it doesn't come up as often, but take a "working party" of several hundred Marines. I was at the range, one time, and they asked who the senior man was. We looked for the Sgts first, none present. Then the dozen or so Cpls did a quick assessment. At the time I had something like 24 months, and the senior guy was at 30 (there was no one between us). They split the Marines between us, and set us to work.

Also, for Marines, we get promotion points for Time in Grade. 5 points/month as part of our composite score for LCpl to Cpl, and Cpl to Sgt.
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GySgt Joe Strong
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I don't know about in the Army. But in the Corps if there are two Marines, one of them outranks the other, DOR is one discriminator.
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SMSgt Maintenance Superintendent
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It should be used very sparingly and when used should be for promotion/responsibilities as a last result. Just because you have existed in a rank does not make your more or less qualified. The results of you work make you more or less qualified.
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SGT Bryon Sergent
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I don't agree with what the no says. I think when it come to promotion or putting someone in charge it matters. If you have 2 E-4's or what ever and they are both good at what they do and its going to piss them off who you choose then use date of rank.
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LTC Strategic Plans And Training Officer
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It does show experience in a giving pay grade. New versus long in the tooth.
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MAJ Senior Observer   Controller/Trainer
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In a rank-structured culture, it is a necessary evil.  What would you propose replacing it with?  I say it has worked just fine thus far.
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LTC Strategic Plans And Training Officer
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Agreed
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TSgt Global Operations Duty Officer (Do)
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I don't know anyone that actuallyuses Date of Rank to tell someone that is he same rank as I am to do something. Though most that I work with understand that the authority of your position out weighs the rank on your sleeve/lappel. So really the only time it really matters is for promotion date once selected it (in the Air Force anyway).
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TSgt Global Operations Duty Officer (Do)
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It seems inevitable to have a typo when I post from my phone.
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CW5 Desk Officer
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It does make a difference when it comes to promotions (sequence numbers), so it's important in that regard.
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SFC Boots Attaway
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CW5 (Join to see) , it is also handy when 2 SMs of the same rank find themselves in a situation where one needs to take charge of a situation with no ranking NCO or officer is around or able to give guidance.
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