Posted on Apr 2, 2015
Rankism. Is there such a thing in the military?
415K
1.25K
438
51
50
1
Rankism-discrimination against people on the grounds of rank.
There has always been grudges held at the various levels but for what reason. Countless times a new 2LT walks into a situation where he is instantly disliked for merely showing up. How many times have we thought of a new Private as automatically going to make mistakes so you have to treat as such. Or, the CSM that everyone thinks they only care about Uniform violations and walking on the grass.
Recently we found that SMA Dan Dailey revise the tattoo policy. I, for one, didn't see that coming. I didn't think a new SMA would make such a change like that for soldiers. At times we feel that they are so far disconnected from the soldiers they may not have us in mind.
Is this something that we face. Do soldiers with a certain rank or position get grouped in the a mass assumption of others that had that rank in the past?
There has always been grudges held at the various levels but for what reason. Countless times a new 2LT walks into a situation where he is instantly disliked for merely showing up. How many times have we thought of a new Private as automatically going to make mistakes so you have to treat as such. Or, the CSM that everyone thinks they only care about Uniform violations and walking on the grass.
Recently we found that SMA Dan Dailey revise the tattoo policy. I, for one, didn't see that coming. I didn't think a new SMA would make such a change like that for soldiers. At times we feel that they are so far disconnected from the soldiers they may not have us in mind.
Is this something that we face. Do soldiers with a certain rank or position get grouped in the a mass assumption of others that had that rank in the past?
Posted in these groups: 
Leadership
Rank
Leadership Rank
Edited >1 y ago
Posted >1 y ago
Responses: 141
2
2
0
Is it 'rankism' or harm less hazing of the new guys and expecting more out of the old timer?
Sure I see patterns in how the soldiers in each rank tend to act but it is not discrimination in the negative meaning. We discriminate...make judgments...based on our past observations. New PVTs/2LTs are not going to have a depth of knowledge that other soldiers have, ETC. I can see patterns with nearly every group of soldiers in certain ranks and MOSs but that does not mean all in those groups act that way. You
Sure I see patterns in how the soldiers in each rank tend to act but it is not discrimination in the negative meaning. We discriminate...make judgments...based on our past observations. New PVTs/2LTs are not going to have a depth of knowledge that other soldiers have, ETC. I can see patterns with nearly every group of soldiers in certain ranks and MOSs but that does not mean all in those groups act that way. You
(2)
(0)
1
1
0
Way too many parking spots reserved by rank and not enough handicap parking at Macdill AFB commissary and BX. Enough said.
(1)
(0)
1
1
0
Rank has its previliges. I enjoyed being an NCO. Don't like something get promoted and change it. This article is written by a cry baby LT I bet he made the mistake of coming and trying to butt into NCO business demanding respect from people with more deployment time than his time in service. I bet his time is miserable because his NCOs aren't taking care of him. NCOs will make or break a officer.
(1)
(0)
CPT (Join to see)
I think the LT that wrote the article has more time as an NCO than you. He was a SSG before he commissioned. But he has ran into NCOs that just assume things. We both know what that makes you when you assume.
(0)
(0)
SGT Nathan Vitartas
And? You made the choice to basically start over again at the bottom. You should know better. SSG? You seem to cry to much, you're an officer now time to act like it and yes you will get shit for being an LT that's just the way things are and nature of the beast. You had respect as a SSG now go earn the respect as an officer. You can either prove to be a good officer and earn respect or go be a Lost LT
(0)
(0)
1
1
0
I was an SFC when I retired in 2001. I had performed well in my career and always maxed the PT Test and met every requirement for my MOS, Air Assault School, PLDC, BNCOC, ANCOC, Drill Sergeant School and advanced MOS Specific courses. I worked hard and had two Defense Meritorious Achievement Medals as a Drill Sergeant and Security interviewer at a MEPS but when it came time for my Retirement Award after 20 years of service, my supervisors put me in for a Legion of Merit. It was downgraded to a Defense Meritorious Achievement Medal like the two I already had for three year tours and i was told only Major and above can get Legion of Merit awards. Now you tell me is that Rank ism or what?
(1)
(0)
1
1
0
I always find it interesting that we often treat privates and some specialists like children despite the fact that almost all of them are adults legally (except the few who do split option in HS).
(1)
(0)
1
1
0
Of course they do. 'You can't spell 'lost' without LT' was one of my personal favorites. That said, it's not like there's no truth to these. After all, I never got lost as a 2LT and am the exception that proves the rule.
(1)
(0)
1
1
0
1
1
0
"Oh, what a lovely War" 1960's English Musical about WWI, all of the songs were soldier songs or music hall songs, at least one of the screen writers was enlisted, the insults of the General Staff disconnect from life in the trenches, are just classic
(1)
(0)
1
1
0
Duh, of course there is but its not something the government is interested in investigating. I would hope military of any rank would hold themselves to a higher, more intelligent level *sarcasm*
(1)
(0)
Read This Next
Continue with Facebook 
Continue with Google