Posted on Apr 2, 2015
Rankism. Is there such a thing in the military?
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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?
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Edited 9 y ago
Posted 9 y ago
Responses: 142
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What kind of stupid is this? You join you are nothing, you are treated as such until you prove otherwise. Stop crying because your feelings got hurt
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CPT (Join to see)
That's the point. You may have be nothing when you have joined but does that mean everyone was when they joined. Was a Prior Service Officer nothing when he came back in? Is that SSG really smarter merely due to what is on his chest? Does a Company commander automatically know what he is doing only because he is a captain?
Before we call a new guy nothing maybe we should just assess them at their worth.
PFC McGinnis was a new PFC and did manage to save lives and get the MoH.
These general statement that you are nothing are contrary to what we should believe. Being a soldier is not being nothing. They will lack experience and skill. That isn't their fault and I don't understand how they can be blamed for it. It isn't very professional to say that they are nothing. I recall the some creed saying something about being professional or something like that. I am not sure of you know what I am talking about. But when I was a SSG I know what it meant. But our actions speak for us.
Before we call a new guy nothing maybe we should just assess them at their worth.
PFC McGinnis was a new PFC and did manage to save lives and get the MoH.
These general statement that you are nothing are contrary to what we should believe. Being a soldier is not being nothing. They will lack experience and skill. That isn't their fault and I don't understand how they can be blamed for it. It isn't very professional to say that they are nothing. I recall the some creed saying something about being professional or something like that. I am not sure of you know what I am talking about. But when I was a SSG I know what it meant. But our actions speak for us.
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I think there's definitely some underlying attitudes. There's an attitude among some leaders that junior enlisted Soldiers wouldn't get their boots on the right feet without a SGT to make sure it happens. I think they're particularly prevalent towards junior Officers. I heard an NCO once recommend the new 2LT be hand-receipted to his PSG as a welcoming ceremony.
The problem I have with these attitudes is twofold. First, we assume too much. That new SPC may have a master's degree relevant to their job. I've also met a number of 2LTs who were prior service NCOs, some being SFCs or even 1SGs. Secondly, there's a difference between accepting inexperience and writing off their ability to contribute. Such beliefs set a low standard for those troops. If you expect poor results and regular mistakes, where is the incentive for that troop to perform their best? Obviously some will anyways, but there are plenty who will only achieve what is expected of them.
The problem I have with these attitudes is twofold. First, we assume too much. That new SPC may have a master's degree relevant to their job. I've also met a number of 2LTs who were prior service NCOs, some being SFCs or even 1SGs. Secondly, there's a difference between accepting inexperience and writing off their ability to contribute. Such beliefs set a low standard for those troops. If you expect poor results and regular mistakes, where is the incentive for that troop to perform their best? Obviously some will anyways, but there are plenty who will only achieve what is expected of them.
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CPT (Join to see)
I agree. I seen the PL side of the house. I initially dealt with something like that. It didn't work very well. I knew some stuff that my PSG didn't know. I have been in the Army longer than him but still yet I was reduced to something that just got in the way. Rankism at it's worst.
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SGT (Join to see)
I have seen this from both sides of the house as a cadet and being enlisted. in both the Army and the Navy . I had a problem with how I was treated because of my age . I was ROTC as a teen with a degree not accepted as having leadership skills . At 17 they just treat you as a kid. And when you change branches and become enlisted you are looked down one for doing so !
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MAJ (Join to see)
It's unfortunate that attitudes like this continue to be prevalent. I remember I had a Cadet in one of my past Battalions who happily accepted the mantle of "dumb@&& Cadet." He spent most drill periods sitting in the shadows and being talked down to by Soldiers at all levels. His leadership failed him in my opinion. While I'm not going to argue for the vast military abilities of Cadets, we lost an immense training opportunity with him. Instead of denigrating his inexperience those troops should be developing him to be the leader they want in the future. He may be their Company Commander some day.
Even worse, I had a peer of mine while deployed who had accepted a similar moniker. He was a self-described figurehead and had delegated nearly all of his responsibilities away. While most of the Company leadership barely found time to call their spouse or get a haircut, he complained about running out of XBOX games to play. At nearly 9 years time in service, he certainly new better. However he was more than happy to "shut up and color" as a new 2LT.
My personal experiences have been mixed. Between PL time as a Cadet, an inter-state transfer, and a branch transfer I've led troops in a number of formations. I've experienced similar situations as CPT (Join to see), where I was judged more by the rank on my chest than what I bring to the table. I had a SPC I'd never met talk down to me at a range not too long ago. I've been wearing a uniform since he was in middle school. Had I been wearing the rank of the position I hold I doubt that would've happened.
Even worse, I had a peer of mine while deployed who had accepted a similar moniker. He was a self-described figurehead and had delegated nearly all of his responsibilities away. While most of the Company leadership barely found time to call their spouse or get a haircut, he complained about running out of XBOX games to play. At nearly 9 years time in service, he certainly new better. However he was more than happy to "shut up and color" as a new 2LT.
My personal experiences have been mixed. Between PL time as a Cadet, an inter-state transfer, and a branch transfer I've led troops in a number of formations. I've experienced similar situations as CPT (Join to see), where I was judged more by the rank on my chest than what I bring to the table. I had a SPC I'd never met talk down to me at a range not too long ago. I've been wearing a uniform since he was in middle school. Had I been wearing the rank of the position I hold I doubt that would've happened.
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CPT (Join to see)
MAJ (Join to see) Our unit has been pretty lucky when it comes too officers. I have to see an officer play stupid. I have seen some try too hard but you really can't fault them on that. A lot of people didn't mess with me when I got my commission. The guard has a funny way of doing things. I was a squad leader in my platoon and then came back to the same platoon as a PL. Many knew I was an NCO. It still didn't go well with the PSG and some new guys that came in tried to mess with me but just like you said. I was with the iraq invasion force when most of them were in junior high.
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