Posted on Apr 2, 2015
Rankism. Is there such a thing in the military?
407K
1.25K
442
52
51
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 9 y ago
Posted 9 y ago
Responses: 142
Suspended Profile
To call this "Rankism" is, imho, a symptom of the "Everyone gets a trophy" mentality. It's like the notion among millennial that there should be no hierarchies, and that everything should be run with a big group hug.
The military cannot and will not run like that, and people who think anything can get done in such a nature are highly idealistic and a bit of Pollyanna. Consider the "Occupy" movement.
What did they really accomplish, other than annoyances and getting press coverage?
The military cannot and will not run like that, and people who think anything can get done in such a nature are highly idealistic and a bit of Pollyanna. Consider the "Occupy" movement.
What did they really accomplish, other than annoyances and getting press coverage?
1
1
0
My answer is yes. And my example is simple. Providing an award guidance around rank. i.e., PVT-SPC (AAM), SGT-SSG & 1LT-2LT (ARCOM), SFC-1SG & CPT-LTC (MSM), etc...
(1)
(0)
1
1
0
Discrimination based on rank is a guarantee in the military, which I'm perfectly ok with when applied correctly. Now I don't buy the whole "Because you're just a (insert rank here), you can't do such and such." How is that person supposed to learn if you exclude them simply because of their rank. Their were times I assisted my supervisor or someone else with a task so I could learn how to do it, but did not have direct control over the task. To just brush them off because of their rank is doing nothing but setting that person up for failure when the reach a higher rank. How do you expect someone to do a certain task when they've never been shown how?
(1)
(0)
1
1
0
The instances I have seen involving "Rankism" is very limited. However, I try to extend professional courtesy at all times. Everytime I receive a new Soldier, I explain to them that they will make mistakes and to embrace that as part of the growth process. I try and make a point that I would rather have a Soldier take a risk and fail than take no action at all. The same can be said for young 2LTs. I have witnessed a Smoke-man breakin in a young PL this way and it seemed to work well. I may be missing the point of this question, but it kind of seems like any instance in which someone is discounted solely based on their rank there may be a respect problem within the organization.
(1)
(0)
CPT (Join to see)
You nailed it. That is the point. There are times that a soldier is judged by their rank and solely that.
(0)
(0)
1
1
0
This is a real issue that will never go away and it really isn't bad entirely. Just like police we absolutely have to profile. Some think profiling is bad but think on it honestly. If I grab some random private/seaman/airman chances are the service member will be white male near 19 years old and uneducated past high school. With so many similarities is it really smart to not assume there will be similar problems among them?
(1)
(0)
1
1
0
In my experience I have been subject to this. During my last deployment I was the only Soldier in my Brigade performing my MOS and Duty. My immediate Chain of Command recommend me for an MSM. My award recommendation was approved all the way up to brigade level. I was later informed that when the Brigade Commander saw my award recommendation he basically said No Sergeant deserves and MSM, and he downgraded it to an ARCOM.
A little bitter? Yep. Do I care now? Nope; I know what I accomplished during that year, so to hell with that guy. Karma got him anyway.
A little bitter? Yep. Do I care now? Nope; I know what I accomplished during that year, so to hell with that guy. Karma got him anyway.
(1)
(0)
CPT (Join to see)
That is said that that happens. It takes away the contributions of soldiers. We have all seen all those officers pretty very little and get high awards.
(1)
(0)
1
1
0
Go into special operations...it's about capability and not rank. Plus, the O's come and go but the enlisted guys stay put evolving with the unit.
(1)
(0)
CPT (Join to see)
i am waiting to go to selection. I have to be a 1LT(P) to even try out. I completely agree with you there about how they view their soldiers. Even if you have earned your place there you have too maintain it.
(1)
(0)
1
1
0
Rank is based on merit (abeit not perfect) Race age creed etc. is not. When you promote you earn privilages its military tradition. That being said, "pulling rank" might be called "rankism" (ie talking down to someone or chewing out for something minor instead of a friendly professional correction) Pulling rank is not sound leadership.
(1)
(0)
CPT (Join to see)
I have came up with the philosophy I am not better than anyone else with a lesser rank. I just have more responsibility.
(0)
(0)
1
1
0
I wouldn't call it discrimination. The BDE CDR and CG have reserved parking spots because their time is extremely valuable to the Army. The CSM is automatically treated with respect because he/she demonstrated numerous times throughout various NCOES and selection boards that they are a technically and tactically proficient leader. Basically they are "grouped in a mass assumption" due to what they had to achieve to get to their position.
As for the SMA changing the tattoo policy, what's hard to believe about that? He polled and asked Soldiers from different bases what they thought of the tattoo policy and acted upon a preponderance of their views and the risk of losing valuable people due to aesthetic reasons.
As for the SMA changing the tattoo policy, what's hard to believe about that? He polled and asked Soldiers from different bases what they thought of the tattoo policy and acted upon a preponderance of their views and the risk of losing valuable people due to aesthetic reasons.
(1)
(0)
CPT (Join to see)
The last SMA didn't really care how soldiers felt. I can't really recall a SMA really listening and changing something like that. I know they could but a lot of the time the SMA doesn't really do much more than push the army agenda.
(0)
(0)
MAJ (Join to see)
Specifically on the parking spot point, I think it would be important for this discussion to understand that there is a difference between a parking spot in a unit parking lot and a parking spot in a common parking lot. I support parking spots for individuals in a unit parking lot---that parking lot is a parking lot controlled by the unit, maintained by the unit, and, just like every other limited resource controlled and maintained by the unit, is under the control of the unit commander. So if the unit commander wants to reserve parking spots for certain people, no issue. Would we argue that officers and NCOs having offices in a company area while privates don't is rankism? No. This is the same concept. Now, that parking spot reserved for the Division CSM or whoever--I'm very strongly against that. Especially when the family members of the CSM or whoever--and not the actual individual--parks in the spot.
Don't get me wrong--rankism is alive and well in the Army, especially for awards and personnel action.
It still blows my mind that rank is used as a primary determination on whether or not a certain person deserves an award. Not one award has rank as a criteria--levels of responsibility, sure, but not rank. And, let's say, if a major served in a colonel's position, or if an E-5 served in an E-7 position, then that person had the same level of responsibility, if not the rank....
It still blows my mind that I'll be denied reimbursement or questioned about claims for money spent on TDY for items clearly authorized by JFTR, when higher ranking folks are reimbursed or not questioned about the same exact claims.
Don't get me wrong--rankism is alive and well in the Army, especially for awards and personnel action.
It still blows my mind that rank is used as a primary determination on whether or not a certain person deserves an award. Not one award has rank as a criteria--levels of responsibility, sure, but not rank. And, let's say, if a major served in a colonel's position, or if an E-5 served in an E-7 position, then that person had the same level of responsibility, if not the rank....
It still blows my mind that I'll be denied reimbursement or questioned about claims for money spent on TDY for items clearly authorized by JFTR, when higher ranking folks are reimbursed or not questioned about the same exact claims.
(0)
(0)
1
1
0
Eric, Absolutely the military is full of Rank-ism by design, as Aaron has said, we profile and treat folks based on category or type of rank. Of course, this helps define and control an organization, but we need to understand these rank structures are over 200+ years old.
This rank-ism prevents us from listening and obtaining the best possible ideas and hinders our ability to implement these ideas across large organizations.
I see the responsibility of the senior ranking person to be open and listen and reinforce that when service members bring out ideas and information, it will be respected, strongly considered and where practical implemented.
This rank-ism prevents us from listening and obtaining the best possible ideas and hinders our ability to implement these ideas across large organizations.
I see the responsibility of the senior ranking person to be open and listen and reinforce that when service members bring out ideas and information, it will be respected, strongly considered and where practical implemented.
(1)
(0)
Read This Next
Continue with Facebook 
Continue with Google
Its funny that you say that. The flip side to the Occupy movement few mentioned and the left kept hush hush was that half of them thought they would step up and become the Napoleon Bonaparte of the "movement". Thus, too many chiefs and not enough indians. They couldn't find any real leaders among them because they all thought they were cut out for the re-introduction of Bolveshism.