Rankism. Is there such a thing in the military?

The Air Force, and I'm assuming all other branches of the military, has an Enlisted Force Structure which specifically states that E-1's - E-3's responsibilities are to learn how to military. It also dictates that the ranks above them are tasked to help them learn how to military correctly.
Don't take it personally.

Perceptions of disconnections don't make it the truth.

I'm not going to answer for the awesome parking spaces at the BX/chow hall/base gym. If you're hurt that the base commander has an awesome parking spot all the time then you don't have enough to worry about and should reevaluate your life.

Sometimes, yes. As the saying goes, rank has its privileges. That's as old as warfare itself. By the same token, pigeonholing people just because of pay grade, just because of MOS, etc., is equally as archaic.

My mantra to senior NCOs is this: ALL NCOs, E-4 or E-5 and above, depending on the branch of service, need to be enforcing standards, not just the top one or two pay grades. That frees up the senior cadre to really zero in on overarching problems like retention, quality of life, fitness and, dare I say it, MORALE, instead of nickel-and-diming people to death on otherwise minor infractions.

Yeah, it sucks being the new guy. Hell, it can really suck being the guy that isn't even in the ground forces, but is there anyway. I know that gig well. But if we take the positive attitude of 'I'm here to learn, I'm here to be value-added, I'm here to do what I can', it's amazing what we can accomplish. As Colin Powell once said famously, "Perpetual optimism is its own force-multiplier."

There absolutely are rankisms. It has always been this way. The difference now is we have more whiners and less disciplined Soldiers. When I started off as a dumb Private I looked at it as a chance to distinguish myself from the stereotype. 15 years later I medically retired as a SFC that was well respected by my Soldiers, peers, and senior leadership. Take the politics and other issues out of the military and remember that service members are our nations protectors and not babysitters.

I was a CH-46E crew chief in the Marines. On the helicopter, there was a seat right by the main cabin door that was called the troop commander's seat in most helicopter diagrams. But, anyone who has ever flown on one of those helicopters knows that seat is for the crew chief. Well, I came face to face with an experience of some fresh LT coming up and saying to me, "that's my seat." I laughed and pointed back to the troop seats. He insisted again. I then poked my head into the cockpit after which my LtCol poked his head and and yelled, "Sit Down!" One of the funniest things I ever saw.

They're not all that way, but I think a lot of these junior officers think that they are hot stuff simply because they have brass on their collars.

Dear God yes there is big-time I was a LCpl for a while because my MOS was notoriously hard to rank up in I was 23 and they were treating me like I was 10 because of my rank. What really missed me off is when younger Marines in the easy MOS like radio... if you had a pulse you got a promotion, I got in a few verbal battles while remaining respectful over that one.

Cry me a river...wahhhh, I want to park closer. Shut...up. GOs, 0-6s, CMSGTs, Quarterly winners all deserve privileges. You want respect, then go earn it.

I had 11 years in and was an E-6 before being commissioned. My first Air Force unit was a 900 person Security Police Group. I was treated differently than most 2Lt's because I was 31 years old and most knew or assumed I was prior service. The only one that treated me like dirt was this Colonel we had as a commander but he treated all his officers like that for some reason, even his majors. I did feel sorry for the way most of the new 2Lt's were treated some of which was deserved but most wasn't deserved.

You should see how AGR's treat M-Day Soldiers. just sayin'

Personally speaking.. E3-28yrs old... I've seen some e5s ranging from 23-26 age group that handle soldiers way better then what above ranks do... What happen to give respect and you get back the same?? (And not saying to be a soft ass/kitty) If I'm staying here at this unit for the next year+ doesn't first impression count about your leaders? In the end.. Some ranks get power hungry and think talking to anyone as the please is ok.. And as below ranked.. You have to stand there and eat it...

Yes. And Rankism outside the military is much worse. Enjoy the closest thing to meritocracy while you can! In the civilian world, if you are not the King of Sparta, you're in for it.