Posted on Aug 23, 2014
Regardless of military branch, which pay grade is most challenging to deal with?
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Mature audiences only. No hurt feelings. No repercussions.
In aviation, I thought it was a conspiracy to drive me insane! In combat, I loved them all. Air Cav!!!
In aviation, I thought it was a conspiracy to drive me insane! In combat, I loved them all. Air Cav!!!
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Sticking with the picture in the question - back when I was a very young MECH INF SCOUT up at FT Riley doing some maneuvers with other units, we had a aviation MAJ land a Cobra for us INF type to look at (read drool over) after the maneuvers were over. After about 30 minutes up drives a CW2 and commences to chew this MAJ up one side and down another for landing the Cobra where he did, something about being an unauthorized landing area, and tells him to get it back to the unit.
I was not that long out of boot and not really sure where or how Warrants fit in the mix, but I was pretty sure they couldn't cuss Majors out, but this one just had, and the Major took it. Not long after the CW2 left, the Major told our Commander so long and took off.
I was not that long out of boot and not really sure where or how Warrants fit in the mix, but I was pretty sure they couldn't cuss Majors out, but this one just had, and the Major took it. Not long after the CW2 left, the Major told our Commander so long and took off.
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I would imagine in the rotor head corps you would have an issue with warrant officers, but I would have to say that I have many friends that are warrants, and we got along great. It is always good to have a few CWO4's and CWO3's on your side. I am close friends with a few of them still.
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I would imagine in the rotor head corps you would have an issue with warrant officers, but I would have to say that I have many friends that are warrants, and we got along great. It is always good to have a few CWO4's and CWO3's on your side. I am close friends with a few of them still.
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By reading the responses, I'd have to say this question could be segmented. Most officers are complaining about senior enlisted and the enlisted complaining about everyone above them. The branches are different also and I could say that even in the Marine Corps it would vary depending on Division/Wing and in the Wing, fixed wing vs. rotor wing.
The worst for me were the boot "contract" E4s who outranked me when I was close to separation or after reenlistment. Everyone I came in with was a contract E4, I just wish my recruiter had mentioned that path. Most of the Majors I knew in the Rotor Wing community were out of control; they all wanted senior leadership positions.
The worst for me were the boot "contract" E4s who outranked me when I was close to separation or after reenlistment. Everyone I came in with was a contract E4, I just wish my recruiter had mentioned that path. Most of the Majors I knew in the Rotor Wing community were out of control; they all wanted senior leadership positions.
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LTC and COL (O-5/O-6). Pain in the ass because they think they know it all, they're never wrong, and you are always wrong, even if you're a tactically minded SFC with 20+ years in to their 14 or so (at LTC). COLs can be slightly better to deal with than LTCs. And sometimes a MAJ can be a real PITA too, but not usually as bad as a LTC. The easiest to deal with (although it wasn't asked), are MSGs (not 1SGs) and CPTs in most cases if they were brought up right by their SNCOs.
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CH (CPT) (Join to see)
Being a butterbar for 18 months was the worst time i had in almost 8 years in the army. Because there was this massive expectation that i would be both incompetent and insufferable in my arrogance. I never flaunted the fact that i was a mustang and had boots older than my E5s TIS. Butterbars need NCOs to believe in them, support them, and never cut their legs out from under them if we expect them to grow up to be worthwhile officers in the long run. The best way to humble an arrogant butterbar is with grace (that may be the chaplain corps part of me talking) and teamwork that proves he/she is nothing without the support of great troops. Disdain will only enhance the chip on the shoulder. And believe me, joes don't see all the stuff the butterbar goes through or how much is put on their shoulders. Just the opinion of a guy who's been on both sides
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SFC David Pope, MBA
I agree with what you are saying LT. The problem that I had with butter bars is that they disrespected senior NCO's and used their rank as a reason to push them around. They would not listen to NCO's that had in some cases 20 years of service, and because of their rank would push their agenda on those NCO's who had been doing this business since the LT was in diapers. Not all butter bars were like that, but I dealt with over 10 that were. I was lucky to have a general backing my play, and he had full confidence in my ability to make things happen. If he didn't, he would not have fast-tracked me to E-8. Due to medical, I never got to pin it on.
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Sgt Packy Flickinger
Being a mustang Lt, you never really were one of the butterbars of which I spoke. These are college boys straight from OCS with no experience in life let alone the military. Now there officers and power hungry. True, not all are like that, probably most arnt but it's the 10%ers that get the attention. The good ones have to fight the stereotype.
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O1 was the toughest for me. I had been out for five years, shifted from the waterfront to a training command, and the Navy had wussified around me.
Suffice to say, I was such a bull in the china shop that people thought I was an LDO.
Suffice to say, I was such a bull in the china shop that people thought I was an LDO.
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SFC Mark Merino
Mustang Officers. God Bless You LCDR (Join to see) No wonder O-1 was the toughest for you!
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I always had the hardest time out of E6's and then when I was an E6 it turned out to be the worst grade of my career. It was a stressful grade.
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CPO Jon Campbell
I had several horrible E6's. The worst was probably a Yeoman who shredded my marks because she was mad that I turned in a travel claim that was 6 months of overseas duty in 3 currencies, and totaled $15k. (She shredded that too.) She single-handedly kept me from getting advanced due to 'missing' paperwork. She was a hateful wench and I wasn't the only one that ran afoul of her. People used to get stuck at E6 and never make chief back when the CG was under DOT and money was really tight.
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