Should we unify and have one rank structure? Why or Why not?

Combining ranks would take away the heritage of the services and probably cause more in-service fighting of my rank system should be used over yours. I know the Marines would not want to give up their system just as much as the Army and the Navy. as SGM Mikel Dawson said learning the rank structure is just a thing.

The individual branches have a tradition of their ranks. Don't fuck with it.

Along with the same field uniform (camo pattern).........

Tradition matters. Unless we are just going to start wearing Armed Forces on the left side of our chest we need to retain the historical ties to our own branch.
The only rank I wish that the Navy would bring back full-time is the rank of Commodore. That should be what a 1-star is called instead of both a 1 and 2 star Admiral being a Rear Admiral. I just think Commodore is B.A.

I think it generates a sense of identity. I can't imagine calling a Gunny "Sergeant First Class", or having a "Master Sergeant of the Boat". These ranks are part of our traditions, from the Master Chief to the Gunnery Sergeant.....and a Captain.

As for me, I laugh when I see the new SPCs frantically trying to identify the rank, or watching the LTs freak out and salute the PO1 because they don't know the structures and just see the bird.

As I've said in other posts, we are different branches. We have our own traditions, our own unique identities. That is what provides us with the Esprit de Corps. It is CRITICAL to the successes of the mission that we continue to take pride in the work we do, the heritage that we come from, and work together to forge our own identity. Together we are the United States Military, but we are not "identical quadruplets", just 4 "kids" from the same cloth. I enjoy my Soldiers getting to work with Sailors, Marines, and Airmen, because it serves to illustrate the differences between the branches that make us all great.
v/r,
CPT Butler

It does make sense, but we are a military of tradition. We are separate branches and have separate traditions.

It will turn out costing millions of dollars and no cost benefit as the cost of change would have benefit justification....save tax payers money to stave off sequestration.... that is a real issue to have the law changed to keep the services going.... over a 10 year period sequestration will gut all of the services.... focus efforts on getting that law changed!!

No. Just because you feel "uncomfortable" doesn't mean it should change. I'm sure when you addressed that Navy 0-6 as Captain, they didn't feel uncomfortable about it. The end of March I will go over 33 years of military service. I started out in the Navy and now I'm in the Air Force Reserve. All of the armed forces talk about how their recruits are smarter than ever. I think our smarter than ever force can figure out who is what.

Tradition.  Viva la differance'

From my time in the Joint world, the problem is on the Enlisted side that the expected responsibility and capacity for independent action without seeking guidance from a higher rank varies greatly from Service to Service. If I see an E4 from one service I may know I can ask them for a particular item or service. I also know that if I see someone from another service it may take as much as an E6 or E7 to approve the same request.
The unified ranking would only work IMHO, if there was also only one unified Service.
Which I am also vehemently against, but that's another topic.
But if you wanted to make the Officer ranks unified, I think that might work, maybe an Officer or two could weigh in with their thoughts on that, but I think the Enlisted need to stay the same.

Because you're uncomfortable we should all change to suit you? He'll no we shouldn't unify anything. We are separated the way we are for a reason. I'd expect a Sergeant First Class to be able to adapt in the military.

Every branch of the military has some sort of history behind their rank structure that makes them unique to their respective branch. History is important

It's all about tradition, so keep it the way it is (and I'll get in trouble for saying that because the Air Force is anti-tradition, lol).

That being said, what we do need to do in all branches is eliminate the two parallel ladders of enlisted and officer. With more and more enlisted earning their degrees, it's time we get rid of this archaic, outdated system of allowing a 22 yr old bossing around (read: more authority/responsibility) a far more experienced, qualified, and educated Chief or SgtMajor. A single rank ladder, with those that acquire the necessary prerequisites can then be selected to attend OTS or a service academy and come back to their unit commissioned. In other words - everyone starts off as an E1 and goes through boot/basic. Those that don't want the additional responsibilities of being an officer can stay on the enlisted track or jump to the WO track (if the service has such).

Making a move like that completely ignores heritage and tradition.

I have no good reasons, only selfish ones. I prefer the Navy's rank structure and don't want some Army soldier screwing it up...haha

Or you (universal you) could learn the other branches ranks and structure and respect the individual culture of each service. When posing this question I assume you mean everyone adopt the army rank structure. Why not make every NCO a petty officer? And further more every E4 is not treated the same ie army specialist and corporal and the PO3 is not treated the same as a Marine Corporal. Look at E6 in the navy and Marines. The Ssgt is a SNCO where as the PO1 isn't.

think we need to stay army navy marines air force coast gaurd all have different missions and different uniforms like in the army different fractions and patches why change somthing thats not broke like giveing the ranger beret to all army should never have happened the black beret was earned not given so bottom line leave everything the way it is

I have felt that way for years. The history of each branch is what will prevent it from ever coming to fruition though.