We've all heard of Officers resigning their Commission, ever heard of an NCO turning in his/her stripes?

2015-12-18T23:27:54-05:00

Just as the question states, has anyone ever hard of an NCO actually turning in his/her stripes?

Every now and then I hear some 1SG or CSM during their yelling therapy sessions say that. "If you cant cut it as an NCO/If you don't want to be an NCO. turn in your stripes"

In Band of Brothers it is described how most E Co NCOs attempted to turn in their stripes/request transfer.

Officers resign their commission and come in as enlisted. Can NCOs actually resign their rank?

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 18 at 2015 11:31 PM

2015-12-18T23:31:37-05:00

I have heard the phrase, but never seen anything like this happen. I do not think it is possible.

Response by SSgt Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 18 at 2015 11:40 PM

2015-12-18T23:40:58-05:00

It's merely an expression. I don't think there is a way to actually turn in your stripes--unless a DUI counts?

Response by SSgt Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 18 at 2015 11:51 PM

2015-12-18T23:51:54-05:00

I saw one loose his stripes, and I've met a couple good candidates, but never heard of somebody doing it voluntarily.

Response by SSgt Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 19 at 2015 12:01 AM

2015-12-19T00:01:41-05:00

I should say, I've never heard of it in the modern Army. In the 1800s sergeants only had stripes in their company, so if a soldier moved to another company, he was a private again. I don't know exactly when that changed, but it was some time in the late 19th, or early 20th century.

While researching the history of my local Guard company, I found an article on the first soldier to reach 30 years of service in the Wisconsin National Guard. He turned in his stripes because his duties as supply sergeant kept him from having time to train troops! I cannot remember where I found the article, though it was posted online, or I'd provide more details.

Response by SGT Mathew Husen made Dec 19 at 2015 1:17 AM

2015-12-19T01:17:51-05:00

I think they call it Mutiny. an can be prison time. When a 1SG says it, its sarcasm

Response by Capt Seid Waddell made Dec 19 at 2015 2:59 AM

2015-12-19T02:59:22-05:00

Yes; I have seen two good men do that for personal reasons.

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 19 at 2015 8:25 AM

2015-12-19T08:25:39-05:00

Sure, I've seen NCOs turn in their stripes. Right after some UCMJ action.

Response by 1SG Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 19 at 2015 2:55 PM

2015-12-19T14:55:10-05:00

I had a Sergeant try once. His reasoning was that it was "too much responsibility".
After a lengthy counseling session (using my seldom-used "soft touch"), I was able to convince him to not just carry on, but actually accept additional responsibility in an area he was interested in.

Response by SSG Trevor S. made Dec 20 at 2015 12:26 PM

2015-12-20T12:26:02-05:00

Does anyone know if it was possible under the old rank system with senior Specialist ranks (E-5 to E-7)?

Response by SGT Jerrold Pesz made Dec 20 at 2015 6:17 PM

2015-12-20T18:17:15-05:00

I have seen a number of people lose their rank but never anyone just turn in their stripes.

Response by SFC Pete Kain made Dec 21 at 2015 11:56 AM

2015-12-21T11:56:43-05:00

Request transfer, sure. Turn in the stripes...are you high?
You cannot resign a non commission, do I really need to explain further?

Response by LtCol Robert Quinter made Dec 21 at 2015 11:24 PM

2015-12-21T23:24:37-05:00

It's a guts ball statement of principle. The idea is a junior officer finds an order, while legal, so contrary to his principles, his interpretation of his responsibilities according to his oath of office, or in his opinion, so contrary to the best interest of the unit, the mission or the nation that he is willing to resign rather than execute it. The legality of the order is key. If the order is illegal, the appropriate response is for the junior man to relieve the senior and report the action to the next senior officer in the chain of command. In modern time, the concept is more likely to be the plot of a movie or the subject of academic discussions than fact, but I have heard of senior officers offering to retire out of principle. It's drama most effective for a regular officer who has no specific service obligation by contract. The enlistment contract would complicate matters for the NCO.

Response by CSM Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 23 at 2015 9:21 AM

2015-12-23T09:21:40-05:00

I once has someone say he didn't want to be a NCO so an administrative reduction board was convened and he became a SPC again.

Response by 1SG Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 19 at 2019 7:29 PM

2019-03-19T19:29:12-04:00

Sure, saw two SFC do it using positive urinalyses.

Response by PV2 Ross Bryan made Apr 13 at 2020 8:35 AM

2020-04-13T08:35:06-04:00

WHEN IN THE USAR 1963-67 , I WENT RESERVES ONLY BECAUSE OF THE DRAFT!
MY ONLY INTEREST WAS TO BURN DAYS UNTIL MY VERY EARLIEST DISCHARGE DATE!
THERE FORE I NEVER SOUGHT ADVANCEMENT IN RANK AND PAY OR COMMAND POSITIONS!
WHEN I MADE E-3 AND E-4 I NEVER BOTHERED TO SEW ON THE PATCH!
ADVANCE IN PAY WAS NEGLIGIBLE,
AND MY REAL WORLD JOB WAS ON THE RAILROAD WITH A VERY NICE PAY AND BENEFITS PACKAGE!
MY PLATOON SGT NEVER NOTICED I NEVER APPLIED MY E-3 STRIPE OR E-4 SPECIALIST PATCH ONLY JUST BEFORE GETTING OUT EARLY BEFORE ON A MEDICAL DISCHARGE!
HE TOLD ME THEY WERE GOING TO BUST ME BACK TO AN E-1, BUT THEN I REPLIED "BIG DEAL, NO ONE EVER TOLD ME I MADE E-3 OR E-4!"
WHEN THE DISCHARGE PAPERWORK CAME TO ME I WAS LISTED AS E-4!! LOL

Response by MAJ Ronnie Reams made Sep 18 at 2020 12:12 PM

2020-09-18T12:12:05-04:00

A friend of mine was a 1SG for a couple of years in the NCArNG. after that he reverted to SSG and another NCO promoted to 1SG. He said it was to raise the retainer pay when they retired as paid at highest rank held and this gave everyone a chance to get get to E-8. This was in the 1970s

Response by SFC Casey O'Mally made Sep 18 at 2020 12:30 PM

2020-09-18T12:30:49-04:00

Have not seen it done effectively. I saw a 1SG turn in his diamond. It effectively ended his career (he was directed to retire ASAP and he complied). I have seen NCOs "quit" or force their own firing. I was one such NCO. I was in a toxic environment with a SGM who treated his NCOs like his personal servants. Refused to allow me to take career enhancing assignments, despite being promised such in exchange for volunteering for individual augmented deployment. He had no place in his office for NCOs who took time away for ANYTHING to include medical appointments, family emergencies, mandatory training events, etc.
Took it upnthe chain all the way to Post CSM, with no one willing to do a damned thing because SGM was retiring in 7 months, so they didn't want to give him a black eye on his way out. So... When it came time for my tape test, I actively stuck my gut out as far as I could. Taped over, got fired because now I had mandatory extra PT in the afternoons. Moved in to a position where I was actually working in my own MOS for the first time in 8 years (which was what I had been trying to accomplish in the first place - just let me do *my* job!!!). Taped under the very next month, and moved on in life.

Now, let me say this. I got a *very* negative NCOER, had a bad name with the 1SG, and ended up going through QMP (I was retained). This is NOT a path I recommend except under extreme conditions. I completely destroyed whatever slim chance I had at promotion, I was guaranteed to retire at SFC (if I made it to retirement).

Response by CSM Darieus ZaGara made Sep 21 at 2021 4:27 PM

2021-09-21T16:27:22-04:00

Yes it is real. Not many with the stones, there are those who have sone so to a successful result, of course keeping thier rank in the end.