Posted on Dec 2, 2013
What confuses you most about "sister services?"
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<p>At one point or another we've all thought about it... something about our sister services that we just can't seem to "wrap our minds around." So, what's that one thing that just seems to defy reason--from your perspective--and makes you wonder... "why do they do it that way?" The intent is to provide a fun, interesting, and thought provoking way to promote inter-service discussion. There's only one very simple rule here.. remember to display respect for all members from all services, of all ranks, and in all statuses. This should be a lively and thoroughly interesting discussion, and we'll all learn a thing or two about our sister services and each other in the process; now, pull up a keyboard, and let's get this thing started; thank you for all that you do, and... see you all in the discussion threads! </p>
Posted in these groups: 
Military Career
Military Career
Edited 10 y ago
Posted >1 y ago
Responses: 78
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The different MOS's that they have. One reason I wanted to join the Army was because I knew that there were going to be plenty of different jobs for me to choose from.
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Why do you get demoted when transferring to the Coast Guard? I met a few fellow aviators who went over and dropped from say O-3 to an O-2. If I recall correctly, it's been several years, a former Army helo pilot was now in the Coast Guard as an O-3. He explained that he was an O-4 facing a desk job - took a transfer to the Coast Guard and came in as an O-2, but now he only flies helos and no desks and couldn't be happier.
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I served as the S3 (operations officer) for a Navy-led provincial reconstruction team in Afghanistan in 08. First, a little background on these teams: the Air Force and Navy wanted a larger stake in operations in the Stan so DOD gave them the 10 US PRTs (5 for each). That means that that service provided the bulk of the personnel and filled all the command positions. The caveat was that the senior NCO and ops officer positions had to be filled by the Army or Marine Corps. My commander was a submariner. He had a real problem dealing with the fact that plans change during operations depending on the environment and what the enemy did. I was also amazed to see that junior sailors basically served officers and chiefs. This is completely different than how we do things in the Army. I also made the mistake of thinking that a Navy E-5 or E-6 was equivalent to an Army SGT or SSG. The Navy apparently doesn't emphasize leadership at the lower levels. It was truly an eye-opening experience.
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PO1 Greg Mitchell
Really can't say I agree. When working at a joint command in Korea, I was an E5 and my Army counterpart was an O4. It all depends on your background and what you know. I was very fortunate to have been to some of the best schools in the Navy that prepared me for my role in Korea.
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Why does the Navy hate it when you call a ship a boat? You can call a submarine a boat but not a ship, even though by definition a ship is a boat
I'm sooo confoozed!! :-)
I'm sooo confoozed!! :-)
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MAJ Robert (Bob) Petrarca
SN Trotti. Thank you, seriously, I've never gotten a good explanation on that.
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To understand my confusion, I need to tell a story about something I witnessed at AFN HQ in Frankfort, Germany…and for everyone in the Army and Marines it will be a WTF moment and the Air Force will be asking what was the problem?
I am talking to an E-4, Sergeant in the USAF, on duty on the radio in civilian clothes, when his first line supervisor comes by with a question about him taking his Semi Annual Physical Fitness Test. The Sergeant leans back thinks about it for a while and decides, “No, I don’t feel like taking it right now maybe next week.” His supervisor accepts this and walks out.
I’m standing there wondering what just happened. The more the Sergeant explained the more confused I became…you can just tap out of doing your PT test because you don’t feel like it?
I am talking to an E-4, Sergeant in the USAF, on duty on the radio in civilian clothes, when his first line supervisor comes by with a question about him taking his Semi Annual Physical Fitness Test. The Sergeant leans back thinks about it for a while and decides, “No, I don’t feel like taking it right now maybe next week.” His supervisor accepts this and walks out.
I’m standing there wondering what just happened. The more the Sergeant explained the more confused I became…you can just tap out of doing your PT test because you don’t feel like it?
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SSgt Kevin Beckley
Wow I wish I was there. We couldn't opt out of our PT test. When I was in Okinawa they were strict on it. So I am wondering how they were allowed to get by from doing it or just say I don't feel like it. That would be a letter of reprimand.
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The Air Force/Zoomies walking around with umbrellas in their ABU or tiger strip uniforms.
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Why is it our deployment commitment lengths vary so by branch?
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I went to Goodfellow AFB, San Angelo, TX for the first phase of my AIT back in 1997. Being on an AFB, I immediately felt like I was in a different world. This was probably because I had just left BCT at Ft. Leondarwood, MO where everything was gung ho, hua hua.
In the Chow Hall, the civilian employees bussed our tables. That confused the hell out of me. My barracks room was like a dorm--I thought they messed up and gave PV2 Kantor an Officer's room. And then there were the following two events:
I was walking to the post office when an Airman ran up to me. I was in my PT uniform and he asked me what it was. I told him and he asked how often we did PT. I told him usually twice a day. He was flabbergasted! I asked him how often he did it and he said once a year. This was back when they did their PFA on a bike, it has changed for them considerably since then.
The Airmen had a maid service. We had to answer to Drill Sergeants and have our room inspection ready all the time. Normal Army stuff. Looking at their barracks, they had a maid service go through their rooms every day and do a turn-down service... it was basically a hotel. That was the one thing I never understood about the USAF. I don't know if they still do that, but I can tell you one thing; I would have loved to have a maid in AIT :D
In the Chow Hall, the civilian employees bussed our tables. That confused the hell out of me. My barracks room was like a dorm--I thought they messed up and gave PV2 Kantor an Officer's room. And then there were the following two events:
I was walking to the post office when an Airman ran up to me. I was in my PT uniform and he asked me what it was. I told him and he asked how often we did PT. I told him usually twice a day. He was flabbergasted! I asked him how often he did it and he said once a year. This was back when they did their PFA on a bike, it has changed for them considerably since then.
The Airmen had a maid service. We had to answer to Drill Sergeants and have our room inspection ready all the time. Normal Army stuff. Looking at their barracks, they had a maid service go through their rooms every day and do a turn-down service... it was basically a hotel. That was the one thing I never understood about the USAF. I don't know if they still do that, but I can tell you one thing; I would have loved to have a maid in AIT :D
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MSgt Charles Williams
I did my AF technical training in Chanute AFB, Rantool, IL back in 1988. We did PT once a day, bused our own tables, and had to make sure our rooms were squared away without any housekeeping staff. Goodfellow AFB sounds nice.
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SSgt Kevin Beckley
Same at Shepherd AFB, Wichita Falls, TX. Remember doing PT every morning roomed, with 3 other guys and had spot inspections.
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Just about everything, I am a sailor and our everything is about 180 degrees out from the rest of our sister services. As the Son of a Marine I do have some understanding of the rest of Y'all though.
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SSgt Kevin Beckley
My dad was in the Navy. He would do white Glove inspection on my moms dusting during their first years of marriage. Eased of after his mom gave him what for. Still love hearing that story from my aunts.
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1SG Michael Blount
Depends, sir. CPT is O-3. Capt is O-6 In an environment in which uniformity is good, why can't we just agree on officers' abbreviatons? Example: LtCol = Marines, Air Force Army uses LTC.
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Col (Join to see)
Interesting note, there is a little known subtlety in the O5 convention: USMC - LtCol, USA - LTC; USAF - Lt Col (note the space), this helps to denote service in absence of any other info; now if we can just get the helpdesk to subscribe to this convention! lol
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SSgt Gregory Guina
1SG Blount Capt is O-3 in the Marine Corps. CAPT is O-6 in the Navy. Marines only capitalize the first letter of the word in rank LCpl, SSgt, Capt. Navy and Army use capitals for all letters of the Rank CPT, CAPT, ENS, SSG
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