What do you think about the so called "power-trip" from E-5 selects/promotables?

TSgt Terry Hudson — Fri, 22 Aug 2014 23:38:06 -0400

What do you think about the so called "power-trip" from E-5 selects/promotables? Some airmen seem to think when airmen get their line number they go on a power trip. Do you see it as such or do you feel its as something different? If you do see it how do you fix it?

Response by LTC Private RallyPoint Member made Aug 23 at 2014 12:54 AM

LTC Private RallyPoint Member — Sat, 23 Aug 2014 00:54:07 -0400

I think most of us have seen someone get a power trip based on their rank or position. It is not just enlisted E5, but rather many different ranks to include officers. I think it is that they suddenly are in the grade or the position that they envy or are finally in a position that gives them authority over others that they never had before. It can cause some to just get carried away and try to abuse it or flaunt it. Sometimes this is due to them not be secure of who they are, particularly how they are supposed to function. Some do it because they are just remembering what other did, or think that if they yell or threaten enough that they will gain respect and not be questioned. Yet others do it just because they can and they generally are the ones that tend to be bad at that position.

Notice how you think of them and learn from them. The lesson you are learning now is what you do not want to be when you hit that position/grade.

Response by SSgt Private RallyPoint Member made Aug 23 at 2014 12:59 AM

SSgt Private RallyPoint Member — Sat, 23 Aug 2014 00:59:55 -0400

I think this can be summed up in a simple form. I'm sure more than 90% of those that make the comments that someone is on a power trip because they have a line number are SrA and below that either tested for rank and didn't make it and are displaying jealousy or those that weren't eligible to test. The other half to it is it's a rough transition into the NCO corps.. Some may go on a little "power trip" initially while they figure things out and adjust to their new rank and responsibilities.

Response by SSgt Private RallyPoint Member made Aug 23 at 2014 1:16 AM

SSgt Private RallyPoint Member — Sat, 23 Aug 2014 01:16:28 -0400

TSgt Terry Hudson I was a mighty power ranger either that or one of those souped up turtles.

Response by SSgt Private RallyPoint Member made Aug 23 at 2014 1:19 AM

SSgt Private RallyPoint Member — Sat, 23 Aug 2014 01:19:05 -0400

When I was a weather forecaster I dealt with pilots almost exclusively every day. There was a lot of professionalism and respect and so I guess I did not that much of the politics. (outside of the command post).

Response by LTC Paul Labrador made Aug 23 at 2014 1:20 AM

LTC Paul Labrador — Sat, 23 Aug 2014 01:20:45 -0400

Simple matter of immaturity. A good mentor will often will take care of that. If not, a good ass chewing works too... ;o)

Response by SGT Richard H. made Aug 23 at 2014 1:29 AM

SGT Richard H. — Sat, 23 Aug 2014 01:29:57 -0400

I'm sure with some it's a power trip. I'd bet with others it's them beginning to break "buddy ties" and maybe just not going about it well. When you reach that point, your chain of command will (or should) start telling you that you don't get to be one of the boys any more, you have to lead them now. At that point, they are just learning how to do that and many have a tendency to over compensate.

Response by TSgt Terry Hudson made Aug 23 at 2014 2:01 AM

TSgt Terry Hudson — Sat, 23 Aug 2014 02:01:58 -0400

I think it depends on how that person was during the period of being an E4. Me luckily I came into the squadron as an E4 so I don't have to cut the friendship thing. I've always tried to have the airman think I was already an NCO. Of course there was joking around at work, but thats it. We're not buddy buddy, no hanging out after work anything like that! That way all I have to do is remind them, (when I do put on SSgt), thats its SSgt Hudson now. As far as actually power tripping, I try to remain humble. I've always corrected something wrong and I've always delegated. I've even had NCO's tell me to correct the younger airmen. So I'm sure people wouldn't see it as a power trip if I continued on with the way I am.

Response by MSG Private RallyPoint Member made Aug 23 at 2014 11:07 AM

MSG Private RallyPoint Member — Sat, 23 Aug 2014 11:07:14 -0400

Sometimes is not a power trip it's that your responsibilities have change and Senior leaders might have different expectations of that service member. I would suggest to have a heart to heart with your peer so you can hear his perspective. It can be a learning experience for both.

Response by COL Private RallyPoint Member made Aug 23 at 2014 2:52 PM

COL Private RallyPoint Member — Sat, 23 Aug 2014 14:52:25 -0400

If possible, newly promoted SGT's should be moved to another Troop or Company. Some poeple find it hard to break those ties. I do my best not to let officers become XO's of Companies or Troops either. It's the same thing. All the NCO's and enlisted knew him as a 2LT PL. Different job as an XO. Plus you have to separate him from his fellow PL's. He's not their friend. He's the iron fisted maiden of discipline in the Troop for regulation and policy.

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Aug 23 at 2014 3:40 PM

SSG Private RallyPoint Member — Sat, 23 Aug 2014 15:40:23 -0400

I can only speak for the Army but usually it is dependent upon your unit. Normally if you're promoted to E5/SGT you're moved within your BN so that dissension [if you want to call it that] does exist because there are always those soldiers who feel you're either not deserving of the rank and they hate your guts or they think they can get some special treatment now that they have a buddy whose an NCO now.

Moreover you have to take into consideration it's not so much of a power trip. It's you as the newly promotee and you can't just be friends now. You're now in the leadership position and you have to lead, so all the fun and games go out the door and it's time to be professional.

Response by LTC Private RallyPoint Member made Aug 23 at 2014 6:30 PM

LTC Private RallyPoint Member — Sat, 23 Aug 2014 18:30:48 -0400

remind them that leadership is about SERVICE to others

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Aug 24 at 2014 9:14 AM

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Sun, 24 Aug 2014 09:14:57 -0400

Not sure how the Air Force does it, but there is a change (in the Army) at how the Leadership sees and treats a fresh NCO. Many times the NCO is still in the unit with all his/her buddies who he would screw around with before he/she became an NCO, and chances are, they are not all NCOs along with him/her.

This can cause issues in the unit, if a SPC (not NCO) speaks to his buddy (NCO) the way he did before his buddy was an NCO it breeds a habit that will lead to less due courtesy and respect to all NCOs in that unit. It seems rather innocent at first, but it can get out of hand really fast and the NCO likely will not even see it (because they are new to being an NCO). Typically the New NCO will look to their non NCO buddies and say "as long as the work gets done and everything is going smooth, I don't have to get all 'sergeant' around here."
This works fine, until the young impressionable E-2 sees how the Sergeant gets along with his/her buddies, and thinks he can talk to ANY NCO that way. Or until even one of the buddies does something wrong and tries to use his NCO friend's rank to get out of it.
Those are some of the PROBLEMS, that "new NCO" Power trip is the solution.
A unit (and by unit, I mean a group of people in a military element comprised of people who on average are NOT smarter than the average bear.) will fix this by taking the new NCO aside and making sure they know that they are different now, the leadership will be harder on them when holding them responsible for things until they get it through their heads that they ARE supposed to be more responsible now. They will be told that they "need to be a dick sometimes" often enough that the new, impressionable NCO will think "I am not being a dick ENOUGH."
There are other things too, that an NCO will see when he/she first gets stripes, like the change in some speech when it is just NCOs around. For example, when we are lower enlisted we are told "you can get a counseling statement for substandard OR superior performance" and when we become an NCO it changes to "if you ever counsel your Soldiers and can't outline a bunch of stuff they suck at and need to improve upon, then you are not doing your job as an NCO!"
While this is absolutely true, to a new NCO this can be taken as a betrayal to the lower enlisted friends of theirs. This tends to jade them a bit.