Posted on Sep 24, 2019
SGT(P) Cryptologic Linguist
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I've held the rank of SGT for over six years. My father told me when he was in the USAF it was not unheard of for officers to hold the rank of Captain for up to 8 years. I met a CSM who told me he was a SSG for 8 years. What say you? Any record holders out there?
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Responses: 96
SPC Casey Ashfield
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E-4 Mafia from May 2010 until I ETS in July 2015.
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MAJ Multifunctional Logistician
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O-3 6 years 14 days
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SPC David S.
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I feel this will be different for Guard and Active.
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SFC Barbara Layman
SFC Barbara Layman
6 y
SFC (Verify To See) - When I first enlisted, it was not uncommon for active duty soldiers to retire as E-5. Of course, that was in the days when there were 'duty' soldiers and long before civilians were employed to cut grass, etc. Troops mowed, policed the installations, painted rocks around company areas, etc.
I knew at least 3 individuals with 20 and some years of service who were retiring as E-5s. They were happy doing what they were doing and not at all displeased with the fact they held their grade for such long times - End WWII, Korea and just prior to our increased actions in RVN.
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SPC David S.
SPC David S.
6 y
SFC Barbara Layman - late 80's a squad from our company mowed a few softball fields at Ft. Dix - during basic. Different Army now.
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SFC Barbara Layman
SFC Barbara Layman
6 y
SPC David S. - Most likely after 'normal' duty hours. Soldiers could and can be directed to work longer hours than the civilian 'caretakers' as they - civilians- in most cases are prohibited from overtime and soldiers are available 24/7/365.
No contradiction intended, just a clarification. And, no, it is not a different Army, the problem is with the difference in attitudes.
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SPC David S.
SPC David S.
6 y
SFC Barbara Layman - agree the difference is in the attitude.
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I got SSG in late 2007 as a tradition (MDAY) Guardsman and picked up an AGR position under a year later...since signal SFC billets are rare I just picked up SFC in December 2018...
SSG Robert "Rob" Wentworth
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E-4 (SP4) the longest. I believe it was 2 years.
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SSG Harry Herres
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Not that it counts SSgt 3 years army 12 year sheriff dept. 15 years total. 15 years to get it back
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SGT(P) Cryptologic Linguist
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CPO Kirk Allen
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ETC from 1993 to 2001 in USNR then went back active 2001 to 2013 as ETC Retired ETC 6 months short of 20 years as ETC
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COL Rich McKinney
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8 as a Captain and 8 more as Major
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SP5 James Johnson
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Sp 4. In Nam my company didn't even know I was assigned to them. One day I went down to batalion and asked why I hadn't been promoted to Sp5. They told me I wasn't in the battalion. Turns out my co stg had been lying to me for almost a year. He claimed my promotion was on the way. I confronted him and next month I was promoted. Typical FUBAR.
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SGT(P) Cryptologic Linguist
SGT(P) (Join to see)
6 y
Ouch!
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SP5 James Johnson
SP5 James Johnson
6 y
Sp 4 for about 1.5 years and Sp 5 for about 1 year. I did 31 months in the Signal Corp. Got an early out because I ETSed from Nam with < 150 days left.
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LTC Dick Bulova
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I was a 1LT from 1962 to 1973. Transferred from Active Duty to Army Reserves in 1964.
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