What rank should you come into the military with?

LTC Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 10 Apr 2014 14:47:39 -0400

I know when I was thinking of enlisting they were talking about how I can go in as a PFC because I am an Eagle Scout and if my buddy signed up with me he would get a rank. Then again in college I could have gotten some rank due to college. Do you feel that you should have to earn the rank after you are in or do you think you can earn rank before you sign up?

Response by CW2 Jonathan Kantor made Apr 10 at 2014 3:16 PM

CW2 Jonathan Kantor — Thu, 10 Apr 2014 15:16:44 -0400

Speaking as a former recruiter, I can say that it's used as an incentive to bring in new prospective applicants. If I was able to, I always put in the paperwork to advance my DEPs.

Response by SFC Timothy Riser made Apr 10 at 2014 3:24 PM

SFC Timothy Riser — Thu, 10 Apr 2014 15:24:54 -0400

I do not believe in the system of rank being earned prior to you entering the Army. I will explain. I do not believe anyone should enter above the rank of PV1 and that includes officers and warrants also. I believe everyone should start out as that Private then work their way up. Scenario 1: Soldier has a BA degree and wants to be an officer, they enlist, complete basic, AIT and then finish 4 years of active service then they can apply to be a Warrant or Commissioned Officer (yes I know Warrants are commissioned also).  I was a scout (not Eagle Scout only made it to Life Scout), I had JROTC I requested none of that be listed in order to attain rank. No rank for getting someone else to join. Everyone should start at the bottom and work their way up and I would include the West Point and other schools like them.

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Apr 10 at 2014 4:20 PM

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 10 Apr 2014 16:20:35 -0400

Yes, if that experience is military related. i.e. JROTC, ROTC, military high school grad, military university / service academy grad.

Anything else no. Just because you have a civilian diploma does not make you an instant leader. In my opinion you should be paid for your experience (acquired civilian skills) and/or degree. But, you do need to spend some time in the trenches. Give "professional pay" to the doctors, chaplains, and veterinarians but make them come in as a 2LT and earn the CPT rank.

Just becasue you have doctorate you are now a more seasoned/professional leader than a 2LT with BS?

Just beacuse you have an acquired civilian skill you are now a more seasoned/professional leader than the PVT you just completed BCT with?

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Apr 10 at 2014 4:59 PM

SSG Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 10 Apr 2014 16:59:47 -0400

It gives recruits incentive and the attitude to outperform their peers to get ahead career wise. (I *was* lazy and came in an E1, hindsight is 20/20) With so many other factors in consideration other than work performance for the promotion board (TIS, TIG, seniority in the Team/Squad/Platoon) every little bit helps from the start. If the high school kid wants to pass a PT test to earn some mosquito wings, then let the kid.

Response by SGT Donald Croswhite made Apr 10 at 2014 5:07 PM

SGT Donald Croswhite — Thu, 10 Apr 2014 17:07:45 -0400

Whatever rank you come in with will be assesed through your performance. You may come in as a Specialist. That doesn't mean you'll stay at that rank. Leadership roles should never be stepped into. I know it happens.

Response by SFC William Swartz Jr made Apr 10 at 2014 5:11 PM

SFC William Swartz Jr — Thu, 10 Apr 2014 17:11:56 -0400

Doesn't bother me one bit, I enlisted after two years of college with ROTC and came in as a PFC, my son enlisted after completing his Associates as a PFC, your rank doesn't mean anything more than extra money while you are in training, but does give you a leg up IF you prove to be competent in your chosen MOS.

Response by SGT Private RallyPoint Member made Apr 10 at 2014 8:48 PM

SGT Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 10 Apr 2014 20:48:50 -0400

I think starting as PVT is the best way. To many come in as SPC acting almost as cocky as SPC that have been in for awhile thinking they know everything. As a PVT you get disciplined more or so it seems. Some get pushed to E5 quick with inadequate training and just screws them over and possibly who over is under them.

Response by SGT Private RallyPoint Member made Oct 19 at 2014 3:24 PM

SGT Private RallyPoint Member — Sun, 19 Oct 2014 15:24:05 -0400

I have no issues with the entry ranks. My field is small (musician) and everyone comes in as a SPC. Then again, everyone has to audition to get in. I'm a flute player. The Army of 500,000+ Soldiers right now only has 58 flute players. You can be sure if someone passes that audition, they're good enough to be here.

Response by SGT Private RallyPoint Member made Sep 14 at 2016 3:58 PM

SGT Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 14 Sep 2016 15:58:28 -0400

I'm cool with the fact that they offer those incentives for varying degrees of knowledge. What I don't necessarily like is the increased expectations that such incentivized soldiers run into when they get to their first unit. I came in as a PV1, and I don't mind admitting that I was a DAP in every sense of the word. I got to my first unit as a still-dumb-as-hell PV2 and got promoted to PFC a month later (my first AIT was 8 months long; combine that with basic and a month of leave afterwards, and I had 11 months in service by that point). I was expected to be, know, and do basic soldier shit. Be where I was supposed to be, when I was supposed to be there, wearing what I was supposed to be wearing, and then do what I was supposed to once I got there. That was my life for a year and a half: what I now call Privating 101. With time, guidance and mentorship, my leaders started to expect more out of me - and I started to perform at a higher level and expect more out of myself. Flash forward several years, and I'm a specialist with a combat patch. Obviously, more is going to be expected out of me based on that experience, expectations that a specialist fresh out of AIT shouldn't be subjected to. They get pushed to that level faster - forced to rise to their rank, so to speak - and they're not afforded that time to make those dumb private mistakes.

Response by CSM Thomas McGarry made Jan 22 at 2018 10:49 AM

CSM Thomas McGarry — Mon, 22 Jan 2018 10:49:50 -0500

I will say having come into the Army many years ago as a PFC because of prior college, you tend to stand out like a sore thumb during basic and, depending on the AIT you attend AIT. You are given more responsibility such as platoon leader or squad leader good if you want the added responsibility but expect to be doing more pushups etc when the people under you screw up!!!