What Rank Was The Most Challenging But Rewarding?

Sargent

Pv2

It was airman basic because of the 100 degree boot camp training in texas

airman basic because of 5he boot camp training in Texas at 100 degrees.

LCpl for me, Billet wise. I was Motor T with 3/5, having to be Dispatch (which at the time was a Sgt rank Billet), Driver, Typhoon emergency team dispatch and driver, being apart of the Battalion DeCon team as well as being the one all duty officers called to drive emergency leave Marines and Sailors to the Red Cross and airport (all of this was on the Rock. Being the only Non-Rate able to authorized to drive explosives off base to ranges (I was the only Driver over 21 in Motor T lol). As dispatch having to give run orders to Cpl's and Sgt's. But it was Great, learned a lot about other Grunt MOS's and cross training with them just because I was their driver at the time and there at the range with them, the Long hours everyday lol. A lot of the guys in my MOS probably never got the opportunity or took the opportunity to learn being a driver was the best MOS the Suck could have given me and being with 3/5 was the best unit for me.

Master Chief Petty Officer - MCPO (E9)
My service as a Master Chief on staff duty of Commander Naval Air Force - Atlantic Fleet. I assumed responsibility for Aircraft Carrier Auxiliary Systems. This was challenging because of the broad range of duties for all East Coast Carriers. It was rewarding because in this billet, I was able to influence material changes / training of operators and provide feedback to CNAL and NAVSEA on effectiveness

Thinking back I'd have to say that most ranks had their own different challenges. It's hard to say which was "most" challenging, although I suppose I could say that SP4 was the least challenging.

For me, being picked for three job assignments. 1. SWAT training; 2. Boston TDY for the 1976 Bicentenial's Tall Ships; and being picked to be NCOIC of all Patrol and Desk MP functions.
#1 was pure fun and exhileration; #2 was tense because the S. Boston School Bus Strike was ongoing, AND Military Intel noted that a muslim group intended to raid the S. Boston Army Support Activity (SBASA) as it was the largest small arms depot on the East Coast. It was within the harbor, AND that's where the Tall Ships were being docked. The Army only found out about the Tall Ships when they announced the SBASA was where they would dock! The only MP's there were an AWOL Apprehension Team and of the three SWAT/ERT teams sent, I was the NCOIC. All three teams functioned flawlessly and I had my team take the midnight shift, thinking IF there was a raid, it would be then. Fortunately, it never evolved though.
#3 was challenging but highly rewarding in that I was tasked to, "Do what you did as your team's Desk Sergeant, to all of the other teams/shifts." I was given almost carte blanche to model those other teams and shifts to function the same. What made it easy, and possible, were the MP OPNS NCO and OIC and a group of MP Officers who pulled duty as the MP Duty Officer. All of the MP functions (patrol, K-9, MPI, everything) was comprised of two separate MP Companies - the Garrison MP Company (521st) and the Combat MP Company (437th). Frankly, it was a BLAST!

I think what helped me a lot was some "mystique," ... that of being Prior Service and being one of the few Vietnam Vets. Everyone knew that because of my Class A's 1st Marine Div Combat Patch; but what seemed to enhance it was NOT wearing any of my ribbons. At reunions, I've had more than one former subordinate state, "You were the only war Vet who didn't shove it in our face," or similar comments. I never thought of it that way because - frankly, I was "bothered" about Vietnam and how we pulled out and abandoned those people. So, I never wore my "salad dressing," except when ordered to for Command Inspections or Change-of-Command at the BN level or higher. Even at Gen Courts Martial, I never wore them.

I loved every part of military life. I loved being away from home

Sgt.