What Rank Was The Most Challenging But Rewarding?

Corporal. Piecing everything together to be a leader

E-5 your like the middle man - babysitting those ranked below you and delegated out the you know what from E-6.

Definitely E-5 for me, once I became an NCO, I was able to watch out and lead the soldiers in my squad, getting my stripes was amazing for me.

Capt. You're expected to do paperwork and sit in an office instead of actually being in ops doing the real work. Sometimes rewarding if you can make useful changes.

It would have to be working as a 1SG of an Aviation Maintenance Company in the Army National Guard. This was during a time in the mid-nineties where resources were minimal and training opportunities were hard to come by. Our State operating budget for sending Soldiers to schools for MOS qualification almost took an act of Congress it seemed and harder still was OJT MOS qualifications. In light of that, the job required "outside of the box" thinking in many functional areas IE: Personnel, Equipment and Training readiness and my leadership style encouraged my Platoon Sergeants to actively develop solutions to the issues at hand. This way, everyone was part of the team and accepted responsibility and success sharing where after a year on the job, our unit received top ratings on the Commander's Report in all areas. Morale was extremely high when I left the position as a result of changing the mindset that nothing was impossible and that all ideas were welcome in building mission accomplishment and unit cohesion.

E4 Petty Officer. Didn’t take me long to get there, but the rest of my 4 years to keep it. I lost this rank three times and got reinstated two times.

Being a Gunnery Sergeant. From the moment I pinned on I was treated differently and with a higher standard. This put a lot of pressure on me but it made me want to do better. I was able to use my rank and the authority it provided to make things better for my Marines and also for the units I was attached to. I was able to use these abilities as I progressed and it gave me a reputation for getting things done which provided me a lot more opportunities and advancement. I am still seeing great things from those days and are still happening today. It is even better when I see Marines I mentored use those skills and doing greater things.

Rear-detachment 1SG

E-6

E 5