What Rank Was The Most Challenging But Rewarding?

PFC because you are one step up from just taking order, and one step away from being in a leadership position (CPL).

Both Gunnery Sergeant and Chief Warrant Officer were challenging yet rewarding because I was expected to know everything, especially as a CWO. But I have to say that Gunny was probably the best.

The most challenging rank for me was when I was an E-3/Airman First Class. I had just got to my first duty station (McChord AFB, WA), and I had no idea what to expect from a life in aircraft maintenance. No one was really showing me around the ropes of the job, so I was pretty much just tagging along on jobs and not attempting to ask questions and learn. About a month in, one of the E-5s/Staff Sergeants returned from deployment and is placed on day shift with me. He quickly realized I didn't really know the job nor was anyone taking the time to teach me. So he pretty much made my life miserable the new few months teaching me the ins and outs of the job. He had me in the technical orders every day I worked, and I had to present the information I had learned for each day. Every time I was on shift, he didn't give me much time to relax because he forced me to learn more about our specialty on the aircraft. But thanks to him, I became very proficient at my job. We actually got stationed in Kadena at the same time and worked alongside each other. He became a great mentor and someone I could go to for advice despite what he put me through at first. It was thanks to him that I became good at my job and grew professionally.

When I was promoted to SSG the lower enlisted in my office crowded around me, congratulated me and "begged" me not to change! Change? I said, I am still the same, but with more responsibilities. The big challenge was staying the same, yet not staying the same, yet making sure all responsibilities of Soldiers and work were done with integrity. I believe lower enlisted Soldiers need to know the jobs so if you or others aren't there, they will fill the void, so there won't be any "hiccup".

SFC - Tackling the position of Staff NCO was a tough transition. It was the first time that I had to deal with the politics of officers jockeying for rank.

Getting my E4 was the most rewarding. It took me the longest time to achieve E4. I was full time and it was time for me to reinlist. I had an 8 month old son.i decided not to reinvest. So the didn't give me E4 even thought I had all the training. I did 2 years in the reserves and received my E4.

E-5 by far, it's like being old enuff to know what your talking about but to young for anyone to listen to you. But then one day no one has the answer and you step up and shine... that feeling stays with you, you realize you can do this, your a man now and there's no turning back. Yea, E-5 thats the rank that separates the enlisted and the lifers.

SSG was the most challenging but Rewarding. And I refused to let someone take it back.

Looking back on 24 years as a active duty marine I would say going from sergeant to staff sergeant was the hardest. While a sergeant you are a leader but you can still remain friends with those below you while on base. As a staff sergeant you can’t do that anymore. Being a member of the snco rank you are now a ‘full fledged’ leader of marines and there is no “friendship” with the sgt’s and below now at work. Being a staff noncommissioned officer has a whole new set of rules to follow and execute to complete the mission. I had a lot of fine marine’s below me while I was a sergeant and considered them good friends. To have terminate that friendship while on duty as a new staff sergeant was the hardest thing for me to do.

The most challenging but rewarding rank for me was Private, being from a small town and having a single mom that could be meaner than a rabid pitbull (LOL) and so overprotective til I felt like I was on lock down every day so, when I went into the Army I felt like she could tell what I was doing which was running everywhere and shoveling my food down my face without chewing (LOL). Challenging because It was my 1st time being away from home without my guard (good ole mom) and I was afraid, VERY AFRAID but rewarding because I got over that fear and I learned things about myself that I would've never learned had I stayed in protective custody. I learned that I could live on my on, I learned that I was responsible for every decision I made, I leaned that if something didn't go as planned, it would be ok, I also learned that I was an adult (even if mom treated like a child) I was being trained to protect my country and I never felt PROUDER .