What Rank Was The Most Challenging But Rewarding?

I would have to say the rank of Sergeant was the most challenging and rewarding. This was the rank you are looked upon with unlimited potential at all times. You are expected to be a master in your MOS and to also continue to be a sponge so that your superiors can continue to sharpen that sword. It’s was tough because you are dangerous now, due to being a very well educated service member, not only of your MOS, but of the bigger picture. In my case I was a Company GySgt(E7 and a Company First Sergeant/E8 all while being a Sergeant. Yes there were Staff Sergeants and a GySgt in the Company but I was either senior to them in service and they looked up to me or they were getting out and didn’t care. I held formations and gave guidance to the Company Commander on a regular basis. The Battalion First Sergeants were not happy but once they understood helped me a great deal I’m getting the 1st Sgt job done to make sure the SgtMaj was out of our hair. Once the restructuring got finished and almost 5 months had passed, it finally got back to normal, but then nobody knew what to do with me because I had done everything at that point. I was kept on to give guidance to the new Company GySgt and was put into H&S Plt in order to make sure the GySgt learned how to do his job. Eventually one of the newer SSgt failed to meet standards in one of the Platoon Sgt roles, I was put into that position and he was put into the H&S platoon as the Company GySgts plt that did all the bit** work. I struggled because after being held at such high positions and learning as much as I did, it was hard for me to slow down and not feel like I was being punished and not promoted. In the end I understood the “why” and was forever grateful for the situations that fell into my lap. It was rewarding in knowing that I could step into those roles and figure them out and perform them well enough to not raise alarm and be able to see the bigger picture. It definitely helped me in the long run of my career. I was combat meritoriously promoted to Staff Sergeant and then combat meritoriously promoted to GySgt. I feel strongly that in doing the positions I rose to and excelling at them demonstrated to not only my peers but my superiors the abilities I possessed were greater than the rank I held. Again this was my point of view of it all. It kept me humble with my peers and younger and it kept me hungry with all of my superiors. It just put me in the best position possible where I had the ear of both up and down the chain of command.
Writing this was hard because I feel the two best ranks for an infantry Marine are Sergeant and Gunnery Sergeant/ E-5 and E-7

E-4 USMC to civilian 1974. Ostracized by most, ignored by the rest. Semper Fi DEVIL DOGS.

For myself I feel that being an E3, and finally getting myself adjusted and then having to start studying and testing for my NCO to make E4 was a trial. Not only was I studying for my test to rank up but I was also studying for other NEC advancements in my rating. And going to college as well. All of that studying was very difficult, while working hard 12 to 24-hour shifts somedays. But also the most rewarding because after all that studying and PFT training I finally made E4.

I didn't find any rank particularly challenging--or rewarding. I coasted through the years of enlistment, reaching E2 out of boot camp, E3 out of RM-A school, E4 upon transfer from 11th ND HQ to Midway Is., and then E5 in a tad over 2 years total. I was disappointed to find the discipline, and adherence to skill training to be as lax as it was. As example; even though an E5 was required to be proficient receiving and sending radio telegraph code, logging messages, etc., I was not proficient at all. The test I was administered consisted of being asked if "I knew the code." I answered honestly that I did know the code. Not at the level of proficiency required, but I did 'know' it. As a kiddie-cruiser, I returned to the mainland, joined up with my E2 spouse, and have enjoyed 61 years of wedded bliss (if you ask her (^;). I had planned to catch up with my skill set but I only had one day of USNR-R drill and that was at Andrews AFBl. The Navy didn't keep track of me in between separation and discharge (I worked in DCA AUTODIN as a site supervisor). I had planned to go for a full tour but getting married early on put a stop to that plan. Oh well; turned out I was a natural at designing and programming computers to i was too early to become an IT.

Straight leg, not tabbed Buck Sgt at the age of 20 in a 75th Inf Reg LRRP company. I proved myself but never was really accepted.

Making E7 Chief Petty Officer in the USN. It changed the way I looked at personnel and training for the better. Training was the best part of this change in leadership.

Becoming a black, female Chief Petty Officer in the Navy was the most challenging but definitely the most rewarding. People said I couldn't do it. Many didn't believe it when I became a CPO. Gate guards would look at my ID to enter a base and ask, "Is this really you?" Begin a CPO is a big deal but being a female CPO is even bigger. Then add my black face to the anchor and 23 years of beautiful gold on my uniform and and I turned heads. When people tell me I can't do something - it makes me more determined!

Probably Captain for me. Up until then I was either in training or just expected to do my job as an aircraft crewmember. Once I became a Captain it was pretty much expected that you would take on additional duties that may or may not have anything to do with being a flier.

For me it was E-3 coming in the military from a small town with a big personality. I had to adapt to being around so many professionals while polishing my attitude and adapting to so many changes at once. This experience has helped shaped me today and the experience was worth it.

Full Bird!