What Rank Was The Most Challenging But Rewarding?

For me, the most “Challenging But Rewarding” rank was the promotion from PFC to Specialist 4th Class. Actually, it was not the promotion to that rank but rather being picked up as an Instructor at the U.S. Army Signal School at Ft. Monmouth, N.J.

After my rotation from Germany I was assigned to attend a Computer Repair Course (36 weeks) at Ft Monmouth, N.J. Upon my graduation came the promotion to SP4 and being assigned to the school as an Instructor. That assignment I began as an Instructor Trainee followed by attendance and graduation from the Instructor’s Course provided by the Instructional Methods Division. Gaining both classroom and lab experience as a Junior Instructor would lead to assignment as a Senior Instructor for the remainder of my second tour. Marriage and fatherhood would conclude my active military service at the end of my 2nd tour and the beginning of a lifetime career in the private sector computer industry.

The challenge was both technical (nature of the beast) and professional (in a leadership sense). Technical aspects under control, it was a sea-change on the leadership side. The confidence would come with experience and successfully training diverse groups from Senior NCOs to recent recruits fresh from Basic Training. The experience gave me a lifetime career in the IT/MIS profession.

The teaching experience, for me, is truly the most rewarding aspect of my working life. There is a priceless, intangible and lasting reward when you are given the opportunity to give a student the tools they need to succeed. It may be of major or minor consequence to them in their future endeavors, but you will have prepared them to the best of your ability.

Without a doubt; Sergeant (E-5) USMC! All of a sudden, your friends become your subordinates and Marines are excited for each other during promotions; it gives them hope and preps them for that next stripe! “Lead By Example” is your new mantra 24/7! These young Marines have a lot to offer and delegating assignments and duty rosters involve trust and confidence that goes both ways! Lot of Marines want to show what they can offer their Sergeant and are eagerly awaiting orders from a confident NCO…Semper Fi

E1: Adjusting to Army Life and all of the mental and physical challenges.

The absolute most difficult challenge EVER is being a young Gold Star Wife.!!! But meeting other amazing Gold Star Wives is without a doubt rewarding to see how these wonderful women survive after such tragedies in our lives. My husband’s death day is tomorrow March 3rd. It is now 24 years without him!! He was a United States Marine.

Corporal (E4), was the most rewarding and challenging. When I was promoted to Corporal, I had to act as an NCO and lead as an NCO. Yet I had to continue to have a relationship with my fellow subordinates.

I would say Sergeant/E5 was the most challenging, but I learn a lot from other NCO's on taking care of troops and leading by example.

I think being an E1 in the Army was the most challenging but also the most rewarding. During the time at basic training I was at the bottom of the food chain. I had to learn what my strengths were and what I was capable of. I was pushed to achieve my best and what I learned has stayed with me even today.

E-4 - Corporal as I was in a new unit while mine was deployed in the First Gulf War. I knew my score was close but the Gunny that was in charge didn’t like that I was a single mom. So once my unit came back and I was back in my shop my MSgt ran my score and pushed to get my promotion. I was also close to getting out and the Marine who took over my Job failed to include my new rank so while I was on leave I worked to get my back pay and my DD214 corrected. While I never wore my rank I was proud to say I was an E-4 - Corporal.

E-5, Sergeant. You are seasoned in many ways but brand new when it comes to taking full responsibility not only for your actions and decisions but you now do it for up to 6-7 lower enlisted troops. You’re their mom, their dad, their mentor, their trained, and btheir bondsman, etc. you have to make sure they are doing the right things in all aspects of Soldiering but also that they are taking care of their families and have everything they need.
Learning how to take the time and lead each Soldier in the way they needed to be led while making sure their is no favoritism happening. Unfortunately they are young. Some catch on quick and some drag things out and get dubbed “leadership challenges. Those are will develop a SGT leadership style.

Th most rewarding moments for me where when i had my medics spread all Over Afghanistan and they were making me proud. But on two different ambush attacks over 2 days 2 of the medics l had
Been Forceable when training them in all scenarios they may face.
It paid off and they were both Awarded silver star medals. Very proud moment for a leader

Definitely becoming an NCO at E5, it is just a point of achievement and something felt different about it. It was like the make it or break it point.