What Rank Was The Most Challenging But Rewarding?

SSgt/E5, because when i was supposed to get it the first time, some one lied about me and took it from me! But i showed her and won it back!

E4, Air Force was the most rewarding for me. Additional responsibility, privileges and respect. That third strip was recognition of study, on the job training and dedication. In addition, I was allowed to train other Airman who came after me. Some of the best years I spent evolving into someone who could stand tall with so many others.

I actually was promoted very quickly and made SSgt in 4 years which was unheard of in My career field where promotions weren't good. A supervisor I had at that time also taught Me a lot and set and excellent example. I learned more from that many about leadership and how to manage people than I ever had from any human being ever ! To this very day I think of Him when it come to doing the right thing. That man Samual Dickins, who retired as a MSgt was MY Supervisor at Hanscom AFB, MA when I returned from Vietnam. I had the maximum score on all My promotion exams and all outstanding Enlisted performance reports. Prior to USAF I had also been a Cadet at a Military Academy (Prep school) with an Army ROTC program and a Cadet and also later an Officer in Civil Air Patrol. Confidence didn't seem to be a problem. I got out of the USAF at the 8 year mark even though i was ready to make TSgt well ahead of time. and My Commander, Operations Officer OIC and Base equal Opportunity Officer wanted Me enter Operation Bootstrap where the USAF would send Me to MY two remaining years of college and get a Bachelor's degree, to go to Officer training school. I did get out an receive a BS degree. after an 8 year break I did come back in as a SSgt but lost the time in grade due to the length of My time out. I had to take all the Armed Forces entrance exams, physical etc. again and had no problem with any of that. in the next 14 years i was promoted to TSgt, MSgt and SMSgt a rank I held for over 5 years and turned down CMSgt ((E9) and retired with 22 years service in uniform. There were i few things I wish I had done such as become an officer when i even had that support and encouragement right up our unit chain of command but things worked still out ok anyway.

Lt. R. Rice, USN
I graduated from law school in May '68 during the Viet Nam War and joined the Navy. The recruiter gave me a test to join the JAG Corps, but it was extremely hard and I failed it. I then went to boot camp as an E-1 and thereafter became a clerk/typist at Great Lakes NTC as an E-2 making $97.00 per month. All my friends were E-2s and E-3s, but the officers were kind to me also in view of my 20 years of formal education. Then one day as I was filing pages into the BuPers Manual regarding test for the various Navy corps, I realized that the recruiter gave me the test for the Engineering Corps instead of the JAG Corps. I immediately took the JAG Corps test, easily passed it and was promoted to Lt. Thereafter, as a Lt. I was more than respectful of E-2s and E-3s as I had walked in their shoes.

Captain/03 was the most important rank for me. My level of responsibility went up dramatically as did expectations for my performance.

My Most challenging but rewarding rank would have been my E2 during a family emergency. I was in San Antonio, Texas, attending my first section of courses (91B) for my nursing job (91C). Red Cross called my company, telling me I had to leave because my father was in the hospital on a ventilator, telling me he was about to pass away. I was granted 2 weeks emergency leave and flew home. Seeing my dad like that was horrible. I prayed to God please save my father and put me through hell..
In 2 weeks time, my father was off the ventilator and able to walk me to the elevator when I had to return to Texas.
When I returned to Texas, I had to switch companies to resume my course on schedule. Now that was a nightmare. I didn't know anybody. I was so uncomfortable, it was a lot rougher than my other company. I Had a lot of different obstacles to get through. At the end, it was rewarding because I knew my father recovered from his illness and I was able to complete my 91B course.

Mine was E-4 Senior Airman to Buck Sgt. I have always felt that is where I learned my job and responsibilities as a leader.

E-6 TSGT. Tasked with senior NCO duties and responsibilities. Duties in between jr NCO and senior NCO.

The most challenging, yet rewarding paygrade was AE1/E6. I started my Navy career on the fast track making AE2 in 2.5 years. E5 in my opinion was the easiest paygrade, was a supervisor, but not in charge of a entire work center. When I made E6, I started out great, was awarded Sailor of the Year, then went on to win wing SOY. That same year I was on deployment to Misawa Japan and got in trouble on base. I went to mast and 3 days later the Chief results came out and I was on the list. Well, my CO withdrew my advancement, and I was stuck at AE1 for 4 more years. I then transferred squadrons, buckled down and in 2016 was awarded SOY and again wing SOY. I still did not make Chief so I was placed in the line shack where I spent the best tour of my career. Multiple undesignated Sailors of mine wanted to become AE's and still to this day, I get calls and emails from Sailors wanting me to pin them or re-enlist them. Although I was selected to AEC in 2014, I regret nothing because I was able to help more Sailors as AE1 than any other rank. Those Sailors are the reason I was again selected to AEC/E7 in 2018.

In the Marine Corps it seemed that the enlisted rank expectations were set up to alternate in how much they could suck.
Pvt and PFC - yep, no question, sucked
LCpl – you weren’t the lowest and generally responsible for nothing
Cpl – Now you are an NCO and expected to lead all your drinking buddies
Sgt – NCO, but separated yourself, more experienced, higher regard
SSgt – Awful. Now you have to be a SNCO and do SNCO stuff, but can barely spell SNCO
Gunny – Plenty of responsibility, but plenty of influence and power
MSgt / 1st Sgt – Tired, just tired.
MGySgt / Sgt Maj – Not crap taken from any direction.