What was the major changes that you experienced when transitioning from Lieutenant to Captain?

MAJ Samuel Weber — Sat, 01 Feb 2014 11:00:05 -0500

To those who have been promoted to Captain (O-3 in your branch) what was the major changes that you experienced when transitioning from Lieutenant to Captain. During my promotion ceremony my Battalion Commander stated that the great thing about being a Captain is that no one knows if you just got promoted or if you have been a Captain for 6 years. What was your experience?

Response by 1LT Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 1 at 2014 11:23 AM

1LT Private RallyPoint Member — Sat, 01 Feb 2014 11:23:57 -0500

That sounds like the same thing someone said to me about making Staff Sergeant. Anywhere between 4 years and 20, with the assumption being around 10.

Also: Congratulations.

Response by Lt Col Luis A. Rojas made Feb 1 at 2014 3:15 PM

Lt Col Luis A. Rojas — Sat, 01 Feb 2014 15:15:35 -0500

Congrats on your recent promotion CPT Weber. I was told the same thing by my supervisor at my Captain promotion ceremony back in 1992 so this perception has been around for at least the past 20+ years. I was a wing evaluator for Minuteman II ICBMs as a 1st Lt so when I was promoted to Captain, I did not really notice a difference. I have heard others say that their input was valued a lot more as a Captain so your Commander is correct.

Response by LTC Paul Labrador made Feb 1 at 2014 3:36 PM

LTC Paul Labrador — Sat, 01 Feb 2014 15:36:37 -0500

CPT Weber, your BC is spot on. No one knows how long you've been a CPT. But that may not necessarily be a good thing at times. As a baby CPT, you really don't know much more than a LT. Yet you now have more responsibility and no excuse to not know the answers (people will excuse LTs for being immature or not knowing what they are doing. Not so much CPTs). People are going to assume that you are closer to MAJ than to LT, and thus will expect as much out of you in that regard.

Response by LTC Private RallyPoint Member made Apr 7 at 2014 10:46 PM

LTC Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 07 Apr 2014 22:46:20 -0400

My experience is when I was wearing 2LT or even 1LT is that I just pinned it until they got to know me, if they even tried to do that. As Captain it was no difference at all for the unit that I was attached to at the time. I was still treated as a LT because they knew me as that 1LT when I came to them. As for units I worked with they acted as if I was about to pin Major. Use this to your advantage and demonstrate that you can handle the work and should be promoted to Major. This will help you out with evaluations. However, it is harder to get assistance sometimes though. I recommend that you seek a mentor outside of your chain of command to help you with your questions and develop you in the areas that you want to strengthen.

Response by COL Vincent Stoneking made Apr 16 at 2014 6:50 PM

COL Vincent Stoneking — Wed, 16 Apr 2014 18:50:38 -0400

There was a sudden change in presumption.

As an LT, people assumed you didn't know anything until proven otherwise.

As a CPT, people tended to assume (or pretended?...) that you knew something.

Response by James Jones made Nov 15 at 2018 12:20 AM

James Jones — Thu, 15 Nov 2018 00:20:26 -0500

A pay raise.