Why is an E5 Sergeant being treated like a junior enlisted?

I agree having to be escorted is a little extreme but what it boils down to is the fact that Soldiers and even most younger NCO's just can not simply seem to follow orders or do what they are told without whining. You want to excel and be treated like a grownup NCO? Then quit whining and complaining and learn to follow simple orders. You do not just get promoted and expect to not have to lay out your gear. All units are different, there are different standards everywhere. Just do what your told and also take initiative and do simple tasks without having to be told. It gets better, just Soldier on.

I have been out for 10 years now.. I believe respect is earned and that goes for all ranks. In my time I met corporals that had earned more respect, demonstrated more professionalism and dedication than E-5's.

Earn your respect, don't ask for it.

Prior to 9/11 soldiers worked for promotion to E-5. Correspondence courses, college, leadership training, improving APFT, seeking to get boarded. Today it appears soldiers are entitled and get promoted if they do the time. Not all of course but a significant number.

We called them Buck Sergeants and because of the three stripes they are the tip of the spear and first line supervisors. Always bucking at the lower enlisted. E-6 SSG, Well for some MOS in the military a E6/SSG is a ,"staff sergeant".

A lot of it may have to do with how you approach things. I never had an issue as an E-5 because of "command presence". However, I have witnessed what you are talking about and agree that something needs to change.

SSG Russell,

Please take no offense to what I'm about to say. However, my argument is with your question in its entirety (Why Is an E5 Sergeant being treated like a junior enlisted?) I'll give you my perspective shortly, but first I'll remark about my difference of opinion with your question. The question states E5 Sergeant specifically not NCO or Junior NCO as you addressed in your supporting statement. I've always been taught that there's a significant difference between an E5 Sergeant and an NCO. When you continue to make your argument you also articulate that you yourself have also been part of the problem. Here's what that all boils down to , its a cultural issue and disconnect that we have as an organization within our ranks. If we don't stop it we'll only continue to perpetuate the cycle. You would ask how do we stop it? The answer is as simple as is gets. It's our job as Leaders to teach, coach and mentor. We must hold our Junior NCOs accountable, to standards and to dicsipline. Before we can do that we ourselves must (BE, KNOW, DO) look in the mirror and ensure that we exemplify what right looks like (The Army Values). Let me give the reason why we do vehicle inspections and layouts for Junior NCOs, or E5 Sergeants as you would ask. The reason is for continuity for the actual junior enlisted Soldiers, so that they may see and learn what right looks like from their immediate first line supervisor. All Soldiers are not only different, but also have different ways of learning. Which adds to the why we do what we do with our Junior NCOs. Here's the other problem that we contend with, it's the automatic promotion to E5 Sergeant. This is a problem because, we now have to make room underneath our umbrella of leadership for yet another Junior NCO, who may or may not have deserved it, but this does not matter. We have the calling to develope this newly promoted NCOs to make our NCO Corps stronger and better. We constantly find reasons why we don't want to do things, if we could make reasons why we should do things then our issues for the most part within the NCO Corps would be less. We as NCOs need to come to one accord. Until we have the right people in the right place at all levels this can't happen. However, if you, I and all other NCOs start to influence (positively) our umbrella of leadership. Then by the time we retire or even shortly prior to the NCO Corps that we'll leave behind will be a better one.

It depends on your command. In a line troop no issues. In a poge unit, treated like garbage. It all comes down to your leadership.

I remember when it was CPL and Above were NCOs, Period. HOWEVER, I also have to say that for Layouts, it was Squad Leader and below and some times, Platoon Sergeant and below.

I would remind everyone that in the grand scheme of things, NCOs do forget stuff, mess up on occasion and some do need to have their packing lists verified.

Frankly because many of them act that way. Transitioning from Junior Enlisted to NCO isn't always easy and it takes awhile to break old habits and create new ones. As you show your supervisors you are reliable then the attitude torwards you will changes. And if it makes you feel any better...sometimes I feel I get treated like a PV7 when I get new leadership. After a month or so and I've shown my ability that feeling goes away. Viscous cycle I know

I didn't mind it to be honest. When I became the Team Leader There were several leadership challenges. One was The responsibility of operating as a team. If my soldiers had to do something I did it as well, and when I did it I led with a standard of how it should be done. I was like a little pitbull while getting the job done. Optimistically speaking me as a NEW leader this helped build the confidence of my soldiers who were former peers. I was dedicated and motivated for whatever the task may have been. One thing I most certainly didn't do was complain. Complaining is an infectious disease that will spread through the ranks. With this type of outlook it wasn't long before I stepped into a Squad Leader position. There's a reason why junior NCO's are called junior, and a reason senior NCO's are considered senior. PS, there is BS on every level.