Posted on Jul 2, 2020
SPC(P) Timeo Williams
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A friend of mine stated that there is indeed such a thing as the "sham shield." What are your experiences with this?

What can we do to change this narrative?
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Responses: 30
CSM Charles Hayden
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SPC(P) Timeo Williams Those exceptional E-4s that proudly and effectively wear a ‘Sham Shield’ and perpetually demonstrate their skills at avoiding productive work and responsibility have their own Union.

It is called the ‘E-4 Mafia’. That particular branch of the Mafia encompasses all military services and a (sh), a majority of the Civil Service workforce!
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CSM Charles Hayden
CSM Charles Hayden
4 y
SGT Justin Brothen Heck! You were qualified to be a Warrant Officer!
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SGT Justin Brothen
SGT Justin Brothen
4 y
CSM Charles Hayden naw rather now your grass lol
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SGT Justin Brothen
SGT Justin Brothen
4 y
SGT Justin Brothen mow* damn technology
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SPC Ramon Urias
SPC Ramon Urias
>1 y
I had all of the work ethic, experience and skills as a an E-5 without any of the responsibility.
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SGT Quality Control Technical Inspector
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I assume this means you haven’t been accepted into the mafia?
All jokes aside,
As a SPC I have done my fair share of dodging duties, details, everything short of showing up t work. Cause there are always private’s around who can go to those tasks. Since they build character.
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SGT Justin Brothen
SGT Justin Brothen
4 y
See you Saturday? Lol no I'm busy too
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SSG Gregg Mourizen
SSG Gregg Mourizen
>1 y
LOL, not true. Try being part of a training command. Very NCO heavy, with few enlisted. At one point we had more E-8s than we had privates. E-4's were rare. E-5's and 6's doing jobs normally given to privates and E-4s. NCO's rarely got away with having to do "Sergeants Business" as the command knew who was supposed to be doing what.
I went to a school once, where I was the only enlisted soldier, out of 60. When work details came up, I didn't even bother listening. Even heard the phrase, "lets go in the order of rank.' Fortunately, for me, there was an instructor there, who happened to outrank that highest ranking MSG, who responded "Good Idea, let's go from top to bottom." That, to me was a good day.
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1SG Vet Technician
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There is a lot of truth to the idea that the E4 Mafia is a functioning group. A good 1SG learns to find and exploit the E4 Mafia Dons. If you want a good inside, no shit barometer on how the unit is working, talk to the E4 Mafia leaders.
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SGT Justin Brothen
SGT Justin Brothen
4 y
Your are a smart man
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1SG Vet Technician
1SG (Join to see)
4 y
SGT Justin Brothen l hope I don't get offed for revealing the secret
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SGT Justin Brothen
SGT Justin Brothen
4 y
1SG (Join to see) your too high up to get anything but your feathers ruffled lol.
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SPC Richard Zacke
SPC Richard Zacke
>1 y
1SG (Join to see) you guys are to damn funny...we had alot of fun with that sh*t when I was in... Damn I sure do miss it....you know being a DON!!!
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