Retirement
Retirement
Posted on May 14, 2016
Why do veterans and active duty members still stereotype by rank after someone has retired or left the service?
613K
10.6K
2.54K
945
945
0
I bring up this question because my wife was treated very poorly by another spouse because of my rank! Here husband is a Major in the Marines and she has told others that is the reason she doesn't like my wife.
Why play the "Rank Card?" RP Members your thoughts?
Why is this still happening in our veteran and retirement community? I've always addressed service members here on RP by their rank initially out of respect for what they have accomplished and then I drop it and start addressing them by their first name as much as possible. Accordingly, RP allows you to highlight the name of another member, so your RP Connections will receive an email and the rank is required - got it!
I think once we leave the service there shouldn't be a stereotyping of rank or service - we should get along and respect each other as veterans and retirees that served a "common purpose!" Again, this just my opinion!
By thw way my wife has never played the "rank card" and never will!
Why play the "Rank Card?" RP Members your thoughts?
Why is this still happening in our veteran and retirement community? I've always addressed service members here on RP by their rank initially out of respect for what they have accomplished and then I drop it and start addressing them by their first name as much as possible. Accordingly, RP allows you to highlight the name of another member, so your RP Connections will receive an email and the rank is required - got it!
I think once we leave the service there shouldn't be a stereotyping of rank or service - we should get along and respect each other as veterans and retirees that served a "common purpose!" Again, this just my opinion!
By thw way my wife has never played the "rank card" and never will!
Rank
Retirement
ETS/EAS
What Would You Do
Camaraderie
Edited 7 y ago
Posted 8 y ago
Responses: 1389
820
820
0
COL Mikel J. Burroughs - While waiting in line commissary, a woman weaving her cart through line. She explains as she goes ahead: "I am a Colonel So-and-So's wife. I get front of the line privileges." From behind me another voice booms, "Well, I am the CG's wife. I suggest you return to the end of the line, Mrs. So-and-so." Some just, simply don't "get it."
(820)
(0)
SSG Bill McCoy
COL Mikel J. Burroughs - my wife would most certainly reply, "Well sir, I'm a civilian and don't care what you are."
As an MP however, we ALL got the, "I'm a XYZ's wife!" but not all that often. What I did get a lot of is, "My Dad is a XYZ-whaever!" I'd simply say, "Great! Tell him I said hello, please." Never got grief from ANY dependant's sponsor up to and including a CG. I think it was fortunate that DD Form 1805's (Federal Magistrate Citations) never were put on the Blotter at any of my duty stations, other than Active Duty and then only for DUI's, Shoplifting or other criminal offenses.
What was always funny was catching dependants parking in lover's lanes. "Is my Dad going to find out about this?" Normally, the answer was no. But I did fib once and tell a dependant wife that the Air Police at Andrews AFB would and she cried, "My husband is an Air Policeman!" WHOA!
As an MP however, we ALL got the, "I'm a XYZ's wife!" but not all that often. What I did get a lot of is, "My Dad is a XYZ-whaever!" I'd simply say, "Great! Tell him I said hello, please." Never got grief from ANY dependant's sponsor up to and including a CG. I think it was fortunate that DD Form 1805's (Federal Magistrate Citations) never were put on the Blotter at any of my duty stations, other than Active Duty and then only for DUI's, Shoplifting or other criminal offenses.
What was always funny was catching dependants parking in lover's lanes. "Is my Dad going to find out about this?" Normally, the answer was no. But I did fib once and tell a dependant wife that the Air Police at Andrews AFB would and she cried, "My husband is an Air Policeman!" WHOA!
(1)
(0)
SGT Judy Swift Johnson
COL Mikel J. Burroughs agreed! Being an officer is about being a leader, not a "greater-than-thou" and having a spouse that acts like her husband is God abd she is the Madonna. Really? They need to take a long look in the mirror. They are not celebrities, but rather leader's wives. I was a Sgt when I got out the second time (had been in prior service years before) and my husband was an E-7. We had friends who were officers. As a matter of fact we became good friends later with the new Co Commander his wife. I also was friends with the wife of a 3 star General at Ft Sam. This was beforel i went back in the Army for the 2nd time and she and I worked as nurses together. No big deal. I know when to call someone by their rank or say Sir or Ma'am. It's called respect. Am I right?
(1)
(0)
LCDR Arthur Whittum
Was living on Governors Island when it belonged to the Coast Guard. Was assigned to the CGC GALLATIN and could see her bow in my living room window when in port. Of course, we had "the senior officer of the building" (SOB) living in our six flat building. His wife was constant thorn in my wife's side. I finally had a chat with my wife about military courtesies and stuff (she was new to the routine). So after that my wife, like a good mustang' wife, ignored that "cranky babe at the end of the building",
(0)
(0)
WO1 Dean Casey
My mother-in-law a wife of a late LTC faced the same issue and would remind the wife the husband hads the rank, you do not.
(0)
(0)
738
738
0
Playing the rank card is a sign of insecurity and lack of self identity. That's the same as a PhD demands others to call him/her "doctor". It's different when in the Military. Aside of the "respect" aspect, it is my job to address others with their ranks because it is in the regulations and I am doing my job. Spouses like that MAJ's wife just need to grow up and get over themselves.
(738)
(0)
SSG Stacy Carter
PO2 Nasser Montes - honestly no they do not. I have seen the rank politics first hand. I was the Rear Detachment Commander while recovering from surgery, which made me the Family Support Group Leader. There were several wives there that refused to listen to anything I or anyone that their husbands outranked. It was absolutely appalling. And that is not the only time I have seen this happen.. I do not understand why spouses think they carry the rank of their significant others.
(1)
(0)
PO1 Jack Sigman
PO2 Nasser Montes - I will have earned my Ph.D. by time I am 69. I am going to make my 5 year old granddaughter call me Dr. Poppop.
(4)
(0)
617
617
0
Playing the "Rank Card" sounds pretty Petty but I am a Petty Officer. I'm sorry I couldn't help myself with the Cheesy Joke.
(617)
(0)
(3)
(0)
A1C Medrick "Rick" DeVaney
SFC Charlie Broadus II - ...
And You Said So Because They're "PETTY OFFICERS".
And So Are a Few Others.
But Their Smart-ass WIVES Are Worse Than ANY Officer COULD Or WOULD Be.
I Too Have Seen Them In Action, But Wonder I Their Husbands Have Ever SEEN Them Do It, And What Was Done ABOUT It.
And You Said So Because They're "PETTY OFFICERS".
And So Are a Few Others.
But Their Smart-ass WIVES Are Worse Than ANY Officer COULD Or WOULD Be.
I Too Have Seen Them In Action, But Wonder I Their Husbands Have Ever SEEN Them Do It, And What Was Done ABOUT It.
(1)
(0)
Read This Next
Continue with Facebook 
Continue with Google